Susan painted close to twenty-four pieces with Native American shields; this is the only one that portrays animals at each of the four directions.

The medicine shield is a visual depiction of the “medicine” of an individual discovered through spiritually guided personal visions. Susan painted this just before undergoing a radical mastectomy and at a time when she perhaps needed a healing vision.

The hawk, presiding in the north, and the bear in the west are animals that she often painted. The hawk is echoed by the feathers in the south. The bear was always an important nurturing symbol for her. The mouse with butterfly wings and the cat with the pointed ears are unique in her work. The spider in the middle indicates that the piece is a dream catcher as well. The vessels in the south symbolize the nurturing and nourishing aspects of the feminine. The warm colors and the glowing light central to the imagery provide a sense of comfort and well-being.

"Shield of East and West" is limited in edition to one-thousand. Each print is numbered in the margins and blind-stamped to insure authenticity.The image is printed on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag, Bright White, 310gsm, Smooth Satin, 100% cotton archival paper, using state-of-the-art archival inks. Each print has full margins.