|
Though born and raised in southern California, it was her early European
travels that greatly inspired C.M. Cooper´s artistic pursuits, along with
the great fortune to live and paint in Paris for a period of time. After
acquiring a Bachelor Degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from
Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, she followed a career in
advertising as a fashion layout artist, as well as freelancing as an
editorial illustrator. Her continued education included an advanced
standing in the Masters Program at Associates in Art, and nearly four years
of studies with Joseph Mendez.
She feels that she has been blessed to have
had the opportunity to observe the painting methods of many highly
respected artists including Howard Terpning in a one-time-only-offered
Masters Class, and more recently, Raymond Everett Kinstler.
After six years of teaching art, which included running an art school for
budding young artists, Cooper now dedicates most of her energy to painting
for the galleries that currently represent her. She refers to herself as a
´contemporary traditionalist,´ painting traditional subject matter but,
often in a contemporary, alla prima style. Her work has won numerous awards
including The Museum Director´s Choice Award at the California Art Club´s
92nd Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition 2002. She was a featured artist in
Southwest Magazines Figurative Issue November 2003 and was selected as an
"Artist to Watch" in their November 2002 issue.
Other publications include International Artist Magazine - 100 Ways to Paint
People and Your Favorite Subject published 2003, 2004. Cooper participates
in various annual exhibitions sponsored by the art organizations to which
she belongs.
C.M. Cooper is a member of many prestigious nationally recognized Art
Organizations, including The American Artists Professional League in New
York, The Oil Painters of America, The American Society of Portrait
Artists, and she is an Artist Member of The California Art Club. |