Monica Lee

I am a California oil painter who works almost exclusively from direct observation. Whether painting the rolling hills of the Santa Ynez Valley, the California coastline, or the human figure, I begin each painting with the experience of standing before my subject and responding to the changing light, color, and atmosphere around me.

I earned my BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1999 and later completed a Master's degree in Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara. For many years I have balanced my own painting practice with teaching art, believing that careful observation and a love of painting are skills that can be shared across generations.

My landscapes are painted outdoors, often completed in a single plein-air session, while my figurative work is created from live models during studio sessions. I am drawn to expressive color, visible brushwork, and the challenge of capturing the character of a place or person without relying on photographs.

Artists whose work has deeply influenced me include Alice Neel, Vincent van Gogh, Fairfield Porter, and Henri Matisse. Their commitment to observation, color, and the emotional qualities of paint continues to inspire my own work.

Through each pain...

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Painting, 1999

University of California, Santa Barbara
Master of Education (M.Ed.), 2003

2024 Leonardo’s Exhibit, Solvang, CA
2024 Rancho Santa Fe Library Exhibit, CA
2023 Off Track Gallery Exhibit, Encinitas, CA
2014 Corner Coffee House Exhibit, Los Olivos, CA
2013 “Artissimo Choice Award” San Diego County Art Education Association
2012 57 Degrees Exhibit, San Diego, CA
2011 & 2013 Twiggs Exhibit, San Diego, CA
2009 Front Gallery Exhibit, San Ysidro, CA
2008 San Diego County Office of Education Winter Exhibition, San Diego, CA