Studio Visit x Susan Fraser-Hughes
Step into the evocative world of Susan Fraser-Hughes, where chiaroscuro landscapes blur the line between reality and abstraction. Her meticulous attention to detail and profound storytelling transform everyday objects and scenes into immersive narratives that resonate deeply with viewers. Through her mastery of charcoal on frosted Mylar, Fraser-Hughes explores identity, memory, and emotion, inviting us to see beyond the surface and into the essence of her subjects.
"By the time I stand ready to draw, much of the work have already taken place. Every series I create, tells a different story." - Susan Fraser-Hughes
Susan Fraser-Hughes’ work is a compelling exploration of shadow, texture, and light, balancing precision and emotion. Her landscapes and still-life series delve into the subconscious, intertwining memory and history with archetypal imagery. Using frosted Mylar and charcoal, she achieves tonal flexibility that captures the intricate interplay of light and dark. Her art invites viewers into a world of layered narratives and striking visual compositions, offering a unique perspective on the familiar and the mysterious.
Susan Fraser-Hughes: approach
Fraser-Hughes approaches her subjects with both intuition and meticulous research, transforming them into narratives that evoke memory and emotion. Her series "Journey" and "Journey Too" showcase stark, chiaroscuro landscapes that blend abstraction with rigorous attention to detail, urging viewers to explore their own interpretations of the paths she depicts.
Susan Fraser-Hughes - Studio, Vancouver, Canada
The Art of Series
Documenting her subjects in series, Fraser-Hughes reveals their multifaceted nature. “Individually, a piece encapsulates a specific element or emotion; together they tell a story,” she explains. Her dedication to this approach enhances the depth and complexity of her work, allowing each piece to contribute to a larger, cohesive narrative.
Latest series in the making, Vancouver, Canada
Everyday Objects, Extraordinary Stories
In her series "Washer," Fraser-Hughes elevates a common object to symbolic heights. Through variations in lighting and form, she transforms its circular simplicity into a profound study of light, shadow, and emotional resonance, reminiscent of lunar phases.
Washer Series (Left, vertical), Every Rose: A Different Story (Right, vertical)
Portraits of Identity
In "Just a Moment," Fraser-Hughes explores identity and memory through faceless mannequin heads, drawing connections to her own familial history. Through this Series, she observes how society wears a mask depending on different kind of people to interact with. These intimate works reflect her ability to intertwine personal and universal narratives with a delicate balance of light and shadow.
Just a moment # 7, 2019. Charcoal on Frosted Mylar - 24 x 16 in
Inner and Outer Journeys
For Fraser-Hughes, art is a documentation of her personal and external worlds. Her landscapes and object studies intertwine her experiences and emotions, creating compositions that are as introspective as they are expansive. "In Conversation with the Woods" captures the timeless allure of forests, merging light and shadow to create evocative scenes of sunlit clearings and dark, mysterious paths. These works invite viewers into a realm of fairytale-like introspection and discovery.
Susan's studio in Vancouver showcasing Every Rose: A Different Story (Right, vertical)
A Story dear to Susan
Her series "Every Rose, A Different Story" juxtaposes delicate, light-filled blooms with darker, abstract interpretations. These works offer tactile, almost sculptural experiences of each flower’s essence. In a conversation during a podcast in 2024 with Compounding Square, Susan reveals how each Rose was picked by a different person and reveals the essence of personality of the person who selected the Rose. This Series remains dear to Susan and is kept for viewing only.
Every Rose: A Different Story
I Am....
"Through my art, I unveil a resonance with places and objects, shaped by emotions, memories, and personal history," she reflects. Her practice, marked by a profound mastery of material properties, seeks to uncover the hidden essence of her subjects. In her series I Am…, she delves into ancestral archetypes, intertwining personal identity with familial history. This introspective work represents a poignant exploration of her past, revealing layers of her existence through an uncharted lens.
Susan Fraser-Hughes using charcoal on Frosted Mylar
Her latest and upcoming shows
Susan Fraser-Hughes, holding a PhD in Fine Arts (2017), has exhibited her work in prestigious venues, including Understory at Seymour Gallery, Wales; Juxtaposition at Trianon Gallery, Canada; Drawn at Manifest Gallery, USA; and Three Definitions of the Sublime at Triangle Gallery, Canada. Her inclusion in the Alberta Foundation for the Arts collection underscores her scholarly impact. Vedica Art Studios and Gallery proudly features her work in its February 2025 group exhibition.
Susan Fraser-Hughes works exhibited at Vedica Art Studios and Gallery, Mumbai, India
