Skip to main content

Guest Artist Susanna Schwab

Altered Pages
is Honored to
introduce
Susanna Schwab

 
  
I was born in Lucerne, Switzerland. Art has been part of my life from an early age.  I was introduced to the city theatre and attended performances often. When I was 4, I knew I wanted to become an opera singer when I grew up. I also started taking ballet lessons.
 
My mother had a number of art books at home, I was drawn to them, perusing them over and over again for hours.  Art seemed to be out of reach, since I could never draw well. For Christmas when I was six, I remember wishing for water-soluble artist chalks.  I still use them today.
 
In my teenage years I began with more intuitive painting. When I became a mother, I discovered creating photo albums. Also card making was always something I enjoyed. Then there were many years, when I did hardly any creative work.  As a single mother of 3 boys (age 14, 11, soon 3) creative time was a rare opportunity. A year ago I discovered Smash Book and Art Journaling. Suddenly there was a way for me to express myself the way that suited me best under the circumstances, both keep me connected with my inner self.   In my art I can find new energy for my challenging everyday life. I am now versatile crea(c)tive, making my life more multicolored. 

 
We asked Susanna few questions!
Do you find physical life or spiritual life more inspirational to your art?   I believe that all art is something spiritual, since it comes from somewhere deep in ourselves or even beyond. Since my body is the tool to express ART, I can't separate those two things from each other. I feel grateful to have found a way to create something out of myself, which helps me to deal with the physical life.
Can you remember when you started creating art?  Yes! I could write and read at a very early age.  I had my first diary at 6, which I used almost daily.  At the same time I started to paint, I remember that I liked to send cards to everyone… so the red line was drawn…
What is your favorite tool for creating?  i.e.  paint, gesso, glue….  First, I'd say I love paper!!! Then my next all time favorites are for sure the unique versatile Gelatos by Faber-Castell, followed by Inktense Pencils by Derwent and tool Gel Medium!
 
If you could use only one color in your art what would that color be?  Wow, only one color that would be kind of a punishment!  I probably would choose green. 
~~~~~
 5 rhythms
  

How this page was born...

When I got the invitation to be a Guest Artist at Altered Pages, I was thrilled! For the first time I would be seen by a large number of people. I knew that I wanted to create something new, also to say thank you for the opportunity.

While I was looking at the many Altered Pages collage sheet lists, I had an idea to do something about dancing. When I discovered the wonderful vintage images, the inspiration to create "5 Rhythms" was born.

I like to start my project more conceptual, in order to create myself a frame, from that I can move artistically free, the idea to take the "5 Rhythms" - dance movement as a base was obvious to me. I wanted to embody the five stations by the dancers. For this I used images from Altered Pages collage sheets.

To create my page I used white gesso, gel medium, my dearly beloved Gelatos, the Altered Pages collage sheets and embellishments from my craft stock.
Susanna Schwab, Switzerland, August 2014



 


 


 
 
See more of Susanna's Art on her blog:  Art & Weise
Connect with Susanna Schwab on Facebook HERE!
 
 


 

Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing Susanna's lively and colorful journal page. She has a good eye for creating movement.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Robin for your nice feedback! It was actually the first time doing something about movement, so glad to hear that i could transfer it to your eyes too :-)

      Susanna

      Delete
  2. Love the vivid colors, design and all the details of your page! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Tonya for giving me such a supporting feedback! It was my pleasure to share it!!!

      Susanna

      Delete
  3. Susanna's page is so inspiring!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you dear Jackie for saying this! It's the most i could ever ask for, to be inspirational to someone else :-)

      Susanna

      Delete
  4. Your use of color and your thought process is so inspiring. Thank you for being with us!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. awww you Jean, thank YOU again for everything, for making me nervous and challenging myself... It was a great pleasure, oh yes it was !!!

      Susanna

      Delete
  5. I like the fact that you keep this all in a journal instead of individual pieces. It must be inspiring to "walk" through your journal from time to time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you AZ Stamptramp for your nice feedback. I started with art journaling in january this year, so there isn't already that much in my books, BUT all i have in there is posted on my blog, so feel free to walk over and have a look at the other pages :-)

      Susanna

      Delete
  6. Susanna... this is beautiful, I enjoyed reading your creative journey... thank you for your inspiration

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Toni for that sweet Feedback and your time you took, reading a bit about me!!!

      Susanna

      Delete
  7. Thank you so much for sharing your art with us! It's wonderful you found a creative outlet that fit your life!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ink Stained Roni so much! It really was my pleasure to do so! And yes, it has become a main part in my life that i wouldn't miss anymore :-)

      Susanna

      Delete
  8. Susanna, I so enjoyed reading about you and your creative journey. Your art is very inspiring and so colorful! Thanks for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Barbara, thank you so much for your comment on my work! I feel honored when I hear that i could be an inspiration to people! I was happy I had the chance to!

      Susanna

      Delete
  9. Dear Trisha, thank you so much for your sweet comment!!!

    Susanna

    ReplyDelete
  10. Susanna, I just loved reading about you and art in your life. Your work is wonderful...so colorful and fun! TFS!

    ReplyDelete
  11. So lovely to have you join us here at AP Susanna, and what a wonderful introduction into your world and art, I love how you stepped us through the inspiration of your 5 rhythms too. xx

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Get on Over!

We like having you visit,  Make sure to subscribe... Just click here - easy peasy November will be filled with Die Cut ART,  join us. Embellish premade pieces art by Barbara Rankin Cut your own pieces Paint or Foil to add interest art by Lyneen Jesse Combine Die cuts in a variety of mediums art by Jean Moore Create with your manual die cutting machine  or buy premade
 Handy Tip for Artists, Recyclers and Neat Freaks! I have a follow-up to the Citra-Sol method for creating fabulous background pages and collages.   I bought a big bag of navel oranges and realized I had the ingredients to make my own solvent!   Simply take a clean glass jar, peel the rind from the oranges and place all the rind/peels, without the pulp (tangerines, oranges, navels) into the jar.   Pour enough vinegar over the peels to cover them.    Allow the jar to sit for a week or two and VOILA!     You have made your own solvent for literally pennies.    You will notice the liquid getting a bit thicker than the plain vinegar and it does not smell bad!!! I now have a  HUGE jar on the window sill!       Be careful and only use this after testing on a safe spot.

DINA WAKLEY Featured Artist

We are SO Proud to present Dina Wakley with her ART and February Tip   (oops, she says she is totally disorganized, so there is HOPE for all of us!) Dina Wakley is a mixed-media artist and teacher. She loves everything about art: creating it, thinking about it, looking at it, and teaching it. Dina is passionate about teaching art. She teaches both in-person and online workshops.  She is a docent at the Phoenix Art Museum, where she gives tours to school groups and gets kids excited about art. As a Ranger Signature Designer, Dina designs a line of mixed-media art supplies that includes acrylic paints, mediums, brushes, rubber stamps, stencils, and more. Look for the Dina Wakley Media Line by Ranger at a store near you.  Dina's books Art Journal Freedom and Art Journal Courage are available now. Also look for three new North Light DVDs starring Dina, available this month: "Art Journal Mark Making and Throwing Ink," Art Journal Color Courage," and &q