About the Artist - Suzanne Ellis

I paint wildlife and nature because I want to share the mystery and unbelievable beauty of the natural world. Painting is how I pray for and celebrate what I love. 

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I paint with acrylics and use my own photos for reference.  I have traveled to many wild places to study and photograph the animals in their natural habitat. Also, my daughter, Dawn Walstad, lets me use her photos.

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My father, Mel Ellis, was a writer and naturalist.  He was my first teacher. The dust-cover painting I did for one of my father's books, "Notes from Little Lakes," won the Addy Award for best book cover, 1995-1997.  I also illustrated this book and another book my father wrote: "The Land, Always the Land."

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I had my first solo shows in July and August of 2004.  I displayed my work at the Richard C. Anderson Gallery located at Land's End in Dodgeville, Wisconsin.  I presented my work at a second show in July and August of 2006 at the UW Arboretum, Madison, Wisconsin.

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Other shows followed:

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Creative Edge Gallery, Mazomanie, Wis., June 2008

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Mount Horeb Spring Art Tour, Dane County, Wis.,  June 2009, 2010, 2011

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Zoobilee Zoo Fund Raiser, Madison, Wis., 2010

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Firefly Coffee House, Oregon, Wis., January 2015

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Wyoming Valley School Cultural Art Center, Spring Green, Wis., August 2015

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First Friday Art Walk - Downtown Coffee Grounds, Lodi, Wis., June 2016

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I attended workshops with John Seerey-Lester, Paco Young, and Julie Chapman. John Seerey-Lester and Paco Young are well-known artists who specialize in nature art.  Julie Chapman is a successful wildlife artist who lives in Montana.  All three of them inspired me to continue painting.