Primary Medium: Pastel
Primary Style: Realism & Animal Portraiture
Picture with her piece, “Famosa”
uzanne is a pastel artist who makes her home in Muskegon, Michigan with her husband David and newly adopted shelter dog “Milo”. Suzanne creates hand drawn pastel portraits of animals capturing their spirit and personality. The paintings are so lifelike they almost seem they could speak.
Love of animals started in early childhood reading every book about animals, especially horses and dogs. Growing up Suzanne was surrounded by the family pets, which helped her develop her insights to their personalities and emotions. Once out of school she was free to pursue her passion of riding.
That started a lifelong career in training and teaching dressage at her farm for over 30 years.
Her first memories of art was coloring books, paint-by-number paintings and drawing pictures of horses. But it wasn’t until she was in her fifties that she able to pursue her love of art. Taking an art class at the local community college, started her on a path that led to becoming a professional artist.
Suzanne’s work is noted for it’s realism, attention to detail and emotional impact. Although she characterizes herself as an equine or pet artist, she also enjoys painting wildlife. She finds herself working exclusively in pastels, which the rich pigments and softness bring out the subjects texture of soft fur and the stunning detail in the eyes, capturing their spirit.
Her artist goal is to capture the equine, canine, pet or wildlife animals image with vivid emotion and expressiveness. In her wildlife paintings she wants to bring to life the personalities of the animals so that the rest of us can learn to appreciate them. Her love of animals is very evident in each piece she creates.
Suzanne Frederick – Artist Statement
“Animals are the bridge between us and beauty of all that is natural. They show us whats missing in our lives, and how to love ourselves more completely and unconditionally. They connect us back to who we are, and to the purpose of why we’re here.” – Trisha McCagh
I have always had a deep love of animals, and feel a strong empathy with them. Having grown up with animals around me and making my career working with horses, gave me an insight to their personalities and spirit. After painting all manner of subjects, turning to our faithful companions, farm animals and wildlife was a natural choice.
I work extensively in pastels, which give both a softness and an intensity of color that give my subjects texture of soft fur and bring out an animals spirit through their eyes.
Happiness is working at my easel creating stunning realistic paintings, surrounded by my dogs.
Awards:
2020 – Marushka Award, Gallery Uptown, Grand Haven, MI
2019 – Honorable Mention, Lakeland Artist Fall Show, Grand Haven, MI
Honorable Mention, Gallery Uptown, Grand Haven, MI
2018 – 2nd place, Lakeland Artist Fall Show, Grand Haven, MI
2017 – Best in Show, Gallery Uptown, Grand Haven, MI
2nd place, White lake Arts Center, Whitehall, MI
1st place, Holland Friends of Art, Holland, MI
2016 – The Great Lakes Dental Award, Gallery Uptown, Grand Haven, MI
2015 – Merit Award, Great Lakes Pastel Society Member Show
