60 seconds with… Susan Isaac

Why did you start painting and how old were you?

I think creativity is in everyone’s genes, so like most children, it was second nature to playfully make. By junior school my ambitions included artist, author or marine biologist (thanks to Jaques Cousteau). Subsequently, my A levels were in Art, English and Biology – which I think shows some measure of consistency. My parents were first amused and then appalled by my growing intent on leading an artistic life, but it was the one thing I seriously excelled in at school. Leafing through books on the old masters and armed with some cast off oil paints I taught myself to use watercolours and oils, and by my teens I was making good pocket money through commissioned portraits for people and animals. Art college marked an end to that stage but was where I learned to develop concepts and to appreciate the contemporary art scene. I worked for a time as an archaeological illustrator and started painting professionally again in my 40s when playing with my children had piqued my creative impulses again.

Did you try other mediums before the one you work with now?

At art college it was drummed into us to experiment and continue learning about new idioms. From welding abstract pieces in sheet steel to sculpting traditional heads in clay and making large outdoor eco-minded installations, I’ve loved exploring most mediums and always find them very refreshing. But I seem to return to oil painting, if with a contemporary twist.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Find your own bit of magic and develop it and know that you are unlikely to please everyone all the time. If you’re happy with your work, someone else will be too and don’t be put off by narrowly blinkered critics.

Snacks. Sweet or savoury?

I have a scrupulously balanced and voracious diet, so lots of both especially if I’m painting outside on location. I’m quite health conscious but I’ve recently rediscovered that Cadbury’s cream eggs are particularly good for a quick boost.

Is there one colour that you use in all your work?

Aside from the basics, I am partial to Prussian blue, which gets everywhere, much to my husband’s annoyance.

Are you a messy or a ‘tidy-as-you-go’ artist?

Messy (husband says). I build up a sort of nest of art materials around me until I get frustrated with losing things, at which point I am forced to take time out to tidy up.

One tip you’d give beginners?

Continue to learn and be open to appreciate all types of art. It can be useful to know the canon of technical knowledge (aerial perspective, colour theory etc), but don’t be afraid to invent your own ‘rules’ if you want to and to move the conversation forward — because the overarching rule in art is that there are no rules, so when you’ve had enough of learning how to ‘do it right’, enjoy expressing yourself.

Your favourite piece by another artist?

Impossible to answer – even Dessert Island Discs allows for eight choices. I’d like to choose pieces by Paolo Uccello, Anselm Kiefer and many others. However, suppose I had to save one painting from the waves, as a one-time horse painter. In that case, I’d be tempted by George Stubbs’ portrait of “Whistlejacket” for its beauty, technical prowess and compelling presence with the subject set against a very modern background. I always like to pay my respects when I’m visiting the National Gallery, although I was thwarted on my last trip as they were cleaning that particular gallery.

Tell us something not many people know about you

I’ve suffered from SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) since I was 11 but was never able to get it firmly diagnosed and treated until last year (when it got suddenly worse), just ahead of the filming of LAOTY! And, hopefully you’d never guess, that I come from an ancestry of champion Welsh bare knuckle fighters!

You can see more of Susan’s work on her website: susan-isaac.co.uk,
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Instagram: susanisaacartist
Facebook: Susan Isaac – Artist