AGAWAM – Each month, the Agawam Community Artists and Artisans (ACAA) spotlights one of its members. For the entirety of August, the Spotlight on Art is Suzanne DiSessa, a self-taught artist who solely uses oil paints.

According to ACAA’s Facebook page, “ACAA provides an opportunity to meet and discuss art related subjects and learn. We have a very congenial group.”

Through the ACAA, DiSessa explained that the artist community has invited members to volunteer themselves to be in the spotlight. She said that President of the ACAA, Ceil Rossi, encourages members to put themselves out there. In an effort to do just that, DiSessa typed up a bio and sent in some photos of her work. To her surprise, DiSessa was the lucky winner.

In 2017, DiSessa joined the ACAA to follow her lifelong passion of art. From a young age, she claimed she was interested in drawing and sketching, however, DiSessa left this passion on the back burner because she could never find the time to do it.

For 32 years, DiSessa served as a school teacher. “I taught middle school – I was a special education teacher for grades five through eight – for 13 years, and I taught elementary, second and third grade, all subjects,  for 19 years.”         DiSessa spread out her teaching through three schools – Gateway Regional in Huntington, Juniper Park in Westfield and Wolf Swamp Elementary in Longmeadow.

With all the challenges that came along with teaching, the painting aspect did not come until she retired in 2016.

In addition to being a member of the ACAA, DiSessa is a part of the Holyoke League of Arts and Crafts, Workshop 13, and is a Monson Arts Council Member artist. She has exhibited in local juried art shows and earned First place awards, Best in Show and People’s Choice awards.

“I am starting to get a little recognition – this keeps me going.”

Through her oil paintings, she primarily focuses on still life and landscapes – “I’m really enjoying that,” said DiSessa.

Besides teaching herself to paint, DiSessa also taught herself how to frame her art. All of this was done through watching tutorials.

Currently, DiSessa resides in Westfield with her husband Louis. They have already raised two daughters and are “enjoying a peaceful retirement life,” she said.

DiSessa sells her work through a website she built. The website can be found at disessafineart.com. She also works with a marketplace through California which can be viewed at madebyher.com. DiSessa can be found on Instragram @suzannedisessa.

To contact DiSessa directly, email sdisessa@gmail.com.

For further information about Spotlight on Art or the ACAA, contact Ceil Rossi by phone 207-1247 or email tocarefree2@hotmail.com.