Meet Cathy Cooper Scott | Abstract Expressionist Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cathy Cooper Scott and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cathy, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
My artistic career began when my father came into my studio [also known as “the garage”] and said “Kid, what are you going to do with all of these paintings?” I laughed and said “Don’t know Dad – you better get on that!” And one week later he had arranged for me to meet with Kristen Mingert, art buyer for the Rancho Bernardo Inn, showing her all of my work and explaining the meaning of each piece. She looked at me for a spell and asked quietly, “You seem pretty attached to all of your work – do you think you could part with them?” I emphatically replied that it would be an honor for me to know that something I created was living in another person’s home or business. And that was that…she chose ME as the only artist for their fall show and I sold more than any other exhibit they’d had to date.

The overwhelming sense of joy, relief, excitement I feel every time I know a painting is complete is like nothing else! And I owe that to my father, Bob Cooper…and to my family, by blood and by circumstance…like my dear friends, who are my family, and who urge me on and hang my art on the walls of their homes and offices, and drop off salvaged pieces of glass, shelving, corkboard for me to paint on, and show up at my gallery events, and who are always giving “shoutouts” for me and my artwork.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Abstract Expressionism is an art form that speaks to me. The idea that color evokes feelings and sensations has been an important part of my journey as an artist. It amazes me how emotionally impactful simple strokes of carefully selected color on a surface can be. My influences when I began painting over 10 years ago were Mark Rothko and Sir Howard Hodgkin…and now I find that they inspire me even more.

My artwork broadly reflects aspects of a landscape aesthetic – real and imagined. I am surrounded daily, living in Southern California, with stunningly vibrant, whimsical and breathtaking natural beauty. From the Pacific Ocean beaches to the high desert mountains, I am inspired and motivated to capture my experience in nature. Likewise my subject and material choices reflect concern for climate change and sustainability.

I am my paintings. They remind me that life does not have to be lived within the lines and can be experienced in many different mediums, colors and configurations. I paint on whatever materials happen to end up in my studio – canvas, particle board, wood shelving, plexiglass, cork board, mirror, and panes of glass. Each surface allows for the oils and their hues to convey a distinctive story…unique to one’s own personal life experiences.

What sets me apart from others is most likely my use of recycled materials as a starting point. The oil paint seems to react differently with each surface. The other cool thing I have discovered is that when I paint on glass or plexiglass the reverse side of the piece comes into play. I call these pieces: DOUBLE EXPOSURE…as the artworks possess two sides upon which to express a similar but different story. In fact, I have to give a another shoutout to Pepper Wood, of Fallbrook Winery, who was the person to suggest that I call these types of artworks “double exposures”…Thank You, Pep…you’re simply genius!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Another art form I absolutely HAVE to let people know about is the art of winemaking. Fallbrook Winery is the first stop on my list when people come into town. We are growers for them and have enjoyed a long relationship of cultivating grapes and making our own wine and/or adding it to their Fallbrook Cabernet [it’s everywhere in stores in San Diego]. Their winemaker, Euan Parker, is a true artist with his canvas being acres of different varietals. A shoutout to Luke McCollom, Fallbrook’s vineyards manager, and the entire team (from crushing room to tasting room to the shop shelf) that consistently deliver award-winning and insanely delicious wines!

The Fallbrook Winery 33°N Estate wines derive their unique designation from the latitudinal coordinates that the vineyard rests on. In essence, Fallbrook Winery is located on the 33°North Parallel, hence the name. All of their wines that are made exclusively with Estate grown grapes receive the 33°N designation. From the 33°N White BDX to the Bordeaux style 33°N BDX Red Blend, the Fallbrook Estate wines are a shining example of our North San Diego County region. My particular favorites (and there really is something for everyone’s palate) are the Tempranillo, the 33°N White BDX, the Montepulciano, and the Cab Franc…but they are all just so darn delicious! Be sure and get on the list for the (likely) December 2022 release of their dessert style wine made from their Estate Syrah, the Passas Doces.

I always ask to have Ira and Pepper drop by when we are there hosting friends for a tasting. They are the salt of the earth and terribly good fun people! And one of my favorite stories is about how they got into winemaking; while Ira grins and lovingly gazes on, just ask Pepper, who will tell you “I met a guy and fell in love…that’s how I got into winemaking.” Now, you have to understand…this is NOT your normal tasting. One of the Fallbrook Winery team [always fun and welcoming] will give you a big glass [not just a wee taster like some of the bigger wineries] and they encourage you to taste ALL of the wines. The whites, the rose, the reds – are insanely drinkable. Pepper will take us for a tour and the team will show us how it’s all done, and each time I learn something new. We bring food to share and they join us with a bottle and we sit on the patio and before you know it – 6 hours have passed. This place is such a find and every client, friend from abroad or from around San Diego County that we have introduced to Fallbrook Winery has RAVED about this amazing, magical, family-feel winery. As Euan Parker, the winemaker says, “We are a low-key, intimate, old world feel winery…we are all about the wine and none of the razzamatazz…except when it comes to Cathy Cooper Scott’s artwork!”

Fallbrook Winery is open for tastings and tours Monday through Sunday. They love visitors, but are very busy crafting those delicious wines, so they recommend making reservations for winery tours. Please call them or make an online reservation prior to your visit, where you’ll sip up to six of their award-winning wines while touring the facility. You are welcome to bring a picnic basket and enjoy it on their deck in the shade of avocado trees. They don’t offer any food for purchase but the tasting room and patio deck overlooking the valley are idyllic settings in which to explore their delicious wines with your picnic. And thank you for checking out HAPPY HOUR! an exhibit of my current artwork in the Fallbrook Winery tasting rooms…Cheers!

Phone: (760) 728-0156 ext. 2
Email: tastingroom@fallbrookwinery.com

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout has to go to my family, a steadfast group of friends and colleagues, and my amazing business manager, Kim Hutson de Belle, and the Escondido Arts Partnership Municipal Gallery. Their encouragement and honesty have made all the difference. Kim has her own “collective” of artists and she just seems to know exactly what to say and when to say it. She finds these GREAT magazines such as SHOUTOUT LA and is a constant source of support.

An exciting new development…Fallbrook Winery and CCS Art Gallery have joined forces for an exhibit of my current work, titled “HAPPY HOUR!” So BIG shoutout to Ira Gourvitz and Pepper Wood, owners of Fallbrook Winery, and their talented winemaking-family team, who have graciously invited me to display these artworks in their tasting rooms this fall. My husband, Rod Scott and I enjoy a 15-year+ collaboration with Fallbrook Winery. We have a boutique vineyard managed by Luke McCollom, the vineyard manager at Fallbrook. Our grapes go into the making of their award-winning wines, thanks to Euan Parker, their renowned winemaker. Please come for this new pairing – enjoy delectable wines and my abstract artwork through this fall – you won’t be disappointed!!

A leader in California’s emerging South Coast wine region, Fallbrook Winery’s 36 acres rest between the Pacific Coast and the Pala Mesa Mountains, on the 33°North Parallel, producing the highest quality red and white varietals. The original Fallbrook Winery was used primarily for champagne production. In the mid 1990s, the winery property was purchased by Ira and Pepper and replanting of the vineyards began with Bordeaux varietal clones and included Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Syrah, Grenache and Sauvignon Blanc were planted in 2005; Sangiovese grapes were planted in 2005; and an additional three acres of Syrah, one acre of Grenache and 4 acres of Sauvignon Blanc were planted in 2008.

“All of our staff share a passion for great wines and are committed to providing our local wines of exceptional quality at competitive prices.” explains Pepper, who oversees the winery’s finances while Ira’s passion lies in the production and sales of award-winning wines, dating back to his experience owning a Sonoma vineyard in the 1980s. “Our winemaker is very smart…” Pepper boasts. Euan Parker, Head Winemaker, who oversees all aspects of making quality wine, suggests that “If I were to paint a picture on how I make wine, our viticulturist, Luke McCollom, and Mother Nature provide me with my colors and textures and so that’s what I am given and then it’s up to me to put that piece of art together; I have to look at the textures and colors that I have and make it work in the wine…it’s a bit of science and a bit of art.”

Website: https://www.ccsartgallery.org

Instagram: @ccsartgallery

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-cooper-scott-b420b426/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathy.c.scott.39

Image Credits
Jen Gladheim Photography CB4 Creative Collective Fallbrook Winery