I paint wildlife and nature because I want to share the mystery and unbelievable beauty of the natural world. Painting is how I pray for and celebrate what I love. I paint with acrylics and use my own photos for reference. I have traveled to many wild places to study and photograph the animals in their natural habitat.

My father was a writer and naturalist. He was my first teacher. The painting I did for one of my father's books, "Notes from Little Lakes", won the Addy Award for best book cover, 1995-1997, in Madison, Wisconsin.

I had my first solo show, July and August 2004 at the Richard C. Anderson Gallery, Land's End in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Another show followed in July and August 2006, at the UW Arboretum, Madison, Wisconsin. In the summer of 2008 I had a show at The Creative Edge Gallery in Mazomanie, Wisconsin.

My painting "Badger State of Mind" won the PaintAmerica 2007 Grand Prize Purchase Award. The painting "Heart of the Mountain" was juried into the 2007 PaintAmerica Mini Top 50. And my painting "Ghost of Wildcat Mountain" was juried into the 2007 Paint the Parks Competion. I have taken workshops with John Seerey-Lester, Paco Young and Julie Chapman. In 2008 I became a signature member of Paint America Association. This will be my second year participating in the Spring Art Tour.

I will work on a small painting throughout the tour.

Suzanne's artworks will be exhibited during the Spring Art Tour at Sue Schuetz Studio, 2223 Mill Street, Cross Plains, WI 53528
Suzanne's email and website: ellispainting@tds.net | www.suzanneellispainting.com

Images © Suzanne Ellis