Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Lee.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up, I never thought I could be an artist. I didn’t draw well and was never encouraged by my art teachers. So I turned to music (vocal training and performances), poetry, and drama (acting and writing plays). I earned a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago, and worked in two state departments, an academic think tank, and three marketing firms. Along the way I married, had three sons, and served on the corporate board of a major medical center and on a local school board.
About 25 years ago I took my first art workshops and finally found my creative home in the visual arts. While I started with acrylics and collage, for the past fifteen years I’ve painted abstracts in oil paints mixed with cold wax medium. My art has been juried into numerous gallery exhibits across the Chicago/Midwest region and in Santa Fe. I’m honored to have my art in the homes and offices of customers in twenty-four states—including Colorado.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a self-taught artist, I regularly experienced insecurity related to not having a formal degree in art. I suspected that my art was substandard and expected the “fraud police” to knock at my front door at any time. I sought out excellent art instructors for classes and workshops. Over time, I learned the basic design elements and gained enough confidence to enjoy taking risks with my art.
Another frequent struggle (which I share with most other artists) is finding the right balance between time to create art and the time to market it. Submitting art to gallery exhibit calls, maintaining an active presence on social media, updating my website with new art and exhibit dates—all these activities limit my time in the studio.
There also are times when I resist going into my studio and use other activities to procrastinate. Usually this happens when I feel anxious about a new direction in my art or uncertain how to finish a particular painting. To overcome these obstacles, I’ve learned to pick up any unfinished painting and just start playing. I also respect that some ideas and paintings just need time to percolate beneath the surface until the time is right.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love looking at the world through a creative lens! I interpret the world around me by creating abstract conceptual paintings on wood panels using oil paints mixed with cold wax. I think of my paintings as “mindscapes.” I explore the layered meanings of a profound experience in nature, a state of mind, or a political/cultural phenomenon. I often use poetry writing as part of the process. Once I find a metaphor and key phrases that capture what I am feeling, I can paint intuitively and trust that the painting will reflect my inspiration. I’m fortunate to have my art exhibited regularly in local galleries and to have a growing base of customers and collectors around the country.
When I am not painting, I am working as part of the Administrative Team for Pamela Caughey’s Art and Success PRO, an international artists’ group. For the past five years, our Admin Team of six has helped to develop modules and challenges for each major design element. We have video presentations with discussions on bi-weekly ZOOM calls with our artist members. And we critique and support the work of these artists on our dedicated Facebook page.
A career highlight was my 2022 Solo Exhibit, “Circling the Square” at a local art museum (Elmhurst Art Museum’s Guild Gallery) which featured both my paintings and related poetry. Last year I was honored to have my art included in “Innovations 2025,” International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA) at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum, Ormond Beach, Florida.
I also have had a number of interviews and publications through the years. My art is featured in the award-winning book, Cold Wax Medium: Techniques, Concepts & Conversations, Rebecca Crowell & Jerry McLaughlin, First Edition, 2017.
And I’m honored to have my poem, “Molecular Weight” published in the National 9/11 Museum’s Artist Registry.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I have regular challenges for specific painting in the Art and Success PRO group. Because we focus on one design element at a time with new challenges for each year, this artist community has been a resource for my own growth in knowledge and confidence. My art has become more authentic and I have found my personal voice. I embrace the key role that playing has in my creative process; it allows me to turn off my inner critic and paint intuitively. As a result, I am very willing to take risks in my art. Pamela Caughey is a mentor, and I’m grateful for all I’ve learned from her Art and Success Master Classes, YouTube video demonstrations, and her PRO group in recent years.
A book I return to often is THE CREATIVE ACT: A WAY OF BEING by Rick Rubin. He discusses the role creativity plays in all our lives. I love his wisdom about uncovering the small things that capture our attention each day, for these carry the inspirations that will feed our art. He also encourages us to focus on making art that is deeply meaningful to us, and not to worry about sales or the opinions of others.
Pricing:
- Like most artists, I price by the size of the painting and the cost of materials.
- Small to medium artwork ranges in price from $350 to $750.
- Larger wood panels are $800 to $2400.
- Customers assume the cost of shipping.
- I offer an unconditional money-back guarantee of satisfaction, (I’m pleased that no one has returned art to me.)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cynthiajlee.com
- Instagram: @cynthiajleeart
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/cynthia.lee.73113528
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/CynthiaJLee/Abstract Expressions
