We were lucky to catch up with Susie Mccolgan recently and have shared our conversation below.
Susie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?
Life’s issues present themselves throughout our journey here on earth. Some of the early issues were money, balancing a new family, babies, jobs etc. and our need to survive financially. I always put others and our family needs first which meant the world to me, which meant my art career was not fully given the attention it needed. Or my fear would block me. That being said, I did have a good career with great clientele. when my parents grew ill and starting aging we moved in with them to take care of them. Life happens and my heart always chose love first. Then in 2019 I was in a life-threatening accident and everything stopped. I’m lucky to be alive. I endured many broken bones and I shattered my painting hand. I was crushed emotionally. After 2years of recovery, multiple surgeries I tried to paint again. During this experience, during months of struggle and fighting for my life I realized that if I ever could paint again I would give it priority, give it my all, show up in my studio to create all the ideas and designs I’ve carried in my mind and heart my whole life. I became determined to let them come to life, inspire and help people emotionally.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’ve been drawing since I was little always trying to draw everything to take it home with me! My grandmother was a painter during the fauvism period (she’s my greatest inspo) and she gave me her oil paintbox &brushes when I was nine. I lived it 24/7 I guess-I loved doing it. It kinda reminded me of magic as a kid…it would appear before me. And it continued as my favorite past time; creating, classes, portraits, taking art twice a day in high school and winning awards at school. I graduated from the University of Michigan with a BFA and a minor in psychology and proceeded to work as an Art Director throughout Michigan. I started my own business of my art, graphic design, murals and portraits. I had to learn a lot about the business side it helped to be raised by parents that were very business savvy, and my husband being an attorney teaching me legal contracts etc. It takes alot of courage but if you learn the skills and create a mindset of confidence you can do it! One of my greatest loves and achievements was my involvement with portraiture and my Art in Healing Artwork and Murals throughout the state of Michigan. It incorporates altering the cognitive presence of patients (and everyone) to be transported into a presence of healing physically. I incorporate it into all my paintings because I want to help people. I believe it can transform a persons emotional state for the better. When it comes to my portraiture I want to capture the spirit, the soul, and the twinkle in the eye of my subject. And accuracy is everything. If they don’t feel like they’re coming out of the canvas then I’m not finished yet. Portraiture can be very creative to, I love incorporating elements and visual references to help show the subject’s loves and accomplishments. I do love to help people with problem solving steps whether it’s an artist struggling with fear or is blocked emotionally, to a child saying “I can’t do that”…I love giving the tools to enable them to succeed and learn how to silence the fear and doubt and create a path of confidence and skills. Every difficult situation can be solved with an objective understanding.
I strive to put my heart fully into each and every painting/creation/creative consultation and guidance coupling it with the utmost professionalism.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Well I have to say, after the accident in 2019 when I had my revelation that NOW was the time, not another minute passing without me dedicating myself to release all my ideas and new paintings to the world, that I soon realized I knew nothing about social media…I didn’t even have an Instagram account! Yes crazy. I began this new determined ME in 2023. I immersed myself into like a fast motion learning course. Scrolling, researching, reading, following, tunneling through hundreds of links gathering more info on who’s who, who did what etc. I set up folders to organize (remember the more organized you are the more efficient you are in the future), I set up albums that each contained examples, contacts, call for art timelines, course ideas etc.
I do want to share this – do not doubt your talent and passions. I decided (even though I didn’t know if I would be good enough) to enter some juried competitions. Which you might not get in all of them but that’s ok. You keep going. I entered more throughout the year, and when I won I shared on all platforms. I also had to become comfortable to share videos of me working to help build relationships with your audience and help show techniques to other artists. It actually helped me become a more present artist in my own world!
I also want to share what saved me from exhaustion (from making posts on all the platforms) was Repurpose, an app that funnels your first post onto all your platforms! I also signed up for (reasonably priced) courses, some included 1:1 calls which is an awesome way to start building relationships with your peers and the goal of creating dialogue with podcast and magazine creators&editors. Some of the competitions contain paying alittle extra for an interview! That is golden. You want to increase your presence online. You want people to start knowing you and your art and your person! The more genuine you are the better! Your posts should be of good quality and with a caption that helps the viewer get to know you and your artwork. Your posts are a reflection of you! It’s a good idea to create posts that invite the viewer to engage or vote or comment, it helps your algorithm which leads to more sharing of your posts! And always respond to people who have shared a comment! Think of social media as your neighborhood of friends, colleagues, peers and future clients, it takes nurturing your community.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I think for an artist you hear all the time you have to have a particular style to be successful (and get into galleries) which can really stifle the artist spirit. You start spinning and questioning “do I have a style?” And you doubt and hyper-criticize yourself while your painting…it really is paralyzing sometimes. It is not a forward thinking thing it actually makes you feel less than. The hard part is in today’s world of social media it is all around you. I mean it’s one thing to scroll and look to be inspired by other’s work, but try not to let it make you feel down or frustrated. I have a funny story…I had a magazine ask me for an interview and the editor titled it “Susie McColgan multi-disciplinary artist”, I loved it! I have always painted in all mediums (I love each and every one of them) sometimes my work doesn’t look exactly the same and that’s the beauty of it. It took me many moons to finally EMBRACE all my intricacies and passions in every medium. They are all me. Some people on the outside may say oh that’s a Susie McColgan, but while I’m creating, in my zone of letting my heart and mind guide my brush..i don’t know I’m letting it emerge. Remember to let it happen!
What I had to unlearn is to stop comparing myself to others. Which leads to inhibiting my true self. Embrace and nurture and trust yourself. Be YOU!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.susiemccolgan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mccolgansusie
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusieMcColganArt
- Linkedin: https://www.LinkedIn.com/susiemccolgan
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/susiemccolgan
- Other:
TikTok susiemccolgan
Pinterest susiemccolgan
Image Credits
Christine Marie