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Majestic Beauty
Showcasing the work of Susanne Winter
Emily
November 05, 2024
(Artwork images credited to Susanne Winter, unless otherwise noted)
Introducing Susanne Winter
Sipping my coffee, I relaxed into the comfy sofa in Susanne’s beautiful garden studio, surrounded by her vibrant work—pieces hanging on the walls, a painting on the nearby easel, and others carefully wrapped, ready to head off to Brighton Art Fair. It was a fabulous morning. When I asked Susanne about the inspiration behind her landscapes, she began telling me about an impromptu trip to India last November. |
“My daughter had been out there for about four months and she said ,‘Mum, I’m just seeing the most amazing sunsets.’ She said, ‘Come,’ and I said, ‘Do you actually mean that, because I will come, and I’ll come on Saturday.’ And she said, ‘Yeah, come,’ so I packed a rucksack with rolled canvases, sketchbooks, three pairs of knickers and a couple of t-shirts, and off I went. It was brilliant.
I did so much work, and the big one ‘God’s Own Sunset’ (pictured below), that one is from Gokarna beach.”
I wanted to understand how Susanne constructs a painting, whether it's from capturing a specific scene or something more abstract.
I interpreted her explanation as a kind of gathering process.
“The aim of my work is to evoke emotion felt when we experience nature. My inspiration is drawn from the light and reflection, which changes constantly over land, sea, and sky, celebrating colours and how they work effortlessly together.”
 | Growing up in South Wales by the beach, she and her brothers would surf all year round. It was during this time that she developed a love for the sea, the horizon, and the skies. “Whether it’s a pink or orange sunset, or a moody sky with real atmosphere, I’m always in search of that.” |
She went on to tell me how she would make multiple sketches of the landscape, using charcoal or pencil to capture the lines and surrounding shapes. Not surprisingly, she emphasized the importance of capturing colours on the spot.
Once back in her studio, Susanne surrounds herself with all the references she’s gathered. These are the essence of the places she’s visited, triggering memories and emotions, which she channels into her paintings. “Sometimes it goes pictorial and sometimes it goes totally abstract. It just depends on how I’m feeling, and I don’t want any control over it. Sometimes I’ll spend a lot of time referring back to the references, and other times, once I start, I won’t look down again—I’m on a roll.” |
She told me that the paintings start with a layering process using brushes and palette knives to create substance and depth. “I mainly work in acrylics but sometimes add other mediums like ink and pastels. I use a vibrant palette, trying to create as much flow as I can so nothing looks overworked.”
She continues, “Working in an intuitive and spontaneous way means unexpected things happen with mark making, form, and colour, which creates the mood and the energy that influences how the piece evolves.”
Since Susanne’s work is so emotionally driven, I asked how her changing moods might affect her painting from day to day. “I have days when I come in here at 8 a.m., I’m really ready, and I’m just not feeling anything. So I make myself a coffee and start mixing colours - that often gets me going. I put some music on and just start laying down colours on pieces of paper.” She won’t continue working on a painting until inspiration sparks.
This way of working reminded me of a concept I recently read from Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. In the book, Gilbert describes how the Greeks and Romans believed in an external daemon of creativity, referring to it as your Genius. Gilbert explained that you can’t just sit around waiting for your Genius to appear and bring inspiration. Instead, you need to show up and do the work. Prove your dedication and intent, and your Genius is far more likely to show up and help you.
On those days when it does feel right, Susanne can get into the studio with a fresh cup of coffee and three hours later discover that her coffee is still there, untouched and cold.
On days like that, she can paint for hours on end.
