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Colleen Webster is a plein air painter working exclusively in oil. Webster’s paintings reveal the effects of natural light while conveying true color, value and mood of the subject. Painting en plein air (French for in the open air) requires leaving the safety of a controlled studio environment for painting directly from life outdoors. Embracing the challenge of a quickened technique, since outdoor light is elusive and conditions unpredictable, are part of the process that inspires her work.
Webster was born in upstate New York. Her family recognized and encouraged her artistic abilities. By age fourteen she took instruction in oil painting for the first time. As a teenager she was accepted to attend the New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA) at Fredonia State University. She gained entry to the School of the Arts High School, in Rochester NY, to concentrate in art. In 1990 Webster was awarded a scholarship to attend the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City and graduated with a BFA in painting.
In 1996, Webster relocated to Asheville, North Carolina. In the years following she transitioned from pure studio painting to painting en plein air. In Colleen's own words, “Once I took my easel outdoors I was hooked. Now that I have moved in this direction, I can’t go back. The mountains and natural beauty outdoors inspires me to get out there and be intimate with nature. My paintings are a reflection of that experience.”
In 2003, Webster was awarded a Regional Artist Project Grant from Asheville Area Arts Council. Webster is a signature member of the Western North Carolina Plein Air Painters (WNCPAP). Her paintings are represented by galleries in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Webster's work can be found in the private collections of Memorial Mission Hospital, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and First Baptist Church in Asheville, NC. |
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