Postcard project

Those first few months of travel where shared with Tom, a fantastic human being I've been lucky to meet and love. As we eloped together, came the ritual of responding to the new places we visited through pigments and words: on a postcard he'd create a poem and me a painting. 

We've now parted ways but I'm very glad we created precious memories together, those postcards reflect it. 

You can see the 31 postcards on our joint Instagram account @panickingaroundtheworld  Some have sold already, but some remain available - I'd be very touched if you wish to give them a home! Flexible pricing, £30/50/70 +pp. 

Teaching in Provence - again! 

Once I'm back from Nepal, I might be able to do a quick stop in London before taking one more coach down to South of France - I taught there in Provence (Gordes) in October for a week long Painting Holiday with the Dulwich Art Group and School. I had such a bliss and I'm so grateful to be asked to come back for the upcoming sessions in May (21st-27th). 

Spots are going quickly I'm told, so don't hesitate to get in touch if you're interested! 

Teaching is something I deeply love, and the week long format allows for a very special sharing time. Amongst the painting sessions and informal moments (amazing food, amazing wine and a lot of laughters) there's a precious opportunity to understand more about who each of us is and how intricately related is the way we paint to our personality.

The way I teach combines technical skills (painting is no pure talent or magic tricks, it's a set of component that we learn to understand and master) and self discovery: identifying, embracing and developing (with playfulness!) the particular way through which we see the world and relate to it. 

During this course we're making the most of Gordes' stunning surrounding by focusing on landscapes - but in the same way that my personal practice isn't limited to one subject, my teaching aims to give guidance that will serve you across genres, let it be portraiture, still life or imaginary pieces.

I've missed teaching dearly, so I'm very much looking forward to it!

https://www.dulwichartgroup.co.uk/painting-holiday-in-provence/

Group show Lookers! 

Just before I left London, I had the chance to close this first artistic chapter with a prestigious group exhibition, sharing walls with Anastasia Pollard, Hero Johnson, Inma Garcia-Carrasco, Edith Dormandy and Melissa Scott-Miller. I got to present six new paintings and a collection of smaller works, some remain available - please don't hesitate to inquire!  

Landscape Artist of the Year 

Earlier in the summer I had to keep secret my participation to Landscape Artist of the Year, but now that it finally aired I can share my excitement with you!

For the painting I applied to the competition with, I was looking for a landscape I'd have an emotional connection with. What was important to me at the time was depicting how I experienced landscapes on a daily basis...back then I was still living on my narrowboat on London's canals and wanted to paint that; this porous interior-exterior situation. Well that's big words, and of course as I painted it, it was more simply about the excitement of painting from life, combining the outside (Broadway Market) with the inside (my home), shifting my body to compact the two.

The Blackpool painting is not so different: with the elongated portrait composition I wanted to paint what it was to stand there, looking at the pier in the distance. So hopefully as you look at it, you don't just see a seascape, but get to feel what it would have felt to stand in my shoes.
One thing that is rare enough for me to remember vividly; I did feel happy with my painting and proud of myself on that day. I was feeling the simple joy of participating regardless of the judges decision. An unexpectedly peaceful moment.

Both paintings are playfully mixing gouache and oils. Those two mediums are not meant to go together as water and oils don't chemically get along, but I've been playing with that resistance for some time now and always enjoy the variation of mark making, process and colour it offers.

Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year is shown on Sky TV on channel Sky Arts, Freeview channel 11.

Voilà for the latest updates. Beyond those adventurous adventures, the lived experience is that my mental health has been at its most challenging those past few months with anxiety going through the roof at times. Looking after my wounds has been my priority and even if I'm looking forward to be able to live life more lightly I'm learning to be patient and self-loving. 

Regarding the backpacking life, the minimalist approach suits me well even if I can't help but accumulating too many sketchbooks already! This said I'm very much looking forward to work with oils again and on bigger scales when I'm back in a more sedentary and spacious place. 

Thanks a lot for reading me, 
In a world where feeling lonely is common, I'm grateful to have this platform to share with beautiful and supportive individuals, 

Wishing you a very beautiful day,

Suzon xx