Susan Adams

USA, b.1957

Lives and works in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Available Sold CV Commission

Texas-born artist Susan Adams draws inspiration from Costa Rica’s landscape and its people, specifically within the Guanacaste province, which has been her home for over 25 years. As an observer of daily life and culture, Adams immortalises cowboys, dancers, bull rings, and the traditions upheld by the eclectic spectrum of local people.

Aside from portraiture, Adams also paints the diverse ecosystems of fauna and landscapes, whether its frogs sitting atop jungle branches, grand Guanacaste trees or the raw atmospheric light radiating from her beach scenes. Adams celebrates the nation’s connection with the natural world through her subjects, aiming to capture its beauty while also documenting environmental concerns; her paintings exude an optimism that we can collectively reverse the damage inflicted upon our planet.

Combining impressionism and realism, Adams primarily uses oil on canvas. Her distinctive technique involves applying a gesso primer with a stucco trowel, occasionally layering metallic paint, and ultimately incorporating oil paint. Her biggest creative influence might be Costa Rica, yet Adams’ travels across Europe also influence and feature in her work. Always documenting the world around her, Adams notes, “My camera is an integral part of my creative process, and I never travel without it.”

Adams, a graduate of Southwest Texas State University with a degree in Commercial Art, is also a children’s book illustrator and winner of many awards, including the coveted Best of Show 2002 at the Corpus Christi Independent. Her work exemplifies integration into Costa Rican culture, expressing and celebrating it through her artistic vision.

Susan Adams in her studio, 2023 (Photography by Javier Quispe)

"Walk into my paintings; feel the action or simply enjoy the moment in nature." Adams 2023

Available

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    • An Impressionist Witches Rock painting by Susan Adams.
    The Rock

    2024 Oil on canvas 29.2 x 61 cm | 11.5 x 24 in.

    USD 800
    Dreamlike painting of a jaguar walking through a lush rainforest with a capuchin monkey and quetzal, as well as a variety of trees and flora.
    Jaguar Fantasy

    2024 Oil on canvas 86.4 x 122 cm | 34 x 48 in.

    USD 6,000
    Summer Curl, an abstract wave painting by Susan Adams.
    Summer Curl

    2024 Oil on canvas 76.2 x 55.9 cm | 30 x 22 in.

    USD 2,500
    Marlin oil painting by Susan Adams. It depicts a marlin jumping from Costa Rica's oceans, evoking feelings of euphoria.
    Shades of Blue

    2024 Oil on canvas 86.4 x 122 cm | 34 x 48 in.

    USD 5,000
    Guanacaste beach oil painting by Susan Adams. It features a wave about to crash onto the sand with spray rising above the cresting wave. It's a beautiful painting capturing the raw energy of Costa Rica's oceans.
    Sea Grass and Salt Water

    2023 Oil on canvas 50.8 x 76.2 cm | 20 x 30 in.

    USD 3,000
    red-eyed tree frog oil painting by Susan Adams, featuring a frog emerging from underneath a pink orchid nestled amidst the lush foliage.
    The Orchids Have Eyes!

    2023 Oil on canvas 91.4 x 91.4 cm | 36 x 36 in.

    USD 3,000
    rugged Guanacaste beach oil painting by Susan Adams. It features the coastline with cliffs and bending palm trees swaying in the wind.
    Ritmo Azul

    2022 Oil on canvas 71.1 x 101.6 cm | 28 x 40 in.

    USD 3,200
    wave crashing oil painting by Susan Adams, featuring the energy and movement of a wave mid-crashing. The vibrant turquoise and green tones create a sense of depth and power.
    Reflections (Wave)

    2022 Oil on canvas 38 x 38 cm | 15 x 15 in.

    USD 1,200
    Costa Rican cow oil painting by Susan Adams. It's an impressionist portrayal of a cow that stares out of the canvas, evoking a sense of serenity and warmth.
    El Guapo

    2021 Oil on canvas 20 x 26 cm | 7.9 x 10.2 in.

    USD 500
    Flamingo beach Impressionist oil painting by Susan Adams, depicting vacationeers lounging on Flamingo beach in Guanacaste underneath beach umbrellas and palm trees.
    Flamingo Beach Umbrellas

    2020 Oil on canvas 23 x 17 cm | 9.1 x 6.7 in.

    USD 500
    Costa Rican cow painting by Susan Adams, featuring two cows walking in a field bathed in soft afternoon sunlight. It's painted in an impressionist style.
    Heading Home

    2020 Oil on canvas 35.6 x 25.4 cm | 14 x 10 in.

    USD 400
    Costa Rican women dancing by Susan Adams, painted in an impressionist style and capturing a moment in dance.
    White Skirts and Blue Sashs

    2020 Oil on canvas 45.7 x 61 cm | 18 x 24 in.

    USD 700
    Costa Rican rodeo painting by Susan Adams of cowboys on horses, lassos swirling overhead. It's an grand scene that evokes feelings of excitement.
    In the Ring

    2019 Oil on canvas 50.8 x 40.6 cm | 20 x 16 in.

    USD 900
    A typical Guanacaste scene by Susan Adams, depicting typical Costa Rican houses nestled in the lush foliage with mountains looming in th background.
    Casa de Abuelo

    2019 Oil on canvas 58.4 x 87.6 cm | 23 x 34.5 in.

    USD 800
    painting of a young voluptuous Guanacaste woman by Susan Adams, featuring a young woman leaning against a stable door.
    La Misteriosa

    2019 Oil on canvas 102 x 69 cm | 40.2 x 27.2 in.

    USD 3,200
    Casa de Abuela painting by Susan Adams, featuring surfers wading through the shallows of the ocean at sunset. It's a serene painting that evokes feelings of calm and serenity.
    Casa de Abuela

    2018 Oil on canvas 74 x 43 cm | 29.1 x 16.9 in.

    USD 1,200
    Sunset at the Rivermouth painting by Susan Adams, featuring a sunset with the ocean below and a huge expanse of sky overhead. It evokes feelings of the sublime and sheer awe, and wonder.
    Sunset at the Rivermouth

    2016 Oil on canvas 50.8 x 30.5 cm | 20 x 12 in.

    USD 400
    Jinete painting by Susan Adams, featuring a cowboy riding on a horse, which is captured mid-trot.
    Jinete

    2016 Oil on canvas 101.6 x 76.2 cm | 40 x 30 in.

    USD 3,000
    El Dia de Padre Guanacaste painting by Susan Adams, featuring a cowboy riding in a field beneath a Guanacaste tree, evoking feelings of resilience and intimacy.
    El Dia de Padre

    2016 Oil on canvas 27.9 x 45.7 cm | 11 x 18 in.

    USD 550
    A painting of three red macaw parrots by Susan Adams. The parrots are sitting in a tree, with their colourful feathers contrasted against the lush green foliage.
    Jungle Primp

    2014 Oil on canvas 91.4 x 61 cm | 36 x 24 in.

    USD 1,800
    Lifeguard Stand painting by Susan Adams, featuring an intimate ocean scene. A wave is caught mid-crash and the yellow sky suggests a sunset and the closing of a day.
    Lifeguard Stand

    2005 Oil on canvas 26 x 51 cm | 10.2 x 20.1 in.

    USD 500
    The Rock
    The Rock

    2024 Oil on canvas 29.2 x 61 cm | 11.5 x 24 in.

    USD 800
    Jaguar Fantasy
    Jaguar Fantasy

    2024 Oil on canvas 86.4 x 122 cm | 34 x 48 in.

    USD 6,000
    Summer Curl
    Summer Curl

    2024 Oil on canvas 76.2 x 55.9 cm | 30 x 22 in.

    USD 2,500
    Shades of Blue
    Shades of Blue

    2024 Oil on canvas 86.4 x 122 cm | 34 x 48 in.

    USD 5,000
    Sea Grass and Salt Water
    Sea Grass and Salt Water

    2023 Oil on canvas 50.8 x 76.2 cm | 20 x 30 in.

    USD 3,000
    The Orchids Have Eyes!
    The Orchids Have Eyes!

    2023 Oil on canvas 91.4 x 91.4 cm | 36 x 36 in.

    USD 3,000
    Ritmo Azul
    Ritmo Azul

    2022 Oil on canvas 71.1 x 101.6 cm | 28 x 40 in.

    USD 3,200
    Reflections (Wave)
    Reflections (Wave)

    2022 Oil on canvas 38 x 38 cm | 15 x 15 in.

    USD 1,200
    El Guapo
    El Guapo

    2021 Oil on canvas 20 x 26 cm | 7.9 x 10.2 in.

    USD 500
    Flamingo Beach Umbrellas
    Flamingo Beach Umbrellas

    2020 Oil on canvas 23 x 17 cm | 9.1 x 6.7 in.

    USD 500
    Heading Home
    Heading Home

    2020 Oil on canvas 35.6 x 25.4 cm | 14 x 10 in.

    USD 400
    White Skirts and Blue Sashs
    White Skirts and Blue Sashs

    2020 Oil on canvas 45.7 x 61 cm | 18 x 24 in.

    USD 700
    In the Ring
    In the Ring

    2019 Oil on canvas 50.8 x 40.6 cm | 20 x 16 in.

    USD 900
    Casa de Abuelo
    Casa de Abuelo

    2019 Oil on canvas 58.4 x 87.6 cm | 23 x 34.5 in.

    USD 800
    La Misteriosa
    La Misteriosa

    2019 Oil on canvas 102 x 69 cm | 40.2 x 27.2 in.

    USD 3,200
    Casa de Abuela
    Casa de Abuela

    2018 Oil on canvas 74 x 43 cm | 29.1 x 16.9 in.

    USD 1,200
    Sunset at the Rivermouth
    Sunset at the Rivermouth

    2016 Oil on canvas 50.8 x 30.5 cm | 20 x 12 in.

    USD 400
    Jinete
    Jinete

    2016 Oil on canvas 101.6 x 76.2 cm | 40 x 30 in.

    USD 3,000
    El Dia de Padre
    El Dia de Padre

    2016 Oil on canvas 27.9 x 45.7 cm | 11 x 18 in.

    USD 550
    Jungle Primp
    Jungle Primp

    2014 Oil on canvas 91.4 x 61 cm | 36 x 24 in.

    USD 1,800
    Lifeguard Stand
    Lifeguard Stand

    2005 Oil on canvas 26 x 51 cm | 10.2 x 20.1 in.

    USD 500