Susanne Iles, Artist

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 1 person | Log in to rate

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Biography of Artist & Writer, Susanne Iles

Susanne is an Irish contemporary symbolist painter, writer, and curator, living in Castletownbere, County Cork, Ireland. Born in Canada, Susanne attended the Ontario College of Art. Her career as a professional artist now spans 20 years, and includes fine art exhibitions internationally, publishing credits, and curatorial experience.

 

"Susanne Iles is a vigorous, intelligent, and gifted painter and writer who is full of originality and style. She takes her work very seriously and has much to offer society today. "Spiritual art" tends to be shallow and sentimental, but Susanne's work takes much substance from the traditions and is informed by her knowledge about image, symbol, and emblem."

Thomas Moore, Author

Painter, Bone Singer Studio 

Susanne's artwork is greatly influenced by avid research in mythology, divine alchemy, dragons, and ancient history. Her studio, Bone Singer, explores how myths are unearthed and understood in their spiritual and sacred context.

"For bones are like seeds: everything that dies goes into the earth, and from the earth new life is born in the sacred cycle of existence." Quetzalcoatl as translated by Willard Gingerich

In divine alchemy the elements are represented by air, fire, water, earth, and quintessence. From these we are made manifest, our bones supporting spirit; beauty wrapped in nature.

Despite the passage of time, bones live forever. Their remains contain everything which has come before us. Myths, dreams, and all that is forgotten, are held in the memory we call bones. The bones of the Old Ones sleep softly deep within the earth; their wisdom nourishes and forms the landscape.

Through the song of creative expression, the Bone Singer breathes the old bones back into existence, reconnecting our natural world with the Divine. The symbolic language of the artist inspires and fosters recognition. It opens hearts, opens doors, allowing light to nurture the sacred space within. Reuniting spirit and nature awakens the re-creation and renewal of the Soul.

The Bone Singer sings the stories into existence. Beauty begets beauty; creation begets creation, and the world is created anew.

Selected Works 

All images copyright, Susanne Iles

Earth Woman by Susanne Iles ©   Dobrynja by Susanne Iles ©   My Sister's WalkUp by Susanne Iles ©

Barra's Ring by Susanne Iles ©   The Bahir - First Verses of Creation by Susanne Iles ©   IAO Sabaoth by Susanne Iles ©   Medusa by Susanne Iles ©

Writer and Poet 

sometimes i sit and
dream the dreams
of a selkie
indigo dreams of sea
quench my spirit and
renew my soul and
i am again
content in my humanity

Indigo Dreams of Sea by Susanne Iles

Susanne writing adds another dimension to her expression of creativity and knowledge on a range of subjects including mythology, alchemy and ancient history. A sampling of her work can be found on her website at bonesinger.com

Susanne also manages to blog about news and events at Bone Singer Studio, in addition to covering stories found in the land of her home in the Ring of Beara, County Cork, Ireland, doll making pursuits in the blog, Poppets and Poppets, and finally, toys for older children and adults in the blog, Alchemy Doll.

Curator, International Juried Symbolist Art Show 

"Without symbols our lives would be as spiritually impoverished as sleep without dreams..." - Tom Chetwynd

According to the Oxford Dictionary, symbolist art seeks special symbols to express the essence of things by suggestion. It engages the viewer by appealing to the heart, personality and unconscious mind, as well as the intellect.

The International Juried Online Symbolist Art Show was an annual event curated by Susanne to promote symbolist art and create an affordable venue for artists to share their talents.

Three themed shows, The Dreamer and the Dreamed (2002), The Mythic Quest (2003), and The Artist as Shaman (2004), received more than 900 entries world-wide. An independent jury selected approximately 40 finalists and three winners for each show. Winners for each show shared cash prizes totaling more than $5000. First-place winners included:

* 2002, Gail Potocki, No Witness in the Slaying of a Memory (inset image shown)
* 2003, Doreen Foster, The Beloved and the Dreamer
* 2004, S.L. Wilde, SelkieSednaSurcease

Susanne's Squidoo Lenses 

featured lens The Mythology of Plants

Plants, shrubs, flowers, trees and even vegetables have stories to tell us. Learn more about the myth and symbolism growing in the garden. Original artlcle and artwork by Susanne Iles may be found at: The Storied Garden, Planting the Seeds of Myth htt...

featured lens Aido Hwedo, West African Creation Dragon

Before the Earth was formed the genderless Creator God, named Nana-Buluku by the Fon people of Dahomey, created a companion dragon called Aido Hwedo who was both male and female.It was a dragon able to move with ease between Heaven and Earth who carr...

featured lens Nu Kua, Chinese Creation Goddess

The dragon goddess Nü-Kua (also referenced as Nu Gua, Nu-Kua) emerged from the heavens to see the remains of P'an Ku. Described as a beautiful creature, half-woman half-dragon, she roamed the Earth and marvelled at its beauty.For more informatio...

featured lens Harry Potter Books: Mythology, Magic and Muggles

By opening the door to mythology and stories rich in symbolism, we introduce a fundamental world view where individuals can be wonderfully unique in their identities but still part of the larger tapestry of an ethical community. The mythological arch...

featured lens Beowulf and Alchemical Symbolism

I've always been fascinated with the dance of wordplay and imagery found in the old English poem, Beowulf (written approximately 700 A.D. by an unknown poet). The poem is exciting, passionate, frightening, heroic, and brilliant. I had wanted to paint...

Bone Singer Studio Blog 

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The Ring of Beara Blog 

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Poppets and Poppets: Handmade Dolls 

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Alchemy Doll: Eclectic Handcrafts 

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