Oil Painting Workshop at Waldergrave School
Curious to try oil painting? Find out about the recent oil painting workshop I did at Waldegrave School, introducing their year 12 students to oil paint for the first time.
Ever tried oil painting?
Well, last week, I was invited by Waldegrave school, to introduce their Year 12 students to it! I am so proud of what they achieved in just a few short hours.
The workshop was both a practical how to, where I shared my approach to palette layout, colour mixing and paint application techniques. I also gave a talk, explaining my path into painting and what being an artist in this day and age, looks like.
Claudia, one of the students, shared her thoughts: "In the beginning of the workshop I had no experience in oil painting but by the end I felt I had gained an amazing understanding thanks to the artist Susie. I loved learning and insight into the everyday life of an artist!"
These short intensive workshops are a wonderful way to begin your oil painting journey or, if you’ve dabbled before, to enhance your confidence working with it.
I do workshops, either one to one or in small groups which I can accommodate, or can bring the workshop to you. For more info, click the button below and say hello with your requirements.
“Susie is an amazing artist and communicator! She began with a talk including information about her educational journey, painting mediums and studio setup. She also covered the business side of the artworld including informing students how to use various platforms for selling work, being represented by galleries and taking part in markets and trade-fairs. This led onto a practical portrait painting session. All of the students developed their skills during the workshop and thoroughly enjoyed the day”
Is Painting Therapy?
Sharing my new painting ‘This Little Pig’ and talking about how creating and therapy go hand in hand and the rich layers of thoughts and meanings a painting can represent.
What and why I paint is bound up in who I am, and the process of creating is always one of discovery. My new painting This Little Pig is rooted in a personal narrative.
The pig in question is based on a 1930s clockwork toy pig. I have seen quite a few versions of him over the years, some in mint condition, some in the company of fellow pig musicians. But this particular toy, picked up by my father, years ago at Sandown Park, is a bit bashed, with faded colours, and has a very particular expression the others did not.
His eyes are bright, alive, curious and hopeful. Paired with the drum, there is a sense of ‘declaration’ in his attitude, all of which got me thinking. I began projecting ideas onto him, seeing in him a symbol of strength and resolve, a theme I like to explore in my work, as a way to refuel my own determination in the face of challenge and difficulties.
The rough composition for this painting has been bouncing around my mind since 2017, but it was only in the last few months I actually got it out of my head and into a painting.
Graffiti, as I discussed in my last blog post, plays an important role here, weaving together a mix of ideas. I do dabble in journaling but there is something different about putting things together visually. It has a way of tapping into multiple layers of feeling, sometimes in harmony, sometimes contradictory, but all somehow true. Painting helps me anchor these thoughts in one place, without words or judgement - giving the feeling a face which I can hold up and reflect on, somehow helping me make sense of it.
In a way, any act of creation has an element of this, but certainly some paintings feel more cathartic than others. This Little Pig is about building something of your own, out of your hopes, dreams and vulnerability and pitching this energy against the inevitable challenges of life.
I would love to know how this painting lands with you, does he resonate? what points of reference does he connect with for you? Let me know your thoughts.
Whilst I usually print my digital paintings on Art paper, I decided to experiment with this painting and print it on canvas, which is now available to view in my shop.
You can explore buying options by clicking the picture below.
This fine art print is of my original digital painting of a vintage toy drummer pig set within an imagined urban stage. It was painted free hand using a stylus and pressure sensitive tablet on a computer.
Each print from this digital painting is an original; professionally printed on canvas, with top grade, light fast, fade-resistant inks.
Free UK shipping
For international shipping please CLICK HERE for a quote
Why Graffiti Lights Me Up
A Trip to Lisbon, the Museu Banksy and my general musings on the power and relevance of graffiti and why I use it in my paintings.
Graffiti, the ultimate medium for taking familiar imagery or ideas and combining them in unexpected, playful ways, in a living, breathing, ever changing context. Beautifully unregulated and ephemeral, graffiti is an irreverent mixing pot of aesthetics and concepts, often satirical, offering a constantly evolving commentary on the social, political and economic cultures that surround us.
I’ve been mesmerised by it for years, and often find my eye on the hunt for these unexpected treasures as I walk around a city. No quirk of street furniture or structure is beyond interest, from sticker-plastered municipal bins to dilapidated walls, covered with graffiti, it all excites and engages my imagination.
I’ve recently returned from a few days in Lisbon, on a rare hop out of the UK. There were two particular encounters that gave me pause for thought. The first, a visit to the Tejo Power Station, where a contemporary art display left me feeling completely unengaged and unstimulated. The sterility and obscure, machine mediated concepts, of the display, surrounded by vast quantities of white walls felt quietly depressing. The second, and in contrast, were my happy wonderings up and down the streets of central Lisbon, I felt like Alice in Wonderland, discovering something interesting round every corner.
As if in celebration of this rich graffiti culture, Lisbon has set up the Museu Banksy , an immersive ‘Banksy’ experience, bringing together, through reproductions, some of Banksy most famous pieces. A walk around in time and place, charting work from the early 2000s around Bristol and London, through France, America, the Gaza strip in Israel, all the way up to the most recent pieces in the Ukraine. It really gave a flavour of the power and spirit of what graffiti can do and left me feeling very engaged and revved up!
As some of you know, I often weave graffiti into my paintings to visualise ideas and internal emotional states. The dynamic, raw and colourful quality of it, the serendipitous dialogues it strikes up, offers endless possibilities and seem a fitting language in which to visually discuss the human condition.
I could definitely write a lot more about this subject, but will leave it here for now and invite you to reflect on your own encounters with this lively medium, and ask, what your views on it are?
Introducing Bachata Twist
Sharing the story behind my new painting Bachata Twist. Discover what inspired it and watch how the painting developed.
My painting called Bachata Twist is now finished!
Watch the journey from a loose sketched beginning, to the final printed artwork, all inspired by the amazing @mgdanceteam and a show they did at Labksfestival in 2015.
My goal was to find 'that moment' within the dance that captured something special. This dynamic pose, held for a split second, struck a chord with me.
Click the button below to watch the whole performance, see if you can find the moment I’ve chosen!
The shape, emotion, power and intensity of it, really fired up my imagination and led to a whole new dance in paint, where the dancers became interwoven in a piece of narrative graffiti of my own devising.
Bachata Twist is now available as a striking, lively art print, which hopefully gets the eyes dancing when you look at it!
Available in a variety of sizes and finishes, check out the product listing below to take a look
Thank you @mgdanceteam for doing what you do, I love watching the innovation, skill and powerful expression of your choreographies. Keep up the excellent work!
To everyone reading this, please go check these guys out if you haven't already!
This fine art print is of my original digital painting of two Bachata dancers, inspired by then amazing MG elite dance team. It was painted free hand using a stylus and pressure sensitive tablet on a computer.
Each print from this digital painting is an original; professionally printed on beautiful Hahnemühle photo Rag paper, 308 gsm thick, with top grade, light fast, fade-resistant inks.
Free UK shipping
For international shipping please CLICK HERE for a quote
A Royal Academy Experience
An extraordinary collaboration, bringing together two of my favourite things in a truly magical way. Discover what Incognito Dance was doing at the Royal Academy of Arts last week!
On the 7th July something rather extraordinary happened.
An immersive drawing, dancing workshop in one of London's most prestigious centres of Arts and culture, inspired by David Remfry's wonderful watercolours of people dancing.
The Incognito Dance team and I were invited to participate and journeyed up to town on a beautiful summer's eve to dance in a whole new way, within the stunning rooms of the RA!
Our brief was to move in slow motion for the artists attending, holding shapes for them to draw. Used to the fast, dynamic energy of the dance floor, this was a novel and fascinating experience for us all.
Influenced by a dream-like mix of music, curated by the brilliant @tom_h_visualsound - we found ourselves exploring movement in a powerful and meditative way. It felt very calming and beautiful to see the subtle dialogues that emerged between us and the people drawing.
A particularly special occasion for me to see two of my greatest loves, dancing & drawing, come together in such a harmonious and magical way!
Massive thank you to:
For making this possible and to the fantastic enthusiasm of all the people attending!
Also huge love to the wonderful dancers from @incognito_dance
Jeff Tarpinian - @incognito_dance
Mia Amorbaila - @mia.amorbaila
Alex Boneva -@bonevaalex
Aliki Siganou - @aliki.siganou
Phil Araujo - @philippearaujo1
Jorge Gomez - @jorgeedugona
Deimante Politovaite - @diamonddancestudio31
Stefan Korac
Florian Naejus
Sean Jennings
Anthony
Celebrating 2022
Looking back at 2022 and all the interesting twists and turns it has taken me on. Watch a mini overview of the various artworks I have made and experiences I have been part of.
On the eve of a brand new year, it has been a good moment to pause and look back.
A common thread throughout 2022 has been the people I have met and the stories I have been privileged to hear and be part of.
Whether that is through the very special commissions I have worked on, each with their own particular pathos; through the conversations I have had, or through movement and dance. All of it comes down to the idea of connection, of building bridges of understanding, without judgement, and in the spirit of discovery!
I have certainly discovered much about myself in this process and am even more curious about the journeys I hope to make in 2023 and the new dialogues and insights they will bring.
Life definitely has thrown some curve balls at me, but oddly enough, the very things that seem huge obstacles could, in fact, be the calls to action in making positive change. Only time will tell!😊
Wishing you a wonderful year ahead, hopefully one in which we can all grow and apply a positive ‘Learner’s Mind’ to any challenges we face and not forgetting to celebrate the simple beauty of good friendship and community! 🥳
Thank you for all your support and interest, it is much appreciated!❤️😊🙏
Embracing Grief Through Art
Watch this special discussion I had with Jenetta Barry and Al Cini talking about the power of painting when dealing with painful subjects and emotions. All part of a global line up, celebrating World Jenny’s Day and World Mental Health Day.
This Monday I took part in a special online line-up of artists and performers, celebrating World Jenny's Day and World Mental Health Day.
Creatives from all over the world joined Jenetta Barry and co hosts on USA GLobal TV & Radio over the course of 17 hours showcasing insightful performances and short discussions celebrating mental health wellness.
I shared my experiences of embracing grief through art, looking at two paintings: one of a national treasure, Queen Elizabeth II and the other, inspired by the loss of my father.
This is the 15 minute interview I had with Jenetta & Al Cini describing the journey each painting took me on; explaining how the act of painting helped me find peace with a complex range of emotions.
We also reflected on the value that traumatic and painful experiences have when they build powerful roots to understanding, leading to positive actions which can help others in profound and meaningful ways.
An amazing digital painting offer!
Sharing an amazing offer from Escape Motions, the company that makes the digital painting software I use. You have until the 13th October to get your hands on an amazing tool for only £10
I've just heard about an amazing deal which I wanted to share with you guys!
If you're curious about exploring digital painting, then this is definitely for you.
The software I use [Rebelle 5 Pro] and would highly recommend is now available for £10!!
Escape Motions, the company that created it, are having a 10 year anniversary celebration, with all their products on offer for £10 until the 13th October.
***15.10.22 update: this offer has been extended and is currently still available!!***
This software was a complete game changer for me so would definitely say this is a gold dust of a deal that you should absolutely explore!
Check out the offer here: https://www.escapemotions.com/
Tribute to a Queen
Taking a pause today to pay my respects, through paint, to a great lady, Queen Elizabeth II. Watch a little timelapse showing this tribute work in progress, along with the source of its inspiration.
A small tribute to a great lady!
This painting, still a work in progress, was inspired by a vintage Timpo toy, created in commemoration of the Queen's Coronation.
A moment that marked the beginning of a 70 year reign which ended on the 8th September this year.
Today's funeral marks an historic moment in which we bid farewell to an extraordinary woman, a symbol of our nation, who walked with grace and dignity throughout her life.
RIP Queen Elizabeth II ❤
Presenting Amelia Cadwallader
The first in my series of quick Edinburgh Festival sketches - presenting Amelia Cadwallader and her wonderful hula hoops. Watch a little timelapse of this sketch in progress and find out more about my encounter with her on the Royal Mile.
This is the first of my Edinburgh Festival sketch series, where I spotlight some of the wonderful performers I saw this summer through speedy digital watercolour studies.
Kicking things off with Amelia Cadwallader whose delightful Hula Hooping and humour I encountered in the middle of the Royal Mile on a gloriously bright afternoon.
There was a vintage chic theme that ran through her outfit and music choices, which set a warm and welcoming tone. But above all it was her lively, smooth humour that put the audience at ease, despite the increasing daring of her stunts.
It was the combination of haphazard obstacles (like her microphone that kept getting lost down her knickers) with an undeniable command of her hula hooping craft that made her act so joyful and compelling. Not to mention the effortless way in which she handled her crowd.
This little tribute to her is still a work in progress but hopefully gives you a sense of her animated charm!
More sketches coming soon!
Lessons Learned
Big lessons learned this week in a horrible shock when I discovered 3 weeks of recent projects were accidently erased in a routine back up! Today I share an inspiring story which has helped me pick myself back up again!
Today is a bit of a confessional!
I managed to erase a bunch of recent projects in a routine backup that went very wrong!
Having explored recovery options, but alas to no avail, I have had to stand back and take this one on the chin and learn a massive lesson from it!
It could definitely have been worse and I am very grateful I had a certain amount I could retrieve from other places.
Needless to say, I am giving my whole set up a massive review and overhaul and I guess better now than later down the line!
I feel very much a pupil of the universe right now and realise that no matter how organised you think you are, life can always throw a curveball your way, forcing you to change, adapt and start again!
I hope this little story helps anyone else going through something similar!❤
The Final Goodbye
Watch the final pack up push and goodbye to this amazing building that has hosted myself and other artists for the last 12 years.
Tuesday's scorcher, saw me finalising the packing up of my studio space; dismantling my large canvases and moving the final bits out.
Today I returned the keys and said one last goodbye to this special place!
Farewell 7-9 Church Row! I wish you and your future residents well in your next chapter of redevelopment!
And to those of you who are curious about where all my abundant stuff has ended up...
So far it's packing out every inch of my spare room at home. The big unpack and get organised phase will begin soon, where I plan to get very crafty with maximising every inch of space.
Any helpful tips are most welcome!
Right now I’m feeling a wee bit physically and emotionally overwhelmed by the endeavours of this week, so say to you and myself may the weekend be a restful and recuperative one for all!
A Studio Farewell
Bidding a fond farewell to my studio and sharing a nostalgic look back over the last ten years there!
In a few days I will say goodbye to my studio of over ten years!
I am now in the process of an epic pack up and have been inundated by all the memories!
Whilst I won't miss the damp & mice I will forever treasure the sanctuary this quirky room gave me.
So many creative battles & victories of paint, so many quiet hours with paint brush, canvas and my thoughts. Joys and tears, the full spectrum of my emotions were free to roam in this room. It truly brings to mind the notion of 'a room of one's own' so eloquently coined by Virginia Woolf.
A huge hug and wave also to the community of wonderful people that made up this extraordinary artists’ collective and who will always be a part of the special energy of this place.
My Digital Painting Process Revealed
Enjoy a 15 minute dive into my digital painting process, walking you through my set up and a few other insights along the way!
Trying something a little new today.
I've been in the habit of showing sped up time-lapses to music a lot recently and thought I'd slow down the pace and talk you through a few aspects of my painting process, whilst beginning a new toy inspired narrative painting.
So here we are a 15 minute dive into painting digitally, my set up, some of the challenges I've faced, my use of vintage toys and a few other random digressions.
It's kinda of a mini visual podcast - hope you enjoy!
Any questions do let me know!
My First Corgi Painting
A new work in progress - watch a quick glimpse of the action! A happy dive into the world of Corgi toy cars, James Bond Style!
Getting stuck into a new painting of a 1960s Corgi James Bond Aston Martin DB5 (no.261)
Complete with bond, baddie, ejector seat and various other little treats of Corgi Engineering.
A couple of Fun Fact
It was based on the film Goldfinger and going 'gold' was apparently a marketing decision - it's a silver Aston Martin that features in the film!
Having painted many a Dinky toy car this is my very first Corgi!
Looking forward to seeing how it'll turn out!
A New Interview with Karin Merx
Hear a sneak preview of my interview on ‘Art Talk’, the new podcast created and hosted by my friend, the artist Karin Merx.
Last week I was honoured to be interviewed on a super new podcast called Art Talk, created and hosted by my friend, the artist Karin Merx.
We talked about where my art journey started, along with my thoughts on digital art, vintage toys and various other digressions!
Press play below for a little snippet.
For the full interview click the button below
My own podcasting plans are still a work in progress and I shall be sharing more updates in the near future!
In the meantime, if you have any questions or themes you would like discussed then feel free to leave a comment below!
Millie & Doughie's Portrait Story
From loose line sketch to unboxing the finished framed portraits, watch a little walk through of the commission process for these two lovable characters.
Timid & gentle Millie & Doughie, a 20kg ball of loving energy are the subjects of today's portrait deep dive.
Have a watch as I walk you through my journey with them from loose sketched line to finished framed portraits unboxed by their mum Sarah.
Whether a simple character portrait, showing the cheeky sparkle in a subjects eye or something with more story, weaving in objects or anecdotes with special meanings; my specialty is creating artworks that bring to life personalities in beautiful colour and detail.
I have one commission slot left for April and am now taking bookings for May.
Do you have a character in your life in need of a portrait?
SAY HELLO with any Qs, I’m always happy to chat through ideas!
For info about my commission service click the button below.
Click the button below to watch the full timelapse for each painting.
A New Project in the Making
Joining forces with fellow artist Stella Tooth in a new collaboration, watch a little overview sharing a few more details!
I'm teaming up with artist Stella Tooth on a new project which we have been brainstorming this week at her studio in Ealing.
To mark the moment we snapped this impromptu video (see below), blunders and all, giving a little glimpse of what we are up to!
Both Stella and I are traditionally trained artists with a love of story telling, curious to explore how our paintings can bring stories to life in ways unique to this medium.
We are very much inspired by similar subjects and certainly were, quite happily, digressing down various avenues of mutual interest in our meet up this week!
But more on this later.....for now, as we said…
Watch this space!
An Artist's thoughts on Social Media - Exploring Reels & TikTok for the First Time
Talking about my journey into social media and sharing my latest thoughts and revelations about Instagram and TikTok.
Part of being an artist these days is engaging with the world of technology. I have been on my own journey with this since October 2020 and have found it interesting looking back and assessing how my attitude has evolved and developed whilst talking with friends and family about their feelings on the subject.
Prior to 2020 I had been very erratic with social media, posting here and there with no real rhythm or logic. I understood its potential, but didn’t really understand how to connect with it in a way that felt organic and natural to me. The same could be said for my newsletters and blog posts. I would usually put something out when I had an exhibition coming up but never really wrote about my life as an artist, the works in progress, the challenges I faced.
I was an artist very much behind closed doors, that popped my head out every so often when I felt I had something worth sharing - and my estimation of what that was, always constituted a finished, resolved thing; never the process, the experiments, the trials and errors.
To an extent I think it is inevitable that we present, in greater and lesser ways, edited versions of ourselves, sometimes for brevity, sometimes for other purposes.
It takes time to feel comfortable talking more casually and openly to a wider audience. I am certainly on a journey as far as this is concerned, gradually finding my voice. The first few steps were extraordinarily uncomfortable but it was in the ‘doing of it’ that gradually a momentum has evolved, along with feeling more at ease with sharing my thoughts and how I work.
For me there is an aspect of journaling about it. By recording and talking about the process and development of my art business, a breadcrumb trail of understanding is immerging of myself which has helped me clarify my goals and the things that are important to me. It has also strengthened my resolve in what I do, how I can use my skills as a force for good and what I hope to achieve in the future.
There is a very worthy argument that social media is a platform that ‘takes’ as much as it ‘gives’ and I am not blind to the dangers of this and try to remain vigilant about the boundaries between utility and being controlled. However, at its best, it has been a platform for expression, for reaching out and connecting with wonderful people and helping myself, as well as many small businesses, be seen and heard in a much broader sense without the need for expensive agents and advertising.
It is with this in mind that this week I took another step down the rabbit hole of social media tech and posted a short 1 minute Reel for the first time, I also used this as my first ever TikTok post, kicking off a new line of exploration on a new platform.
I decided to use it as an opportunity to reintroduce myself and what I do. The challenge being to do so in a concise and visual way. It was a good little experiment and one I hope I can build on the future.
So without further ado, have a look at my video below - marking another little mile stone in my social media journey.
I am also very interested in hearing your thoughts on this subject and welcome you to leave a comment below.
Exploring Watercolour
Going on a journey with digital watercolour, showing a mini timelapse of my experiments in this medium whilst working on a new commission.
Been diving into digital watercolour this week, working on a new commission, exploring the world of illustration.
I naturally gravitate towards oil paints, with their solid buttery textures and flexibility, I know where I am with them, they are a familiar friend. Watercolours have always been a little outside my comfort zone, being more unpredictable in nature.
I have however two commissions I am working on, which require a more delicate approach, and watercolour is the perfect medium.
Rebelle 4, the painting software I use, is pretty astounding in how it replicates the way watercolours behave and move, spreading, dripping, diffusing across the page.
Not certain where it would lead me, I began this week with an open mind, keeping my approach light and playful - swipe to watch a little time-lapse!
Gradually a rhythm emerged and, dare I say it, a friendship!
Goes to show how much we can learn when we delve into new territory and what treasures we can find!
To find out more about my commission service click the button below.