New Floral Paintings: and the quiet joy of an afternoon painting session in the studio

Susie Zol
Jul 6
3 min read

Hello You!

I have been returning from daytrips and overnight stays with such renewed energy for my artist life. I'm finding myself diving into process in both my home studio and my Liberty Station studio. Paintings, art journaling and ceramics have been my go-to mediums for the past year and I'm excited by some new ideas. I've also got my eye on some new mediums but no announcements yet, you'll be the first to know!

You know creative writing has always been part of my world and I'm taking a fresh approach with that medium too. I have an ever-growing library of art books (as I'm sure you do as well) and I love being able to grab one off the shelf, flip open a page and find exactly the right message for the moment. My plan is to do that here in my blog with just a small change. I'm planning to be more intentional when searching for a passage that clearly relates to my writing. That way, the concept from the author is clearly aligned with my own inspiration, process and reflection.

You do not use art as a means to an end but as a way to inhabit and explore the present. Right and wrong fade away; you recover your sense of what is authentic in you. The next expanse of nothingness, with its latent possiilities, awaits you, draws you close. Your art is part of the big painting of your life. You are on your own, standing by yourself in the middle of creation. In the beauty of that aloneness, and in how you respond to it, you will find your passion.

Quote by Michele Cassou and Stewart Cubley, from their book Life, Paint and Passion

Happy Father's Day, 24"x 24" acrylic on canvas.

A creative reflection from my studio:

I spent the day in my studio, the corner studio on the second floor with the big windows looking out over the courtyard. I layered and marked and collaged and found inspiration in the sunshine and on the breeze. No one was with me but I wasn’t painting alone.

Below my studio, there were voices, laughter, dogs barking, seagulls squawking, all of them becoming quiet companions. I could feel life happening and that was enough. I didn’t need music or a podcast. I painted flowers while the world carried on outside my window.

There was something comforting about that. I felt connected, at home, and at ease. The painting seemed to absorb that feeling. Nothing dramatic happened today. I wasn’t trying to solve anything or chase a breakthrough. I simply spent an afternoon painting flowers and enjoying the company of strangers who never knew they were keeping me company.

It was a lovely day in the studio and I’m delighted with my paintings.