Ronald and Jessie Cooper are a gifted couple who
collaborate on making folk art objects in the Appalachian
Mountain tradition. The Coopers started making folk art
after Ronald was involved in a serious automobile accident
that left him disabled. At first Ronald made whittled
animals in the Kentucky mountain craft style, and Jessie,
who had painted on and off for a number of years, decided to
try her hand at sculpture as well. "After my accident"
Ronald says, "I had nightmares where walking snakes chased
me. I carved the snakes and put them in hell, where I was
living". Biblical scenes dominate the work of both Coopers,
although Jessie's are more literal then Ronald's, and their
message is the conflict between good and evil. Both artists
paint on old furniture and both print messages on their
pieces. The work of the Coopers contains humorous elements
as well as serious dissertations. It is both colorful and
decorative. Morehead University has a permanent collection
of the artists work and Ronald's work is included in the
American Visionary Art Museum. One of Ronald's works shown
on this page "Hell is Cool You Know" was in the traveling
exhibition Revelations and Reflections of American
Self-taught Artists .
SOLD Wheeling Toward Hell 12" $450 Hell Was Cool You Know 36" tall $750 SOLD Devils Wagon 24" $450
