About the Artist

With the eye of an artist and the gentle spirit of a poet, Susan Reib brings your precious pets to life on stone! What a special art this is and what a unique lady it took to perfect it. A native Californian, Susan is a self-taught artist who only truly learned her craft after leaving the instruction of the traditional art class and listening to the teachings of her own heart. Her love of animals and respect for all things natural are reflected in her portraits; her attention to detail is a reflection of her caring and skill.

As the owner and resident artist of the Eastwicke Village Gift & Art Gallery, located in the quaint and picturesque town of Sierra Madre (tucked into the arms of the San Gabriel Mountains, just above Pasadena, in Southern California), Susan garnered great attention with her very first sculpture, a bronze bust of Albert Einstein.

Creating her technique as she worked, Susan portrayed Einstein from a compilation of 12 different photos of the world-renowned scientist, at different ages in his life. Of five original sculptures, two have been sold and one was on display at the Athenaeum at the prestigious Cal Tech for 3-yrs. and pictured in the Los Angeles Times.

In addition to her Einstein sculpture, two of Susan's most popular oil paintings were of subjects very close to her heart. First is the portrayal of her daughter Nicole, as a young woman, and the other is of her beloved cat, Astarte. Einstein, Nicole and Astarte are all sold as prints and as greeting cards and remain, today, among Susan's best-selling work.

But it is her work with "Precious Pets" that brings Susan - and her delighted clients - the most joy. After seeing a series of imaginary cats painted on stones, at a local crafts festival, Susan was captivated by the concept of celebrating people's pets from their favorite photos. For the garden, on the mantle, a quiet moment, a beloved memory...her simple idea became a smash success. Instantly.

From dogs and cats to birds and bunnies. And turtles. Owls. Tigers. Ducks. Any pet or animal photo that makes you smile or simply makes your world a brighter place, you may always see in your mind's eye - but Susan will keep it alive forever.

And that's a promise made in stone.

Listen to what people say about Precious Pet Stones:

When Pixie Huidobro saw Susan's Precious Pet Stones, she immediately knew that she had to buy one for her best friend June Thompson. "I know how dear 'Mia' is to June - and to me! After all, I'm Mia's 'Auntie!" Pixie said. "So what better gift is there to give a friend than one you know she will love forever?" And how right she was.

"I absolutely love it!" June said. "I sent a picture to my brother and he couldn't believe how much it looked like Mia. I am very, very happy with my pet stone!"