Biography

AFC,SAA,NWS,MCWA,WW www.ldsutton.com FINE ARTIST 

    Living in the California hills adjacent to protected open space, wildlife subjects and the complementing light of their environments, provides limitless inspiration for this native Californian. Seeking the unique delicate interactions of inhabitants within their environments. Brought up to see color optically, transparent watercolor most generously represents the effects of light, however playing the contrast between opaque and transparent in oils does also. Resulting in often cavorting atmospheric expression with wildlife. Signature memberships include AFC - Artists for Conservation Foundation, SAA - Society of Animal Artists, NWS - National Watercolor Soc., MCWA - California Watercolor Assoc.(master) & WW-Watercolor West and very proud to be accepted as a Founding Master Artist member of the Bennington Center for the Arts Collective. Publications:  the covers of Wildscape Magazine (UK) Dec. 2009 & Wildlife Art  Magazine, Nov/Dec’02, “The Watercolor Page” American Artist Magazine May ‘96, Equus ‘95 and Splash 7 Northlight Books. The city of Concord sent 2 paintings as gifts to Mayor Ito of their sister city of Kitikami Japan.                 

    An award winning “Plein aire” painter, painting on location is habit. Transparent Watercolor was initially learned outside on location. “Being there” instigates adventurous diversity, and often opportunities to collect exciting new reference. In December of '08 a trip to three locations in Kenya allowed exploration of new light, animals and environments. Weekly life drawing provides continued growth of classic and creative drawing skills, relating to the animal forms, where accurate representation is a valid expectation. Using traditional Art Elements, designing with Significant Contrasts, atmosphere can be created. Manipulating relationships between abstraction and realism engages the imagination into capturing the essence of a place, or subject, now more personal to the viewer. Imaginations are enticed with just enough realism to draw them into, then send beyond, the two dimensional surface.

      Currently instructing adult classes and workshops in Transparent Color Theory, handling the wet’n wet medium as brave color relationships. After ten years at Walnut Creek Civic Arts, developing and instructing lessons in art principals for adults and Jr. & Sr. High School students. Also at Vicenté Martinez High School as an Art Consultant/Instructor from 2006-2008 to infuse art into their alternative program.

Support for Conservation: 

I usually support what I'm painting but the constants are Soysambu Conservancy & Native Bird Connections

Special Achievements: 

OPA Western Regional Exhibition, 2023 Brushworks Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT Artists for Conservation Festival and annual International Exhibition-Vancouver VanDusen Botanical Garden 2017,18,23 Artists for Conservation Festival & Exposition, at Grouse Mountain, Vancouver, BC, 2011,12,13, 14,16 Artists for Conservation 2014 - A Juried International Exhibit of Nature in Art -Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, AZ Artists for Conservation 2008,’09-Wildscape Award Editor’s Choice Commended, Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, Oradell,NJ­­ California Art Club: Treasures from The Bay Area, 2020 The Holton Studio Gallery, Berkely, CA (HM Laurie Kersey/) Signature American Watermedia Exhibition 2020 Fallbrook Art Center, Fallbrook, CA (Mahaffy) CWA annual 2022 Harrington Gallery at the Firehouse, Pleasanton, CA CAC “Winter” Fe Gallery 2021 Sacramento,CA SAA “The Kingdom” 2021 Midland Center for the Arts, Midland,MI “Art & the Animal” SAA 58th Annual Exhibition 2018@The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art St.Petersburg, FL Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, Oradell, NJ The Sternberg Museum of Natural History Watercolors from California, Dongshan Museum, Bejing, China “20 TREES” Some plein air Some not, Solo exhibition 2017, Orinda Library Auditorium Gallery AFC in Qingdao Lan Wan Art Gallery at Lan Wan Art Park, Quingdao, China The Bennington Collective 1st annual Member show 2017, Bennington,VT. (D.Rankin) “Wildscapes” The Bennington 2017 (David Rankin) “Small Works” Bennington Center for the Arts Bennington VT. 2016 “Animalia” SAA at the Loveland Museum, Loveland, CO Jun.-Aug. 2016 Lindsay Wildlife Experience Annual Gala Quick Draw 2013,14,15, 16 “Wild Life” Solo Exhibition (31pieces), Lindsay Museum April-May 2015 “Art & the Animal” SAA 55th Annual Exhibition 2015 @,Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Jamestown,NY Artists for Conservation 2014 - A Juried International Exhibit of Nature in Art -Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, AZ “Walnut Creek turns 100” Bedford Gallery at the Lesher Center for the Arts 2014 “Art of the Animal Kingdom” X, XII, XIII,XV, XVIII, XIX (‘05,’07,’08,’10,'13,’14) Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington,VT (Dan Smith, Lany, Sir John Seery-Lester, Morton Solberg, Carel Pieter Brest Van-Kempen, Rosetta) Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston,Texas, with AFC to support the zoo’s Save the Elephants campaign Artists for Conservation Festival & Exposition, at Grouse Mountain, Vancouver, BC, 2011,12,13, 14,16 Raptor Quick Draw 2013 Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA Big Cat Quick Draw 2012 Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA “Wildlife Recovered” Conservation successes, 2011 Tilden Park Nature Center “Earth Fan” 20 watercolors of two continents, Orinda Library Auditorium Gallery Sept. 2011 “Best of Valona” 2010, Epperson Gallery, Crockett, CA “Five Watercolorists”2010 , Epperson Gallery, Crockett, CA Oakland Museum of California 2006 THE ART OF SEEING: Nature Revealed Through Illustration “Wildlife in their Best Light” solo show 2006 The Lindsay Wildlife Museum, Walnut Creek CA Triton Museum of Art Biennial Statewide Watercolor Competition&Exhibition,’96(G.Brommer)’02(PatriciaHansen),’07(J.Hoffsteader) Lafayette Reservoir (2006 invitational, Pacific Wildlife Galleries, Lafayette, CA) “Reflections of Nature” 2012,2005 & 2004(Featured Artist) The Art & Cultural Center of Fallbrook CA “Wildlife in Miniature” Pacific Wildlife Galleries Nov.’03, ‘04, ‘06 Wildlife Art Magazine, cover image -Nov/Dec 2002, profile-May/June 2003 Big Cats of the World (2001 invitational, Pacific Wildlife Galleries, Lafayette, CA) The Natural World Observed, 1999 (invitational, Bedford Museum, Walnut Creek CA) Wolves (1999,’97 invitational, Pacific Wildlife Galleries, Lafayette, CA) “Horses Between Jobs”Solo-Show 1996 The Weaver’s Studio, Twin Bridges MT) American Artists Magazine (“The Watercolor Page”- May 1996) California Watercolor Assoc. 49th annual Exhibition 2019 Signature Members Award(Stewart/Frey) “The Color of Summer” CWA, Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art 2018 (First Award, Gary Bukovnik) 59th Annual Juried Exhibition at the Haggin Museum July-Sept.2016 (BrianBlood) “All Along The Sierras” Epperson Gallery Crockett, CA 2016 (Randall Sexton) Laumeister Fine Art Competition 2014, 2016 Bennington Museum, Bennington,VT (BrianBlood), (MarkBodges) Carmel Art Festival, 2014 Watercolor West 44th annual 2012, Brea, CA jurors award “10th annual Valona Paintout” 2011 Epperson Gallery,Crockett,CA 2nd award (Julie Armistead, Hearst Museum, Moraga CA) "Earth Portraits" The Santa Cruz Art League's 81st Annual, Contemporary Landscape Painters - HM (Scott Shields, Crocker Museum, Sacto.,CA)) “World of Watercolor” 2nd Annual Signature Watercolor Exhibition 2011, Fallbrook Art Center CA, award Peoples Choice(Linda Doll) Pacific Flyway Festival 2011, (!st award) National Watercolor Soc. Signature Member Show 2010 National Watercolor Soc. annual,2009 2003 1999, Brea Civic&Cultural Center, Brea, CA, All Member Show 2005 Calif. Watercolor Assoc.. Signature Member Show 2008-First Place 2008 Carmel Art Festival, Mayors Choice Award 10th & 11th annual Sandhill Crane Festival, Art Show & Paint out, Lodi,CA - 2006Best in show & 3rd place; 2007 1st &,HM Bidwell Park Centennial “Sherwood Forest” 2005 Plein Air Competition award 3rd place(G.Brommer) 106º “Celebration of Western Art” Grand National ’02(1st place, Scott Shields/curator Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento CA)’03