+1 ::: When did you first realize you are an artist?When, at age 5, my kindergarten teacher sent my detailed painting of a Joshua tree to the Governor of California! But, more realistically, it would have been when I was 15 and entered a drawing and an oil painting into an art show at the San Bernardino County Fair, and people made offers to buy them. I did sell one for $15. (That was in 1959.)
+2 :::What is it that inspires you to paint a particular subject?Having grown up on the Mojave Desert and in Illinois farm country, I was a bona fide country girl. I loved old buildings, barns and houses. I painted them a lot. Then, as I grew older, I saw so many of these beautiful old buildings being torn down, and it saddened me. I felt a need to capture them quickly, before they were all gone. So I do. I call this
theme of mine "A Vanishing America."
+3 ::: What famous artists have influenced you, and how?My first influence was Norman Rockwell, who definitely inspired me to draw people, which was my earliest subject of choice.
Claude Monet, with his impressionistic fields and figures within landscapes. Eric Sloane, who painted old barns and beautiful skies. Emil Gruppe, with his large, chunky strokes of oil paint, and Richard Schmid, whose influence has been more long-term for me, driving home the importance of "not too much busyness" in the painting.
+4 ::: What do you do for fun (besides painting)?I've been a singer for many years. Currently I am singing about once a month at a musician's "jam" at Tony Starlight's Lounge and Supper Club, here in Portland.
I also enjoy writing. I am researching and writing a serious historical true-crime novel about a relative, Belle Gunness, a serial killer at the turn of the century.
I enjoy photographing the world around me . . . sometimes for paintings, but also as part of an on-line photography club called "jpgmag.com." I enjoy traveling in my truck, listening to music, hiking, exploring ghost towns, and learning about their history.
My number one enjoyment now is spending time with my two grandchildren who are 2 1/2-year-old twins, Noah and Ava, here in Portland. And, as of 2 weeks ago, I have a new granddaughter, Maja, who lives in Norway, and whom I look forward to getting to know in May of this year, when I will fly there.
+5 ::: What inspires you to create art and how do you keep motivated when things get tough in the studio?My inspiration could be defined as "having a strong desire to share with the world the beauty that our Creator created, even sometimes in ways that might escape the casual eye, when observing this beauty in nature." I enjoy the "process" of painting, as well as the gratification that comes when others enjoy my work and perhaps even buy a piece here and there. Then, I become re-inspired.
+6 ::: How have you handled the business side of being an artist? In the 60's I used to show with other artists at open-air shows in Southern California, mostly in Orange County. When I moved here and became one of the founding members and an officer of the Portland Fine Arts Guild, I exhibited, still in galleries, and also in their shows. I became disenchanted with galleries for many years, and began showing primarily by opening my studio/home quarterly. In the last few years, I have enjoyed displaying my work in restaurants and businesses that want artists to display their art to grace their walls.
I am selling a percentage of my paintings in British Columbia, Norway (currently negotiating), and to people who live here, but grew up elsewhere. I find this interesting, and I plan to now pursue representation in galleries, specifically in Kentucky and Tennesee. My predominant theme of "A Vanishing America" seems to appeal to people who grew up in the country or still live there and love it.
+7 :::Where do you see yourself in 10 years?In ten years, I see myself living in my vintage Airstream trailer, staying a week or month of two in various places (desert mostly), painting, writing, exhibiting and selling my work at outdoor shows, and meeting more cool people. I will come back to Portland for about 4 months of the year, when the desert temperatures reach 110 degrees, and so that I can be with most of my 4 kids and my grandchildren.
+8 ::: What is it about plein air that keeps you painting outdoors?Being outside is most important to me, enjoying the beauty, breathing in the clean air, soaking in the sunshine . . . and painting the beauty I see around me. It feels more real and valid when the painting is captured "on site" and "in the moment." I don't paint exclusively plein aire, as I also work from numerous photos I take of subjects, but I prefer the plein aire method.
+9 ::: What is the most unusual thing that has ever happened to you while you were outside painting?I thought I found a pretty secluded spot, got all set up and did part of a painting of some birds in a tree. I saw a CHP cop come driving across the field to where I was . . . he asked me what I was doing out there. I explained, and we began talking for awhile, when a second cop drove out across the field and parked on the other side of me . . . they the two cops started just talking to each other, LOUDLY, hollering back and forth, out in the middle of a field, and me standing in the middle of all of this, just wanting to be ALONE and PAINT! I held my ground . . . I wasn't going to pack up and move. After about 10 minutes, they finally said goodby and left! I thought, "This could ONLY happen to ME!"
+10 ::: What advice would you give to an artist just starting out? My best advice would be, (as it was when I taught at Mt. Hood College): Work long and hard on capturing the world around you by drawing a lot! Then, learn and nail the principles and elements of design...set out to understand what constitutes a strong composition. This might sound daunting, but once you mature in this area, your paintings will be more often of high quality, and not just "hit-and-miss."
Put on some "mood music" to help create a mood as you paint. Of course, if you are outside, you have the birds, frogs, and occasional train whistle to serenade you.
Don't let yourself become discouraged. Just keep drawing and painting! Good luck!
Contact: suziemckay(at)gmail.com
Website:
Suzanne McKay
