About the Artist
When I was a kid I spied on people.
My work has to do with teasing out the inner world of people, their places and possessions. Their stories. I’ve always been interested in what is on the other side of the faces people show to the world. One of my childhood memories was standing hidden in the dunes at night watching people in their homes unguardedly going about their evening. ... I looked in their windows at night. Now I do it when I paint. Regardless of how mundane, I was fascinated by the absolute truth revealed when people dropped their masks. When a person sits quietly for a painting with luck that’s what happens and they reveal themselves. If this can be painted it is timeless. This is really what I think my art is about.
I’ve identified as an artist since I was a kid. In the beginning it was my love of drawing that gave me an identity and a place in the world. It led me to who I am now and hopefully to who I will be. My mother, an artist herself, supported my interest and identity as an artist and let me be.
Painting is like climbing a mountain. You get to the top of mountain and you think you’re there, but then you see the next range ahead of you. And then you start on that journey, and you have to enjoy the journey. LCW
Lea Colie Wight was born in Philadelphia, Pa in 1951. She earned a BFA from The Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 1974. In 2003 Lea discovered Studio Incamminati, an intensive Atelier founded in Philadelphia by renowned artist Nelson Shanks and entered as a student. After completing her studies Lea was invited to join the teaching staff rising to become one of the lead teachers at that school. Lea periodically served as teaching assistant to Nelson Shanks at The Art Students League in New York and has served as lead instructor for various Studio Incamminati workshops as well as her own workshops. She has been awarded an Honor Award at the Portrait Society of America’s national competition in 2009 and in 2010 as well as a Certificate of Excellence in 2011. Her work has been featured in numerous publications. Lea maintains a studio in Philadelphia as well as Manasquan, NJ. and teaches workshops throughout the country.
Books:
"Foundations of Classical Oil Painting"
Videos:
"Color Essentials: A Painter's Guide"
"Just Say No to Art" a film by Scott Burdick
Featuring Rachel Constantine, Diane Feissel, Sue Lyon, myself and a cast of similarly addicted artists
Selected Exhibitions and Competitions
Solo:
2019 Crane Arts - Lea Colie Wight, Paintings and Drawings
2013 The National Arts Club, NYC solo exhibition
2008 Georgian Court University "Beyond Classical Realism: Paintings of Light and Color"
Solo Exhibitions:
2019 Crane Arts - Lea Colie Wight, Paintings and Drawings
2013 The National Arts Club, NYC solo exhibition
2008 Georgian Court University "Beyond Classical Realism: Paintings of Light and Color"
Solo Exhibitions:
2019 Crane Arts - Lea Colie Wight, Paintings and Drawings
2013 The National Arts Club, NYC solo exhibition
2008 Georgian Court University "Beyond Classical Realism: Paintings of Light and Color"
Solo Exhibitions:
2019 Crane Arts - Lea Colie Wight, Paintings and Drawings
2013 The National Arts Club, NYC solo exhibition
2008 Georgian Court University "Beyond Classical Realism: Paintings of Light and Color"
Group:
2019 Figuratively Speaking Exhibition - Certificate of Merit -2nd place
2019 Pastel Society of America Annual Exhibition
2019 Group Show Stanek Gallery, Philadelphia2019
2018 American Artist Professional League Grand National Exhibition
2018 Freemans Gallery exhibition
2016 FaceBook live painting demonstration
2016 Carl Weiss time lapse painting demo
2014 Render: Lea Colie Wight & Laura Heyman, Artspace, Raleigh NC. Sept - Nov
2014 Hudson Vallery Art Association, Salmagundi Club Juried exhibition
2013 National Arts Club, NYC Silverpoint exhibition Dec.
2013 Haynes Galleries "Four Figurative Artists" Thomaston, Maine & Nashville, Tenn
2013 The Year of the Woman, Artists House Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa
2013 Drawing Show - Haynes Galleries
2013 ARC Salon
2013 Salmagundi Club
2013 Women Painting Women Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Va
2013 Contemporary Realism Biennial, Fort Wayne Museum of Art
2013 Inspiring Figures, Butler Institute of Fine Art, Honor Award
2012 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Evergreen Gallery, Colorado
2011 Portrait Society of America Annual National Portrait Competition - Certificate of Excellence
2011 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Devin Galleries, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
2011 Freeman Gallery, Philadelphia - The Artists of Studio Incamminati Exhibition
2010 The Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio - Inspiring Figures exhibition - Honor Award
2010 Contemporary Realism Biennial, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, September through November, 2010
2010 Interior show, March 2010 Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, Ca
2010 Oil Painters of America Annual National Exhibition, Legacy Gallery, Az
2010 Portrait Society of America Annual National Portrait Competition – top 15 finalist – Honor Award
2010 Salon International – Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX
2009 Portrait Society of America Annual National Portrait Competition, top 10 finalist – Honor Award
2009 Salon International – Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, Texas, 3rd place and Honorable Mention
2009 FAN Gallery, Philadelphia, Group Show
2009 Art Renewal Center annual Salon
2009 The Ambassador’s Show: Portrait Society of America,
Bernardsville, NJ
2009 Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, National Arts Club, RAI Award
2009 Bucks Gallery of Fine Art, group exhibition
2009 Markheim Art Center Exhibition
2008 Drawing Magazine, Finalist in the Cover Competition
2008 Studio 21 Gallery, “The Art of Drawing”, Charlotte, NC
2008 International Museum of Contemporary Masters of Fine Art Salon
Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, Texas
2007, 2006, 2005 American Red Cross Benefit Show, Princeton NJ
2006 “Mastery and Meaning” The Union League, Philadelphia
2006 The Art Student’s League, New York group exhibition
2005 The Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club Annual Juried Exhibition
Notable Collections
The Bennett Collection
Mr. and Mrs. Derek Pew
Mr. and Mrs. George Harms
Mr. and Mrs. James Orphanides
Mr. J. McFadden
Mrs. Carol Fitzgerald
Navy Cmdr. Ellen Emerson
Mr. and Mrs. George Lucas, NJ
The Larry and Anne Hall Collection
In Print
The Artist’s Magazine, Feature Article, “Stillness and Light” April 2011
International Artist Magazine, February/March 2011
Classical Life Drawing Studio, Lessons and teachings in the Art of Figure Drawing. Hardcover book - The Art Students League of New York
American Artist Magazine, November 2010, article, Inspiring Figures: Portraits by Women
American Art Collector, May 2010, article - American Legacy
International Artist Magazine, August 2010, article - The Art of the Portrait
American Artist Magazine, November 2009
“Lea Colie Wight – Painting What You See at a Glance” featured artist & cover
American Artist Drawing Magazine, Summer 2008
The Art Renewal Center web site - Ateliers
American Artist Drawing Magazine, Fall 2007
The Art Students League of New York 2006 & 2009 catalog
Broad Street Review, Philadelphia, November 2006
American Artist Workshop Magazine, winter 2005
On line articles:
https://underpaintings.com/book-review-foundations-of-classical-oil-painting/
https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-mediums/oil-painting/stillness-and-light-lea-colie-wight-profile/
https://ccpvideos.com/blogs/news/interview-with-oil-painter-lea-colie-wight
http://www.thenewyorkoptimist.com/LeaColieWight_April4_2014.html
https://www.silverbrush.com/gallery---lea-colie-wight.html
http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2010/05/lea-colie-wight-lea-colie-wight-was.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gCAWmaG0GI
http://touchofcolorr.blogspot.com/2018/11/lea-colie-wight.html
https://curiator.com/art/lea-colie-wight
http://poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com/2019/01/lea-colie-wight_13.html
http://figurationfeminine.blogspot.com/2011/06/lea-colie-wight-1951.html
https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-mediums/oil-painting/stillness-and-light-lea-colie-wight-profile/
https://ccpvideos.com/blogs/news/interview-with-oil-painter-lea-colie-wight
https://artfoodhome.com/2016/02/22/featured-artist-lea-colie-wight/
http://ilmondodimaryantony.blogspot.com/2018/10/lea-colie-wight.html
http://womenintheactofpainting.blogspot.com/2014/07/winning-waps.html
https://www.chilkatvalleynews.com/photos/big/7947/12?m=false
https://khns.org/artist-workshop-builds-intimate-skill-of-portrait-painting
http://readingandart.blogspot.com/2012/09/lea-colie-wight.html
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17687620.Lea_Colie_Wight
http://poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com/2019/01/lea-colie-wight.html
https://www.thebennettartcollection.com/wight-lea-collie
http://womenintheactofpainting.blogspot.com/2014/07/winning-waps.html
https://khns.org/artist-workshop-builds-intimate-skill-of-portrait-painting
Represented by
Haynes Galleries - Nashville, Tennessee
New Masters Gallery - Carmel, California
Kristin Yeary Gallery - Aspen, Colorado
Main Street Gallery - Manasquan, New Jersey
Memberships and Affiliations
The Salmagundi Club, NYC
Catherine Lorillard Wolf Art Club, NYC
Pastel Society of America
Portrait Society of America
Oil Painters of America
