Style
For Atlanta based artist, Suzanne Hughes Sullivan, it is the fruit of the vine that becomes the subject matter of her canvasses and defines the body of her work. A classical realist painter influenced by the Old Masters of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Suzanne’s still lifes in oil feature vintage wines. “I am a great admirer of the Baroque painters, Suzanne states. “The drama and intimacy they brought to their work serves as a primary source of my inspiration.”

Suzanne strives to create a subtle yet tactile atmosphere in her paintings. “The European Masters described it as ‘chiaroscuro’, meaning strong contrasts between light and dark areas in a painting. I would describe my work as having a decidedly ‘old world’ feel as opposed to a contemporary realism. I am seeking to invoke a feeling of warmth and intimacy in the viewer, to make them feel as if they were a part of the scene and could reach out and pick up a piece of the fruit or take a sip of wine. I characterize my work as realistic but not photographic.”

In Suzanne’s opinion, portraying vintage wines enhances the timelessness of a painting, and offers another layer of excitement and appreciation for the wine connoisseur. Many of the wines that Suzanne depicts are vintages that have been classic collectibles for generations if not centuries. “From a historic perspective, it is fascinating to me that the date on a bottle may read 1998 or 1898, but the bottle and label have remained the same. I seek to capture the classic timelessness of an exquisite wine.” Fruit is also featured element in many of Suzanne’s paintings. “Wine is organic. It’s not about glass, but about life. I really enjoy painting the reflective qualities of the bottles and the details on the labels, but I feel the need to integrate natural elements into my work. After all, when wine connoisseurs are asked to describe a wine, they use terms such as ‘hint of cherry, vanilla, pear, fig, currant...’ Those notes are an important piece of the wine’s story.”


 

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