D. Lee
D. was born in Saratoga, NY, lived most of her life in Idaho, several years in Prescott, Arizona and now resides in "The Horse Capitol of the World" Lexington, Kentucky. A long time professional horse trainer and competitor, she began painting when she was 30. "Even though I drew a lot as a child it never occurred to me that I could become an artist." Her painting took a back seat, however, until about eight years later. "Life just kept getting in the way. I had two small girls, and lost my husband to cancer in 2000. I have so much empathy for struggling artists, you have no idea."
She grew up spending time in the mountains and high deserts of Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. Always a lover of animals and nature, the outdoors was her world to explore on foot or from the back of a horse. She now divides her time between the Bluegrass of Kentucky and the Rocky Mountain West. "The majority of my life I spent in the west. So even though I love my piece of heaven here on the farm, there is always a pull to get back to the mountains and the hugeness of the landscape there."
She has been privileged to study with “incredible artists" such as Morgan Weistling, Dan Mieduch, Jim Wilcox, Casey Baugh, Andre Pater, Quang Ho, Tom Browning, Greg Beecham, Jim Norton, Gary Carter and Sam Savitt. "Morgan was a huge influence early in my painting career. I was so fortunate to be in one of the few workshops he has done and that he stayed in contact with me afterwards. Quang Ho has been a bit of an artlife changer for me. Exactly things I needed to hear. I draw with Andre Pater on a weekly basis. Everything has accelerated since I started doing that. I am so fortunate to have access to such a master."
"Painting is now necessary for me. It is a roller coaster ride of disappointment, frustration, exhilaration and satisfaction. It's work. But I love it.
My desire with my paintings is to convey moments I have experienced, the connection I feel or simply the beauty of, my subject."
D. is very happily remarried to Tim, a widower himself. They love to travel but also hang out (i.e. work) on the farm. "We love the Bluegrass life!" They currently (current being the operative word) own four horses, one Thoroughbred off the track and three young homebreds, two dogs and three cats. Whitetail deer, raccoon, fox, rabbits, wild turkeys and birds too numerous to mention inhabit the farm as well.
"Supporting charities dear to me is one of the huge benefits of my painting."
Some of the charities D. has supported with donated paintings over the years are:
Woodford Humane Society
Iroquois Hound Welfare Fund
Wyoming Wetlands
Thoroughbred Charities of America
Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance
Bluegrass Conservancy
Lexington Cancer Foundation
CURE- Citizens for the Research of Epilepsy
True Prospect Farm Fire Recovery Fund
CANTER (Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses)
Art Division Los Angeles
Nature Conservancy of Kentucky
Painting for Good Causes- Creating portraits for foster children
D. has been juried into multiple Oil Painters of America and American Impressionist Society National and Regional Shows.
She grew up spending time in the mountains and high deserts of Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. Always a lover of animals and nature, the outdoors was her world to explore on foot or from the back of a horse. She now divides her time between the Bluegrass of Kentucky and the Rocky Mountain West. "The majority of my life I spent in the west. So even though I love my piece of heaven here on the farm, there is always a pull to get back to the mountains and the hugeness of the landscape there."
She has been privileged to study with “incredible artists" such as Morgan Weistling, Dan Mieduch, Jim Wilcox, Casey Baugh, Andre Pater, Quang Ho, Tom Browning, Greg Beecham, Jim Norton, Gary Carter and Sam Savitt. "Morgan was a huge influence early in my painting career. I was so fortunate to be in one of the few workshops he has done and that he stayed in contact with me afterwards. Quang Ho has been a bit of an artlife changer for me. Exactly things I needed to hear. I draw with Andre Pater on a weekly basis. Everything has accelerated since I started doing that. I am so fortunate to have access to such a master."
"Painting is now necessary for me. It is a roller coaster ride of disappointment, frustration, exhilaration and satisfaction. It's work. But I love it.
My desire with my paintings is to convey moments I have experienced, the connection I feel or simply the beauty of, my subject."
D. is very happily remarried to Tim, a widower himself. They love to travel but also hang out (i.e. work) on the farm. "We love the Bluegrass life!" They currently (current being the operative word) own four horses, one Thoroughbred off the track and three young homebreds, two dogs and three cats. Whitetail deer, raccoon, fox, rabbits, wild turkeys and birds too numerous to mention inhabit the farm as well.
"Supporting charities dear to me is one of the huge benefits of my painting."
Some of the charities D. has supported with donated paintings over the years are:
Woodford Humane Society
Iroquois Hound Welfare Fund
Wyoming Wetlands
Thoroughbred Charities of America
Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance
Bluegrass Conservancy
Lexington Cancer Foundation
CURE- Citizens for the Research of Epilepsy
True Prospect Farm Fire Recovery Fund
CANTER (Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses)
Art Division Los Angeles
Nature Conservancy of Kentucky
Painting for Good Causes- Creating portraits for foster children
D. has been juried into multiple Oil Painters of America and American Impressionist Society National and Regional Shows.
When you get to meet someone who has greatly influenced your life! Lin-Manuel Miranda
