“I AM an artist”: How Suzanne found confidence, creativity, and community through Form to Freedom.
When she’s not busy being a full-time caregiver, mindfulness instructor, and mum of two adopted children, Suzanne Martin is an artist. While she’s “dabbled in pottery, drawing, and watercolour”, for most of her life Suzanne didn’t believe she was an artist. Sound familiar?
Suzanne lives in Memphis, Tennessee. Her life and career have been rich and varied; she’s worked as an electrician's apprentice, in restaurants and health food stores, as an office manager of a church, and more recently, as a mindfulness instructor.
With a degree in anthropology and an El Salvadoranian mother, Suzanne has always held a quiet fascination with Indigenous wisdom, storytelling, and our connection to the natural world.
“I'm sure this fuels my interest in, and passion for, knowledge of Indigenous peoples, their struggles, and way of thinking about nature.”
Like many of our students, Suzanne had long felt the tug of creativity but struggled to know where to focus it.
“I dabbled with watercolors, the subject almost always being animals, but did not have confidence in my work. My sister, a professional artist, always encouraged me, and I felt I had an artistic bent, but did not give the glimmer of a gift the time it deserved.”
Before weaving, she explored other creative outlets in her mindfulness sessions – like wrapping stones – and even worked up the courage to take part in a neighbourhood artwalk festival. But even then, doubt crept in.
“Much of the work at the festival would not be considered fine art which dampened my enthusiasm for the idea of a career in art.”
Still, she kept creating – quietly, and mostly for herself.
It was a single ad for Form to Freedom that caught her eye. And while hesitation lingered, Suzanne said yes.
“An ad for Harriet's course caught my attention and I was intrigued by her work. Hesitating initially, again because of my lack of confidence and also not sure I wanted to invest that much in something I was unsure of, I eventually saw the course as an exciting new venture.”
She hoped to learn something completely new. But what she didn’t expect was how deeply the course would connect her to nature, storytelling, and herself.
“I felt such a connection to the earth.”
Early on, Suzanne created a random weave as one of her first pieces that struck her as both structured and organic.
“It was architectural and looked like nature. I felt such a connection to the earth and knew that even though I had a lot to learn, I was going to love this.”
Later, she worked on a piece using pine needles from a tree gifted to her by Form to Freedom’s expert botanist, Marcia Morse Mullins.
“The pine tree had come down in a hurricane, and as I worked I kept thinking of the strength of the tree versus the hurricane, the long life of the tree, and the cyclical patterns in nature. The story was woven into the piece, and I knew then that my work could tell a story. “
That realisation was a turning point.
With the encouragement and skills from Harriet’s course – and the bonus photography course Finding the Light –Suzanne started showing her work more publicly.
“Since completing the course I have participated in a gallery show with my sister and niece, both painters who focus on nature. I have submitted my work to a couple of other galleries who have expressed interest.”
Her work is now inspired by the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, bringing together her love of nature, gratitude, and storytelling in every sculpture.
“A big block of my work is inspired by the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, words of gratitude for many elements of nature that nourish our bodies, minds, and spirits.”
Suzanne’s creative practice is still evolving, but what’s different now is the belief she holds in herself.
“I have gained a new perspective from my experience with FATT, that I AM an artist.”
When asked to reflect on her progress, Suzanne doesn’t hesitate.
“I had no experience of weaving before the course but comparing my current work with my early work, I can see such growth in technique, creativity, and inspiration.”
One of her recent pieces, The Four Winds, was inspired by the words:
“We are all thankful for the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe...”
Suzanne understands what it’s like to hesitate, especially when time and money feel scarce.
“My hesitation in taking a course was monetary, being a caregiver, I did not have much expendable income. I can now say the investment was well worth it.”
“The quality of the instructor, the videos, the expert help and advice was extraordinary... The fact that you have access to the videos for life is amazing. I have returned to the videos many times to refresh my memory.”
What’s next?
Suzanne is now brimming with ideas and materials, her work infused with meaning and inspired by nature.
“The collection of resources that I have foraged, another important aspect of Harriet's class, has given me inspiration for a long time. I am often thinking of two or three future projects when I am working on my current piece.”
She’s open to future courses, eager to learn from others, and finally, confidently, creating as the artist she’s always been.
Whether you’re new to art or looking for deeper meaning in your work, Harriet Goodall’s signature course From to Freedom is a deep dive into working with plants, fibres, dyeing, and basketry techniques to create unique sculptural objects. Find out more...
You can see more of Suzanne's work on Instagram.