Inspired by the coast of Maine, Cooper Dragonette has devoted himself to painting the landscape since 2000. A full-time painter, teacher, father, and husband (though not necessarily in that order), Cooper lives and works in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. His luminous plein air landscapes and evocative studio pieces are grounded in direct exposure and deep reflection. “Painting is often an experience in memory for me,” he says. “On site I am trying to record the moment, but in the studio I am trying to get back to the place, to the feeling, to the experience." Cooper’s path to becoming a professional artist was unconventional. Trained as an educator, he spent more than a decade working for Hurricane Island Outward Bound and as a high school teacher before fully embracing painting as a career. “It was a long circuitous route to get here,” he says, “with lots of different occupations and a lot of trial by error.” His time leading outdoor expeditions up and down the Maine coast continues to shape his relationship with light, weather, and the power of the natural world. Influenced by artists such as John Singer Sargent, Edward Hopper, and Andrew Wyeth, Cooper primarily paints in oils. He works en plein air to create immediate, atmospheric impressions, often translating those studies into larger compositions in his home studio. His paintings are quiet and emotionally resonant—capturing not just what a place looks like, but what it feels like to be there. “I always try to include what’s not in the photo,” he notes. “You see more when you’re out in it.” His work is held in private, public, and corporate collections across the country. Cooper has quickly become one of the Portland Art Gallery's most collected artists. He continues to teach workshops and inspire others with his blend of technical skill, thoughtful observation, and love for the Maine landscape. Listen to Cooper’s full story on Radio Maine.