• About Susan Skuse
• Available original works
• Available limited edition giclee prints
• Sold work

Susan Skuse

About the Artist and her work:

As an artist living and working in the Gold Coast Hinterland I draw inspiration from the sub-tropical rainforests of the area and the wonderful wildlife surrounding us. I first trained as an artist in the 1980’s and have more recently completed degrees in Fine Arts and Philosophy. My current series of work brings together a diverse range of influences including Asian philosophy and traditional art, textile pattern, bird-watching and the phenomenology of perception. I work with layers of colour and pattern combined with realistic depictions of Australian birds.

The work goes through a number of processes. Firstly, I create abstract colour background, usually using vibrant lithographic inks diluted with solvent to create fluid organic effects. Then I work with my ever growing library of custom made stencils – sometimes plant forms, sometimes abstract or classical patterns. I use the stencils and masks to build up a many-layered background of semi-transparent patterns and forms. When I am happy with the background I then sit back and consider what bird subject it suggests to me. I rarely know at the beginning what the final painting will look like. There is a lot of chance in my work, and I enjoy that.

I like to work with high quality materials that will result in long-lasting artworks. I usually paint on flat cotton canvas so that when the work is stretched onto a timber stretcher the patterns seamlessly flow around the edge. This makes framing optional. I only use the finest quality professional artists’ oil paints that are vibrant and fade resistant.

Selected works are available as giclee prints on canvas. We produce our prints “in house” with a state-of-the-art Canon 4000 Colorpro printer and I extensively hand-embellish each print with oil paint to give it a real “original” look.

Artist’s CV – Susan Skuse

Education:

Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) Curtin University WA 

Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) Macquarie University, NSW.

Certificate of Garment Design – Gold Coast TAFE

Diploma of Fine Art – Alice Springs Community College

Advertising Certificate – Sydney Technical College, Ultimo

My works are a joyful combination of all the elements I love best – colour, pattern and  layering, contrasting with the realistic painting of Australian birds.

The approach is driven by process and philosophy.   I am always looking to develop a feeling of connectedness with nature .   I try to create the sensation of being inside an environment surrounded by receding semi-transparent layers of half-glimpsed shapes and patterns.   My bird subjects, painted in oils in a realistic style, are intended to ‘pop out’ of these backgrounds, a contrasting counter-balance to their environments. 

Awards and Exhibitions:

2020                Group Show – Triple Vision 2020 (3 artists)

2020                Group Show – The Winners – Sponsored by Art Lovers Australia

2019                Highly Commended – Landscape section – D’Arcy Doyle Art Award

2019                Group Show – Triple Vision 2019 (3 artists)

2019                Finalist Rotary Art Spectacular, Brisbane

2018                Feature Artist June, Montville Art Gallery

2018                Finalist Stanthorpe Art Award

2018                Winner Art Lovers Australia Art Prize

2018                Finalist Rotary Art Spectacular, Brisbane

2017                Finalist Rotary Art Spectacular, Brisbane

2016                Finalist, Queensland Figurative Art Award

2016                Finalist Holmes Australian Birdlife Art Award – Highly Commended

2016                Finalist Lethbridge 10,000

2015                Finalist and Runner-up in the inaugural Holmes Australian Birdlife Art Award

2015                Finalist Brisbane Life Art Award

2015                Finalist Lethbridge 10,000

2015                Finalist Rotary Art Spectacular

2015                Finalist Moreton Bay Art Award