Fern Isabel Coppedge, an American impressionist painter, born in Decatur, Illinois, 1883.

Born Fern Isabel Kuns on July 28, 1883, in Decatur, Illinois. Coppedge dreamed of being an artist since the age of thirteen, after being inspired by the dazzle of sunlight reflected on snow and sea and by the marvelous creative possibilities she discovered while visiting her older sister's watercolor class. Her husband, Robert W. Coppedge, himself an amateur painter, encouraged her to pursue this ambition. She attended the Art Institute of Chicago, the Art Students League of New York, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Born Fern Isabel Kuns on July 28, 1883, in Decatur, Illinois. Coppedge dreamed of being an artist since the age of thirteen, after being inspired by the dazzle of sunlight reflected on snow and sea and by the marvelous creative possibilities she discovered while visiting her older sister's watercolor class. Her husband, Robert W. Coppedge, himself an amateur painter, encouraged her to pursue this ambition. She attended the Art Institute of Chicago, the Art Students League of New York, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

A landscape artist, Fern Coppedge painted the villages and farms of Bucks County, often blanketed with snow, and harbor scenes from Gloucester, Massachusetts, where she spent her summers. Coppedge worked directly from nature by tying her canvas to a tree during winter storms.

Coppedge's early work, influenced by American impressionism, was marked by shimmering colors and attention to the effects of changing light upon a landscape. Later in her career, Coppedge moved towards post-impressionism, favoring a more fanciful use of color and a two-dimensional, abstract style.

During her artistic career, she received several awards, including the Shillard Medal in Philadelphia, a Gold Medal from the Exposition of Women’s Achievements, another Gold Medal from the Plastics Club of Philadelphia, and the Kansas City H.O. Dean Prize for Landscape. She was a member of several prominent art organizations, including the Philadelphia Art Alliance, the Art Students League of New York, and the Philadelphia Ten.

She became well known for her work as a landscape impressionist who painted scenes that were blanketed with snow, such as the villages and farms of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Her famous works include (see images); Autumn Gold, Bucks County Scene, Lumberville, Lumberville Cottage, Old House, The Delaware Valley, and The Delaware Reflections.

Coppedge died on April 21, 1951, in New Hope, Pennsylvania, at the age of 67.

Compiled by Dr. neil Gale, Ph.D.