Susan Stillman won the Acrylic Award in Jackson’s Art Prize this year with her work Tangled. In this interview, she discusses working on 10 or more paintings at once, living a well-rounded life as an artist, and returning to the same subjects over and over with fresh eyes. Above image: Studio portrait with October/Alexander     Josephine: Could you tell us about your artistic background? Susan: As far as I can remember, I’ve always thought of myself as an artist. I studied anatomy as a 15-year-old with the master, Stephen Rogers Peck, and went on later to study with Robert Beverly Hale at the Arts Students League. Figure Drawing was my first love, and I still return to it to recharge and reengage my observational skills. My high school art teacher, Dorrit Woolf, was responsible for my going to the Rhode Island School of Design for my BFA. After attending their summer program at age 16, I was sure it was the place for me. I chose Illustration as a major because it provided a rigorous foundation in drawing, and I also saw a path forward in supporting myself with my work. The most influential experience from RISD was my …

The post Susan Stillman: A Moment of Illumination appeared first on  Jackson’s Art Blog.

Continue reading