Meet suzanne Reed Fine | Artist/Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with suzanne Reed Fine and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi suzanne, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Authenticity, to me, is vital not only to you as an artist, but for your audience to form a connection with your work. It is a way of communicating with others emotionally, visually, intellectually. If you are being true to who you are and speaking from your heart, by being vulnerable, it will hopefully make a connection with someone. It has taken quite a while for me to fully realize that not everyone will like what you do. Not everyone will be your audience, and that is ok. It has to be something within you driving you to create, what are your intentions? Certainly we look for validation from other artists, our community, our friends and the world, but that can’t be your only driving factor in why you create. I think it’s natural for us to want to find a connection with others and by putting yourself out there you are vulnerable but also its allowing others to be vulnerable as well.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For as long as I can remember I have loved drawing and mark making. Raised in the southwest, I spent a great deal of time outdoors which stirred my love of my surroundings. The sharp contrast of light, as well as the saturated color informed my paintings. I work with acrylic, gouache and casein in large formats on paper, canvas and panels. I have been teaching others to paint and draw since high school, when I realized that I was able to communicate it effectively. After graduating from Adams State College (now University) in Colorado with a fine arts degree, I moved to Atlanta to study graphic design at the Portfolio Center. What I loved about the advertising world was also what lead me to leave that field. The fast paced, no sleep, lots of caffeine and constant pushing myself to the next best creation took its toll and I stepped back from creating for a few months before deciding to return to school for teaching certification and possible Masters degree. I didn’t have a specific goal in mind, but I did find that drawing and painting were what I wanted to be doing. Not being able to get past the math part of both the teaching certification process and entrance to graduate school – despite extra classes, tutors and retaking the tests- seemed to be a red flag. I left school, got a job as a receptionist to make some money while I reevaluated. I began doing freelance work, illustrating medical journals and papers, I started reading and took workshops for painting and color theory. Which lead to gallery opportunities and shows. In the meantime I started teaching through museums, continuing education and after school programs, eventually my own workshops, classes and private lessons. In the middle of all of this, I got married and raised two daughters. It was important for me to stay true to myself as an artist, and also as wife and mother. When my initial career choice took a different path, I listened and followed where I felt I needed to be. Which has been a little unsettling at times, but also exciting and I am doing what I love. I have my own studio, and paint full time, I mentor, teach workshops and give private lessons. I work a lot with local organizations bringing art and artists into the schools.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d pick up my friend from the airport and head to Decatur for Grindhouse Burger or Lucky’s Burger and Brew in Brookhaven for their Impossible burgers. Then go walk it off around Lullwater park, and the Dekalb Farmers Market, The High Museum, Binders Art Supplies (because you always need art supplies), we would head to Tew Gallery and linger looking at the art and visiting! We would head to Whole Foods on Ponce for some Iwi Fresh face products, especially after traveling and busy day…We would then take a hour and half drive to Columbus, GA south of Atlanta, (because that’s where I live) if she didn’t want to stay with us, she would stay at the Rothschild Pound House where we would enjoy hospitality of the warm and welcoming owner, Mamie Pound, who is a writer as well. They have poetry readings, live music, great conversations. While in town, visit the Bo Bartlett Center a new addition to the art community, which houses the collection of Bo Bartletts work as well as other national exhibitions, maybe visit with Bo and his wife, artist Betsy Eby. Dinner at the Salt Cellar, coffee at Fountain City for a chai latte. Take in a show at the Springer Opera House or the Rivercenter, market days on Saturday on Broad. Visit artists studios in the Historic District on second avenue. Bike along the river walk or head to Callaway Gardens for a day of walking biking and zip line and ropes course. Im sure Im leaving something out, but for sure, it will be a busy and fun filled week!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family has always been supportive of my art, my parents, my brother and now his wife, my husband and two daughters, my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and good friends have always helped with putting frames together and getting a show ready, but mostly they have all been emotionally supportive. They have given me a nudge forward when I needed it, edited my writing, helped with the math! They have always understood that being a creative person is who I am, and for that I am grateful.

Website: suzannereedfine.com

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Image Credits
Harper Fine