Lee Copen
Growing up in South Africa and Chile, LEE COPEN was always an artist. She spent her High School and College years in Colorado, where she excelled in art and earned a degree in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as an graphic artist and architectural illustrator before going back to school to become a certified teacher. Living on a small farm in the Ozarks she taught art at the local high school for 22 years, while raising her family. Through all these years she continued to paint and draw. Now retired Lee gets to combine her love for painting and the outdoors, as a realistic landscape artist and plein air painter. Whether on location or in the studio, her light and color filled paintings reflect her love for the land and nature. Working in both watercolor and oil paint, she has received many awards and honors.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT:
“I have always been drawn to the diversity and beauty that landscape has to offer. Painting, for me, is capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and sharing what I see with others.”
INSPIRATION:
I believe almost any scene can become a beautiful painting. Sometimes the most mundane spot is transformed by light and color. I am inspired by beautiful skies, trees, rocks and water. I am particularly attracted to interesting light, shadows and reflections, looking for the beautiful colors that exist within them. I find this beauty hard to ignore, given the opportunity I try to capture the moment.
CREATION:
I love to explore nature, walking through the woods and creeks, searching out waterfalls and mountain views. I take plenty of photos to take back into the studio, but given the opportunity I try to paint on location. Sometimes I am just painting small sketches in watercolor, other times I am creating more finished watercolor and oil paintings. In the studio, I like to work from small photos and sketches to create larger finished paintings. My process for oil and watercolor is not too different, I generally work from light to dark in both media. I love watercolor and oils equally, I have never been able to pick one over the other. Sometimes it is the subject that dictates which media to use, other times it is just my mood, often it is what is most convenient. All I know is I am constantly inspired to paint the beauty around me and share it with others.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Website: https://leecopen.com
Email: Lee.copen@gmail.com
Phone: 417-247-2589
Examples of My Work:
