You may have gotten up close and personal with a detailed wall hanging on our feed recently, and we’re SO excited that we were able to sit down with the creator of that amazing peice and get to know more about her creative journey, her history, and where she’s going in the future. Suzanne is a talented artist, and we are so honored to spotlight her on the blog today. Enjoy!
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Hi Suzanne, tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
Hi! My name is Suzanne and first and foremost I am a mom to two amazing girls & wife and truly adore my family. I was a photographer for about 20 years, starting off as an assistant in NYC and continuing while I lived in Islamorada, Florida, where I loved working in my darkroom developing film and large B&W prints. Our move to Hilton Head Island, SC in 2007 opened up the world of digital of photography to me, but I decided to explore other mediums of art about 5 years ago as I wasn't digging the editing process that digital photography required. I still love shooting, but not a big fan of the processing work. I began teaching myself crochet, knitting and macrame, but really fell in love with weaving.
Describe your style as an artist. What medium do you use?
Hmmm, this is hard because I am still finding my way as an artist in working with fiber. At the moment I am just working with a color palette of black, white and gold which I find interesting due to my background as a B&W photographer. By working with just the 3 colors, I find that it helps me focus on the design and technique of each piece. I have a feeling that my style will be all over the place as I can't see myself just sticking to one theme for very long. I don't want to get boxed into one particular style. I want to explore different ideas, designs, and techniques.
Where do you find inspiration?
I use my feelings and past experiences mostly as an inspiration. Also music ... and the news/current events. Because weaving is such a slow art, when I get inspired by something, I write and sketch out the idea with hopes of one day creating it.
What's a typical workday look like for you? Tell us about your process.
Summers are tough because I am hustling my kids all over the place. Once school begins I have a more sound schedule This will be my first year that I will have a lot more uninterrupted time to create and work now that my older daughter is driving. Get up, go to the gym, come home and sit at my loom.
What does your workspace look like? Do you work from home or in a studio? Describe your space and personal style within it.
I work from my small home that sits up in the trees and overlooks the water in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Our place is full of natural light and my work area is small, but it has a great view. My style is a bit eclectic and leans to a more mid-century Scandinavian loft vibe. All the cards and art that my girls have made for me over the years are pinned up on the wall next to me. I can glance over them if I ever need a quick pick me up.
Who are some of your favorite artists? Musicians? People that inspire you?
For the artists, a few of the classics that I love ... Matisse, Picasso, Jean Arp, Jan Yoors. Photographers: Sebastian Salgado and Henri Cartier-Bresson are two of my favs. Fiber Artists: Anni Albers, Silvia Heyden, Herman Scholten. I follow a bunch of new/current day artists on Instagram. There are so many talented people out there - they are so inspiring! The list constantly grows and evolves.
My music playlist is all over the place. I mostly listen to classic rock…Led Zeppelin, Bowie, The Who, CSN&Y, Grateful Dead, Queen. Essentially most bands from the late 60's through the 70's. I also love music from the 80's because that was my childhood. Also, The Black Keys & Beastie Boys to classical & ambient. It’s a total mish-mash.
Where can we see and/ or purchase your art? Be sure to let us know about any upcoming shows, events or publications.
Currently, all my work is on Etsy and Instagram. I plan on having a stand-alone website in the future but I feel like I need to have a larger body of work before I get to that point.
What are the next steps in your career?
To just continue to create. To turn my feelings, thoughts, and ideas into tangible items that may resonate with someone other than myself.
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Thanks Suzanne! We so enjoyed chatting with you about work, life, art and inspiration. If you want to see more of Suzanne’s work, you can find her on Instagram at @plyhandcrafted or you can visit her Etsy store, here.