After three years of watching Copper House’s experience partner, Roey Ebert, in action, we recently bought one of her paintings. Lining the wall down to our conference room, we have a cluster of small tree paintings by local artists, most of whom we know. Once I saw Roey’s Glistening Forest, I realized the look, the feel, and the size of it would anchor this collection. Her inspiration? “I love to see the sunlight come between the trees when I go on hikes. And I especially love finding birches tucked among the trees in a forest. My hikes/walks always inspire me.”
David and I are always inspired when we see Roey teaching our groups to paint. In a matter of minutes she can playfully transform timid first-time painters into fiercely creative ones. And although everyone takes their work seriously, Roey keeps the experience light-hearted and fun. Her painting workshops are marked by rollicking laughter.
Finally, Roey has a way of encouraging individual expression while helping the group jell. She often speaks with the organizer beforehand to understand the group’s goals. Sometimes she has them paint a theme—celebration, for example—or a subject, like trees or koi. By the end of the workshop, everyone is commenting on one another’s paintings, which often leads to a deeper discussion and a better understanding of one another. The best part? Everyone leaves with a memory of their transformative time here at Copper House.
