Meet Sudie Rakusin

We recently connected with Sudie Rakusin and have shared our conversation below.

Sudie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
How did you find your purpose?

I always knew I was an artist. It was never a question or an option. I just knew. It is my most evolved self, the best way I can communicate and express my passion. As I grew in my art and my feminism broadened to include the earth and her animals, I understood that we all were the ‘other.’ I knew that I wanted my work to speak my truth. I believe in a world where there is harmony and deep respect for the earth and her animals and where humans honor this. My purpose is to communicate this in my work.

How do you keep your creativity alive?

I am gifted with a great imagination, and I never take it for granted. I know I am blessed. You can’t force creativity. All I can do is stay ready for the muse to appear and give me my next idea or project or series. I go to my studio every day. I have my art supplies available. If I am not steeped in a project, I draw in my sketchbook. And I pray for the muse to visit.

How have you overcome creativity blocks?

Here is an example of one of those times. I had heart surgery in April 2021. My beloved dog, a mixed Pitt/boxer, named Marmalade Moon, had been with me since 2010. He walked with me every day for my rehab. On July 21, 2021, he died and I spiraled into a sadness I never thought I would emerge from. I knew I needed to do something to help me heal, and my art has been that for me my entire life. Sunflowers are a sign my father is with me, so I bought bunches of sunflowers, set them on my drawing table in vases, and started to draw. I tasked myself one drawing a day in tribute to my precious Marmie. As I drew, I cried and remembered him and felt him with me. I did thirty drawings. They became a pack of lovely, intimate notecards, stickers, and now glass coasters, all of which are available on my Etsy shop.

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 am an artist and I do my work every day. I also have a business where my products are reproductions, in different forms, of my fine artwork. I have two amazing women working for me and I’ve learned a lot about being a boss. I feel I am creating a new paradigm, breaking from the patriarchal type of leading, to one where the women who work for me feel respected, appreciated, and heard. One of my favorite things to do is brainstorm, where ideas engender more ideas and creativity. So much of what has been created by Sudie Rakusin Art and Design were ideas offered by one of the women working for and with me. I also have a website: sudierakusin.com and can be found on Instagram; @sudie.rakusin.

I am more political now than I have ever been. I believe our democracy and our environment are on the precipice of huge change. In order for us to hold onto fairness, equality, respect for diversity, for our earth, air, water, and animals we need to fight for these things. Every action we take and word we utter is a political statement. Maybe it’s because I am a fierce Aries that I cannot abide injustice. As a matter of fact, my new Pittbull is named Justice Grey for this reason.

I want my artwork to get out into the world in as many forms as possible. I have a great Etsy store, SudieRakusinArt, where my notecards, coloring books, children’s books, coasters, etc are on sale. One of my new endeavors, which began at the beginning of Covid, was to create fabric from my paintings. We made masks, and for each mask sold we donated $1 to Stacy Abrams Fair Fight Action to fight voter suppression. We have since created chef’s aprons, potholders, pillow shams, and tablecloths.

I am blessed with much abundance in my life and I want to give back. I would love to sell my paintings, of course, but, I am also in the process of donating my children’s books, adult coloring books, and notecards to organizations, schools, shelters, and hospitals in this area. It is so gratifying to be doing this.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. As an artist, I feel it is vital to be educated in order to have the skill sets to create. It took me a while to understand the truth of this. I was born with an imagination and a passion. No one can take this from me, but, in order to express myself fully, I needed the tools. I went to college and graduate school and learned the human form, bones, and muscles. I learned how to mix color, perspective, design, how to turn a form, light and shadow, and reflected light.

2. Don’t be in a hurry to define your style or declare a medium. There is an evolution that takes place as you’re learning. Draw all the time. Carry a sketchbook with you. Draw everything. Take notes about ideas. Go to galleries and museums. Read about other artists. Copy them. I taught myself how to draw in pen and ink by copying Aubrey Beardsley. Picasso’s early sketchbook drawings looked like Degas. Now people say they can recognize my work whether it’s a drawing, painting, or sculpture, but, this took time and was not my goal. My goal was to do art.

3. Be true to yourself. Listen to critiques, but, try not to be discouraged. Remember when you get rejected from a show, it’s one juror’s opinion. If art is your passion, nothing will stop you, not because you’re supported and encouraged, but despite it.

Sudie’s last remarks

I was born into a family that accepted that I was an artist. They weren’t particularly overjoyed when I chose painting as my major because it wasn’t a profitable profession like advertising. I went to a college that ignored female students because they typically stopped doing art to get married and have children. I was finally championed by an art history professor in graduate school, who believed in me. I have always fought for my right to be an artist. I get my work ethic from my father, who was very critical of me, but, set an example for me because he worked diligently in his profession. So, I’m used to working hard, and, for all the missteps I’ve taken in other areas of my life, nothing has deterred me from my art, which remains my passion, my life force, and my gift.

Contact Info:

Fractals No. 21 cold wax and oil on wood panel, 17” h x 14” w $650
Global Warming: ‘Trust in the Infinite to Answer Your Deepest, Prayers in the Darkest Times’ –Snatam Kaur, 3D painting: oil paint, papier-mâché, beadwork, and mixed media on canvas, 56” h x 46” w x 5” d, $9,500
Orbits/Spheres No 2, 30” h x 30” w, cold wax and oil on wood panel, $2,800
A sample of the items available at my Etsy shop; Sudie Rakusin Art
Roaming, papier-mâché, acrylic paint, beading and mixed media, 46” h x 29.5” w x 28” d, $950
Woman with Goldfinch: ‘She transforms her own dark into her own, light. She sees her private shadows- and loves them.’ Molly McCord, 40” h x 30” w, cold wax and oil on wood panel, $3,700
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