Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Billings.
Hi Suzanne, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I graduated from the Philadelphia College of Art (now the University of the Creative and Performing Arts) in the 1980s, my degree focusing on oil painting and sculpture. I trained under some very talented and well-known artists, including David Fertig, Harry Soviak, Larry Day, and Alice Neel. Soon after graduating, I married and put my career on hold to help my ex-husband through his medical education and then raise 4 children. Now divorced and with my children out on their own, I headed back into the studio, this time attempting to master acrylic paints… attempting to achieve the lush color and depth of oils. (It’s an entirely new world for me!). I prefer to paint figures, mostly captured in quiet, unexpected poses… but I have found my abstracts, landscapes, and flamingo pieces (yes, flamingos😳) are what really garner the most attention.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When is it ever a smooth road for an artist, lol?! Surrendering my passion for painting and drawing for the better part of 30 years was very difficult, but it was also extraordinarily important for me to be present for my children…so I put my artistic pursuits on hold. I still drew and kept my feet in the art world by occasionally teaching and volunteering, but it wasn’t quite like being in my own space and creating on my terms. Switching from oil paint to acrylics was particularly challenging. I loved the feel and purity of oils, but when I began to paint, it was in my home with gas appliances. I found out the hard way in college that turpentine and mineral spirits do not play well with gas appliances! So, switch I did. I find that painting with acrylics is tough because your decisions must be quick and immediate, and you have to learn just how much the color may change when it makes it to the canvas. But by far, the hardest part of this journey so far is trying to re-enter the art world as a professional… something I have yet to figure out.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I feel as though I may have answered a lot about my artwork already, but I can answer what I am most proud of: not one specific painting or drawing, but myself. Re-entering the art world after being “absent” for so long was terrifying, and it still is to this day. What I believe sets me apart is my versatility. My preference is to paint the human form, but I can paint just about anything I set my mind to. I am a bit of a chameleon.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My best advice for young artists is to carve out as much time as possible to work on their craft. Remain true to your vision. The art world is not an easy one to navigate, so keep your options open.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @suebillings3
