by Alice Chambers

Lee Cowan is a unique artisan in that she developed her talents when she was in her 40's. Lee was taking an art class working with clay at the Arkansas Art Center, in Little Rock, when she discovered her creativity. "I went wild," she says, "and started making tons of stuff."

Lee previously worked as a psychotherapist in Little Rock and in 1998 left for the Ozarks Mountains to pursue her artistic talents. In 2001 Lee was selected by jury to be a part of the Arkansas Craft Guild. Before long her unique outdoor sculptures and hand-cast concrete mosaic pieces were being featured throughout the state. Lee says that none of her previous work as a psychotherapist compared to the joy of making things with her hands.

With a new confidence, in 2003, Lee entered her first competition and her work was accepted into the 53rd Annual Fort Smith Art Center Competition. Later that year the center featured her work in a group show. Since then her artwork has become recognized and she sells her work regionally.

Lee had her first 'one-woman art show' this year, at the Ozark Heritage Arts Center in Leslie, Arkansas, where her art work was on display and a reception was held in her honor. Lee said the pieces at the show, she felt, were authentic and had a genuine quality about them. She said they had a solidness and some humor, and that she liked being around them. Her desire was to inspire someone else to be creative.

Lee was on the Off The Beaten Path Studio Tour in September, along with many other artists in and around the Mountain View area. The drive is really worth it once you see the magnificent views and the lovely place in which she surrounds herself. The garden and vineyard, the bluffs , river and valley are Lee's inspiration for her artwork. This was her third year of being on the tour.

Lee also taught a class on garden sculpture at the Ozark Folk Center, in Mountain View, in September. She shared her techniques and shared her creative ideas with those who attended.

Lee's garden creations are unusual, original, one-of-a-kind works of art. She hand-casts concrete garden sculptures, mosaic tables with metal bases, garden benches, stepping stones and many other creations. She also paints, writes and is the creator of Connecting Stones©, Arkansas StoneScapes©, International Chicks at Happy Hour note cards, and many other creative art objects. You can see that much of Lee's life is outdoors and the very essence of her art.

She is now selling her work in the President Clinton Museum Shop and at Gallery 26 in Little Rock. There are also six art centers and galleries around the state representing Stone County Art.

She has also found that painting is another of her talents and has some beautiful paintings. Her floral paintings also reflect her love of the outdoors and her surroundings.

Lee often makes use of recycled materials in her art forms and takes advantage of found and unwanted items to incorporate. Often friends give her items that she will use in her sculptures and mosaics. A friend gave her two glasses and she made sculpted figures to hold them. She might use pieces of broken porcelain or pottery, or even a rusty wheel to incorporate into contemporary art objects. Lee feels she is using what is available to her and that would otherwise be thrown away.

Lee's scuptures are outdoor durable and great for patio or porches, and in the garden. They also work just as well inside. The stepping stones can create a unique path and are colorful and fun.

Lee and her husband Mike Oglesby, two dogs - Corky and Moon, and cat Ten Four live in the Ozark Mountains, in Stone County miles from a paved road and deep in the woods, which seems to suit them perfectly. Lee has a twinkle in her eyes and a beautiful smile that makes you feel welcome to her little piece of heaven.

Lee is a member of the Stone Soup Writers' Group. She and her husband enjoy gardening, preserving her garden harvest, and have an established vineyard.

For more information about places to see or purchase Lee's artwork or to find out where she will be showing her artwork visit her website at www.StoneCountyArt.com .

Two of Lee Cowan's sculptures, hand cast concrete with two recycled glasses.

Lee Cowan at her first 'One Woman Show' at the Heritage Arts Center in Leslie.

This mosaic top was hand-cost and artistically designed by Lee Cowan of Stone County Art. One of the materials used is a cement-based mixture, hypertufa, which is an imitation of a porous natural stone called 'tufa," which is lighter than ordinary concrete and is used to make a variety of items.

Mike Oglesby, and his wife Lee Cowan, with their two dogs Cork and Moon, and cat Ten Four live deep in the woods of Stone County in the Ozark Mountains.

Two of Lee Cowan's sculpted works of art that were shown at the Ozark Heritage Arts Center.