Choices, change and introspection is only a small part of what describes her new work - Susan Sorrell Hill is a painter and
illustrator full of surprise and magic. In this blog art exhibition on TYT she exclusively presents her new paintings and speaks about taking a break from blogging. Susan gives very personal insights about why she focussed on the themes fear, magic and change in her artwork this past year. Susan Sorrell Hill lives in Northern California.
You've been working on a series of
new paintings this Spring. What kind of emotions did you
have during this journey?
Susan: Iʼd spent the better part of the last
two years working on the illustrations and dummies for two childrenʼs
books that I wrote...and then taking various steps to bring them to
the attention of publishers and agents. The childrenʼs publishing
market is a confusing blend of change and chance these days, and most
of the old routes to publication do not seem to apply anymore. So
despite loving book illustration best of all forms of art, Iʼve not
found my book illustration niche yet. I decided that it would be a
good, sane idea to focus on more personal work for a while...to give
my imagination a looser reign...and see where that led.
A friend pointed out that these eight
new paintings seem to be addressing fear of one sort or another, and
I suspect that she is right. When Iʼm not painting for a book
project, the initial drawing for a painting evolves out of my stream
of consciousness: Iʼm not trying to express a particular thought or
storyline. However, things that are brewing in my own thoughts,
dreams and feelings, as well as what Iʼve been reading about or
observing in others makes its way into the drawings. Themes such as
limitation, obstacles, choices, change and introspection are common
in my work, and a lot of that comes out of the uncertainty of ʻart
as a career.ʼ
Essentially dream images, these paintings can be
interpreted in many different ways. I like this way of working very
much, and am frequently surprised at the images that come through.
They often tell me a story that I didnʼt even know I was thinking
about. And though the style of these non- book paintings is very much
like an illustration, I think that they have more depth and layers of
meaning than an illustration that is specific to a particular
storyline.
My favorite artists have all been
illustrators, not large-scale oil painters, so perhaps it is natural
that my favorite way of working has come to be works on paper that
are intimate in size...and images that seem to tell a story, though
that story may remain mysterious.
What role does the word "choice"
and "journey" play in your artwork?
Susan: I suppose that you could say that I am
an introvert at heart...and that contemplation has played more of a
role in my life than physical activities. Consequently, I am
fascinated by the world literature and philosophies that explore the
inward Journey of Life, which is ultimately about the growth of a
personʼs Soul. Iʼm drawn to things like Jungian psychology and
archetypes, symbolism, the Tarot and Rune oracles, and all things
ancient, myth and fairytale...because all of these, in their
particular way, are expressing universal truths, obstacles and
lessons that apply to every individualʼs life. On this Journey,
choices have far-reaching consequences, and circuitous routes to our
mysterious destinations are common. I hope to express some of all of
this in my imagery...it seems important somehow to make visual
symbols out of such deep subjects.
Your new work also shows some of
your characters in fear... in one painting you can see shadows trying
to take a hold of something. What do your characters experience in
your paintings?
Susan: Perhaps it is not so much Fear that is
expressed in my work, as it is an exploration of fearful
situations...and the equanimity (or lack of) with which fear can be
faced and mastered. In one painting, shadows seem to express the fact
that demanding or threatening or shaming voices will always be
around, and there is no rest unless one leaves the room! In another,
a small, beautiful tree thrives in the very center of an overbearing
environment. And in another, a man runs across deep water, safely
oblivious to the toothy creatures nipping at his heels and swimming
below. He seems to carry some sort of guardian creature on his
shoulder. I suppose you could say that my characters are wrestling
with the issues that Life presents.
Magic and art... do you see a
connection?
Susan: I came across a quote years ago about
the idea that words are the most powerful form of magic (it may have
been Starhawk?), and I see that this idea has now been incorporated
into the last Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and The Deathly
Hallows, Part Two, spoken by the wizard-professor, Albus Dumbledore.
He said, “Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic.”
Now certainly there is truth in this
idea, but I would expand it a bit more, and say that symbols (of
which art is comprised) are the most powerful form of magic...because
symbols (and words are symbols too) have the power to change
consciousness, for better or worse. Joseph Campbell, the American
mythologist, writer and lecturer, explored this viewpoint
extensively.
Susan: I have always thought that artists
could (should?) best honor their gifts by putting positive symbols,
positive magic into the world, rather than adding to the darkness
that is already here. I think that I am attracted to fairytales
because these tales imply that, despite the darkness, there is always
a hidden path, protection and guidance, and a positive outcome to
life, if only one does her very best and perseveres.
On the purely material level, allowing
an image to flow from oneʼs heart, oneʼs unconscious thoughts and
feelings, oneʼs dreams absolutely feels like Magic, even before
anyone else ever reacts to the artwork. What else could the creative
impulse be called but magic?
A while back you took a break from
blogging. What was it like?
This digital era has brought the new
Social Networking wave too: Facebook, Twitter and blogging seem to
have suddenly become part of every serious artist’s career plan.
But being technologically-challenged, I was very adverse to the idea
of writing a blog. Then I saw the movie, Julie and Julia (“Julia
Child's story of her start in the cooking profession...intertwined
with blogger Julie Powell's 2002 challenge to cook all the recipes in
Child's first book”) and thought well, maybe I could offer some
fruits of all of my contemplation and reading, and show my artwork as
well. Who knows what showing up beyond the reaches of my little town
could bring?
I do like design and beauty very much,
so putting together a blog (and a website) is very artistically
satisfying. And I do like putting words and pictures together, being
a story- lover at heart. Once I launched my new blog, Dream &
Vision: life through the eyes of an artist, I was pleasantly
surprised by all the positive appreciation and wonderful connections
with readers and artists all over the world!
But blogging and social media take a
lot of time to do well and consistently...and so far, I have not
found them to be very useful in practical terms. Perhaps it gathers
momentum? For me personally, blogging weekly is way too much time
spent in front of a computer screen, and it takes me away from what I
really love: drawing and painting. I’m finding a better balance now
by posting great career news flashes, plus writing once in a while
just for fun. Of course, “balance” is a flexible thing by nature,
so my blogging activity could be different in the future!
