Suzanne Albertson, Oakland
Member Since November 2017
Artist Statement My Biography
I was born in Hammond, Indiana, the second of four children. At the age of two, I could be found happily engaged in the act of creation in the sand dunes of our backyard. I have been a lifelong practicing artist since then.
My family moved often. I grew up being an observer of place and object. Creativity kept me connected to the world at large, as I continually left my friends behind. Art was my playmate and passion.
I attended Humboldt State University and received a BA in Art Studio. As a student, I split my attentions between graphic design, papermaking, and watercolor painting. Eager to make a living being creative, I entered the work world as a graphic designer. I delved into many forms of design and print production, and finally became a book designer. I’ve been honored to design and produce books that have been published worldwide by many noted authors.
suzannealbertson.com/bookdesign/
As I spent more and more time on a computer, I craved working with raw, tactile materials again, so I focused my energy on painting. In 2000, I discovered an outstanding painting teacher who taught me how to build a painting in the way of the old masters.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I feel grateful to be surrounded by a large and diverse community of painters and artists.
Artist Statement
I paint with acrylic paint on canvas. On some canvases I apply a variety of materials for texture, including torn paper, sand, paper bags, and tissue paper to create a surface. When I’m ready to start a new painting, I look to my collection of photographs and other visuals as resource material. I allow my subconscious to dictate the subject matter; the images I am attracted to are the ones I use.
After my first trip to visit Northern Thailand elephant hospitals, sanctuaries, and conservation centers in 2011, I began painting my elephant series. The tour I was with had the privilege of interacting with the elephants closely. We rode, fed, bathed, and tended the elephants alongside their caretakers, the mahouts. I’ve returned to Thailand and the elephants on five occasions.
I don’t paint with the intention of making a statement; I allow the paintings to inform me of their meaning. Through the application of many thin layers of color, an image begins to emerge. Now that I have numerous canvases painted, I see that the elephant paintings contain symbols and imagery of the animal’s raw natural beauty, the constraints of captivity, and expressions of wild, unleashed joy.
I also paint commissioned pet portraits. Please take a look at my website for more information and to see finished pet portraits.
suzannealbertson.com
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