We recently connected with Susanna Booth and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Susanna, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

I have been so fortunate to have friends all along in my creative journey who have been supportive and even commissioned paintings, even when my skill needed improvement. However, I will never forget my first sale to someone I didn’t know. In 2019 I was so appreciative to be able to display my art in a charming tea shop in Ann Arbor. The management kindly allowed me what was basically a rotating gallery in the front of their store. I had a painting series of six 3*3″ canvasses. It was inspired by my love of the movie La La Land.
I got a call while I was at the dentist one day that the entire set had all been sold to one buyer. The feeling that someone had found my work meaningful enough to make a part of their life, touched me deeply and it still does anytime I sell a piece.

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?

As a child, I enjoyed drawing, performing and creative thinking of any kind. All of my creative expressions, whether it was drawing or were colored by my love of old Hollywood glamour. As an adult, I would have little creative hobbies: making jewelry or sketching. My mom died when I was still in my 20s. My husband and I had recently moved back to Michigan from NY. I felt overwhelmed, dealing with the loss of my mother and adjusting to leaving a life I loved. I decided to start painting. For many years I only did it from time to time. I valued self expression and creativity over skill. During the pandemic however, i felt my lack of skill was limiting my self expression, so I went back to the drawing board, literally, and taught myself to draw what I see. When I got into oil painting in 2022, I felt like I finally found my medium. I
love oil painting. Mostly I paint portraits of animals and people, often together with a colorful, nostalgic vibe. Sometimes I create surreal paintings. I like a piece to have a meaningful message, and it’s ok if people interpret it in their own way. I’m most proud of myself for sticking with it.
No one in my family was an artist, so I did it of my own initiative and desire. I’m happy to see myself improve over time. What sets my work apart from others is it is mine. I’m unique. Just like everyone is unique. No one has my brain or lived my life. I love art for that reason.
My husband has been supportive of my creative endeavors and I really have to credit him with why I can regularly create. I still don’t believe I have reached my full potential but I think that’s exciting. The future is full and bright and the possibilities are endless.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think we all benefit from exercising creativity in different forms. It’s how we express who we are as individuals.
Whether it’s crafting, organizing or problem solving, every person is expressing creativity in some way in their life. I get deep gratification from creating something tangible from my imagination. I don’t feel fully myself unless I am regularly creating in some manner. The deep fulfillment after succeeding in making my ideas come to fruition is a feeling unlike any other, but the feeling doesn’t last long and I must start all over again. Part of the joy of creating is then sharing it. I feel sometimes that may be misconstrued as showing off or self promotion, but I believe it’s just part of the creative process and a way of melding our inner world with our outer world.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Creating for me is about self expression. In my communication with others, I’m very interested and curious to learn about them but am apprehensive to share a lot about myself unless I am very comfortable. Self expression through art is my way of communicating who I am. I like being able to share myself without feeling that I am monopolizing anyone’s time, people can choose if they are interested or not. For this reason, I am deeply touched and appreciative when anyone shows an interest in my art. Whatever we do in life, whatever actions or words we put out are released into everyone else’s unique filter. Creating art and sharing it is an exercise in recognizing that we have no control, really over how others perceive us. I have found freedom in recognizing this and not being overly concerned about how others view myself or my art. My goal in my art is to fully be able to express myself through it and to continually make efforts to improve both technically and in emotional resonance.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://susannaboothdesigns.etsy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susannabooth.art?igsh=YzFhZ3BsMDQwYjMz