Suzie Noel Duncan-Winn is a delightful, happy and compassionate seven year old girl. She is also a very talented and budding artist. Bonnie Dawn and Michael Lee are her “forever parents.” They adopted her from the Oregon State Foster Care System through P.L.A.N. (Plan Loving Adoptions Now) out of McMinville, Oregon, four years ago.

Bonnie describes the first few years with Suzie as an Anne Sullivan-Helen Keller scenario. Slowly but profoundly Suzie Noel started “joining our world.” Bonnie recalls vividly how Suzie wanted to have nothing to do with paper, pencils, crayons, etc., those first two years. Then on an airline flight two years ago, Bonnie started sketching on a napkin to entertain Suzie, who had become very restless. Almost immediately Suzie became totally engaged and calmed down.

Not only did she watch but she took the pen and began to draw what Bonnie had sketched, adding her own perspective and flair. When they arrived home Bonnie took out sidewalk chalk and showed Suzie how to look at a flower and draw it. Again, Suzie took the chalk and started creating her own. An inner peace enveloped her and when they went inside Suzie requested paper to draw on for the first time! She was five and a half. To date, it is still her favorite passion and is therapy for her soul. The rest is her-story for Suzie has been a prolific artist ever since. Starting with rudimentary stick figures, progressing to characters with advanced detail and three dimensional perspective, uncommon for so young a child, Suzie is truly in her element when drawing.

Her inspirations have been Veggie Tales, Strawberry Shortcake characters, and Hello Kitty. At first Suzie was only into the “process”. She didn’t’ care about the “product”. Bonnie rescued many masterpieces from the recycling bin. She would then sit down with Suzie and together they could choose the colors and hand over hand color in the drawings. Now Suzie independently chooses her own colors and finishes her own drawings. As she draws more we see her own personality, maturity, and unique style coming forth. Her images capture joy and an emotional nuance with delightful simplicity. Last year she was asked by her mainstreamed first grade teacher to do portraits of her classmates for a school auction. She drew each child and they personalized it with their own coloring. The piece was then given back to Mary Woodward Elementary School in Tigard, Oregon and graces the front office.

Suzie Noel’s art work was accepted into two art shows last school year for artist with autism. The Suz-Line business, calendar, cards, and posters, were officially born when her products were successfully sold at two holiday bazaars.

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No Greater Love ...A Match Made in Heaven....The Whole Story