Local artist creates unique postage stamps

Susan Shaffer has recently extended her talent to postage stamps.

"But Susan, are they legal?" is the response Susan Shaffer got when she recently presented her art stamps to her fatherin law as a gift. The stamps, created online using her watercolor paintings, are oversized and feature her website address.

Shaffer of Greencastle, works at the Washington County Hospital and is pursuing a Fine Arts degree at Wilson College. In a recent computer graphics classes she had to design a stamp. The professor encouraged her to apply to the USPS with a design. Intrigued, Shaffer searched for information and found a website that lets the customer create their own stamps. She uploaded several of her paintings and within a week had received her stamps.

"They have multiple uses," said Shaffer. "Everyone needs postage, so they are a nice gift, and they advertise my work and website when they are used. Zazzle.com, where I created the stamps, also has them available online to whomever wants to order. I can't imagine how many people see the stamps as they make their journey through the mail system."

Shaffer creates paintings that flow from her strong interest in nature and her fascination with bold and vibrant colors. While her main concentration is watercolor, she also paints in acrylics, oils and pastels.

Shaffer plans to go through the USPS application process. In the meantime, she has ordered more stamps and continues to pass them out and use them herself.

Her art career began in 1986 with a tole painting class, and she continued taking decorative art classes for the next 10 years. She studied extensively with many nationally known teachers and taught decorative art in her home studio from 1987 through 1998. Her interest in fine art began in 1993 with a drawing class, and she continued her studies with several accomplished fine artists.

Shaffer is a member of the Franklin County Art Alliance, Valley Art, Waynesboro Studio Club and the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society. She is also active in supporting local arts organizations.

She has won numerous art awards locally and regionally.

Her paintings are in many private collections and her work has been displayed many places, in including "Decorative Art," the Council for the Arts current exhibit in Chambersburg that runs through Oct. 27. She is the artist of the month for September at the Waynesboro Hospital; and she has work in the Nancy Horton Heefner Memorial Art Show, sponsored by The Mercersburg Historical Society, in Irvine Hall at the Mercersburg Academy.