Conversations with inspiring artists
This blog is part of a series of conversations with artists who explore themes related to the field of neuro-aesthetics and contemplative art.
Cross Tides | 30 x 40 inches | Acrylic on Canvas, by Susan Retford
Born in South Wales, Susan Retford has been a painter since 1989. Since qualifying in Fine Art (painting) from Cardiff Art School, Sue has gone on to be a prolific painter. One of her most recent paintings: ‘North Atlantic Swirl’ has been selected for the prestigious 2024 ‘Royal Cambrian Academy Exhibition in Wales.
I started our conversation by asking Sue about how her work relates to health and well-being?
“Central to my philosophy of painting is that art is a process of self-discovery, and a means by which I/we create a third dimension of experience. The artwork is a bridge between me, my inner world, and the external world. My enduring interest in this unique quality of art-making resulted in me qualifying in the early 1990’s as an art therapist, and then psychotherapist. I have a deep interest in human development and mental well-being.”
Can you describe how this interest is reflected in painting?
“My love and the joy of painting and drawing has always been with me. I never tire of the surprise and adventure that accompany the making of images. In the first instance, as a shy and withdrawn young women - art gave me a window to the unexpressed, unexplored - and not very well understood adolescent psyche. The opportunity to communicate and represent my feeling within the safety and freedom of a canvas was a revelation, which began a love affair with art and psychology. I think it repaired something for me.”
Downs | 30 x 40 inches | Acrylic on Canvas
“My art is, and always has been, primarily about my emotional response to the subject I am painting. My work can be representational of reality, or abstract, symbolic representations of internal states. Often unconscious states of mind are revealed through my painting. I aim to create a metaphor of a union between inside and outside. Psychological and emotional, as well as experiential states inspired by the environment - are captured in colour, composition, mark, the rhythm, and the overall visual register of the painting, which plays a part in conveying the message to the viewer.”
Thats fascinating Sue, can you share your process?
“Photography and sketching in situ feature largely in my gathering of information from the world around me. Wild places: islands, highlands, woods in all weather - inspire me visually and create my sense of connection with myself and the essential elements of life. Philosophy, personal experiences and psychotherapy also influence. Some of my paintings take many years to finish - they go through many iterations that very much reflect my internal process. It is this process of change, reflection and delving deep into the canvas of my own psyche that gives these paintings a sense of timeless movement, while also anchoring experience into structure, shape and form.”
Cornish Study, by Susan Retford
I am really interested Sue in how you have collated collections that seem to be related to different emotional phases of your life - and the healing processes that you have experienced. Can you talk a little bit more about this, as well as your current intentions, interests and preoccupations?
“I am always interested in what is formed and what is fading – what is present and what is hidden. I portray this visually through juxtaposition, or fusion of colour – and in the variations of how edge meets edge and how forms and colour create space. The figure, the city and the enduring sea and landscape have been central themes in my work over the last 15 years. Concepts of human survival, adaptation of humanity and nature, the constant evolution and development of the self… and moving forwards also inspires me.
Paintings from 2018.
Peaceful Sea | 30 x 40 inches | Acrylic on Canvas, by Susan Retford
“Peaceful Sea” and “The Centre Cannot Hold” were made at a particular time in my life. They record my experience at the time… a time now faded. I make vague reference to the landscape in ‘Peaceful Sea’ aiming to convey space with perspective, but its an image that does not make complete reference to the external world. Nevertheless, it aims at a certain quiet, harmony and balance. It is a space that you can enter into.”
The Centre Cannot Hold. Acrylic on Canvas | 30 x 40 inches
“A sense of disquiet is more the message of ‘The Centre Cannot Hold’, which is a more uncomfortable space. The pull and push of the composition might leave the viewer with something restless – a space one cannot comfortably sit within. It represents the idea that forces in life sometimes conspire towards collapse, where opposing thoughts and differences overwhelm and breakdown. I explore how dissonance and conflict can ensue in life, which is part of the human condition. Fracture is inevitable!”
Paintings 2020: ‘Cross Tides’ - ‘After Hokusai – Oncoming Wave’ and ‘Gunwalloe Cove.
“These paintings make direct reference to a cove – Gunwalloe - in Cornwall, and reference my family and enduring heartfelt life connections. Previous paintings are more metaphoric of internal states of mind. ‘Oncoming Wave’ aims to capture the immediacy and momentary rise and fall of a wave. When finished it reminded me of the Japanese Painter Hokusai and his fascination with the sea. The Japanese painting style Sumi-E or Ukyio-e emulates the immediacy and moment of the mark, or brushstroke. A moment that will never come again, but in that moment is unique - it exists and is connected to the next moment.
Paintings 2023: ‘Sargassum Swarm’ and ‘North Atlantic Swirl’.
More recently, my paintings uses a more formal format of seascape painting - working with immediacy exaggerated by using highly viscose paint. My aim is to achieve a sensation of rapid movement, maybe explosion and unsteadiness. The unrest and changes in our daily lives are palpable. Sargassum Swarm takes the metaphor of the troublesome migration of islands of seaweed floating in water, which can be a hazard. I aim to create a tension between beauty and something more sinister.
‘North Atlantic Swirl’, though less explosive - was painted on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea on parched grass - a desert yellow in colour burnt by the sun. Beautiful, yet treacherous.”
Lastly Sue, how do you work with others through art?
“In addition to being a painter I have been a creative arts therapist and psychotherapist for three decades. My passion has been to explore and facilitate other people’s creativity alongside their personal development.
I use a range of processes, such as feedback loop painting - which can help people express their deeper psychological and emotional lives through art. Arts therapy is a powerful healing tool because it accesses the right side of the brain, where unconscious or repressed memories are stored. In addition to self-expression and release, neuroscience has also confirmed that engagement with the arts can help rewire neural circuitry and create new pathways - neuroplasticity. It’s an incredibly powerful medium to work with.”
To access Susan Retford’s stunning portfolio work - check out www.susanretford.com
Art 4 Health Blog - An Exploration of Neuro-Aesthetics - Click HERE.
Sargassun Swarm, by Susan Retford