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Studio: HooperArt, 2159 Tall Oaks Lane, York, Pa.
Daytime number: (717) 659-0146
Type of work you do: I am a studio artist specializing in oil paintings of seascapes, landscapes and still life. HooperArt is my business, within which I produce and market my own work, as well as teach drawing and watercolor or oil painting to children and adults. I also give interactive talks about art to students in elementary, middle, or secondary school, and to adults. For example, I will be giving a talk on "Experiencing Art" later this month at a gallery.
How long have you been doing this, and how did you get started in your art? Art has been a part of my life since my childhood on the streets of Greenwich Village, New York City. In those years, the Village was an artist mecca, and I caught the passion to produce art. Although I have been painting for over 40 years, I have only been a professional artist for the past 21/2 years. After a career as a professor of elementary and special education at York College of Pennsylvania, I retired 21/2 years ago and turned professional artist.
How much time do you spend on your work? It is a full-time occupation for me. I work at it six days a week.
Do you work another job? In the arts, I teach children's art and (will offer) a basic adult oil painting class at the York Art Association on South Marshall Street. Outside the arts, I teach an education course each semester at York College of Pennsylvania and tutor those from other countries in English conversation.
What inspires your art ,and what does it mean to you? Art is both self-expression and the fulfillment of spirituality for me. I express my love for nature and desire to preserve it, my desire to connect to others and have them connect to each other and their environment, and I express emotions, such as love, sadness and the like.
In what ways does your work touch others or influence the com munity? I can only answer this question by what I have been told. My work seems to bring others a sense of place, peace and spiritual fulfillment. For example, a few years ago, I had a show in a nursing home. I later met two women told me they had seen my work there. Their mother was in critical health. Daily, she wanted to be wheeled out into the hall to see one particular painting I have of peppers. She died at the end of the week, but my work brought her some measure of pleasure. I was very touched by that story.
Is it important to you to influ ence or touch others? Yes. It gives me a sense of purpose and connectedness with others.
Do you have a web site: http://faculty.ycp.edu/3/8mlhooper
Artist's Cove is published in The York Dispatch on Wednesdays. It intro duces members of the local arts com munity. Visual and performing artists who would like to be considered for this feature may contact The York Dispatch at news@yorkdispatch.com.
