'Studio Chatter' with Suzie Cumming Art

Hey I thought it would be fun to kick off my first blog post in a Q and A format. The idea is that this blog will become a place for me to come and chatter about all things art in a light hearted manner whenever I feel the urge. In keeping it light and simple it may help me to post more regularly. In the past I have tried to keep up with blogs only for it to feel like too bigger a task to post often enough.

So here goes, this week I'm answering some questions which may help you find out more about me and why I do what I do. I'm not sure I know all the answers to 'why I do what I do' yet but maybe we will find out more together as I write more of these posts!

Me in my art studio combining yoga with painting!

Q1: Did you have a favourite hobby as a child? Yes two favourite hobbies, black and white photography and creating accessories/clothes on my sewing machine. When I say creating clothes I mean cobbling together fabrics and making it up as I went along!

Q2: Did you pursue art after College? Yes, after my A levels I studied within the arts for 5 years starting with a foundation at Portsmouth Art College, a BA in Textile Design at Leeds College of Art & Design and an MA in Textiles and Fashion at Winchester School of Art.

Q3: What was your first job after leaving Uni? I had two jobs, I worked for a rug company designing contemporary and oriental rugs in Surrey and I also worked as a Textile Technician at University College Chichester, W. Sussex.

Q4: Tell me what was the highlight of your twenties? Buying an Around The World Ticket with my boyfriend, now hubby and travelling for a year in Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Lake Matheson, Fox Glacier, South Island, New Zealand 2001

Q5: Random one, what was your favourite Mr Men character as a child? Mr Happy, for his massive smile and the colour yellow which was and still is one of my favourite colours.

Q6: What is your favourite colour now? That's too hard for me to choose just one, I have different favourites on a daily basis but I do have a favourite all time colour combination and that has to be turquoise, pink and that Mr Happy 'yellow'. The painting below is the perfect example of that, 'Yellow Mountain Rising'.

'Yellow Mountain Rising' - Mixed Media Painting on Canvas, 60cms x 60cms

Q7: If you had to choose just 3 art materials to take with you on your travels what would they be and why? A pocket sketchbook, black sketching pen and a set of oil pastels. This is the basics that I took with me when I was travelling for a year in my 20's. The black pen allows me to create crisp drawings and I love oil pastels for their smooth and bright colours and the fact that you can sketch quickly with them. I would probably need a 4th thing which would be hairspray to fix the pastels with but I could consider that to be classed as hair products!

Mexican Church Sketch 2001. Here is a little sketch that I made in Mexico with oil pastels and pen.

Q8: What is your favourite thing to do to relax and don't say art? Uuuuuuuum, well obviously I would have said making art but if I can't choose that I would go for yoga, a walk in the woods/beach or watching multiple series of 'Death in Paradise' with some dark chocolate biscuits and a cup of tea, easily pleased! If we are talking more active relaxation then you will find me out on the water with my boys paddle boarding or kayaking.

Bluebells in the Godolphin Woods, Cornwall 2021

Q9: Name 5 artists that you have been inspired by over the years? Patrick Heron, Ken Done, Gillian Ayres, Henri Matisse, Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

Q10: Name one of your art goals for this year. To paint a painting every single week. No pressure! If you are reading this and are setting out on an art goal this year for 2022 then drop me a line, I would love to hear what you are up to. Here is last week's painting 'Dancing Ponds', oh and look closely, it has blue, pink and yellow in it! Now this one is a bit of a cheat as it was started last year but I finished it this year, so it took a little longer than a week!

'Dancing Ponds' - Acrylic and Mixed Media Painting on Canvas, 100cms x 80cms

Wow, that was fun and a bit of a blast to the past. I may just keep the Q and A format for the next one. Any comments, feel free to drop me a line. If there is something that you think would make for interesting 'studio chatter' then please let me know, I am all ears!

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