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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.
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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.
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