Exploring 4 Creative Mediums With 1 Creative Process
- Susie Zol
- Aug 10
- 2 min read
Every Material Has Something to Teach
One must constantly experiment. Each medium is seductive in different ways. ~Fritz Scholder
Hello You!
I've always appreciated this thought from Fritz Scholder. Ever since I fell in love with his work in the land of enchantment, New Mexico. It seems every material I use to create art asks something different of me. Paint behaves one way. Clay another. Fabric has its own language. Paper invites a different kind of attention. When I talk about playing and experimenting, I get excited about what each material can reveal. I already know I'm not changing my creative process, just the direction it leads.
From left: Fritz Scholder/Arizona Alumni, Indian on Blue Horse, The Last Ride - Albuquerque
Over the years, my curiosity has led me to work in several mediums. Although they may look different at first glance, they're all connected by the same quiet observations, layered surfaces, and intuitive way of creating.
1. Art Quilts
Working with fabric invited structure and spontaneity at the same time. There were seams to consider, pieces to fit together, and techniques that required patience. Yet within those boundaries there was endless room for exploration. Each piece became a conversation between texture, color, and composition.
from left: Inspiration, machine and hand stitched, 18"x 24", $635; Gypsy Caravan, pieced and machine stitched, 19.5"w x 33"h, $965; Family Tree, machine and hand stitched, 25"x 25", $945. (Yes, these pieces are available for sale, send me an email if you're interested - listing on my website soon.)
2. Zol Journals
Some of my Zol Journals began completely by hand. Others started as blank books waiting to be transformed. Though small in scale, each one received the same thoughtful attention as a larger piece. Layers of paint, marks, collage, and color created objects meant to be held, opened, and lived with.
No new journals yet, stay tuned!
3. Ceramics
Clay asks for a slower rhythm. Each piece begins with my hands shaping the material from the very beginning. Rather than forcing a predetermined outcome, I pay attention to how the form wants to evolve. The process is physical, deliberate, and full of small decisions that gradually become a finished piece.
from left: Whispering Winds, approx. 7.5" x 5", $225, Celeste, sold, Grounding, private collection
4. Paintings
Painting continues to be where everything comes together. Working intuitively allows each piece to unfold without a fixed destination. Colors suggest new directions. Unexpected marks become important. Different tools and surfaces create opportunities that couldn't have been planned in advance. Every painting becomes an invitation to discover something new for me and you!
From left: All In Good Time, Heart Like A Diamond, Skipping A Beat, A Complete Turnaround, Looking For Beach Glass, Up The Street, all sold, check my available paintings page for my latest work.
Whether on fabric, paper, clay, or canvas, the intention remains the same: to create work that invites a closer look. Perhaps that's what Scholder meant. Each medium is seductive in different ways, not because it replaces another, but because each one reveals something the others cannot.
In gratitude,
Susie
It is cool to think of our work as a dance of different mediums, thanks for tossing my brain salad today.
Nice post Susie...I love the purpose and seeing all your inturpretations of it! Nothing like mixing it up!