Biography And Awards - Suzanne Hetzel
Recent Prizes and exhibits:
National Watercolor Society, 2023 (Signature Member)
Featured Artist - Splash 24, 2023, Splash 15, 2014Splash 11, 2010, F&W Publications
Exhibit of Recent Works - Halle Cultural Arts Center One Person Exhibit, 2019
Watercolor Society of North Carolina, 2022 - 2018, Past Presidents Award 2017 (Signature Member)
Missouri Watercolor Society China Exhibit, 2018
Gallery 311, Raleigh, NC, Abstraction Exhibit 2017
Exhibit of Recent Works - Addison Center for the Arts, Addison, IL 2016
Watercolor West, 2021, 2016, Janet Hilford Memorial Award - 2015
Philadelphia Watercolor Society, 2014
American Art Awards 2014, 2nd Place - Floral, 2nd Place - Fashion, 3rd Place - Abstract, 4th Place - Landscape
Transparent Watercolor Society of America, 2019, Norah Stevens Award 2013, 2006, 2004 (Signature Member)
Women’s Works National Exhibit, Northwest Area Arts Council, 2000,2001, 2013 - Third Place Award
Skip Watts Exhibit, 2013 Honorable Mention
Illinois Watercolor Society Members Exhibit, 2012 Best of Show
Pikes Peak International Watercolor Exhibit, 2021, 2011
Illinois Watercolor Society, 2023, 2022, 2016, 2014, 2012 First Place Award, 2011, 2010 (Signature Member)
Louisiana Watercolor Society, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, 2015, 2010-Springmaid Award, 2009, 2007 (Signature Member), 2006
Pittsburgh Watercolor Society, 2010, 2006
California Watercolor Association, 2010
Cinncinati Art Club "View Point", 2010, 2007, 2006
Exhibit - Loft Gallery, Chicago, 2009
Society of Watercolor Artists 2009, Merit Award
Richeson 75 - Florals, 3 pc., 2009
Wyoming Watercolor Society, Honorable Mention Award, 2007
Richeson National Landscape Exhibit, 2016, 2007
Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour "Open Water" 2007
Rhode Island Watercolor Society, 2006
Plano Arts Center Plano, TX National Exhibit 2006
Award, College of Lake County Recent Works 2003
Urban Edges V - Barrington Area Art Center 2001
Featured Artist - Deer Path Gallery, Lake Forest, Illinois
Award of Excellence, Woodstock Art Fair 1999
Award, Lake County Art League, 1998
Purchase Prize, Glenview Art League, 1998
This North Carolina area artist does paintings in watercolor, which appear realistic but a closer look reveals how the artist incorporates a variety of techniques including salt, scratching, splashing, pouring and repel to create the finished affect.
The artist works primarily from life and her imagination, using photographs only as reference. Suzanne’s passion is aqueous media as an expression of the world around her. She is interested in the forms of nature combined with the structures of man, and the endless variety they present. Recent works demonstrate a serious attention to patterns created by common objects, and how they integrate with their surroundings and each other. Suzanne states, "I have a genuine attraction for groups of things, and the way they interact visually. It is fascinating how objects can be so similar and so different at the same time. I see the repetition of patterns from nature repeated in our manmade world.
Suzanne Hetzel was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and has lived and painted throughout the United States. The opportunity to travel has allowed Suzanne to experience a broad variety of environments that have been a source of great inspiration.
Suzanne began painting at the age of 8. She first experienced watercolor through the lessons by her grandmother, Dorothea Mendte Taylor. Her early studies included work at the Wallingford Art Center in Pennsylvania under the tutelage of Cyril Gardner. She later graduated from Moore College of Art and Design where she was privileged to study with Georg Sklar, Charles Fahlen, Edward Shenton, Janette Banks, and Robert Koffler. Recently, Suzanne has been painting in other opaque media (acrylic, water soluble oils), with a focus on women and their life experiences as the thrust of her subject matter. She states, "Artists cannot be defined by a media or a subject. Their inspiration and form of expression must change to keep growing creatively".
All works are original watercolors painted on 100 % rag paper. This paper will not discolor over years and will maintain the strong and vivid color the artist has intended. The paint used is the highest quality available. It is pure, highly refined pigment from England and America. Suzanne’s paintings are intended to last indefinitely with proper care.
In addition to her fine arts endeavors, Suzanne has worked as a commercial artist, written and illustrated a children’s book entitled Nony the Pirate, designed textiles for R.A. Briggs, and taught various commercial design courses at College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois. She currently teaches watercolor, drawing, and studio classes as well as workshops.
Suzanne has paintings and drawings in collections throughout the United States and Great Britain. She has works in the Episcopal Diocese of Philadelphia, and LaGrange Park, Batavia, and Waukegan IllinoisPublic Libraries. In addition she has designed and executed murals for a variety of public facilities and private residences.
Suzanne is President Emeritus of The Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Past President and Founder of the Kendall Arts Guild, Kendall County, Illinois, and Founder and lifetime member of the Antioch Fine Arts Foundation. She is currently Regional Director for the Watercolor Society of North Carolina
The artist can be contacted at:
Dragonfly Studio (artist’s studio) suzannehetzel@yahoo.com 847.372.5622 instagram - #3colors1brush
Antioch Fine Arts Foundation Gallery, 983 Main Street, Antioch, Illinois 847.838.2274
Watercolor Society of North Carolina www.ncwatercolor.com
Transparent Watercolor Society of America www.watercolors.org, info@watercolors.org