"Sue moved to Bozeman Montana from the Midwest, as a young adult, beckoned by the outdoor lifestyle of skiing, running and hiking in what she considers one of the most beautiful places on earth. She lived, worked and played in Montana for 21 years before work obligations took her to Charleston, SC. In 2017, after a twenty-year absence, Sue retired from her career in Medical Laboratory Science and returned to her beloved Montana. She began to abandon her left brain self and started to develop her right brain muse. Sue quickly replaced the rules and regulations of Laboratory ife with the unlimited freedom of color, paint and texture.

After several workshops with local artist, Kara Tripp, Sue found palette knife painting to be the perfect medium to express her love of vibrant color and rich texture. Further study with artists David Mensing and Robert Moore helped provide the foundations for her western landscapes. Her well rounded training includes acceptance and completion of the Montana Arts Council’s Artrepreneur Program, an intensive art-centered business development program.

Sue’s award winning work has appeared in many juried shows including the Big Sky Art Auction, Auction for the Arts (Arts Council of Big Sky), and the Sweet Pea Festival of the Arts. Sue participates regularly in Plein Air on the Yellowstone, an annual event held in Livingston, Montana. Sue continues to be inspired by the rugged landscapes that change with the seasons, the abundant wildlife that often visits her mountain home and the explosion of wildflowers announcing the transition of winter into spring and summer. Sue is living her dream which started many years ago when she was first touched by the magic she once again calls home. . .Montana."

Sue's Exhibit at ERA Landmark

"Inspiration for my art comes from the natural beauty of the state in which I live. I paint the things that bring me joy and make me smile. I delight in taking elements of the natural world, whether a landscape, a bird, a flower or an animal and making them dance with color and movement. My art is representational, impressionistic and sometimes whimsical. Regardless of the subject, it is bright, bold and energetic.

While my subjects may vary, my style is consistent. Using only a palette knife to blend and apply the oil paint, I am able to capture the subject matter in a way that resembles a complex mosaic; an impressionistic whole made up of beautiful variegated parts. The result is a contemporary representation of the subject matter that not only pleases the eye but begs to be touched.

Montana’s vast and varied scenery provides me with unlimited and ever changing subject matter. The abundance of wildlife, the rich cultural past and the present western aesthetic supply a wide range of material from which to draw. I am truly blessed to live in such a rich and inspirational place.

I see the world in living color and try to pass on my vision through my art. My job as an artist may be painting but my
passion is sharing the joy."