Sue Averell

ARTIST STATEMENT

After completing my studies at the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, I embarked on a professional journey that spanned several years in the realms of graphic design and illustration. This period was not only essential for earning a livelihood, but it also afforded me the precious time to hone and develop my unique style as a painter.

The year 1999 marked a pivotal moment in my artistic career when I rented my first official art studio. This space became my sanctuary, a dedicated environment where I could fully immerse myself in my creative process. During this time, my focus was on capturing the urban landscape of San Francisco, a city that served as a constant source of inspiration and energy.

By late 2000, I had compiled a significant body of work that I was ready to share with galleries. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and in 2001, I was thrilled to begin working with North Beach Gallery in San Francisco, who began representing my urban landscape series. This partnership was a crucial milestone in my artistic journey and a validation of the direction I had chosen for my work.

Now, twenty-five years later, my artistic practice has evolved considerably. I continue to explore and paint a wide variety of subjects, not only on traditional 2D surfaces but also expanding my work to include 3D objects. This evolution has become the driving force behind my creativity, a continuous exploration that propels me to keep creating, experimenting, and pushing the boundaries of my art. The journey is ongoing, and the endless possibilities for artistic expression continue to inspire and motivate me every day.

ARTIST BIO

Sue Averell is from Carlsbad, California. She lived in Southern California until she moved to San Francisco in 1997. While pursuing her artist vision she worked in the graphics field.

In 1999 she opened a graphic design business. The flexible schedule allowed her to spend days in the art studio developing her unique, impasto style of painting.

In 2001 Sue had completed a body of work depicting the energy of city life in San Francisco. She presented the paintings to several galleries and was picked up by North Beach Gallery in downtown San Francisco. Sue produced work for the gallery in both her San Francisco studio and while living in Thailand for months at a time. Looking back Sue says, “Wow, guess I was enjoying the ultimate work from home schedule!”

Sue continued to travel and paint in Thailand through 2004. Since then she has painted at three invitational residencies -St Thomas, VI and Abu Dhabi, UAE. Most recently she spent 7 weeks in India. In January 2023 Sue was invited to paint murals at an education center in a remote location outside of Bangalore. While there she completed 3 murals on granite slabs. Two of the murals measured 7 by 10 feet and the third was 6 by 7 feet. “Travel has become a big part of what fuels my inspiration”.

A professional painter for nearly three decades, Sue Averell’s vibrant and whimsical paintings are renowned for their dramatic color, texture and expressive, flowing lines.

Her paintings are included collections in the US, London, Switzerland, France, Germany, Thailand, Singapore, Israel, Mexico and Canada. Additionally, Averell is awarded on average 10 commissions annually by both corporate and private collectors.

Since 2017 Sue has owned a gallery in Sausalito, CA. Her studio is located within the gallery and she invites visitors to observe while she paints. In addition to Sue’s work “Gallery Sausalito” represents a collection of 15 talented artists.

Sue co-founded The ICB Artists’ Association in 2005 and the association continues to thrive in Sausalito, CA. Since 2023 Sue has been on the Sausalito Chamber of Commerce Board. She has volunteered in her community on many occasions including painting a 40 foot mural in 2020 on a vacant building in Sausalito.

When asked how she keeps her creative practice fresh, “My style continues to evolve, and it is the evolution that inspires me to continue to grow and explore as an artist.”