Scottsdale painter Sue Hunter’s mixed media collage painting, “All Tied Up,” featuring a rare scarlet Ibis, will grace the cover of the 23rd Annual Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour artist directory. An Ibis is a long-legged wading bird that inhabits wetlands, forests and plains.
A signature event of the non-profit Sonoran Arts League, Hidden in the Hills is Arizona’s largest and longest-running artist studio tour. This year’s free, self-guided tour features 199 artists at 47 studio locations throughout the scenic Desert Foothills communities of Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale during the last two weekends of November: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 22, 23 and 24 and November 29, 30 and December 1.
Over the years, the popular four-color, glossy artist directory has become a collectible among patrons. Hunter’s colorful, whimsical collage painting was among more than 75 pieces of diverse fine art entries submitted for consideration of the cover art during a juried selection process.
A native of Arkansas, Hunter moved to Arizona in 1960 where she worked at Honeywell for 20 years. She is a graduate of Western International University and has studied at Scottsdale Artists’ School. While she is influenced by famous impressionist artists Claude Monet and Edgar Degas, she has found her own unique style that, while impressionistic, is true to herself.
“I like to paint what I feel, not what I see,” Hunter said. “I start with a photo or I may be painting plein air, and at some point, my intuitive nature takes over and the painting takes on the character of the emotion of the image.”
This will be her 19th year participating in Hidden in the Hills. While she has been painting with acrylics, oils and watercolors for several decades, she has only been doing collage painting for two years.
“When I create collages, it’s for pure fun, with no rules,” Hunter said, adding that she uses acrylic paints, stamps, molding paste and objects, such as glass beads, feathers, eyeglasses, wire, embroidery thread, and other unique items.
Hunter said “All Tied Up” also includes a subtle message. “While creating it, I began to think of how so many items we discard end up in the environment, causing harm to the animals,” she said.
During Hidden in the Hills, Hunter will exhibit a variety of mixed media collage, oil and abstract paintings at Jane Boggs’ Studio #28 in Cave Creek. Art enthusiasts can download a map at www.HiddenInTheHills.org. In addition, directories and maps are located at the Sonoran Arts League’s Center for the Arts, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Suite 144, at Stagecoach Village in Cave Creek. For details, call (480) 575-6624.
