Melissa Small Cooper is an oil painter and art educator based in the Hudson Valley. She teaches, paints in her studio at home, and is a mother of three. Cooper is primarily a still-life artist. Her current work is inspired by her love of gardening and the process of observing and nurturing flowers. She also enjoys painting still lifes that comment on ways people accentuate or conceal parts of themselves. Cooper’s light and colorful palettes, airy compositions, interesting cast shadows, and hints of writing keep the subject matter lighthearted but promotes thoughtfulness.