After she graduated from the University of Houston sheimmediately went to work at an elite preparatory school teaching as an Artteacher for kindergarten through fifth grade.
Luckily, after a year of teachingPhotography and Yearbook an opening came up and she became the head artinstructor teaching up to twelfth grade. One student she remembers working within particular was Wes Anderson; he is now a very successful moviedirector/producer and has worked with Owen Wilson.
Cooper later settled down with her husband, Bill, who was aPresbyterian Minister.
Cooper later settled down with her husband, Bill, who was aPresbyterian Minister.
After having her five kids, she decided to go back toschool and received her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in painting from theUniversity of South Dakota.
Subsequently,she moved to rural South Dakota. When she heard about an opening at theUniversity of Sioux Falls, Bill and Ceca moved to Sioux Falls.
Ceca’s painting style varies from nature to abstract withrepresentation of familiar animals such as birds.
Subsequently,she moved to rural South Dakota. When she heard about an opening at theUniversity of Sioux Falls, Bill and Ceca moved to Sioux Falls.
Ceca’s painting style varies from nature to abstract withrepresentation of familiar animals such as birds.
“Nature inspires me,” sheexclaims. One of her most recent pieces is called Gentian.
“Gentian is a flowerthat grows low in the fields out on the prairie. It is an amazing color of violet blue, andcan be found in this region in mid to late August. Because they are so low to the ground, youhave to really search for them.
It isalways an amazing surprise to find that gorgeous color nestled in the tallergrasses of the prairie. I became veryenamored with them when I first saw them a couple of years ago,” Ceca added.
Although her styles of paintings differ her teachingtechniques do not.
“She doesn’t butter stuff up, but she will tell you whatyour strong points are. She always encourages and pushes you to meet thepainting’s potential,” confessed Art Major Elisabeth Olsen, who has taken fourclasses with Cooper.
“She doesn’t butter stuff up, but she will tell you whatyour strong points are. She always encourages and pushes you to meet thepainting’s potential,” confessed Art Major Elisabeth Olsen, who has taken fourclasses with Cooper.
Ceca strives to teach by the quote by German poet Rilke:“We need to live the questions and be patient.”
Some of Ceca’s works are displayed at the gallery in theWashington Pavilion Visual Arts. It also features the works of Liz Hereen andDiana Behl, assistant professors in the Visual Arts at South Dakota StateUniversity. The
Washington Pavilion is located at 301 South Main Street inSioux Falls. Business hours can be found online at www.washingtonpavilion.org.Go and show Ceca Cooper some support!