Suzie Baker

"Representational,  painterly, impressionistic, and inspiring—these are all perfect ways to  describe Suzie Greer Baker’s paintings. Whether she’s painting a lush  landscape on location, creating an evocative still life in the studio,  or completing a commissioned portrait, Suzie paints with a loose, alla  prima technique that is always evolving as she experiments with new  approaches. 

Background

“I first landed on my preference for direct painting in college,” she  recalls. “Although we explored many styles, I can point to one  assignment that had a profound effect on me. My professor, Peter Jones,  arranged two still lifes of simple flower cuttings in glass jars.  Once our palettes were loaded and brushes were ready, we had 30 minutes  to finish each painting, one right after the other. I didn’t have time  to overthink, I just painted. The result was a revelation of free and  expressive mark-making that I strive for even to this day.”  One of Suzie’s favorite childhood recollections of making art involved  her own very creative idea to make brown crayon shavings with a pair of  safety scissors and glue them to a drawing of an owl. “I’m sure my  teacher thought I was making a big mess,” she laughs, adding playfully,  “and I’ve been making messes ever since.”  Her high school art teacher, Ken Tracy, and several college painting  professors encouraged her passion for painting, yet Suzie’s pragmatic  side led her to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising and Fine  Arts from Louisiana Tech University.  Following her degree program, she worked as an ad agency Art Director  before trading in her Pantone swatches for a brush and palette in 2008.  The change was prompted by a move to the Middle East to pursue the next  phase in her husband’s career, which created an opportunity for Suzie to  devote herself full time to “the things that matter most,” including  her fine art.  Honing her craft in those early days as a professional involved several  workshops and an ongoing study of the great masters, past and present.  “The best teachers are like great counselors,” she notes. “They don’t do  it for you—they help you to do it for yourself.” 

Recognition  

In recent years, Suzie has gained national acclaim, earning a stellar  reputation for her versatility as both a plein-air landscape artist as  well as a studio painter of still lifes, figurative works, and  portraits. In fact, in the Art Renewal Center’s 13th International  Salon, she was recognized in both the Plein Air and Figurative  Categories, which is a truly remarkable achievement.  Among the many other awards she’s received recently are Best in Show and  Artists Choice Awards at the Outdoor Painters Society’s Plein Air  Southwest (2018), Best in Show at Shadows on the Teche (2018), the  Irvine Museum Award and Montage Award at the 2018 Maui Plein Air  Invitational, an Award of Excellence from American Women Artists’ Tucson  Desert Art Museum Exhibition (2017), and the Artists’ Choice award at  the 2017 Telluride Plein Air Festival.  Her award-winning paintings have been featured in such publications as  Plein Air Magazine, Fine Art Connoisseur, and Southwest Art. Also known  as a generous and uplifting teacher, Suzie has just produced her first  art instruction video with Streamline Publishing. 

Giving Back  

This artist also believes in giving back to the community of artists,  and she is proud to serve as a Board Member with the Oil Painters of  America. “Serving on the board with OPA is and will be a highlight of my  career, primarily because of the opportunity it gives me to serve my  fellow artists,” she says.  “Being on the path of a working artist is a calling. I find helping  others on their path a very satisfying pursuit.” She has also earned  Signature Member status in numerous other prestigious art organizations:  the American Impressionist Society, the National Oil and Acrylic  Painters Society, the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, the Outdoor  Painters Society, the California Art Club, and American Women Artists. 

Motivation  

The motivation behind all of this activity is Suzie’s overarching goal  to continuously improve her abilities as an artist—to express her  response to the world around her in ever more fascinating and innovative  ways.  “I hope I will be painting until I’m an old woman,” she says. “I think  in this life you can only be truly good at one thing or maybe a handful  of things. The idea that I might have another 35 or 40 years to paint  and explore my own personal creative direction is a compelling notion!” 

Personal Notes  

On a personal note, Suzie adds, “I love to travel and meet new people,  which makes me well suited for the somewhat itinerant life of a  plein-air painter.” But when she’s not on the road painting, or  teaching, Suzie makes her home in Shenandoah, Texas, with her husband  and two college-aged children.  She says she loves watching her kids become adults, eating good food -  "excepting canned peaches, because they are gross," watching action  movies with her son - "because my Husband won't watch them with me," and  listening to audiobooks." 

 More info about Suzie's accomplishments: https://www.suziebaker.com/info/resume