Art & Life with Susan Proctor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Proctor.

Susan, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up playing the piano and that was my art form for many years. I always envisioned myself as a painter and visited many art museums, fascinated by the different styles and techniques and colors. As a child, my favorite gift from my uncle was a set of art markers in 24 different colors. Maybe that was an indication that someday I would become a painter. I also used to love to do jigsaw puzzles as a child. I view every single painting that I do as a puzzle. Maybe those two things were indicators that someday I would become a painter. Twenty five years ago, I begin painting old furniture in whimsical style and selling it in booths at antique malls. After doing this for a couple of years, I took a painting class and it immediately felt comfortable to me. I have been painting since then, and my style has changed over the years. I began painting interiors and chairs. Soon I developed a reputation for painting interesting chairs in an expressionist style, often abstracting them and using bright colors. I soon came to be represented by multiple galleries in the area and one in North Carolina. I took classes from many different teachers and I also taught classes to adults and many to children. I became more experimental using different materials. For example, I incorporated into my paintings some old piano music that both my mother and I had learned with. I also use screen, fabric and gauze. My paintings have gone from more realistic to very abstract. I think that my style has developed over the years and become more sophisticated. I do not like to be pigeonholed into a style and like the freedom to be able to paint what I like. I am inspired many things but sometimes the paint and materials themselves are my inspiration. Painting is a joy to me and I hope that the work that I produce can evoke some sort of emotion from the viewer.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I create a variety of mixed media acrylic paintings ranging from realistic to abstract. I love to paint faces in an expressionist style to reflect the soul of the person. I am also inspired by ancient frescoes and cave art. I have done a series of paintings inspired by the frescoes in the bath house at Masada in Israel. The texture and earthy colors like ochre and Venetian red excite me. My most current paintings are abstract forms that have no reference. They begin with a mark or a material that I adhere to the canvas or surface. I keep adding color and texture until I get the desired effect illustrating movement, balance and unity. I never know when the painting is complete until it speaks to me. I usually go in at the end it put in some black charcoal or pastel line. When a person looks at one of my paintings and sees something that I might not have even seen, it gives me great pleasure. I love for everyone to see something different in my paintings. I like to think of myself as a diverse artist who is not afraid to try new materials or subjects and as I said, I prefer not to be pigeonholed into a particular style. I consider it a privilege to be able to paint and produce work that people value and enjoy looking at.

In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges facing artists is the same challenge that is facing many other businesses including retail. That is the Internet. Many people want instant art that matches their decor and they don’t want to pay a lot for it so they go to online sites to purchase inexpensive reproductions. Artists must be creative and try to stay ahead of the game by utilizing the Internet to sell their art. It is a challenge for many of us. I think that most artists want people to recognize and appreciate the time, creativity and energy that goes into original artwork.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
At this present time, my paintings can be seen at IDEA Gallery in Chamblee, Frameworks Gallery in Marietta and Newbill Gallery in Seaside, Florida. I also have paintings at MACOM on Mt. Vernon Hwy. I am a member of Atlanta Artists Center and Dunwoody Fine Art Association, where I am able to show my work at a variety of venues including Dunwoody Library and Feldman Law. I also periodically have shows at my studio, which is in my home. My website is Susan Proctor Art as are my Facebook and Instagram pages.

Contact Info:

• Website: Susanproctorart
• Email: susanproctorart@gmail.com
• Instagram: Susan Proctor Art
• Facebook: Susan Proctor

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