Meet Colleen Webster

". . . painting from life outdoors is a pursuit unlike any other. Within this living environment of the natural world I paint the effects of natural light in oil. The outcome is a realization of a particular time and place through my own experience and emphasis."

COLLEEN WEBSTER is a plein air painter working exclusively in oil. Colleen’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 observation of the subject outdoors. “Embracing the challenge of a quickened technique, since outdoor light is elusive and conditions unpredictable, is part of the process that inspires my work,” adds Colleen.

Colleen was born in upstate New York. Her family encouraged the development of her artistic ability by enrolling her in art instruction at an early age. At 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 sought out The School of the Arts High School, in Rochester, to continue her focus in art. By 1990 she was awarded a scholarship to attend the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City. She graduated in 1994 with a BFA in painting.

In 1996, Colleen relocated to Asheville, North Carolina. Several years later she began transitioning from pure studio painting to painting en plein air. “Once I took my easel outdoors I was hooked. Now that I have gone in this direction I only want to keep moving forward. The mountains and natural beauty of western North Carolina have inspired 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 in galleries throughout Western North Carolina and are included in private collections. Webster is a signature member of Western North Carolina Plein Air Painters (WNCPAP). Colleen Webster is proudly represented by WICKWIRE fine art/folk art in historic downtown, Hendersonville, North Carolina.