Susan McGovney Hansen, an award-winning painter known for her watercolors of Polynesian women, died Oct. 22 in Honolulu surrounded by family. She was 78.
Hansen, a native of Southern California, moved to Hawaii in 1963 with three young children.
She studied painting at the University of California, Los Angeles, as well as illustration at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. But her family was her first priority, so it wasn’t until 1973 that she started to paint again from Keolamau Studio in Lanikai.
Hansen was an award-winning artist who did paintings as well as illustrations, using everything from oils to watercolors, acrylics, pastels, charcoal and gouache.
She loved portraying images of Hawaiians as well as scenes of Hawaii, which she captured in still-life prints. Her colors were vivid, her perspectives unique.
Hansen is perhaps best known for her watercolors of Polynesian women, which captured their beauty, dignity and grace. The images can be found on posters and note cards.
"I think her Hawaiian figures were just gorgeous," said Shirley Hasenyager, Hansen’s friend and fellow artist of 45 years. "Her sense of design was outstanding. She was very, very talented. She was also generous with her time and her work."
Hasenyager described her as a "sweet person" and "exceptional artist" who was always there for everybody as well as devoted to her family.
Hansen’s commissioned artwork can be found throughout the isles and the world, from several major hotels to the Hawaii State Foundation for Culture and Arts, City Hall, Bank of Hawaii, Oahu Country Club and the Pacific Club.
In 1981 one of her paintings graced the front cover of the Hawaiian Telephone Co. phone book.
She also taught watercolor and figure painting at the Honolulu Academy of Arts and was a member of the Hawaii Watercolor Society, Windward Artists Guild, Artists Group and Hawaii Artists League.
She is survived by son Michael, daughters Kathy Galdeira and Patricia Demasi, sisters Anne M. Brown and Meredith Kaplan, and five grandchildren.
A private celebration of her life will be held at a later date. The family requests that donations be made in her memory to the Honolulu Academy of Arts.
