ARTIST NAME | Suzy Czerwinski is a local artist showcasing pieces in oil, watercolor and acrylic.
What positions have you held as an artist?
I was the vice president and gift shop director of Mooresville Arts for two years. I held various positions in South Carolina, including secretary and part owner of an art co-op. In addition, I have planned and hosted workshops for adults and children, and enjoyed doing Sip ‘n Stroke events for adults. Seeing their pleasure in creating a painting of their own is a happy moment for me.
How would you describe your work?
My work is eclectic…I like trying different techniques and mediums. A photo shows the realism of a subject, but expressing how you feel about it is totally different. Art is a creative form of expression, and everyone has a different way of expressing themselves.
Which other artists most inspired you?
Van Gogh is one of my favorite artists…he is very expressive, showing you how he feels about a subject. I also like Salvador Dali. He was a surrealist, someone who worked out of the box. I’m a nonconformist at heart, so these two artists fit me.
Where do you find your best sources for inspiration?
Inspiration for my art comes from everyday instances of what I see as beauty occurring around me. Whenever I spy a bird sitting still long enough to be able to photograph it, I jump at the chance as it gives me the opportunity to capture that beauty on canvas. I’ve been commissioned to do portraits of animals and people but also enjoy expressing myself in landscapes of places I’ve visited. More recently, I have indulged in creating poured paintings. It’s what I see in the way the paint flows that excites me.
What is the greatest compliment you’ve received about your work?
Two things stand out to me: being asked to do a commission piece and being juried into a show while receiving a ribbon for my work. I have done several commissions over the past 20 years and have received prizes on many of my paintings. This has earned me the status of Signature Member in the South Carolina Watermedia Society. When I first moved to NC, I was asked by a local business owner if I would display some of my paintings at his office where he welcomes clients…I have been doing that for the past six years, changing them out occasionally.
What are you working on now that you are excited about?
I am trying to capture the stunning sky that appeared on one of my visits to the National Veterans cemetery where my husband is buried. I’m applying both pouring paint and brush techniques to complete this painting. I’m also working on a large painting whereby I’m reimagining the soldiers from the Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC onto a battlefield in Korea.
I design and create personalized memorial stones for neighbors in my subdivision who have recently passed. They are placed in our community garden and reflect the person’s name, year of death as well as a customized image of something that reflects one of their interests.
What is one piece of creative advice you wish you had learned sooner?
Never get discouraged in your creation of art…each artist has his or her own style, and it’s not necessarily wrong. Not everyone will like your art; but just remember, it’s something you created!
If you are interested in learning more about this month’s artist, please visit her on Instagram @Suzycze.
