We recently connected with Susan Klein and have shared our conversation below.

Susan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I went to school for art. In my two years at NYU, two years at University of New Hampshire, and my MFA program at University of Oregon, I learned a lot abut art. I spent these years improving my technical abilities in painting, specifically oil paint, and also learned how to integrate sculpture into my practice in graduate school. My professors were key in this; they taught me about material, experimentation, art history, contemporary art, and also prevented me from being lazy! Without the guidance of these mentors, I would not be where I am today. I also learned by working. In the past 20 years of making art, I have never stopped learning more about materials and concepts. In 2017, I decided to bring ceramics into my work. I learned how to work with clay by experimenting. I also had help from friends along the way.

Learning is a slow process that happens over time for me. Maybe if I had been more open-minded as an undergraduate student, I would have taken more sculpture classes. This would have sped up the learning process. I was so focused on painting that I ignored everything else. There are a lot of technical building skills I wish I had! I think an open mind is the most essential skill for learning. My own laser focus was the biggest obstacle. As I have gotten older, I have broadened my practice. There is no material or way of making that I would discount as “not for me”. You never know!

Susan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an artist living in Charleston, SC. I make colorful ceramic sculptures that use abstract architectural and organic forms. My work is meant to be felt in the body like a rush of energy. Through loose, improvisational handling of materials, I create playful work that results in idiosyncratic structures. Symbols and patterns I use represent physical entities such as buildings, bodies, and land. The inner and outer worlds I experience collide in the work. Color joyfully erupts, lighting up the eyes and the mind. I think about John Ruskin, who so loved grass as a child, he wanted to eat it. He channeled that need into detailed drawings. I, too, am overwhelmed by a need to consume the world and process this through making. Color and shapes often have a taste, touch, or bodily feeling associated with them in my mind; the creation of the work is a full sensory experience.
A thread that has run through multiple projects concerns the way that people imbue objects with the power to hold memory, tie the living to the dead, and connect past to present. A common object becomes a sacred vessel, often passed down through generations. The object becomes one of devotion, turned into a votive. This, to me, is a metaphor for the act of making art.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think it can be difficult for others to understand working for no pay. When I make work, I try to not think about the commercial viability of my art; I have to stay true to my creative process. Being an artist should mean complete freedom in the studio without worrying about marketability. This can be difficult because money is a concern, but luckily I have a teaching job to support myself. I like the think of my art practice as an alternative to

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had sought out mentors. Now that I am older and in a place to mentor younger artists, I can see how helpful it is to have someone more experienced be a guide for artists just starting out. I encourage young artists to seek out advice from people they admire. Most creative people are very generous towards emerging artists and are happy to help!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.susankleinart.com
• Instagram: @sklein79

Image Credits
The credit for the image of me is MCG Photography