Van Suchtelen studied at El Camino College (1959–62) and the Otis Art Institute (1963–66) where he earned an MFA. He studied with Joseph Hirsch, Joseph Mugnaini, and also Moishe Smith who became his colleague at Utah State University. Because Van Suchtelen is an artist intrigued by the metaphysical and metaphorical, his style is allegorical rather than academic.
Van Suchtelen's work has been exhibited in the Springville Museum of Art spring salons. Among his exhibited works are Peaceable Kingdom (1999), a mixed media collage, Purple Bag (1994), oil on paper, which won a merit award, and Profile (1992), a watercolor, which won a cash award.