Susannah Paterson
Born in Scotland and based in Curl Curl, a suburb situated in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Susannah Paterson creates curious and fantastical art. By executing her works in a predominately surreal style, she is afforded the opportunity to explore the vivid and imaginative mind she has cultivated since childhood. Her previous thirty-year career in psychotherapy and hypnotherapy allows her to explore what dwells within her subconscious mind and further adds to the unreal quality of her unconventional works.
With an alternating creative approach, Susannah’s works are characteristically derived via one of two ways. Some works arrive as a consequence of deliberate intention, and the overwhelming urge to convey specific settings and emotional constructs. These works are often inspired by the type of open-air spaces that comprise northern Sydney, and frequently include imagery of the sea and the sky. Much of the emotional commentary is associated with the setting and the sensations of expansion and wonder. Other works are delivered after an intense duration of intuitive creation, and commence with a single colour or palette and hundreds of instinctive marks on the canvas. This process usually conjures unforeseen images and unconscious dialogue.
In addition to her surreal works, Susannah is a practicing potter and much of her pottery borrows from the quirky shapes and scenes she integrates into her paintings. Initially learning the artform whilst studying Fine Art and Ceramics in 2007, her skills were further developed at the Open Studio Program at Brookvale TAFE, between 2016 – 2022, where she worked under the tutelage of master potter Christopher James. She is now currently in the process of completing a Diploma of Ceramics at Northern Beaches TAFE, which is scheduled to conclude in 2023. In-between her formal training,Susannah was mentored for several years by the late Kerrie Lester, a sixteen-time Archibald Prize finalist and Packing Room Prize winner.
To find out more about Susannah and her work, go to: https://www.susannahpaterson.com
____________________________
-
Oil on canvas
110cm x 91cm x 4cm
-
Blue Dog Dreams Pareidolia is a large oil painting on stretched canvas, finished with white gessoed edges. The title draws from the psychological phenomenon of pareidolia—the human tendency, especially vivid in artists, to perceive familiar forms in random patterns, such as faces, animals, or objects in clouds or rocks. In this work, a contemplative blue dog gazes toward a radiant dawn sky, captivated by the shapes and stories hidden within it. The scene is inspired by the breathtaking sunrises I’m fortunate to witness each morning over Curl Curl Beach.
-
Oil on paper
28.5cm x 38cm
-
I like backlit scenes. It's that time of day when the sun sinks and the trees are silhouetted against a bright orange sky. The little dog just appeared.
This painting is on heavy watercolour paper with a gesso ground, to make sure it can take the oil paint.
-
Oil on canvas
193cm x 120cm x 3cm
-
My paintings emerge from my unconscious and slowly take form, illustrating a theme related to life experiences. Holding On, Letting Go is a constant and unavoidable process for all of us, from the small things in life from," I've lost my favourite t shirt", to letting go of our rigid beliefs, relationships, pets and ultimately death. Letting go can be painful and yet, when we can let go, it can often free us up to fly.
The first impetus for this painting came from a strong need to use reds and yelllow. It’s a very strong combo and makes for a striking statement. I wish the photos conveyed just how much, but photos always tend to flatten paintings.
Anyhow, I began to think about all the things we hold onto tightly - beliefs, money, relationships; even when they might be damaging to us, religion, places, etc, etc. Of all these, our beliefs are the most powerful, for better or worse.Here is a woman holding up a web of her “stuff”, taking a good look at it all, and there she is too, flying free, relieved of the burden of them.
This painting took months to create. It’s definitely a painting for someone who wants to be reminded to examine their beliefs . It could be in an office, or a home. It will certainly generate a lot of conversation, which I hope will be good.
My paintings are definitely for those who like to think deeply about life.
-
Oil on canvas
145cm x 112cm x 3.5cm
-
My Aunt Jane was a formidable character and, whenever there was a ruffle in the family, she would invite the person concerned for tea to discuss the matter. She always encouraged talking and kindness over the opposite. In this painting, I am calling in her spirit to heal a family rift. Tea and cake can be just the thing when conflict inevitably arises in any family.
It's a powerful painting with love and healing intention behind it.
-
Oil on canvas
33cm x 43cm x 5cm
-
I am a potter as well as a painter, and one of my aspirations is for my work in both practices to talk to each other so that the paintings are referenced in the ceramic work, and vice versa.
As a surrealist painter, my visual imagery is symbolic and expressive, informed by my imagination, and is for the curious and for those that enjoy a bit of mystery and the search for meaning.
When I create a painting, I am aware for the need of balance, and one of the ways I think about this is to hold in mind three archetypal energies of playfulness, tenderness and fierceness. The work may be predominately any of these, but there must be elements of the other two energies present for energetic balance. I decided to utilise this approach in the development of the cakes.
The idea of using cakes as a stage for some of the symbols in my paintings seemed to fit. The cakes in themselves are playful. I’ve had a lot of fun making them. An event involving a cake is usually tender and celebratory. Fierceness is represented in very focused attention and intention, and is present in the stories behind each of the symbols.
It’s a natural progression to now paint the cake pots I've made as some whimsical still life paintings.
This painting is framed and ready to hang.
It comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
-
Oil on canvas
33cm x 43cm x 5cm
-
I think every day is a birthday of some kind.
In 2023, I made a lot of ceramic cakes as part of my final project and exhibition for the Diploma of Ceramics. I had a lot of fun creating them, drawing from my paintings the various symbols and images that are often present. This one comes from a pink five tiered cake called Star Dance, which is now sold.
You might read elsewhere that when I create a painting or a ceramic piece, I draw on three energies to keep the work in balance. These are playfulness, tenderness and fierceness. The cakes are obviously playful, but within them there is a lot of tenderness and a smidgeon of fierceness because it took a lot of intense work to get them right! It's a natural step for me to paint them before I go back to making more.
It's ready to hang.
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
-
Oil on wood
30cm x 50cm x 2cm
-
Cakes, who doesn't love a cake? Cakes are comforting. Cakes are fun and usually they are delicious too. I've made lots of ceramic cakes with curious little things on top of them. Mainly I use little snippets from my quirky paintings and make them three dimensional. Now I am reversing the process again and painting some of the ceramic cakes as slightly surreal still life paintings.
Cake Five is an impasto oil painting to mimic icing, and it's on a wooden panel with white gesso edges. It is unframed, but there are D rings and wire attached on the back so it's ready to hang. It would look great in a frame of your choice.
-
Oil on canvas
85cm x 105cm
-
I know many medicine women. Some are out in public talking about their healing practices, and others are working quietly behind doors. This painting is inspired by the women I know who quietly practice helping people in their many ways - therapists, doctors, herbalists, plant medicine people, massage therapists, kind social workers and so many more. In these dark and difficult times, it's very good to remember that even if we can't see them, or they are not making headlines, they are there in growing numbers.
The connections we feel to the natural world and the spirit world are vital to our wellbeing. Without these things we lose meaning, perspective and wonder.
This painting is sold unstretched and will be mailed in a tube.
Or, you have it stretched through your own local framer. I suggest thicker stretcher bars.
-
Oil on wood
45cm x 55cm x 5.5cm
-
Thinking about my old dog who has travelled on. Thinking about all the loved dogs who have travelled on. Getting their wings, crossing the bridge or the path to Sirius.
This is painted with a lot of love for them all.
Thick oil paint on wooden board, framed.
Varnished (it isn't now, but it can be if you like).
-
Oil on canvas
53cm x 63cm x 5.5cm
-
If you know my work, you will see a theme in all the subject matter of phenomena appearing and disappearing. This is life. Things form and appear, then breakdown and disappear. Here, the teapot and cups move towards the light and transform into the unknown. I am constantly reflecting on this theme. And yes, there is a dog.
-
Oil on canvas
50cm x 40cm x 4cm
-
A collection of ornaments, including a little carved coyote that I bought in Santa Fe. The little painting is one that I did over 20 years ago at art school and fulfils my penchant for including images within images into my work. It's colourful and it will bring a little joy and wonder to any space.
The edges are painted white and it is unframed.
-
Oil on canvas
55cm x 45cm x 5.5cm
-
These were the first teapots I made as a potter. They are very quirky and have all kinds of issues, the way first teapots do. Making a teapot is considered the potter's "Everest". They look simple enough, but everything has to fit to the millimetre, and of course, they need to pour well! The handle must feel comfortable to hold and the lid must fit just right - plus you have to remember to put the steam hole in. I kept the egg like one because it amused me, and call it good fortune or beginner’s luck, it actually does pour very well.
I always like to make my work with a dreamlike quality - slightly surreal. Is it a window view behind the teapots or a painting? You can decide.
I am playing with new and different palettes. I rather like this one, it's warm and comforting like a cup of tea.
The work is framed and ready to hang.
-
Oil on wood
65cm x 55cm x 2cm
-
Every now and again I get the urge to do a still life painting. I use the ceramics I have made as the props. In this case, four cobalt blue bowls and a temoku (traditional Japanese dark brown/black glaze) vase.
Of course I need to put an animal in there too. So here's a pictish dog like animal doing a delicate balance on top of a pot.The painting is framed and ready to hang.
-
Oil on canvas
205cm x 120cm x 3.5cm
-
This is one of those paintings I don’t want to explain too much about, I’d much rather you projected your own meanings into it. Suffice to say, dreams are strange and fascinating things, the “royal road”, as referred to by Carl Jung. A way of sorting out and processing lots of unfinished or unresolved stuff.
Sometimes our dreams puzzle us. Sometimes we know exactly what they mean. Take time to let your eyes meander through the painting and delight in or be curious about the imagery. There are stories everywhere.The painting is ready to hang.
-
Oil on canvas
53cm x 63cm x 5cm
-
A fantasy animal. I used the term Daemon as it has been used to describe animal spirits that come to earth to assist mankind. The Pictish and Celtic patterns are a thread of connection to ancestors.
Purchasing from Susannah Paterson:
I offer free shipping within Australia.
International shipping is typically charged at AUD$150. For further rates, contact susannahpaterson@gmail.com
My works typically ship out within a couple of days of receiving payment.
I typically take the painting off the stretcher bars and send it rolled in a tube for international delivery.
I do not offer framing, however some of my paintings come framed.
I do not accept returns unless the painting is damaged in transit. For more information, contact susannahpaterson@gmail.com