Today we’d like to introduce you to Susie Cortez.
Susie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
For as long as I could remember, all I wanted to be was an artist. My drawings gave me the confidence at an early age that I could be, no, that I was an artist. My biggest supporters are my parents. They encouraged me to follow my dreams and if I wanted to be an artist, then I should practice my craft, and so I did. Throughout my school years in Los Angeles, all I did was draw and doodle. Dreaming about creating drawings and buildings. I was going to become an architect! Because of my lack of confidence in the business world, someone led me away from Architecture and I now know that it was the best thing ever for me. I instead enrolled at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, where I learned about Fine Art, but the college was not teaching the basics that I needed. I was frustrated because I was taking drawing classes and I realized I was not as good as I thought I was or been told.
Then, by pure coincidence, I came across an art studio. I saw that they taught Fine Art and I could teach children while I learned these basics. I then went to an interview with the founder, Larry Gluck of the school and after a few days, I was teaching at the said studio. Larry became my mentor over this time and one of the most influential people in my life. He was not only a master at his craft but was the embodiment of a caring, loving and nurturing human being. I worked hard to develop my skills and learned everything I could from Larry, not only for my own advancement but for the students I was to teach.
As an artist, I was able to create illusions of reality that I never thought possible. I was confident in any medium and I feel like I could grow more and more now.
I left for Italy in April of 2015 for a few months. I traveled to 25 different cities and painted over 30 works in pastel, charcoal, watercolor, and oils. I had an exhibition in January 2016 in Los Angeles and sold over 3/4 of all the work!
I found my style in Italy, the culture there and the art I was able to appreciate up close was incredible. I learned from Michelangelo how to chase perfection and communicate through my art. I became a more well-rounded artist and person while in Italy.
Another stepping stone in my career has been attending the incredible city of Miami for Art Basel, the artists I have met there and the art that I see inspires me and keeps me aware of what I need to improve on. Art is not a competition amongst other artists. I feel we all have a voice, a story to tell and we can all tell it in our own unique way.
Last March, I became the first Salvadoran to be invited to paint at the National Gallery in Washington DC. It was an incredible honor I got to paint and one other gallery a duplication of James Whistler painting.
Right now is the best time of my life as an artist living here in Dallas. I feel I can communicate clearly and move the hearts of viewers. The more people I reach, the more I believe I can contribute to the beauty in our lives.
I just returned from Turks and Caicos from a show I did out there. It was an incredible experience that I look forward to having again very soon.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As an artist, art has given me strength, a voice, and a stage to freely express myself.
You always hear that being an artist is tough and it’s hard to make a living being one or that you have to be dead in order to become famous. I don’t agree with that at all. I think one can be very successful as long as they show their passion for the craft, have something that is welcomed by the community and can make the viewer engage with the art.
Although I’ve had barriers in my career, I have had plenty of successes that I am grateful for. But just like in any industry, I have to prove myself as an artist. Just recently, I was discussing with other colleagues that Art is still thought of as a male-dominated field. So not only so I have to demonstrate my skills as an artist, I have to do it in the field that more often than not holds male artists at a higher level than women. If I could banish one barrier for myself and other women, it would be that. I want the field of art to be flooded by highly skilled female artists and have us gain the recognition and worthiness that we deserve.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I work in various mediums from oils, watercolor, pastels, charcoal, mixed media, pen and ink, and acrylics. Recently, I have created several acrylic paintings of athletes, artists and other people that have inspired me and the community. Depending on the medium, I can create different effects in order to communicate my work. In 2018, completed a portrait of R&B artist, Usher with broken records.
One of the pieces I am most proud of is a painting that was commissioned by a church in Allen, it is a 5’x7’ oil painting on linen and it hangs at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church for parishioners to enjoy.
Being able to use each medium to communicate differently is what separates me from other students. I can create a very realistic soft oil portrait, a loose colorful landscape with watercolors or a dynamic colorful portrait in acrylics and a knife.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a very shy, quiet kid. I enjoyed hanging out with my friends, family, traveling to El Salvador on vacation and drawing a lot.
I think what got me out of my shell and gave me the confidence to make friends and talk to people was my art. It has been constant in my life.
I would often get in trouble at school for not listening in class and doodling instead. Don’t get me wrong, I still had good grades and was an above average student but art has always been very important in my life for as long as I could remember.
The more I grew as an artist, the more confidence I got as a person.
Contact Info:
- Website: Sooztheartist.com
- Phone: 5626861554
- Email: sooztheartist@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Sooztheartist
- Facebook: Facebook.com/Sooztheartist
- Twitter: Twitter.com/Sooztheartist
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