Suzanne Schleck was born in San Francisco. Sierra Nevada camping trips and hiking the golden hills surrounding her bay area home inspired an early love for the beauty of nature. Suzanne began painting from an early age. Her first formal art education occurred in youth art classes offered at the Carnegie Museum.
Suzanne earned a BFA in painting and a BS in education which was followed by five years working as an art educator. A career in Silicon Valley ensued in corporate sales and then as an entrepreneur of a successful company serving Silicon Valley technology companies. Suzanne also sang professionally and worked as a graphic designer.
Suzanne continued her art throughout those days and now paints part time while traveling throughout the western states in her RV to national parks and other special places. Suzanne paints daily on location in the areas surrounding Taos New Mexico and the Sonoran desert in Arizona. Suzanne is fortunate to be able to paint Taos Mountain from her studio while in New Mexico.
Suzanne’s passion is plein air painting the American southwest. She prefers to paint alla prima. Her still life and figurative works are done in her studios.
Suzanne is a member of the Plein Air Painters of Arizona, the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico and the East Studio Art League in Taos New Mexico where she is mentored by Richard Alan Nichols. She also has studied with various teachers at the Scottsdale Artists School such as John Poon, Bill Cramer, Jim Wodark, Robert Lemler and others.
Suzanne’s goal is to express in paint nature’s beauty, movement, energy and mystery.