susie hartley
Mediums Used
Susie is a figurative sculptor who enjoys working in clay, modelling wax and casting into a range of materials including plaster, resin, cement fondue or bronze.She lives in Sussex and her studio is at her family home.
Susie Hartley has focused on modelling and casting as her specialism since studying Fine Art at Degree Level at Canterbury College of Art, Kent during the 1980`s. She was attracted to this particular University because of its Bronze casting facilities which she loved to use for her 3D form making. She casts her work in either plaster, resin or bronze and more recently has been working with ceramics, working with a variety of different clays and enjoying the different glaze techniques.
She has enjoyed working from the figure for the past 30 years producing sculptures through private commissions including notable portrait busts and large garden sculptures. Susie has a love of animals and this has can been seen though her sculptures of both dogs and cats.
Alongside her sculpting career Susie Hartley has also taught Art and Design to A Level Students and also adults for the past 24 years. Although she has really enjoyed teaching and working within a team of art professionals she is now focussing more on her artwork – developing her figurative skills through regularly attending life drawing classes and creating her own figurative responses in her studio.
Susie Hartley has focused on modelling and casting as her specialism since studying Fine Art at Degree Level at Canterbury College of Art, Kent during the 1980`s. She was attracted to this particular University because of its Bronze casting facilities which she loved to use for her 3D form making. She casts her work in either plaster, resin or bronze and more recently has been working with ceramics, working with a variety of different clays and enjoying the different glaze techniques.
She has enjoyed working from the figure for the past 30 years producing sculptures through private commissions including notable portrait busts and large garden sculptures. Susie has a love of animals and this has can been seen though her sculptures of both dogs and cats.
Sculptures by susie hartley
Credentials
Qualifications
Education
Cranbourne Chase School, Wiltshire 1977-1983
O levels (inc. Maths and English), 3 A Levels
Wimbledon School of Art 1985 -1986 Foundation Diploma
Canterbury College of Art 1986 -1989 Fine Art, BA Hons 2:1
PGCE - Teacher Training - University of Brighton 2006Work
Props Department - Glyndebourne 1992 - 1995
Sussex Downs College, Lewes - 1994 to present
Teaching roles include: Art and Design GCSE co-ordinator,
A2 Fine Art co-ordinatorDrawing and Painting Classes - Private teaching in groups and 1:1
Life Drawing Classes - Private TeachingTeaching Creative Printmaking - Sussex Downs College 2014 - 2017
Commissions
Various private Portrait bust commissions - London 1990- 2000
A series of figurative candlesticks - Wax Lyrical retail outlet - 1990’s
Black Cat Sculpture - Exterior of Lace House, Old Steine, Brighton Nov 2017,Education
Cranbourne Chase School, Wiltshire 1977-1983
O levels (inc. Maths and English), 3 A Levels
Wimbledon School of Art 1985 -1986 Foundation Diploma
Canterbury College of Art 1986 -1989 Fine Art, BA Hons 2:1
PGCE - Teacher Training - University of Brighton 2006Work
Props Department - Glyndebourne 1992 - 1995
Sussex Downs College, Lewes - 1994 to present
Teaching roles include: Art and Design GCSE co-ordinator,
A2 Fine Art co-ordinatorDrawing and Painting Classes - Private teaching in groups and 1:1
Life Drawing Classes - Private TeachingTeaching Creative Printmaking - Sussex Downs College 2014 - 2017
Commissions
Various private Portrait bust commissions - London 1990- 2000
A series of figurative candlesticks - Wax Lyrical retail outlet - 1990’s
Black Cat Sculpture - Exterior of Lace House, Old Steine, Brighton Nov 2017
Exhibitions
yes
Artist Statement:
`Exploring shape, form and texture I create sculptures that represent and interpret the human form. My expressive fragmented figures celebrate the strength and beauty of the female form. Through twisting, arching and stretching my forms express tension and energy capturing movement in clay.
I have a classical style in my work and draw inspiration from ancient fragmented sculptures, using the torso as my main focal point. My work consists of simplified form and flowing lines and my partial figures are made working both from life and intuitively. Historic figurative sculptures and paintings from a variety of cultures including non-European art have also been a major source of inspiration.
I want to create sculptures that depict energy and movement within the human form, sculptures that have a tactile quality that draw you in so that you can experience new qualities and appealing forms from all angles.
The truncation of the torso in my work highlights the formal elements of the human form allowing for abstract qualities. My recent ceramic work also explores colour though a variety of surface finishes including a range of oxides and glazes. My larger ceramic sculptures are fixed to either wood or marble and the pieces are fired to high Stoneware temperatures making them weatherproof. Some of my more recent sculptures are without a base and are free standing.`
Susie is mainly inspired by the human figure, but also has a great love for human nature and animals. Her passion for art is also demonstrated through frequent visits to galleries and exhibitions and she spends lots of her spare time sketching at the V&A museum and the British Museum - looking and being inspired by classical sculpture.
This summer she visited the Rodin exhibition at the Briitish Museum several times as he is one of her favourite sculptors. She also loves the dynamic 3D forms of both Matisse and Degas dancing figures.
