CM Cooper

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's degree in psychology and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, she pursued a career in advertising as a fashion layout artist, as well as freelancing as an editorial illustrator.

Her continued education included advanced standing in the Master's Program at Associates in Art, and nearly four years of study 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 Master Class, and more recently, Everett Raymond 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 in 2002. She was a featured artist in Southwest Art magazine's Figurative Issue in November 2003 and was selected as an "Artist to Watch" in its November 2002 issue. Other publications include International Artist Magazine's "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.