Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Susannah Fleener. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Susannah, thanks for joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

Beginning any kind of career can be difficult, particularly when you don’t have much direction and are finding your way, and seeking the direction necessary to succeed. Sometimes those avenues are not apparent when you begin a dream. But luckily we learn as we grow. I’ve been learning how to navigate my way in the art field mostly by myself. However I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some people who have been godsends. They have facilitated me with learning new techniques, helping me out with my first art festivals and even lending me some of their tables. I’m not sure that I would have wanted to begin an art career sooner or later than I did, but I am glad for the opportunities it has given me.
I’ve been fascinated and intrigued by the art world since I could remember, so I think it’s always been a part of me and definitely something that transformed when I was ready to reach the next level.
I’m just happy to be able to continue in the artistic subject.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Palefoxredarts is what I call my art influence ( my artistic name.) I understand it’s a bit of a mouthful, but I’ve always thought of it as a play with old folk tales and stories. Something you would use in a nursery rhyme or sing as you skip down the sidewalk as a kid. Mainly, for myself, it embodies a fairy tale/ magical world I want to instill and create with my work. I like to use a bit of all mediums in my work, but mostly I paint, use collage mediums and mainly focus on nature with some added ‘spice’ thrown in with dreamy and outer world imagery.
I still enjoy learning new skills and experiencing new artistic avenues!
I recently have completed artwork for local businesses, making signs for their shops, and making customized pieces for customers all over the country!
I always enjoy doing commissions for people and finding new shops that want to carry my work. It’s always exciting to have people happy to have my work showcased in their stores.
I offer a unique range of things for home decor, car accessories, stickers, and imagery. I think what sets me apart is that everything I make is literally created by my hands.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

One thing we can all do to help artists like myself is understanding your support is way more crucial to us than it is for multi-millionaires or celebrities. I often see people hype up the aforementioned on posts and articles that the celebs may never see. But to us small fish, it truly is one of the greatest things you can do to show support besides buying from us. Commenting, sharing and talking about us in positive ways can make or break us. Sometimes it feels as if we are all alone, and that’s a scary thing to feel in a world that is so connected all the time, but oftentimes, more disconnected in ways that we never knew before social media was such an addiction for us all.
Reaching out to artists’ and creatives is another great thing to do, even if it’s just to say that something of theirs caught your eye, or that that one painting reminded you of something long forgotten that you adored.
The small things really matter to us and can really make our day!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Nothing has ever been handed to me. I grew up poor and many times cold because we didn’t have heat. Although my parents did what they could, we often times needed assistance to eat somedays. We couldn’t afford much and definitely not art materials or lessons. But on those often cold winters days, I would find solace in reading, writing and drawing or painting with whatever second hand or gifts I was lucky to have. My parents did encourage me and helped me find local essays and contests to enter poems, art or drawings in. I even once had a chance to enter some of my work into a contest to be an illustrator! I didn’t win, I was only twelve though. It didn’t feel “good” to not be selected but it didn’t make me want to stop finding my way in the art field. It honestly made me want to learn what I could do better and how to find my own path. Today, I still am not satisfied with where I am. And if I’m being honest, I don’t think I would be satisfied even if I have reached the highest “mountain” so to speak. I think I just continue to be happy for what I’ve done and accomplished, but excited and ready to explore what more I can be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/palefoxred_arts
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palefoxredarts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palefoxredarts