My photo
Boise, Idaho, United States
ARTIST

Artist's Bio

Art is my first language. I remember observing the colors in a sunset before learning how to read. This passion for color and observation led me to become an artist with a penchant for fresh air and intrigue in the mystery of nature.

Growing up in the sheltered Pennsylvania forest with daily images of moss underfoot and leaf filtered sky left space for plenty of dreaming and solitary time in nature. This deep connection to the aesthetic of the natural environment informs my artwork. Themes of lens, space and time occur in all of my media. Exploration in surface and layer is repeated in my work. At times my art is realistic and graphic in nature, and others it becomes very tactile and uses the medium to fully explore a texture. Each day I unfold new work in my home studio.

Art comes from an ephemeral experience. A fleeting moment can inspire a passionate fluidity in line and color. It can also be gained through knowing about your environment and the history that occurred over time in ones places of inspiration.

As an artist that wants to preserve the western landscape, I recall the forms of earth I visit, reviving them with clay and paint. At times I will mix basalt from local cliffs into my ceramics and reform the earth in my kiln. I am led to define my vibrant composition by the draining of snowmelt in the hills and the way it carves the land while journeying to the river. Dark recesses occurring naturally in rock and earth are my shades, while the colors at the close of each day, which are most saturated, define my palette.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009


Now showing at THE LOFT in Hailey Idaho through September 30!

The Loft is open:Mondays 12-4Tuesday-Friday 11-5:30Saturday 10-4
Alissa and Dennis McGonigal
the Loft @ Main Street, Hailey202 N. Main Street, Suite BHailey, Idaho

Friday, June 5, 2009

Open House/Art Reception


Art Reception!
Host:Resonance Natural Health
Type:Party - Cocktail Party
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2009
Time: 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Resonance Natural Health
Street: 1416 W. Washington Street
Phone: 2084753628
Email: boiseacu.@gmail.com

Tuesday, April 28, 2009


Hello! I have a show at The Gallery at Hyde Park and it will be up for one more month. On Mothers Day I will have a Jewelry sale at the Sawtooth Winery in Nampa, Idaho. Then to close the month I will be up in Moscow, Idaho at The MIX for a solo Jewelry show. That's the latest!! Happy Spring!
Suzanne Lee Chetwood
Boise, Idaho Suzlee22@hotmail.com
208-433-0220

EXHIBITIONS
Feb 2010 The artisan, Eagle Idaho, "Erotica"
Visual Arts Collective, Garden City Idaho, "Love Rocks"
Artist in Residence (AiR) Boise Idaho, "A Climbers Delight: Making Jam"
July-Aug. 2009 The Loft, Hailey Idaho, solo show “Painting Rock and Drainage”
May 2009 Mix, Moscow Idaho, solo Jewelry show
May 2009 Sawtooth Winery, Nampa Idaho, Jewelry show
Apr-May 2009 The Gallery at Hyde Park, Boise Idaho, Group show “figures”
Mar. 2009 Woodriver Cellars, Eagle Idaho, solo show “landscape”
Feb. 2009 The Artisan, Eagle Idaho, “Erotica”
Jan. 2009 Café Silos, Moscow Idaho, “Palouse and Loess soil”
Dec. 2008 Foxtrot style for Living, Boise Idaho, “Idaho Landscapes”
Aug. 2008 The Melting Pot, Boise Idaho, “New West Landscape”
Apr.-July 2008 Foxtrot Style for Living, Boise Idaho
Dec. 2007 Open Studio-Soup Party, Boise Idaho
Mar. 2007 The Basement Gallery, Boise Idaho
Dec. 2006 Studio 518, Boise Idaho, Holiday show
Aug.-Oct. 2006 St. Stevens, Boise Idaho
Aug 2006 The Artisan, Eagle Idaho “Love Affair with Idaho”
June 2006 Visual Arts Collective, Boise Idaho “BOSCO group show”
May 2006 Massage Central, Boise Idaho
Mar-Apr. 2006 The Basement Gallery, Boise Idaho “Of The Earth”
Dec. 2005 6th Annual Soup Party
June-Sept. 2005 Artwalk, Paradise Ford, Moscow Idaho
June 17-July 22, 2005 Crafts National 39 Zoller Gallery, University Park Pennsylvania
June 2005 Bosco Reception Boise Art Museum, Boise Idaho
June 2005 Salon de Refuse Boise, Idaho
Nov. 2004 Massage Central Boise, Idaho
Nov. 2004 The Artisan Gallery Eagle, Idaho “Idaho Landscape”
Nov. 2004 Women’s Celebration of the Arts, Boise Idaho
Dec. 2004 5th Annual Soup Party, Boise Idaho
Nov. & Dec. 2003 - 2004
The Basement Gallery Boise, Idaho “Christmas Show”
2003-2004 Mosaic studio and gallery Boise, Idaho.
Features aesthetic salon, Caldwell Idaho
June 2003 Private Residence, solo exhibition; The Clay Canvas Box featuring the
Show “Exposing Ourselves” –a documentation of artistic enlightenment of a group of individuals at The Fort Street House, Boise Idaho
April 2003 Art sale and show in Julia Davis Park Boise, Idaho “Earth Day”
Nov. 2002- 2004 Soup Shack Boise, Idaho “Clay Canvas-Landscapes”
Oct. 2002 Boise State University Juried Alumni show
Sept. 2002 & 2003 Hyde Park Street Fair, Boise Idaho
July 2002 The Garage Gallery Boise, Idaho “Clay Canvas Box”
Oct. 2001 Kulture Klatch, Solo exhibition Boise, Idaho
Nov. 2000 Picture This Frame Shop and Gallery Boise “The Clay Canvas”
June 1998 Participated in the annual “Arts and Roses” show and sale, Boise, Idaho
1996-1997 Displayed work at The Potters Center Boise, Idaho
January 1995 Presented paintings and clay work in a one-woman show at the Huntingdon Historical Society gallery Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Related Art Experience
2002-2004 Art Teacher, Fort Boise Community Center, Boise Idaho

2001-2002 Apprentice designer for athletic and fashion shoes K2 corporation.

January - March 2001 Traveled extensively throughout New Zealand independently studying art, landscape, and cultural aspects of the country. Consequently was offered a position for Masters of Fine Art candidacy at Otago Polytech.

May-September 1999 Lived in Nea Makri, Greece while studying art and architecture while
Working at “Karamica” a successful ceramics shop.

May 1999 BFA teaching certificate from Boise State University, Magna cum Laude

May 1998 Designed, organized, publicized, and instructed a children’s art camp,
“Art Explorers.”

1994 Graphic Artist assistant at The Sign Shop, Huntingdon Pa.

1992-4 Ceramic student with Jack Troy at Juniata College, Huntingdon PA

1992 Ceramics major at Mercy Hurst College, Erie PA, Pennsylvania Governors School for the Arts

Gallery’s and Shops
The Gallery at Hyde Park Boise, Idaho
The Loft Hailey, Idaho
The Artisan Eagle, Idaho
The Basement Gallery Boise, Idaho
The Boise Co-op Boise, Idaho
Café Silos Moscow, Idaho
Meridian Ford Meridian, Idaho

SELECTED AWARDS
2005 Crafts National 39 University Park Pennsylvania selected artist
1992 Pennsylvania Governors School Award for the Arts full scholarship

PUBLICATIONS
Boise Weekly Volume 16, Issue 49, June 4-10, Prêt-A-Porter Part Deux, Pg.28
Boise Weekly Volume 16, Issue 44, April 30-May 6, 2008 Cover
The Idaho Statesman May 10, 2005 “Neighborhood feels energy of artist’s studio”
Thrive Magazine 9-23-03 “Brushing up with Suzanne Lee” (Cover and pages 28-29)
Boise Weekly Volume 11, Issue 50, June 18-24, 2003 “Double Exposure”
The Arbiter October 2002, juried alumni Exhibition Recognition

Monday, March 16, 2009

Artist Reception


Friday, April 3rd, from 6-8 PM

The Gallery at Hyde Park

1513 N 13th St

Boise, ID 83702

New Work by Suzanne Lee Chetwood

Figure Paintings, clay canvas landscapes, and sculpture

Friday, February 27, 2009

Woodriver Cellars


Wood river cellars is having a grand opening and has invited me to show some of my work next week. I am not sure what I will show, the manager is coming over to choose from my work monday. I have some "vintage" suzanne as well as a few new, so we shall see! There will be music from 6:30 - 8:30pm ...FUN!

http://www.woodrivercellars.com/

Friday March 6th 6:30 -8:30pm

Woodriver Cellars
286-wine
3705 North HWY 16
Eagle, Idaho
83616

Monday, February 9, 2009

The Artisan Gallery- Opening Reception Feb. 13, 2009 6-9pm



Human Anatomy in Landscape
Artist Statement for "Erotica" show at The Artisan Gallery

Suzanne Lee chetwood
I have always admired the female figure. The curvilinear shapes and volume under skin is akin to my natural style in markings of line and brush. Human forms, contours, and lines inform my landscape paintings. The figures became a subconscious focal point in my work. The landforms I paint have an intention and breath of their own. However, I keep finding figures in the landscape and have addressed that calling.
At first I wanted to make clear the connection of figure to landscape. I joyously achieved that in my first “mother Earth” painting. Sinking a beautiful woman into the very landscape that I admire, connecting and duplicating the lines of Earth and body, I illustrated the illusion that always seemed to occur in my landscapes without intention. With the sky on fire and the cool earth below the figure illustrates the peaceful loving connection I have with the Earth.
The next series of figures slowly began to break away from a specific environment and had a more atmospheric quality. I give the viewer more intuitive credit and have allowed for the mystery of the lines and forms to unveil themselves. It is the same line that drains snowmelt from the hills, carves out a river, and forms the horizon line that I have painted. These same lines and forms of the land can be found in my paintings where the arm meets the body, the declivity in the middle of the back that follows to the backside, and the “saddle” where the lower back meets the buttock. The body of work is a celebration of human form, landscape, and atmosphere.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

EROTICA - a figure painting show

"EROTICA" February 13th, 2009
A tasteful figure painting show featuring gallery artists!

The Artisan Gallery in Historic Downtown Eagle, Idaho

124 E State Street 939-5889

Opening Reception 6-9pm

Please join me at the opening reception. This a a new collection of my figure paintings! The diversity of work by gallery artists will delight and inspire. This show is sure to be a treat for a special valentine! Hope to see you and celebrate the love xoxo!

Monday, January 5, 2009


January 17, 2009 Art Opening Reception at Cafe Silos in Moscow, Idaho

Travois Way Cul de Sac from 5-9pm Saturday Night!!

I am looking forward to bringing my Palouse paintings to show in their rightful home....spread the word to the northerners!
Suzanne