E. Lynn Coates

Her philosophy to her artistic approach is that “we as artists serve as mediums through which the creative juices flow; we are the messengers of the visual inevitable dialogue.” Born in historic St. Mary’s of Maryland, where the farmland is plentiful to the eye bordered by the shores of the Potomac River, it is no wonder that the love of nature and the element of water is the focal point in the work of oil painter, E. Lynn Coates. Her direct painting approach, alla prima, allows her to explore and experiment with various hues of blues; while abstractly imposing the human form aiming to capture the serenity and beauty in the ordinary and uniquely reflecting those images in a loose and expressive style. She explores in her work, the essence of the human spirit and conjures the mood of meditative calmness in her landscapes, seascapes and figurative work. Mrs. Coates’ artistic talents are expressed in oil and acrylic.

After studying finance at Hampton University and gaining almost a decade in corporate experience in accounting and finance, she began exploring her artistic aspirations by enrolling in oil painting classes at the Smithsonian Institute (Washington, DC) and the Art League in Alexandria, Virginia. In 2007, Mrs. Coates joined the Arlington Artist Alliance (AAA), where she has served on the Board of Directors, as Grant Chairperson from 2008-2010, and as an AAA curator for various AAA venues. She has participated in solo and group exhibitions in the DC Metropolitan area. In November 2017, Mrs. Coates joined the Arlington Artists Alliance staff as Deputy Director of Gallery Underground and exhibiting artist at Gallery Underground. She is also a volunteer art teacher at the Sitar Arts Center (DC). In addition to painting, Mrs. Coates successfully homeschooled her daughter, currently a college freshman in New York, NY. She lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband and daughter.