Inside Susie McColgan’s DreamStudio -Where Magic Meets Joy

Susie McColgan works hard and is passionate about creating paintings that can help people. She believes the place she takes the viewer is multi-dimensional, touching on memories, emotions, and leading them through a story to a safe and enjoyable emotional space. Her paintings are designed to create a healing energy through strategic color and lighting relationships, bringing feelings of comfort, warmth, hope, and peaceful harmony.

As a Michigan-based artist, Susie grew up enjoying the Great Lakes and the beautiful vast skies and sunsets. Her grandmother gave her an oil paint set when she was nine, and she has been painting ever since. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a BFA, she worked throughout Michigan as an art director, producing award-winning illustrations and designs. Despite her commercial work, painting and portraiture have always been her greatest joy and passion, which led her to dedicate her energies and career to the arts and painting.

Unfortunately, in 2019, Susie had a near-death accident with multiple injuries and surgeries. After a year of recovery, she was able to paint again. During this traumatic experience, a new appreciation for life emerged. Grateful for her recovery, she made painting her highest passion, painting as much as she could, and painting from her heart to share with the world.

In this week’s studio visit, artist Susie McColgan shares a glimpse into her creative world, offering a warm and personal look at her daily routines, inspirations, and the space where her art comes to life. Accompanied by family, friends, and sometimes assistants, her studio is a vibrant and welcoming space filled with the comforting scent of paint.

1.  Susie, Can you describe your typical day in the studio and your creative process?

It’s funny, I would like to think I have an organized system but in actuality every day is uniquely different. So much depends on what is going on in my art world at the time. I do love the day when I arrive early with my fav cup of coffee and the morning light is streaming in my studio’s windows. It is very peaceful and inspirational at the same time. I usually take some time to go over my to-do lists, my sketches and sometimes put on some french 60’s music. Some days I come running up the stairs, pull off my palettes covers and go right to work. To help with the flow and production time in the studio i have created different zones and work areas which allows me to pop in and out (and can leave out what I’m working on!) effortlessly when inspiration arises. This saves on setting up time and eliminates projects from piling up on each other. My favorite time is actually painting. My creative process usually begins with the new ideas that pop in my head, I try to sketch thumbnails of the paintings I see in my mind and/or from photos I’ve captured of something that inspired me. I start with drawing out my composition, then with big strokes I color block the areas I’m most excited about. Then it’s like a symphony building momentum; sometimes it’s hours in this zone, the painting emerges, shifts, becomes purposeful towards what I see in my mind. Sometimes something so exciting happens that a new color juxiposition will occur. It’s really quite magical at this stage. I take mini-breaks continually to assess, adjust, add new, wipe away, and accentuate more. I like to walk away, rinse my eyes and come back to see with new eyes and see what I love and what I push more…until it’s “there” and I’m in love.

2.     What is the primary inspiration behind your current body of work?  

This summer my heart has been really inspired with color (see the Silos in Saginaw I painted this spring) it’s been an explosion of color and unique color relationships in my latest commissions. I’ve also been thinking alot about my grandmother, she painted in the Fauvism movement. Her paintings have always inspired me and I’m letting it come out in my current work. I have been obsessed with the voice of color and how it can transform us, and the intimacy of the act of painting with alla prima and thicker paint. I see gorgeous, lush, full-of-light color compositions in my mind which I have infused into my painting. About half my easels have giant flowers blooming and the others hold large canvases of figures in unique settings and compositions. Flowers remind me of unconditional love; always there, offering beauty, emotional support and renewal of spirit and hope. Painting figures has been a passion of mine my entire career and will always be inspired by the human spirit. Every day in the studio is like watching magic happen. I feel like I’m unleashing something from deep inside that’s been waiting to emerge.

3. What is your favorite memory or incident from your studio?

My studio has always been like a second home, a safe haven where years of creating, reflecting, and being a constant companion that has always been there for me. But there was a time of trauma in my life in 2019 when everything might’ve been taken away. I had a near-death accident and suffered many injuries, broken bones and shattered my painting hand. After 2 years of recovering, learning to walk again and multiple surgeries on my wrist and hand I was finally ready emotionally to be in my studio again. See if I could hold a brush again. Try to feel the desire to create again. Upon entering the studio for the first time…I was overwhelmed with the feelings of comfort, like I was being hugged and cheered for and lifted up. I will always remember and cherish that day. We all can never give up. We all have to keep fighting through adversity. And believe in our strengths.

4. Do you have any studio assistants or do any visitors like pets or kids often accompany you?

I sometimes hire assistants, tech people and photographers to help me. I have family, friends and clients visiting often! I especially love my art lessons with people it is fun to have them experience the live art world all around them!

5. How would you describe a dream studio for yourself?

The dream studio would be just like the one I have but with hard wood floors (instead of carpet lol) and of course you can always use more space! I think my studio is 1400 sq. ft with 12′ ceilings but i use every inch! I’ve always dreamed of one of those huge warehouse buildings with walls of windows and 2-story high ceilings!

6. What does your studio smell of right now?

Paint!

7. If you could set up your studio anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Here in Saginaw near my loved ones! In today’s world you can be anywhere really and be connected to everyone. I suppose if I was a millionaire I would have another cool studio in a big city that we could be there some of the time and have Exhibitions and Shows too.

8. Can you discuss any ongoing projects or future plans you have for your work?  

I am also working on a Collection that I have been asked to have a 2024 Solo Exhibition Show in a new (secret) warehouse building location in Bay City, Michigan. Also have been invited to be in Exhibition in Atlanta, GA in October 2024 that is the current work I’m working on. I am finishing a commission that is 5′ round wood structure (largest round I’ve ever constructed) painting of a dramatic ocean sunset that I’m very excited about. Very excited that my flower painting “Captured Heart” is featured in International Artist this month! I was recently selected to be in “100 Emerging Artists2024” Publication currently by Arts to Hearts! I am being featured in University of Michigan Hospital publication, Ann Arbor Michigan for one of my portraits.

9. How do you organize your space?

I developed a plan to separate and develop “zones” and/or work areas; each one with a specific objective to help keep the studio functioning well and be time efficient. And to know where everything is! Most importantly, the north end of my studio has the big windows so that is dedicated to my large canvases I’m currently working on that require the best light to paint with and take video. I then rotate the Collections I am working on. The mid section of studio consists of 4 large tables that are for my smaller canvases in production. There are side tables that are for filming overhead for social media. I hang paintings that are in progress up high on walls above my normal working area. Moving towards the south end of the studio is my office area where I have all my filing, paperwork, computer work etc, with cork boards with inspiration clippings, dates, calender year planning, storyboards, future exhibition thumbnails, etc. in the south end of studio is a giant conference dining table with chandeliers to entertain or to lay out big exhibition designs. behind the table is my library floor to ceiling with all the storage of supplies, canvases, frames, paints, etc is contained on the other side. By doing this zone concept the studio really flows well and i can have multiple things going on throughout week effortlessly!.

10. What is your favorite corner in the studio?

My painting area by all the windows. I tucked in a couch in that area and it’s very joyful to snuggle on it while viewing all the paintings all around me.

Susie’s studio feels like a warm and inspiring place, filled with natural light streaming through large windows. It sure is a dream studio. To explore other artists’ virtual studio spaces, visit our website. To get featured on our website, don’t forget to apply for this month’s call for art.

Read more about Susie McColgan on her Website and Instagram.