Artist

Biography

Ray Lynn Cooper was born in Walla Walla and raised in eastern Washington. After Graduating from high School, he attended Eastern Washington University and from there transferring to Washington State University where he earned Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with Honors with an emphasis in painting, sculpture, and Art History.  He earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing from Washington State University.  

Ray began to formally study fine art at Eastern Washington University. During his two years at Eastern, professors Ruben Trejo and Bruce Beal were both influential mentors in Ray's academic and creative development. Transferring to Washington State University Ray then came under the tutelage of  Jo Hockenhull, Selene Santucci, Patrick Siler, Jack Dollhousen, Robert Helm and Michael Holloman.  

Ray is primarily interested in portraiture and still-life paintings. He also produces landscape paintings, nonrepresentational, abstract, conceptual paintings, and sculpture. Ray's artwork addresses a broad range of contemporary issues. 

Since 1999 Ray has taught at Clark College and Lower Columbia College in Southwest Washington as an associate professor at both institutions. He has been responsible for teaching courses in art appreciation, color theory and design, watercolor, beginning, intermediate, and advanced painting, drawing and figure drawing. He served as a board member for the Washington Community College Humanities Association and  art editor for the WCCHA's annual publication Crosscurrents from 2009 to 2013.   He served as a member of the board at the Broadway Gallery in Longview, WA from 2015 - 2018. 

Currently Ray works as a cartoonist for the Longview Daily News publication located in Longview, Washington (tdn.com), is an associate professor at Clark College and Lower Columbia College, and works privately from his home studio located in Kelso, Washington.