Courtney Shoudis

 

We are really excited to have the opporunity to speak with this special "Modern Muse" - Courtney Shoudis. 

Hello Courtney- let's start. 

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Where are you right now?

I’m where I spend almost all of my time. In my studio in Chicago.

 

 

How would you describe a good day for yourself?

A day that I can just paint or sketch without the interruption of emails or meetings is always the
best for me. Life gets so busy and chaotic a lot of the time, so those magical days where it's
easy and just goes anyway you want it to are the best days. I just wish they weren’t so far and
few between.

What brings you inspiration?

Everything does. It always comes from some unsuspecting place or thing. A conversation, a
movie, a woman on the street, a book. It really does come from everywhere and anywhere. I
have done work inspired from poetry, the passing of time, and women I have seen on the street.
You never know why or when but just that it comes when it wants to.

Do you like your job?

I love being an artist. I worked and still work really hard every single day to be able to do this for
a living. I think sometimes people don’t always realize how much hard work goes into being able
to paint or make sculpture. It’s not a glamorous or easy job at all. I also wouldn’t trade this job
for anything else.

What colour describes you best?

I have an obsession with earthy/desert tones. I am naturally always drawn to using muted
brown, sienna, and pinkish tones. I have lived in the desert on and off at different times in my
life and I have always been drawn to its palette.

 

Are you in love?

I am very much in love. I have actually been working on a series of paintings that document the
time my fiance and I have been separated due to immigration. We have been separated for
almost three years since Covid put a huge pause and delay in the process of immigrant visas
into America. I have made a painting for every season that has passed, I am hopeful for the day
that I no longer have to make them. I hope for his return here every single day.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently working on a lot of sculptures that are for a show in May. It has been a hectic but
exciting schedule because this is what I want to be doing. I am also working on a new series of
phrase paintings over the past few months. It’s been fun but challenging to add writing and
poetry to my paintings.

How do you define success?

I define success as accomplishing the goals one sets out for themselves. I try to do a micro
version of this on a daily basis, I will not go to sleep until my to do list for the day is finished. I
have learned if I accomplish that everyday it all adds up to making the larger goal attainable. So
I guess my answer would be that I define success as showing up for yourself every single day.

 

 

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Creative, stubborn, and kind.

Modern Muses that inspire you and why?

Every single female artist is a muse to me. Women have been left out of the conversation for
way too long in the art world so every time I see a woman coming to the table with her work that
is and will always be inspiring to me.

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Thank you very much Courtney, it was so nice to watch the world through your eyes for some minutes. Truly inspiring. I wish you all the very best in your art career and can't wait to see more of your works. You truly are a Modern Muse!

You can contact Courtney Shoudis :
[email protected]