Today we’d like to introduce you to Susie Cortez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
For as long as I could remember, all I wanted to be was an artist. My drawings gave me the confidence at an early age that I could be, no, that I was an artist. My biggest supporters are my parents. They encouraged me to follow my dreams and if I wanted to be an artist, then I should practice my craft, so I did. Throughout my school years in Los Angeles, all I did was draw and doodle. Dreaming about creating drawings and buildings. I was going to become an architect! Because of my lack of confidence in the business world, someone led me away from Architecture and I now know that it was the best thing ever for me. I instead enrolled at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, where I learned about Fine Art, something was missing though, I knew that there had to be more to learning Fine Art.
Then, by pure coincidence, I came across an art studio. I saw that they taught the basics of Fine Art and I could teach children while I learned them. After a few days, I was teaching at the studio and Larry Gluck, the founder of this school, became my mentor over the next 20 years and one of the most influential people in my life. He was not only a master at his craft but was the embodiment of a caring, loving and nurturing human being. I worked hard to develop my skills and learned everything I could from Larry, not only for my own advancement but for the students I was to teach.
As an artist, I was able to create illusions of reality that I never thought possible. I learned to work confidently in any medium, also that I can continue to grow and expand my skills.
One of the most important accomplishments in my career was going to Italy in April of 2015. I traveled to 25 different cities and painted over 30 works in pastel, charcoal, watercolor, and oils. I had an exhibition in January 2016 in Los Angeles and sold over 3/4 of all the work!
I started to find my style in Italy, the culture there and the art that I was able to appreciate up close was incredible. I learned from Michelangelo how to chase perfection and communicate through my art. I became a more well-rounded artist and person while in Italy.
Another stepping stone in my career has been attending the incredible city of Miami for Art Basel, the artists I have met there and the art that I see inspires me and keeps me aware of what I need to improve on. Art is not a competition amongst other artists. I feel we all have a voice, a story to tell and we can all tell it in our own unique way.
In March 2018, I became the first Salvadoran to be invited to paint at the National Gallery in Washington DC. It was an incredible honor.
Every year since 2018 I’ve been invited to participate in an art show in Turks and Caicos. It’s an incredible experience that has led me to expand my style even more. The people and culture are very close to my heart as I know it’s because of their influence that my paintings now have even more life and color!
I have an incredible opportunity here in Houston. Jumping into the NFT world that I believe is a new frontier for creatives.
I feel I can communicate clearly and move the hearts of viewers. The more people I reach, the more I believe I can contribute to the beauty in our lives.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
As an artist, art has given me strength, a voice, and a stage to freely express myself.
You always hear that being an artist is tough and it’s hard to make a living being one or that you have to be dead in order to become famous. I don’t agree with that at all. I think one can be very successful as long as they show their passion for the craft, have something that is welcomed by the community and can make the viewer engage with the art.
Although I’ve had barriers in my career, I have had plenty of successes that I am grateful for. But just like in any industry, I have to prove myself as an artist. Just recently, I was discussing with other colleagues that Art is still a male-dominated field, you see this in the past comparisons, the museum collections and in advertisements. So not only do I have to demonstrate my skills as an artist, I have to do it in the field that more often than not holds male artists at a higher level than women. If I could banish one barrier for myself and other women, it would be that. I want the field of art to be flooded by highly skilled female artists and gain the recognition and worthiness that we deserve.
Like I said before, we are all individuals and we all create differently, there is plenty of room for all artists and I honestly believe the more we have in this society, the better place it will be.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I work in various mediums from oils, watercolor, pastels, charcoal, mixed media, pen and ink, body painting and acrylics. Recently, I have created several acrylic paintings of athletes, artists and other people that have inspired me and the community. Depending on the medium, I can create different effects in order to communicate my work. In 2018, completed a portrait of R&B artist, Usher with broken records.
One of the pieces I am most proud of is a painting that was commissioned by a church in Allen, TX, it is a 5’x7’ oil painting on linen and it hangs at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church for parishioners to enjoy.
Being able to use each medium to communicate differently is what separates me from other artists. I can create a very realistic soft oil portrait, a loose colorful landscape with watercolors or a dynamic colorful portrait in acrylics.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I was extremely lucky to have found someone that was a master in his craft and wanted to impart all his knowledge amongst his students. It is very rare to have someone of that caliber come into your life. My advice is simple, find the people that create work that you are drawn to and follow them on social media, engage with them and if possible ask for advice.
You will not know if they are willing to help if you don’t ask.
I am a shy person naturally but when it comes to meeting new artists that I admire, I put that shyness away and try to get to know them. I ask questions regarding their career, become interested in them and most of the time I end up with new friends! How better can it get!?!
Contact Info:
- Email: sooztheartist@gmail.com
- Website: Sooztheartist.com
- Instagram: Sooztheartist
- Facebook: Sooztheartist
- Twitter: Sooztheartist
- Youtube: Sooztheartist
