Category: Art

Artistic Inspiration

News from my world of Art, and it was wonderful to discover that my painting, ‘Rural Market’, won an Honourable Mention Award in the 2023 Teravarna Art Competition.

Rural Market; by Susie Williamson

This piece is from my collection of African inspired landscapes depicted in my Abstract Landscapes blog – click here. These pieces are painted from memory, thought, feeling… work motivated quite simply to remember friends from a time I lived and worked on the continent in 1999 into early 2000s, including three years in South Africa. Those friendships inspired the following poetic conversation…

Abesifazane base-Afrika

You were meant to be guardians of your homeland…

Not suffer to be stifled by cruel apartheid,

The greed, the violence, the pillage and rape,

Of your gifted ancestral lands.

*

You were meant to sing the chorus of your homeland…

You were not meant to face your name replaced,

Your identity scarred by language stripped,

Your songs and prayers denied.

*

You were meant to know freedom in your stride…

You were not meant to suffer the indignity of poverty,

To see with clouded eyes from your tin roofed shack,

As the lights flicker off.

*

You were meant to sow fertile soil of Africa…

You were not meant to strain on mountainous terrain,

Rock littered earth, soil too thin to harvest,

Lingering memories of forced evictions.

*

You were meant to be proud of your ancestral lands…

Not suffer shame-filled hungry pangs,

Belly empty, mouth watering, looking down over vast fields of crops,

Where your homes once stood.

*

You were meant to carve the future for your children…

Not be shackled to a fate of criminal debt,

While you walk cracked earth, parched droughts, breathing fumes,

Of industries of the rich.

*

You were meant to know peace in Africa’s sun…

You were not meant to know the violence of desolation,

Cool breath of fear, as gunshots chime through the midnight hour,

And a distant scream rings.

*

You were meant to smear red earth and white clay on your skin…

Your blood was not meant to stain that earth,

These were not meant to be your stories,

You are the keeper of your stories,

And you sing with heads held back and mouths wide, as your notes carry far and wide, in a tune…

POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SWAY THE MOUNTAIN.

I still sway in the harmony of your song, and feel the tremors of the steps you take,

Your words remain on the tip of my tongue, my pen is poised with the rise and fall of your name,

My heart swells with your fears, your hopes and your dreams…

But…

…you are the keeper of your story,

While my brush sweeps on canvas to house memories of you,

Shared times we aspired and I cherish your smile…

Sicula ngesizulu,

Abesifazane base-Afrika,

Ekhaya e-Afrika,

Iningizimu Afrika,

Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika.

Nature’s Magic

Summer is upon us and the weather is warm warm warm. Still, no excuse for not sitting indoors writing! And the writing is flowing, for an array of shorts, and for the novel. Inspiration is a common theme, and I don’t have to look far to be inspired, by nature, by colour, by stories both personal and fictional.

A recent trip to the river Otter gave a glorious fix of wildlife, or at least a tantalising reminder of those special moments of hope. Following Devon Wildlife Trust’s successful reintroduction of beavers into the area, I had hoped that maybe, just maybe, I might see one. Alas, it was not meant to be, but special in any case to see gnawed trees and an impressive dam. Given a chance, these industrious creatures are fighting back against flooding, while bringing a whole host of species back into area – the magic of nature. And so we looked, scouring the riverbank, soaking up the wild atmosphere.

(Click here for more about the river Otter in a previous blogpost – #lovedevon)

Nature is a prominent theme in my series, Blood Gift Chronicles. In Return of the Mantra, I explore the cost of exploitation; in The Warder, it’s the fight to preserve wildlife; and in Book 3, there’s a personal connection with the natural world, so personal we might actually merge. Like its predecessors, Book 3 is bringing a personal arc that is out of this world, transformational, and colourful.

Colour…

At home, flowers are starting to bloom…

The bikes are out…

There’s art in the cathedral on the theme of nature…

And my own art is slowly taking shape.

Colour, nature, magic…

What’s your inspiration?

Happy New Year 2023!!!

With each new year comes a brand new book with blank pages just waiting to be filled, and I wonder what the new year will bring. In many ways, 2022 has been bursting with creativity, and it has been fun looking back on some of the highlights.

Most recently, it’s been wonderful to see my piece, Desert Flower, exhibited with Art Show International.

I often think that the process of creating my intricate, hand-painted mosaics, is as much a part of the art as the end result, and this one holds particular personal significance, as it was painted while staying with my dad when he was ill. The patience involved in the painstaking process of painting mosaic effect is something I know he would have appreciated. Art is significant, in all its forms. The smallest book can be the greatest gift. A painting can hold a world. Desert Flower was inspired by the deserts of Sudan, which I maintain great fondness for, from when I lived there many years ago. It’s a place that inspired another painting, Tuti Island. Deserts and the life I found there, also find their way into my stories:

‘The line of the horizon transformed into great mountainous peaks, cloaked in shades of orange with the setting of the sun. It was almost dark by the time we reached the first slopes on a path that abruptly grew steep. In the shadow of splintering crags and sheer cliff faces we meandered narrow paths, the soft thumps of the camels’ padded feet, and occasional whip cracks echoing around deep canyons. Like the desert, this was a barren landscape. I thought of the stories I had grown up with, thought of the picture my great grandmother had painted, and imagined a time when people had climbed these same mountain passes on a pilgrimage, imagined their footsteps still echoing where camels now trod.’ Return of the Mantra

My life is also enriched by the creative endeavours of others, in all its artforms, which in turn inspires me to continue finding routes to share my own. My re-kindled passion for poetry saw me invited to be featured poet for the night at a local favourite open mic event, which was great fun.

And of course it has been great to get out and about with my books, Blood Gift Chronicles, either in person, or online (thank you Covid!). And, as is customary, the new year will begin with scheduling for more, so plenty to look forward to.

In contrast, it’s always good to take the time for some R&R and a breath of fresh air. I’ll leave you with some photos of a recent trip to Haldon forest, where scores of real-life Xmas trees live, watched over by a robin or two.

Wishing Everyone a Happy, Healthy & Peaceful New Year…

xxx

Quiet Contemplation

It has been a long and productive day on catch up with emails and various admin tasks, mostly in relation to up-and-coming events and conventions. Countdown has begun for WorldCon, the 80th World Science Fiction Convention in Chicago – thanks to Zoom I will be attending from the comfort of my writing room.

I’m looking forward to taking part in more panels and readings at WorldCon and other events coming soon. There’s certainly no time like the present to hone in on some of the subjects that strike a chord for me in reading and writing: intersectional feminism and queering the genres, non-conforming women warriors, challenging stereotypes, power dynamics, worldbuilding and the societies and creatures that inhabit them. I could go on…! It will be wonderful to share thoughts and ideas, be inspired, and add to that all-important reading list that never seems to diminish. Magic, literally magic!

In the meantime, around home are colourful corners for quiet contemplation. With more recent artwork to hang, I’ve been discovering unexpected partnerships between portrait and abstract mosaic landscape.

For further afield moments of calm, I feel grateful to have a river close by. Last Saturday involved a day’s cycling trip downstream as far as the sea, seeing the changing flow and feeling refreshed as the ocean’s vast expanse takes shape.

Yesterday evening, in need of a quiet moment and a big breath of fresh air, we took a meandering amble along the river, catching a riverside scene basking in a golden glow, before resting a while in Belle Isle park, where the weeping willows drape feathery tendrils against the riverbank.

Wishing everyone a good weekend ahead.

The Warder Celebration & BGC Art

June 2022 was the month for finally getting together to celebrate last year’s release, The Warder. The event was set to go ahead here in Exeter, and preparations were going swimmingly…

but alas, we were thwarted by Covid. Life can be as unpredictable as the twists and turns of our stories, and so came a last-minute shift onto zoom.

Hosted by my publishers, the lovely folks of Stairwell Books, and joined by local guest readers bringing more fantasy, folklore, poetry and rhyme, it was lovely to spend time in the company of other writers, as well as readers of my series so far. And onto my readings.

With a brief intro. to Book One, Return of the Mantra, I was reminded of intrepid Suni and her search for justice and her own identity. Thrust into some stark environments, she discovers what she’s really made of, in contrast to the mountaintop view where her worldview is forever changed. And of course, when you’re up against tyranny and fighting for the natural world, it takes more than one voice. Onto Book 2, The Warder, where we get to know more of our heroines and heroes.

With three main characters in The Warder, three scenes jumped out at me to share.

Wanda, an eighteen-year-old young man, gifted but also cursed by a shadow bound to him. One of his opening scenes is a favourite, looking out over the grasslands, searching for respite from his curse.

Ten-year-old Luna, troubled by strange visions, experiences her own personal breaking high in the mountains.

And, perhaps holding it all together, Suni returns, working to restore harmony to her hometown, while using her gift to watch out over her young friend.

The dominoes are falling, squeezing characters and revealing timeless bonds. All set in a world with new lands revealed, where old and new, the mundane and the fantastical, coexist. Prepare to be cast away to an archipelago of islands in the far western reaches, with the musty air of the cavernous temple and the sound of footsteps crossing the mosaic-tiled floor; in contrast to the warm desert winds of Shendi, carrying spells and curses that touch all those with the gift to hear…

With themes of wildlife and the environment, social justice and marginalisation, magic, animism, being true to oneself, and dragons… Not to mention a diverse range of character arcs revealing love in all its forms.

Prior to the event, I set myself a project to imagine what my characters might look like. Of course, it’s ultimately for readers to draw their own conclusion, but I’ll leave you with the result of the project: a series of portraits, my own artistic interpretation of my beloved characters that span the series, Blood Gift Chronicles.

Happy Reading!

 

Art and #IWD2022

Following on from my last blog, this is part two of this year’s International Women’s Day theme, and news from my world of art. It has been a pleasure to, once again, be a participating artist with the Menduina Schneider Art Gallery’s virtual collective in celebration of International Women’s Day. Looking through the exhibit I’m inspired by the creative interpretations on the theme, and reminded of the role art can play in raising awareness, highlighting injustice, and offering inspiring messages of strength, resilience and empowerment.

My own contribution to the show was my painting entitled, ‘Women’s Movement’. This piece draws on colours, symbols and language from the International Women’s movement. It highlights the historical suffragette movement, and current campaigns, including those against sexual abuse, domestic violence and female genital mutilation. The cogs of the movement are set against a shattered backdrop, representative of broken pieces coming together to form a whole.

To view the accompanying video, click here for the YouTube link.

Until next time…

Tuti Island

More news from September and this time from my world of art, with my painting, ‘Tuti Island’ appearing in the Menduina Schneider 6th Salon of Painting.

It’s wonderfully inspiring to exhibit alongside such a diverse range of international artists, and this piece, from my hand-painted mosaic collection, holds significance since it tells the personal story of a turtle I once met while living in the Sudan.

To listen to the story, click here for the you tube video. Read on for the extended version:

Happy Reading!

 

Tuti Island

In the shade of a steel truss bridge she stands,

On a not-so-deserted strip of sand,

Red fiery sun akin to warm Sudanese smiles,

At this place of confluence of the Blue and White Nile,

Behind her, Khartoum, a tale of two rivers,

And bustling streets, but her gaze drifts and lingers,

As young lads fish a turtle to torment,

She walks over to barter with intent.

 

Downriver she finds a secluded spot,

A safe place where the turtle won’t be recaught,

The turtle looks on at the water with longing,

But ‘Khawaja’, ‘foreigner’, the boys are calling.

In the mid-day sun, she heads further downstream,

Past crocodile watchers, asleep, so it seems,

Nervous, she casts an eye on the water,

Boys still following, unfazed by danger.

 

Her basket rustling, she heads for home,

Across the White Nile bridge to Omdurman.

Her sink becomes a makeshift pond,

For a turtle, of which she grows so fond.

When its skin begins to flake and dry,

She rubs fish oil into its leathery hide,

Days pass and still no-where to go,

With a turtle who needs a river for home.

 

Bemused smiles from friends sipping mint tea,

To see a turtle burrowing beneath her knees,

After call for prayer customary tales are whispered,

Of friends and neighbours disappeared,

Her heart aches for Aameira, never to return,

Brother and child left with hearts that burn,

Tears shed for the sorrow caused by those holding sway,

With check points and rifles never far away.

 

A maze of souks with brightly coloured tobes,

Great bowls of coffee beans, dates, cinnamon and cloves,

Shared trays of fuul beans laden with chilli and salt,

A taste for this staple, she has got.

Then finally news of a place,

A stretch of river where the turtle will be safe,

Basket full they leave the bustling streets,

Untempered by the stifling heat.

 

A boat ride to Tuti island she lands,

At the shore she gazes at the turtle, her friend.

Before releasing it to swim to its hearts content,

She’s taken aback by her own gushing sentiment,

And the turtle catches her by surprise,

Ducking under her skirt, reluctant to break ties,

Until finally it swims away,

And she stands alone, feeling emotions sway.

 

Time to leave this fertile shore, she knows,

But falters when a trail of bubbles show,

It couldn’t be… but then a head poked out,

This was a friendship she could not doubt.

It’s okay to go, she gently said,

Unmoved, the turtle raised its head,

The woman smiled and gently sighed,

In return, the turtle blinked its eyes.

When finally they parted ways,

She wiped away a tear that strayed,

Thoughts of women declaring with knowing smiles,

‘Nothing washes tired skin better than the Nile,’

 

#IWD2021 Abstract Landscapes

March 2021 has been a busy month. Alongside the publication of my new novel, I have also been involved in an art exhibit to celebrate International Women’s Day 2021: a month-long, virtual event hosted by the Menduina Schneider Art Gallery in Los Angeles.

Click here to view my video entry.

Considering which piece to enter from my collection of acrylics on canvas, I was drawn to the African landscapes and waterscapes.

Lagoon – (Actual size 50x50cms)

Beach Life – (Actual size 50x50cms)

Trading Bays – (Actual size 50x50cms)

From my time spent living and working in the Sudan and South Africa in the late 1990s/early 2000s, thoughts of the women who were my friends, colleagues, students and teachers, are never far away. I continue to paint these thoughts, memories and experiences into African landscapes and waterscapes, colourful panoramic views to pay tribute to these women.

Women’s Work – (Actual size 100x50cms)

          

The following collection entitled, Perspectives, was inspired by daily life in South Africa, in particular from the perspective of hawkers and the long distances travelled to sell their wares.

Perspectives Collection

Home – (Actual size 50x50cms)

Long Walk – (Actual Size 50x50cms)

At Market – (Actual size 50x50cms)

The work also considers the connection between people and land, a connection which is increasingly lost in a complex commercial world. The following piece, Desert Life, was the piece selected for the exhibit.

Desert Life – (Actual size 120x30cms)

          

All of my African views seek to highlight the rich colours of Africa. In Desert Life, the colours were also inspired by the symbiotic relationship between wildlife and land, in particular between flamingos and their habitat. I think of it as a painting that celebrates communities living in close harmony with the surrounding natural world.

The gallery stated that this piece was selected for its palette:

“When you think about the desert, you imagine something barren. You don’t imagine something this beautiful. It is filled with colours. Why? It could be the desert or it could be the life spent by yourself, filled with memories, with dreams, with different roads you have taken, and the ones still waiting for you. Are those trees and water there, or are they in the imagination of the woman that is carrying a basket? Are these her friends? The fact that Susie has travelled to these places, the insight she has, the work is tender and poignant.”

To view the live gallery video, click here.

To view more art on my instagram page, click here.

Multidisciplinary Salon 2020

While I write in the fantasy genre, as a painter my work is rooted in the real, or at least, real inspired. Among the landscapes I work in the abstract, a creative expression of an imagined setting, sparked by a thought, a memory, an experience. The majority of the landscapes are African, of which I shared my collection, Perspectives, in a previous blog – click here. I currently have three pieces in my Perspectives collection, Long Walk, Home and At Market, all inspired by snapshots of rural township life in South Africa.

I am soon to complete another three-piece collection, which I will share another time. And as the white-washed walls of home steadily fill, I’m slowly venturing into the realm of exhibits. My first exhibit starts today, and if you like, you can take a look!!

Some time ago, I entered my Perspectives collection to the Menduina Schneider Art Gallery in LA (click here), to apply to have a piece exhibited as part of their online Multidisciplinary Salon 2020. And they accepted, choosing Long Walk, which I was thrilled about, as well as to receive the following review:

‘We’re so happy to showcase your artwork, as it bears great depth into what it really is to be human beyond our self-made borders.’  

See video entry here.

I am honoured to be listed alongside so many wonderful artists, whose work is exciting and bold. I love the international flavour running throughout the whole exhibit, and am excited to watch it live today. @menduinaschneiderartgallery will run the exhibit live on Instagram, at 11am California time. That’s 7pm UK time.

See you there!

 

Pride Month 2020!!

It is Pride month 2020, and with the UK under social distancing measures, our annual parades are cancelled. I’m missing the throng on the streets, and social media filled with rainbow flags.

Several years ago, someone asked whether I would do a painting with Pride in mind. It’s not really how I paint, creativity on demand, but that conversation did later spark a painting entitled, ‘Longing’.

It is a permanent fixture of my bedroom wall, this picture representation of a woman’s love for another woman.

Read more →