Artist's Statement

"It's about interpreting a moment . . . painting from life  . . capturing the light . . . sharing the work."

Artist's Bio

Lori's interest in art began before she was 5 years old. By age 11, she had won her first student competition and used the $5.00 prize to purchase pencils and a large sketchpad. As an adult, she managed her own successful graphic design company for more than 13 years while continuing to study art independently. She has studied with world-class artists Scott Christensen, Michael Shane Neal, Ray Roberts, Dawn Whitelaw, and others. Lori is fortunate to share the legacy of a respected line of artists whose knowledge has been directly passed from Emile Auguste Carolus-Duran to John Singer Sargent to Gordon Stevenson, James Montgomery Flagg, and Frank V. Dumond, to Everette Raymond Kinstler. She carries on this rich lineage by teaching their same principles to her own students. Her work is also influenced by prominent working artists of today such as Peggy Kroll-Roberts, Kim English, and Kevin Macpherson.

The artist's most recognized paintings are in oil, although she enjoys working in watercolor, charcoal, and acrylic. Her award-winning works, whether produced in the studio or en plein air, embody creative composition, skillful brushwork, and masterful use of color. As for her subject matter, it can be anything that catches her eye or sparks her imagination. Lori says, "It's about interpreting a moment. Painting from life and capturing light directly translates into form, mood, and meaning."

She is a member of, and has exhibited with, many respected, professional organizations including the national juried exhibition of the Oil Painters of America. Lori is also an active participant in The Chestnut Group, Landscape Artists International, and is a charter member of The Society of Master Impressionists. Recently, Lori received Master Class status in the American Juried Art Salon for having been selected for participation in their national exhibition for the second year in a row. In February of this year, the Tennessee Arts Commission nominated Lori to the Southern Artist Registry, which spotlights a select group of outstanding artists who live and work in the South. The Southern Arts Federation’s acceptance of this nomination, has given Lori the opportunity to be among only ten other Tennessee artists chosen to date. She has participated in Plein Air Easton, invitational plein air competition, and will be participating in the Estes Park plein air, invitational competition in August, and the San Luis Obispo plein air, invitational competition in October. Her work is in the permanent collection at The Academy Art Museum in Easton, Maryland, in private collections, and in galleries worldwide.

Recent publications:

The Tennessean "Williamson A.M.,“ May 1, 2007
Nashville Arts Magazine “The Chestnut Group, plein air painters for the land,” April 2007
American Artist, Workshop Magazine, “Jason A. Saunders is a no-nonsense, no-frills kind of painter“, Spring, 2007
American Artist “Quick Sketches,“ February, 2007
Fine Artst Connoisseur, “Galleries & Artists“, November/December, 2006
Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles “State of the Art“, December, 2006
Best of Atlanta “Datebook: Little Jewels“, December 2006
Plein Air Magazine “En Couleur“, October, 2005
The Artist's Magazine “A Success Story: Italian Inspiration“, June 2005
NAMTA News Artist Profile, September 2003

Awards and Shows

- The Society of Master Impressionists International Juried Exhibition, Amarillo, TX, 2007
- American Juried Art Salon, www.artjury.com, Spring, 2007, Master Class Artist
- Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition, Fredericksburg, TX, 2007
- The Gallery at Belle Meade Plantaion, "New Works by Lori Putnam," Nashville,  2007
- Fine Art in Brentwood, Brentwood, TN, 2006
- Artsclamation!, Knoxville, TN, 2006
- American Juried Art Salon, www.artjury.com, Fall, 2006
- The Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD, permanent collection, 2006
- Plein Air Easton!, Invitational Plein Air Competition, Easton, MD, 2006
- Huff Harrington Fine Art, "The American Landscape," Atlanta, GA, 2006
- The Society of Master Impressionists International Juried Exhibition, Amarillo, TX, 2006
- Central South Art Exhibition Juried Show, Nashville, TN, 2006
- Local Color Gallery, "Fine Perlage: New Works by Lori Putnam," Nashville, TN, 2006
- Nashville Artists' Guild, "Art Without Apology," LeQuire Gallery, Nashville, TN, 2005
- Local Color Gallery, "Small Treasures," Nashville, TN, 2005
- The Chestnut Group "Preserving Our Natural Sanctuaries” , Nashville, TN, 2005
- Central South Art Exhibition Juried Show, Nashville, TN, 2005
- Tennessee Art League Juried Member Show: Second Place in Small Works, 2005
- The Chestnut Group Plein Air Benefit for TN Land Trust, Leiper's Fork, TN, 2004
- The Renaissance Center Annual Juried Exhibition, Dickson, TN, 2004
- The Hermitage: Home of Andrew Jackson, Nashville, TN, 2004

Professional Organizations

Southern Artist Registry
Landscape Artists International
The Society of Master Impressionists, Charter Member
Nashville Artist's Guild
Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission
Oil Painters of America, Associate Member
The Chestnut Group, plein air painters for the land