Susan Fourie

ARTIST PROFILE

Susan Fourie

Q&As

Hi Susan. Thank you so much for all your wonderful submissions to the Artspace Gallery, and for taking the time to talk about you and your work.

Q – What is your background?

A – I am 48 years old, the youngest of six siblings. I am married to an amazing husband, Johan, and have two beautiful children, a daughter, San-Mari, aged 21 and a son, Altus, aged 16.

‘Lady in Red’ by Susan Fourie (Oil Pastels)

Q – How did you get into art?

A – My love for art started when while I was in high school I watched my older brother doing a portrait for a relative. I also wanted to try it out and got hooked on art!

Q – Where do you live and does living there influence your creative process or provide inspiration in another way?

A – I live in a very small town, Winterton, in South Africa. Winterton is situated in the Central Drakensberg area, which is also a heritage site, and am so privileged to live in one of the most scenic places in South Africa. It inspires me everyday; the majestic Drakensberg mountain range, rolling green hills, crops of the farmers in the fields and the list go on! South Africa as a whole inspires me because I think our country is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Being a small place it is sometimes difficult to be creative because I have to travel far for art supplies.

‘La Paloma’ by Susan Fourie (Oil Pastel and Pencil)

Q – What is your chosen subject and why?

A – I don’t have a chosen subject. The subject choose me! I can look for a certain subject to paint and all of a sudden I see something completely different to what I am looking for and then my soul just have to put it on canvas!

Q – What medium and materials do you work with?

A – I work with all media: oil, acrylic, water colour, pastels, colour pencils, charcoal, wall paint and mixed medium. I am like a chameleon, I can’t stick to one medium!

‘Protea Flower’ bu Susan Fourie (Soft Pastel Pencils)

Q – Where do you get your inspiration from?

A – My inspiration comes from my soul, my emotions and love for life!

Q – How would you describe your style? How has your style evolved over time, and what has influenced its development?

A – I don’t have a specific style. I am a self taught artist. I find my own styles. Sometimes I make use painting techniques on drawing techniques and vice versa. Just as long as I get the result I was planning on. I found myself enjoying finer detailed work more than loose styles.

‘Once You Become Fearless, Time Becomes Limitless’ by Susan Fourie (Oil Pastel Painting)

Q – What is your creative process?

A – I am quite a free spirit and just do it! Hahaha

Q – What’s your studio like?

A – I am working in my house where I can find a space. Usually my kitchen table as it has good lighting. But I am so excited – I am busy renovating a small outside building into my art studio and can’t wait for it to be finished.

‘Young Wild and Free’ by Susan Fourie (Watercolour)

Q Are there fellow artists who inspire you, who either work with the same media as you, or in other fields?

A – Since Winterton is a tourist destination there are quite a few artists around here! They are more into the paints like oil, acrylic and water colours.

Q – How do you know when a piece is finished and when it’s the right time to stop?

A – I usually don’t know when to stop. But when I find myself making mistakes at the end of my work I tell myself: Susan, you are messing up now – it’s time to put down your brush. Sometimes I will leave it on my easel and as the days go by I will see something that needs “something” and once that is done I am happy to put everything down and start cleaning up.

‘Carmen’ by Susan Fourie (Oil Pastels)

Q – Is there an artwork you are most proud of? Why?

A – I am actually proud of most of my work but I there are 2 pieces that I can say are my favourites. The beach acrylic painting with the title “The Ocean Stirs The Heart” and my pencil drawing titled “The Big Five”.

‘The Ocean Stirs The Heart’ by Susan Fourie (Acrylic Paint on 20 x 27″ canvas)

Q – Are there any other art forms that you would like to try?

A – Yes, absolutely! Wood art, sculpting, pottery, liquid pouring and glass painting.

‘Eve’s Apple’ by Susan Fourie (Lyra Polychrome Colour Pencils)

Q – What are you working on at the moment?

A – I have just finished my realistic close up still life, “Eve’s Apple” in Polychrome colour pencils.