Welcome to
My Website!
 Joy
is the word that describes what my art process gives me.
Painting transports me to another world. I paint in oils
focusing on the “plein air” tradition of painting out
doors in the landscape. The plein air painter must work
quickly to capture the essence of the scene before light
and weather changes occur. Most paintings are completed
in one session using California Impressionist style with
rich color, loose brushstrokes and emphasis on capturing
the effect of light and shadow. I write small stories
or poems to go with each painting as I believe this adds
to the viewer’s enjoyment of my artwork.
My childhood and teenage years in East Africa and the
Seychelles Islands exposed me to wild landscapes and spectacular
skies. I have a passion for that aspect of the American
landscape and paint on that subject as much as possible.
One of my life goals is to paint “plein air” in every
one of the States.
I do not make prints of my work. Each piece is therefore
unique and the only original.
PAINT THE STATES BLOG - click to follow the ongoing story of my quest to paint in each of the 50 States!
NEW! In addition to my regular body of work, I accept
commissions to create paintings of homes for their owners
or as closing gifts from Real Estate Agents to their clients
upon the completion of a home purchase transaction. Home
Portraits can be done in a variety of sizes and prices.
Please see “Home Portrait” section of this site for further
details.
My studio is located in Bonny Doon in the Santa Cruz
Mountains of Central California.
Each
Painting has a Story
All my paintings have stories. I relive the story
of what it was like to paint each painting whenever I
look at the painting. When you own one of my paintings,
you get the story and whatever journey into your own imagination
it evokes.
I will feature a new painting and its story every few
months on this website.
This month’s painting and the story of its creation is
featured here. Enjoy!
Click on picture to enlarge |
“Burney Falls, California
Oil on Linen
11” x 14” - $525
Artist: Suzanne Elliott
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“Burney Falls, California”
I did this painting during a camping trip to North-Eastern California in June 2007. The dominant volcano, Mt. Shasta, was still snow covered as we turned East off route 5. Mount Lassen is in this same area and in the Southern Cascade Range. The Pacific Crest Trail passes right next to the Burney Falls Trail. The campgrounds at McArthur-Burney Park are excellent and within walking distance of the Falls.
This magical waterfall took me completely by surprise with its’ size and magnificence. The waters of Burney Creek hurl themselves over the basalt lava ledge and down 129 feet into the gorge below. The plunge pool at the base of the Falls is 22 feet deep and ice blue and emerald green in color. The force of the falling water creates small waves that fan out in a circular pattern. The morning sunlight hits the white foam and sparkling droplets create a rainbow which arches over the gorge. The snow melt water causes a temperature differential of at least 40F between the top of the Falls and the base. During my visit it was 100F+ on the rim trail and 55 or 60F at the base of the Falls. Painting at Burney Falls ranks as one of my top plein air painting experiences so far!. Suzanne Elliott
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