We were lucky to catch up with Susanne Robinson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Susanne thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
I think the purpose of art is to deepen our humanity – and that can happen in many ways. I was showing my work at an art show recently and a woman was drawn to a small painting I’d done of a bird soaring through the clouds towards the horizon. I noticed she’d started to cry, so I came over to check on her! She was reading the description I’d written about the painting, which was inspired by a little beige bird I’d seen standing on the beach one morning. As the waves rolled in, the bird was forced to lift itself off the shore and lean into the wind – and at the moment it stretched its wings to fly, I’d seen gorgeous bold markings flash across its outstretched wings. The distinctive beauty of that creature hadn’t become visible until it left the safety of the shoreline – and my painting represented that this can be true for each of us, too. The woman purchased the painting and shared how it resonated with her personal story of love, loss, illness, and how her faith in God was carrying her through it all. This interaction with a collector made me realize that as an artist, the aesthetic of what I create is really just the topmost layer. The meaning behind my art, the reason I make a certain piece and the story behind it – that’s the place where my art’s power and impact truly lie.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Three constant threads have woven through my life: creativity, a connection to the natural world, and a deep sense of spirituality. I grew up in central Pennsylvania, surrounded by rolling mountains and meadows full of wildflowers – an idyllic visual environment that inspired me to paint and write from as early an age as I can remember. My parents modeled a strong faith that served them powerfully throughout life’s ups and downs, and that also had a deep impact on me. As an adult, I became a TV news anchor/reporter, so my love of writing ventured into journalism. My husband and I raised three daughters, and throughout the busy years of raising a family I always managed to weave creative exploration into my life – through painting, writing children’s stories, and designing jewelry, which I sold through juried art venues.
Today, I am a mixed media artist working with acrylic, pastels, inks and collage. I enjoy creating in a wide range of visual styles, from bold, to quietly meditative, to whimsical! I find that this approach is truest to who I am, both as an artist and as a person.
I live on Kiawah Island, SC, near the quintessentially Southern city of Charleston. I’m inspired by the colors, forms and light that illuminate the coastal landscape. My paintings straddle the line between abstraction and representation. I’m drawn to vibrant color, rich texture, unexpected collage elements and dynamic mark-making. Our family travels extensively, and I incorporate hand-made papers collected from our journeys throughout the world into many of my paintings – these include Japanese chiyogami Yuzen paper, Egyptian papyrus, and Italian hand-marbled paper. I also love to integrate vintage “working” papers into my collages – fascinating finds like antique maps, computer punch cards, microfiche and dressmaking patterns from a bygone era!
Increasingly, I’m drawn to create artwork that examines and celebrates what it means to be human in a technology-centric world. I think that many visual artists working in traditional mediums tend to shy away from emerging tech, when we should educate ourselves and insert our voices into shaping its direction and cultural impact. It has so much to offer – if we embrace it with our eyes open and a firm grasp on our most essential human values. I’m currently developing a body of art that looks at the human – computing relationship through the lens of digital art, abstract painting and collage. The series will touch on the tension between human and artificial intelligence, self-concept and acceptance in a digital-forward world, the fragility of innocence in a global information ecosystem, and much more. It’s an ambitious project but an important one. I’m excited to see where it takes me!
Ultimately, I’m here to celebrate life and share my creativity in ways that resonate with the creative spirit in each of my collectors. When my art brings you a smile, sparks your curiosity, makes you think more deeply, or touches your spirit in some way, it serves its purpose.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I tend to be a perfectionist by nature. Even though I’ve been making various kinds of art most of my adult life, I am self-taught and I’ve only recently put myself out into the world as a professional artist with work that I sell. I’ve had to unlearn a whole set of assumptions surrounding what I believe “qualifies” me to be a working artist alongside those who’ve been selling their work for decades. Having collectors buy my art has definitely given me momentum and more confidence – it’s invaluable to have a community who believes in you and what you’re making! Seeing a fellow art-lover get excited about owning a piece of my work is deeply gratifying. I’ve also come to recognize that a little bit of “Imposter Syndrome” is actually a good thing! If you don’t ever experience it, then you’re probably just coasting. I’m very entrepreneurial and I’ve learned that I’m at my best when I’m venturing into new territory where there’s a lot that I need to figure out. Amazing new things become possible for me when I’m just willing to be a little bit uncomfortable. This has certainly been true with my art business.
I’ve also learned that a great antidote to Imposter Syndrome is simple humility: accepting that I’ll always be a student of the creative process, with room to grow. I’ve learned to be inspired by more seasoned artists, not intimidated by them. This mindset motivates me to lean into my curiosity, and gives me permission to try new techniques and styles. With a teachable mindset, my work gets stronger – which definitely helps to override the self-doubt! It’s a virtuous feedback loop. Humility is so powerful. Usually, the person who has nothing new to learn also has nothing new to offer. I think that’s an important lesson to remember, regardless of the venture you’re undertaking – artistic or otherwise.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
We all benefit from the arts and enjoy what they bring to our communities, but we don’t always think about it. So, I think the first place to start supporting artists is with awareness. Make a conscious effort to notice all the places in which the arts are influencing your surroundings. Imagine what your town would look like if it were devoid of murals and street art, if music didn’t play in the businesses and dining establishments you frequent…if there were no books to read, performances to attend or sculptures in the park…if the walls of all the buildings were bare. Sounds pretty bleak, right? Then, support the arts in whatever ways are accessible to you. Attend art fairs and buy something that resonates with you. If you can’t make a purchase, tell the artist what you admire about their work, follow them on social media and share their account with your art-loving friends. If you are a commercial decorator or own an office space, apartment building or hotel…decorate the interior by shopping for artwork from the artists in your local community. Dedicate a space in your building to a rotating exhibition of work from local artists. Contribute to local arts education non-profits. Encourage your kids to try out different art forms – take a class together! When you go back-to-school shopping with your kids, pick up a few extra supplies for the art teacher or find out how you can help support their school’s music and theater programs. There are so many ways, both big and small, to help build a thriving arts ecosystem. It all starts with awareness and being intentional about making support for the arts a meaningful part of your life. 
Contact Info:
- Website: https://susannefineart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanneandthesea/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanneandthesea
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannemrobinson/
Image Credits
All photos were taken by me.