Cody Hooper's contemporary acrylic paintings focus on the freedom and emotional expression of abstraction, while also maintaining a unique balance of color, composition, and texture. Spontaneous application of paint often results in unexpected symmetry on his panels, creating bold, yet beautifully balanced abstract art. The structure of Hooper's paintings is in part due to his creative beginnings as a realistic watercolor artist in Austin, Texas, where he studied under southwest watercolor artist Barbara Hughes. Recognizing his potential at a young age, Hughes took Hooper to workshops with the Southwest Watercolor Society and taught him the technical painting and color skills he continues to use today. After ten years of painting traditional landscapes, Hooper decided to stray from realism and explore a style that allowed more freedom of expression. "The freedom of abstract art intrigued me," says Hooper. "It looked like something I would never get tired of." As a young emerging artist, Hooper moved to New Mexico to immerse himself in Santa Fe's unique and diverse art scene. He now lives and works in Albuquerque with a successful and ever-evolving art career. His work continues to maintain structure, but with a looser, more expressive painting style. Layers of paint on his panels have added more depth to his work, and a new focus on light shining through these layers gives his abstract landscapes even more vibrancy and intrigue. These lighting techniques also come from his traditional painting experience, creating light sources and shadows in realistic landscapes.