Behind the scenes with Susan Mackie -An online interview
I am delighted to welcome Susan Mackie to our gallery this month, in a very special joint exhibition - FAMILY TIES.
This is Susan’s first exhibition at Emerald Gallery, joining us from North Yorkshire. She has created a wonderful collection of mixed media paintings which are on display alongside her daughters (Ali) artworks.
Explore more of this exhibition and discover more about Susan in this interview…
Susan Mackie
Please could you describe your work for us
I dot about a bit with my work - from sketching quite simplistically one day and then another day I dive right into painting usually on wooden panels or paper working in a series with a wonderful variety of tools and media. Mixed media best describes what I enjoy.
Tell us a little more about your journey to becoming an artist.
In my head I have created all my life, but I didn’t know how to tangibly express this until late midlife. Studies in Interior Design and Photography led me to my Art. Ever since I have sought out excellent teachers who have guided and supported me along the way and enabled me to enjoy representing my creative thoughts in pictures.
Black Irises by Susan Mackie
Where do you find your inspiration?
I find inspiration all around me from shapes, lines, colour and text that I notice in my every day. I have a particular love of plant forms and often incorporate these in my abstract painting work; I love sketching in gardens and observing the contours of leaves, flowers and fruits.
Are you able to describe a typical creative day for us?
If it’s a studio day I often start by a little tidying up as I am a bit of a procrastinator and then without much forethought I begin with some paint or drawing play to loosen up and from play usually springs ideas for moving forward with a new body of work. I only work on one piece for a short time and move to the next to keep the work fresh and playful before putting my work onto my ‘thinking shelf’ to come back to another day to start considering composition, values and colour palette.
Tell us more about your process and techniques behind your art.
Coming back to my work with fresh eyes is very helpful and informs my next steps. I don’t think ahead I just follow my intuition in the moment applying many layers of paint, usually incorporating abstracted elements from my photographs, sketches and gathered ideas. Using a variety of media and techniques which include drawing, painting, mark making, scraping and sanding back, ripping and sticking collage papers, I slowly build up the abstract image like jigsaw puzzle construction.
New Start by Susan Mackie
Is there a piece of art that you’ve created, that you’re particularly fond of, or proud of?
Yes ‘Sweeping Away Summer’ which I painted in 2019 was the first piece to be accepted in a juried open exhibition.
It was at the Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate; I was swept away with the news and extra special news was that it sold during the exhibition.
Do you have any tips for people buying artwork for their own homes?
We all have individual tastes in art, our clothes, in our home decor and in our life so we will be drawn to paintings which more than likely would compliment our homes so my feelings are if you love a piece of art, can afford it then the chances are it will fit into your personal spaces somewhere beautifully. Looking for a piece to fit a special place in the home I would find a bit tricky as I buy on impulse so perhaps I am not the right person to advise!
And finally, where can we see more of (and buy) your art?
🔸You can find my latest collection at Emerald Gallery until the 28th of October!🔸
I enjoy showing my work at local exhibitions in North Yorkshire and being part of Just Maker’s Gallery Summer Collection in Ripley. On Instagram you can find me @my1artlibrary and my website is www.susanmackie.art - I welcome enquiries.
Family Ties is open Tuesday to Saturday until the 28th of October.
A warm welcome awaits if you would like to view the paintings at the gallery 🙂
Susan and Ali Mackie at Emerald Gallery