Art by Defne

This is where I share my paintings, sketchbooks, and prints. Art, process, and inspiration from Boston. Open to comission work. https://dsurujon.github.io/# @defnesurujonart on insta

[defnesurujonart]

Welcome to Defne Surujon Art!

Hello and welcome! This is the new home for my artwork — finished paintings, sketchbook explorations, prints, and commissions.

Here you’ll see a curated selection of my favorite works to date. I’ll be sharing new paintings, glimpses into my sketchbooks, and occasional prints and commissions available for purchase.

Thanks for following along on this creative journey. Below are a couple of paintings I'm most proud of, so you have a taste:

[defnesurujonart]

Of COURSE I had to paint this masterpiece.

I need a few more coats to hide the text on the paper, and to get his face shadows looking less like scars.

But yeah, enjoy, acrylics on paper

[defnesurujonart]

A silly doodle of a cat, or maybe, my new email signature

[defnesurujonart]

I am once again watching the sad horse show.

Watercolor, ink, some rubbing alcohol because why not

[defnesurujonart]

The last two papas to complete the set

Boy are saxophones difficult to draw

[defnesurujonart]

Secondo

[defnesurujonart]

Continuing with yesterday’s theme of papas…

[defnesurujonart]

Like everybody else on here, I’m obsessed with this outfit

[defnesurujonart]

A little sketch of Copia

[defnesurujonart]

I've been sketching out some ideas for a series of larger paintings about change, thresholds, vulnerability and being able to share that vulnerability. These are small (~5x8in) oil pastel sketches that I intend to scale up with acrylics, and I'd love to hear your opinions on what resonates vs what could be conveyed better.

A solitary figure is abandoning a world with chaotic colors and patterns, entering a new world that is ambiguous, uncertain. The new world beyond the threshold is red, which can imply both warmth and danger. The threshold is provides a clear divide between the vertical "waterfall" pattern, and the more uniform, almost boring monotone red.

The figure passes through a similar threshold, going from a patterned world into a more monotone one. The figure here is static, there is zero gesture, because they are aware of the watchful gaze of the eye above the threshold. The pattern of the "past" world can be eyelashes or tears, I might articulate both in a larger painting. But one thing that will stay constant is how that pattern frames the threshold itself. This second painting brings in an observer, and shows that the passage through the threshold is not entirely solitary. But the introduction of a secondary presence gives the figure pause. The "new" world the figure has ahead of them is lime green in this one, much brighter than the red in the first piece, but also the color of toxic sludge. So there is still an aspect of danger.

The presence of the second figure, the observing eye is now a companion that holds the main figure's hand. The journey is not a solitary one, but something that they experience together. The figures are walking away into the bright light, surrounded by warm colors, but the warmth could still suggest a world on fire rather than brighter futures. Regardless, it's a journey that the figure doesn't have to endure alone. This final piece represents the acceptance of support from companions, friends, loved ones in going forward.

[defnesurujonart]

A little landscape from 2018 or 2019, acrylics on paper

[defnesurujonart]

A little study of my jar of brushes. Acrylics on paper.

[defnesurujonart]

[defnesurujonart]

I recently scanned almost 200 pages of past work: paintings, drawings, sketchbook pages, bits and pieces from the last fifteen years. Seeing it all together has been grounding. I don’t know what I’ll do with it yet, but it feels like an archive worth sitting with.

[defnesurujonart]

Possum friends

Some ideas for stickers

[defnesurujonart]

Today’s model is Olive. She’s 20.

[defnesurujonart]

A portrait of Nemo

I’m still getting used to digital