Susan Strong McDonald received a B.A. in Biology from Sweet Briar College before studying at the San Francisco Art Institute. She then travelled to study Chinese painting with Sun Yuen Sung in Taipei and woodblock printmaking with Toshi Yoshida in Tokyo. She taught Art and Design at North Hennepin Community College in Minneapolis, MN for 25 years. She studied Botanical painting at the Academy of Botanical Art in Sarasota, Florida.

Her botanical paintings are in the collection of the Andersen Horticultural Library in Chaska, MN.  Susan exhibits at the P.A. St. A. Gallery in St. Augustine, Florida.