Susan Simonini
Tasmania, Australia
Website
www.susansimonini.com
Social Media
Instagram
How would you describe your work?
My work is non-representational - colourful, patterned, abstract paintings that contain formal geometric elements or informal geometric compositions.
What inspires you?
Just like my paintings, my inspiration is layered. I draw ideas from my immediate surroundings, the nostalgia of childhood memories, colour theory, emotions, glimpses of shapes and pattern - lots of small things that add up! In general, I am inspired by the joy of life, nature and human connection.
Can you speak about your process?
Working in series, I begin each painting with gestural mark-making, from which I visualise shapes materialising. Embracing these initial intuitive compositions, and following the pathways they present, loose geometric patterns begin to emerge. The paint is constantly added and subtracted, creating layers of depth, and I also use glazing in my work to create patina. Each painting informs the next, creating a fluid connection or conversation between them all.
How did you become interested in art?
I have been drawing, painting and making my whole life! I carried a sketchbook with me in childhood, creating a visual diary of sorts. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in looking at or creating art.
Do you have any favorite artists, movies, books, or quotes?
I have lots of favourites! As I was a teenager in the 80’s I naturally have a love of Pop music and Pop Art, so needless to say Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat (more neo expressionist than pop), Keith Haring and Roy Lichenstein had a big influence on me. I also love Cy Twombly, Agnes Martin, Kiki Smith, Richard Diebenkorn - the list goes on and on. I love stop-motion animation (Nightmare before Christmas, Coraline, Frankenweenie) and of course classic 80s movies, particularly those directed by John Hughes.
What advice do you have for younger artists?
Make art that is authentically yours. Resist the temptation to show your work until you have spent a considerable amount of time honing your skills and style. Don’t pay too much attention to either praise or criticism - neither matters if you are making the art that makes you come alive.
