Discover Delmarva Arts: Beth Cooper

BERLIN, Md. — On the Eastern Shore, history isn’t just found in local museums — sometimes, it’s painted onto canvas. For local artist Beth Cooper, inspiration comes from the landscapes, work boats, barns, and traditions that have shaped her life since childhood.

Born and raised in Worcester County — creativity has always been a part of her life. “I’ve always either drawn or sketched from a very early age. . . I started out with watercolor — I think that’s my first love. But then if you try acrylics, that’s got different characteristics, different pros and cons. Same with oil,” Cooper said.

She says living on the Eastern Shore has shaped who she is as an artist, and that experimenting with different paints and platforms leaves her feeling more inspired each time.

“I love painting all things Eastern Shore. . . I like being able to vary and try different subjects with different mediums and see what the result is.”

While the changing seasons provide plenty of inspiration — Cooper says it’s the everyday scenes of the Eastern Shore that mean the most to her.

“We’ve got a lot of marshes — we’ve got the beaches [and] fields. Right now, the crops are going in. When the crops are growing and when its harvest time that changes the scene totally and the tempo of the whole area.”

Learn more about Beth Cooper’s art at https://www.bethcoopersbrush.com/