Suzanne Bell is a California artist-art instructor known for her inspirational teaching style and her uniquely sensual, yet contemplative paintings.
Since the time Suzanne could hold a crayon, she’s been exploring unique and fun ways to combine such mediums as watercolors, acrylics, mosaics, oils/cold wax and encaustics. Suzanne has a love for working with bees wax and the beauty it provides within her cold wax and encaustic paintings. Fifteen years ago she fell in love with the versatility of the ancient art form, encaustic. Suzanne says “Some of my favorite things about encaustics are that I get to use a blow torch; I love the hint of honey in the air and how the colorful melted wax lends itself to a playful expression.” Her love for creating with cold wax came about five years ago and has brought new insights into creating with oil paints in non-traditional ways… Suzanne’s favorite aspect in working with cold wax is she not only gets to use a variety of cool tools, but she gets to get messy and create with her fingers. Both these magical mediums are the highlight of her life, her art and her teachings.
Suzanne grew up in the Northern California Sierras and currently resides in Bodega Bay and although, she is inspired by her beautiful surroundings her paintings truly come from within and follow a free flowing approach. She creates from her imagination starting with a color scheme, later evolving into a rhythmic motion attempting to capture a mood in time.
After completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and an Associate’s Degree in Design and Marketing her focus became the education of others. Suzanne has been teaching art for over 25 years and currently offers classes at Sierra College, Lake Tahoe College, School of Visual Philosophy, Nevada Fine Arts Center, Santa Cruz Mtn. Arts Center, University Art, Sacramento Fine Arts Center and in her private studio in Santa Rosa, Ca.
CURRICULUM VITAE
BORN 1960, Placerville CA
RESIDES Occidental, CA
STUDIO/GALLERY Santa Rosa CA
EDUCATION
2016 Sara Post, Cold Wax painting class, Davis CA
2007 Linda Womack, Advanced Encaustic Workshops, Portland Oregon
2004 Charlotte Cooper, Basic/ Beyond Encaustic Workshops, Sacramento
1997 BA- Sacramento State University California, Psychology. Minor- Fine Arts
1996 AA - American River College, Sacramento California Art Design and Illustration
1992 AA - American River College, Sacramento California, Business and Marketing
TEACHING
2017 Present Santa Cruz Mtn. Arts, Ben Lomond CA, Art Instructor
2017 Present Sacramento Fine Arts Center CA, Art Instructor-Encaustic & Cold Wax
2017 Present University Art, CA Art Instructor-Cold Wax
2017 Present Image Pathways Newcastle, CA. Art Instructor-Encaustic Painting
2016 Present School of Visual Philosophy San Jose CA, Art Instructor-Encaustic & Cold Wax
2015 Petroglyphe Gallery Mokelumne Hill CA, Art Instructor-Encaustic Painting
2010 Crocker Art Museum Sacramento, CA, Art Instructor-Encaustic Painting
2009 Present Sierra College Rocklin CA, Art Instructor-Encaustic Painting & cold wax
2010 Brick Alley Art Studios Sacramento CA, Art Instructor
2000 Present Advanced Art Academy Folsom CA, Art Director/Instructor
2000 Present El Dorado Hills CSD CA,Youth Art Instructor
1997 Present Folsom Community Center, CA,Youth Art Instructor
1997 Saint Mel Catholic School Fair Oaks CA, Youth Art Instructor
1996 Oak Chan Elementary Folsom CA, Youth Art Instructor
LECTURES
2017 Encaustic lecture and demonstration Eldorado Hills Art Assoc. El Dorado Hills, CA
2015 Encaustic lecture and demonstration American Visions Art Gallery, Folsom, CA
2012 Encaustic lecture and demonstration, Sierra College, Rocklin, CA
2011 Encaustic lecture and demonstration, Petroglyphe Gallery, Mokelomne Hill, CA
2010 Encaustic lecture and demonstration, Brick Alley Art Studios, Sacramento, CA
2010 Encaustic lecture and demonstration, Timber Creek Artists Group, Roseville, CA
2009 Encaustic lecture and demonstration, Tahoe Art League, Tahoe NV
EXHIBITIONS
2017 Montgomery Village, “Sunflowers” Santa Rosa CA
2016 Paramount Equity, “Abstraction” Roseville CA
2014 Sonoma Coast Shipyards, “Coastal Seas” Jenner, CA
2012 Placerville 3x3 Show “Freedom Dancers” Placerville, CA
2011 Brick Alley Art Studios “Amazing Aspens” Sacramento CA
2010 20th St. Art Gallery, 20/20 Show “Mystic Landscapes” Sacramento CA
2010 20th St. Art Gallery, 20/20 Show “Freedom Dancers” Sacramento CA
2010 Intel, “A Touch of the Old” Folsom, CA
2010 Bold Mark Gallery, ‘Mystic Lands” Sacramento CA
2010 20th St. Art Gallery “ This and That” Sacramento CA
2009 20th St. Art Gallery, “Feminine Mélange” Sacramento, CA
2009 Tahoe Art League, Art Expo at the Edgewood Resort, Tahoe, Nevada
2009 20th St. Art Gallery, 50/50 Show” Surreal Landscapes” Sacramento CA
2009 El Dorado Hills Artists Association, El Dorado Hills, CA
2009 404 Gallery, Encaustic Invitational, Roseville, CA
2008 Cozmic Gallery, “Abstraction” Placerville, CA
2008 Sacramento Fine Arts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2007 Cozmic Gallery, “Orbs” Placerville, CA
REVIEWS
2011 Davis Enterprise, Front page Davis CA
2011 Sacramento Business Journal, 2nd Saturday, February Sacramento CA
2010 Style Magazine Folsom/El Dorado Hills, The Arts, May 1 Eldorado CA
2009 Mountain Democrat, Weekend Art, August 14 Placerville CA
2009 Sac Business Journal Sacramento CA
2008 News & Review Sacramento CA
MEMBERSHIPS
IEA International Encaustic Artists
Sacramento Fine Arts Center
El Dorado Arts Council
Santa Cruz Mt. Art Center
Sierra Wax Artists
Petaluma Art Center
Sebastopol Art Center
Sunnyvale Art Club
Tahoe Arts League
GALLERY REPRESENTATION
American Visions Art Gallery www.avartgallery.com
James Harold Gallery www.jhg4art.com
Petroglyphe Art Gallery www.gallerypetroglyphe.com
Gallery Elecktra