I’m absolutely delighted to have interviewed an insanely talented woman, Sue Warhaftig. I’ve never physically met Sue, but a couple of years ago we chatted online about her book, Meant To Be which she co-wrote with a friend (and, incidentally, I thoroughly enjoyed. You can read my review on Goodreads here.). Since then, Sue has gone on to become a very successful artist too. So, without further ado….
Hi Sue! Please tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Sue Warhaftig. I’m an artist who loves to explore the outdoors. I enjoy traveling and through my art I can share the beauty I experience here in the State of California (it’s a BIG state). Presently, my paintings are representational abstract art. Vintage cars and trucks are really fun for me to paint too.
Most of my paintings begin as complete works of art in my imagination. I just need a canvas to communicate through. I love experimenting with bright colors and loose strokes of the brush. My goal is for my paintings never to be “boring”. No one likes boring.
My greatest creation has been my two college-aged sons, Jackson and Miles. They encourage me to create large, colorful paintings. They are fond of my Volkswagen bus and Ford truck paintings. My husband is an incredible supporter of my art too! He feeds me while I’m on a creative jaunt and can’t stop to cook.
I love to hike, swim, and I participate in Pilates and Yoga. I also enjoy walking our 3 crazy dogs, Winston, Deiter and Betty. I’m also a beekeeper, though they actually keep themselves.
You were an author but now you’re a painter too – how did that come about?
Ah…it was a bucket list item…”lets write a book!”
Meant To Be was a collaboration. Like my art, I had a full story rattling around my head and had to get it down on paper for the world to read. I went to my co-author and asked if she wanted to write a book with me.
I was the storyteller and she co-wrote it. It was incredibly satisfying, yet harder than I had anticipated and I bow to those (Suzy Turner) who do it with such ease. I’m pretty sure I’m sticking to painting… I believe it’s important not to be and do just one thing. Human beings have such potential, we just have to tap into it!
Where do you live and how does your home ‘town’ influence you as an artist?
I live in a small town called Mill Valley. It’s north (just over the Golden Gate Bridge) of the San Francisco Bay in California. My town has a mountain, old growth coastal redwoods (Muir Woods) lots of dogs and the beach is only a couple of miles away. It’s magnificently beautiful and the weather is pretty incredible if you like mild sunny days all year round! I relish the natural beauty around me, from my vegetable garden to the expansive vistas of the Pacific Ocean.
MANY gifted artists live here and we have lots of art galleries and museums. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art opens again next year and it will be one of the most impressive collections for me to meditate on. I plan on visiting a lot and getting new inspiration from the great works of art that will be housed there.
What inspired you to start painting?
I woke up one day and wanted to communicate in this new way. My mother is an artist. My sister, uncle, aunt… it’s in my blood.
Do you have a favourite place to paint?
In my home studio with 3 dogs under foot, listening to loud music.
Do you still write? I loved your first book, have you published any more?
Thank you Suzy. These interview questions are the most writing I’ve done in awhile. It’s all about the paint and resin lately!
Tell us a bit about your style?
My style is loose, expressive and fun! I’ve been told it’s very brave and uninhibited. I have no hesitation getting the paint onto the canvas. I like to push the paint around, splatter it, drizzle it, dab it and even use my fingers in a Jackson Pollack approach. My studio is covered in paint. I apply a resin to my paintings while they are still wet and this gives them a three dimensional layered effect with a glossy, clear, hard surface.
Please feel free to tell us anything else of interest about yourself!
I love to do collaborative commission pieces with new clients. It’s a leap of faith for both of us. I really do love to collaborate with people looking for art. We talk about color, size and the wall space! It has been really successful. This one is called Kui’s dream and it’s about a dog agility competitor.
Like I mentioned above, I am a bee keeper! It’s really important as we needs bees to pollinate our food and California’s fertile farms feed so many people. There is a world bee problem so I thought I’d do my part and I keep 3 hives. But the truth of the matter is the bees take care of themselves!
I have a very large Lego man collection and a 1967 Airstream trailer parked on my front lawn.
My goal, like my paintings, is never to be boring.
Visit Sue’s website to find out more or you can find her on Twitter.
As (sadly) I was unable to hop on a plane to California to photograph her and her amazing work, these photos have all been provided by Sue Warhaftig.
