We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Misato Suzuki a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Misato, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I think the source of my optimism has a lot to do with my childhood memories. I found some heartwarming memories from my childhood, especially about my relationship with my family. When I feel like I am about to hit a big wall or something sad happens, I talk to my childhood self. And I tell myself, “It’s okay. Everyone is watching over you.” I remember happy scenes from my childhood, family dinners, picnics, and my grandparents who were always watching over me. The memories of my loving environment are the pillars that push me forward.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I was born in Aomori, a city in the northernmost part of mainland Japan. For college I moved to the USA, to Washington state, and then finally down to Southern California. : I have loved drawing since I was a child, but I never considered art as my career until I came to the United States. After a dramatic encounter, I learned oil painting from a local artist, I had always wanted to experiment with this medium. Under the influence of this wonderful teacher, I decided to pursue the path as an artist. In addition to my studio practice, I also worked for a company and did design work. Through that experience, I occasionally do freelance design work. I feel so grateful that my job is the best job I can do for the rest of my life, regardless of my age.
My daily practice as a painter takes on different meanings each day as I face different situations. I am always searching for a true sense of peace and harmony in an overwhelmingly fast-paced and chaotic world. I hope my work will allow the people to pause and appreciate the simple wonders of nature.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
To me, these three are the most important. Learning the basics. This is something I value when I create my work, but I think it’s just as important in other genres. Learning the basics allows me to adapt and overcome by improvising. There is a saying in Japan that goes, “never forget your beginner’s mind,” which means to always keep the humble and serious feelings you had when you first started.
Be true to yourself. It could also mean trusting your intuition. I think that by identifying what is important to you, you can set goals and gain confidence.
Live with gratitude. I try not to forget that I am alive thanks to various forces, and to be grateful for the things I have. For example, I am grateful for the trees in my backyard, and for the presence of my children who come home from school safely.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
When I was 5 years old, my mother trained me to ride the train by myself to visit my grandparents. There was a train station in front of my preschool, then once I arrive at the train station, It took another 20 minutes to walk to my grandparents’ house. That journey was such a magical time for me, and an important time that stimulated my imagination. Now I’m a mother of two children, but I don’t know if I can do the same thing. I think this experience definitely helped me to become more independent and confident in myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alittlepainter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canvas.misato/?hl=en
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