Hi, I’m Suzie Leon.

My work explores the quiet connection between people and the natural world through watercolor. Drawn to animals for their individuality, presence, and emotional depth, I incorporate my artistic style - I’ve coined as “moments of clarity” - to capture the details that feel both intimate and universal.

Watercolor's fluid and unpredictable nature mirrors the vitality of my subjects. Rather than striving for perfect realism, I focus on conveying personality, movement, and atmosphere in scattered parts of clarity. Each painting is an invitation to pause and notice the beauty that exists in everyday encounters with wildlife and notice the feeling that life moves through us all.

Inspired by the idea of sonder—the recognition that every living being has a life as complex and meaningful as our own—my work celebrates the character and spirit of each subject. Through expressive brushwork and luminous color, I aim to create pieces that spark curiosity, connection, and appreciation for the natural world.

Ultimately, I hope my paintings can be a reminder that wonder can be found in even the smallest moments when we take the time to look closely.

What began as a passion project has evolved into something more. Walk through my art process to see “Sonder” come alive.

Art in Action

Sketch.

Every piece starts with a sketch. I begin with a rough border. Gentle lines, sketching, erasing, and redrawing follow until the composition finds harmony. Sonder felt compelling from the start — a quiet exploration of pain and emotion.

A pencil sketch of a horse's head and neck on textured paper, taped with patterned decorative tape.

Color in the Lines.

First things first: color blocking and the initial layers of detail. Watercolor has a beautiful way of blending colors and creating soft, natural shadows. I love experimenting with different ratios of water to paint, always excited by the unique textures and details they create.

A black and white drawing of a zebra's head and torso, with the zebra laying down on a light background, surrounded by patterned tape with small red triangles.

Background Matters.

I try to choose a background that I feel the animal is most connected to. I tried a few color options before landing on a rich and dark black for Sonder.

Black and white drawing of a zebra's head and neck, showing detailed stripes and facial features, on a dark background with a patterned border.

Detail Work.

My last step encourages a critical eye. Here, I work towards finding the parts of the animal that have been forgotten or lost in the painting.

A black and white painting of a zebra's face and upper body, with distinctive zebra stripes, framed with decorative red and white triangular patterned border.
Black and white abstract painting of a zebra's face and stripes, with bold contrast and expressive brushstrokes.

Final Product.