Today we’d like to introduce you to Sue Colton.
Hi Sue, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My love for all things artistic started at a very young age. I was always drawing and painting and finding creative outlets. However, art college was not an option for me, so I ended up in the corporate business world in Chicago, Illinois. But, my love for creating was always there. I was able to nurture that with doing murals for friends, family and the local school. As my children got older, I took local art classes and had the most amazing and inspiring teachers who encouraged me to continue and grow in my art practice.
I started in pastels and oil paints and love to create still life’s and landscapes. My love of nature and the beauty of the world around me are my constant inspirations. The vibrancy and immediacy of pastels really drew me in initially. And oil painting allows me to create with the same vibrant colors and beautiful edges.
During our relocation to Texas I had to put away the oils and pastels and wanted to try fiber art. I had seen artists on Instagram and was captivated with the textural beauty of the pieces. I was immediately hooked! I am not an abstract painter, but with fiber art I am able to find that freedom in abstract expressionism utilizing different textures and patterning effects. I also like to recycle different found fabrics and textiles into my pieces. I feel that the more literal landscape pieces and the abstract textile pieces inform each other in my art practice and I am so grateful to have found communities here in Texas that embrace both of my creative expressions.
We currently live in Frisco, Texas and I have found the most creative and welcoming art communities here in Frisco, and in McKinney, where I work out of my studio at Last Art Gallery.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love to create art and have started teaching fiber art classes for beginners to the world of weaving on a loom and punch needle art. Teaching others to create and bring home their very own piece of art has been a joy I was not prepared for! During the classes there is a sense of community as we create together. There is also a very meditative nature to working with fiber art. You have to take a moment to sit with the different materials and feel the textures and see what they are telling you to create. I really enjoy walking with the students as they find the fabrics and yarns that speak to them and then encouraging them to create a piece that it uniquely theirs.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I have found that artists tend to be very open and willing to welcome and help out other artists. We all know how nervous we can sometimes be to put our work out there to the public. Find an artist community in your area, there are many all around the DFW area, and go to a couple meetings. There you will find some mentors that can help and encourage you on your journey.
If you are just wanting to dip into figuring out what art styles you may enjoy, try a class in person or on-line. Our gallery, Last Art Gallery in McKinney has wonderful art classes in fiber, jewelry making, and many different styles of painting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sjcstudios.net
- Instagram: @sjc.studios
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SJCStudios
