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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. Click here to see photos of Colleen.
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 Arts High School, in Rochester, to continue her artistic development. In 1990 Webster was awarded a scholarship to School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City, and 1994 she was graduation with a BFA in painting.
In 1996, Webster relocated to Asheville, North Carolina. In the years which followed 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 here and natural beauty outdoors inspire me to get out there and be intimate with nature. My paintings are a reflection of that experience.”
In 2003, Webster was awarded the Regional Artist Project Grant from Asheville Area Arts Council. Her paintings are represented by galleries in North Carolina and South Carolina. Webster's work can be found at Memorial Mission Hospital, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and First Baptist Church, Asheville, NC, as well as in private collections across the country. Webster is a signature member of the Western North Carolina Plein Air Painters (WNCPAP). |
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