Interview by Jenny Watson
Susan is a multi-talented artist who also Illustrates under the pen name Zuzia Nova.
Q. How did you get into art?
A. When I was wee, I was always drawing.
I started sketch booking at an early age after being inspired by the art books I would see in bookstores.
There was a small cupboard in our house where I would go to draw. That was my wee space. I was always creative.
My dad is a graphic designer and he’s done all sorts of arty things.
My parents were very supportive and encouraged me to do whatever I wanted.
I studied at Cardonald College for a year and then Glasgow School of Art.
Q. Do you have a favourite medium?
A. Graphite pencils – It’s the most central medium to all my work.
I like the looseness of them.
Even when working digitally I still use the pencil option to begin.
It helps me continue to get better and build my experience.
Q. How did you get involved in community development?
A. I used to work in the commercial art world and really struggled with that environment of sales and lack of variety in my days.
After I left the galleries, I worked with various projects across Greater Glasgow and East Renfrewshire.
I currently work with Impact Arts.
I became involved with them around 2014 through their artist mentoring programme and felt I had found my place in the ‘Art World’.
I loved it was an environment to raise people up and encourage them to do what they enjoy.
Nobody should be restricted from having aspirations to do something creative.
Everyone should be able to do what they want.
Nobody should ever be held back by their circumstance or society.
Everyone has potential.
Q. What are your future aspirations?
A. I would like to illustrate children’s books.
I have a lot to learn about the industry and have been applying for mentorship programmes.
I would like to create zines and think I will self- publish, they will be part of my portfolio for publishing houses.
Q. If you could have a masterclass with anyone, who would it be and why?
A. Helen Kellock (@helenkellock).
She’s a children’s book illustrator working in Glasgow.
I’ve seen her talk at events before and found her so lovely and really sharp with advice.
The reason I wanted to select her is for her mastery of watercolour and her seemingly effortless ability to apply light with minimal marks.
It can be difficult not to overwork a painting and she seems to have it down to a fine art, conveying what she wants in a really fresh way.
I think I would benefit massively from learning to edit the marks I make by someone like Helen.
I also really enjoy that she uses an unusual palette to depict nature and it all just works.
Her work is gorgeous.
View Susan’s artwork on Facebook and Instagram, and her Zuzia Nova work at Facebook and Instagram too.