I was born in 1967 in Sedalia, Missouri. I married my wonderful wife Tina in 1988 and have two children. My formal art education began at State Fair Community College shortly after I was married. I then transferred to the Kansas City Art Institute graduating in 1993 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts. I received a fellowship at the University of Missouri - Columbia and completed my Masters of Fine Arts in 1996. From there, I've returned to State Fair Community College as an art instructor, which is where I continue to teach today.

Until approximately 2005 my work was based primarily in the 3-dimensional realm, working in steel and clay. Commissions have dominated my work for the past several years limiting my time in the studio. Most of my energy was spent on job sites - dealing with owners, contractors, building inspectors, and countless others whose collaborative input came into play with these type of projects. It was my desire to get back into the studio that lead me to abandon pursuit of private commissions. Once I got back in the studio, I felt lost. There were no guidelines or codes to help direct me. It was at this point I rediscovered my passion for drawing. No other subject offers the versatility and challenges the female form does. The palette is endless—from the classical shape to pin-ups, nude to clothed, adornments, hair styles, body shapes, fashion, skin tones—the list goes on an on. Artists such as Kent Bellows, Robert Graham, Mel Ramos, or Hilo Chen have shown us endless arrangements of the female form. These influences spark intrigue and desire to explore the simple complexity of the female line. I can’t say there is an underlying theme to my work as a whole. Every model brings new and interesting elements to the table. What is consistent with my pieces is the scale of the original work itself. I believe the closer to life-size the image I create is, the more engaging my female becomes to the viewer. It’s also important to me that she allows you into her space so she simply doesn't just become an object to view. It’s not my job to give you a map on how to interpret the artwork I do. Hopefully, you’ll see the beauty each of these young women has shared with me and experience my interpretation as being honest and true. I hope you enjoy the work.

Don Luper Studios is currently looking for height weight proportional young women for modeling and marketing opportunities who are willing to travel to his studio location in Sedalia, MO. Rates are $100 p/h in addition paid travel expenses. Models also have the unique opportunity to have their particular pieces featured in galleries and shows across the country and are permitted to use resulting images from their shoots in their portfolios.

DM me or email me at: [email protected] with any furthur questions, for a consultation or to schedule a shoot.

You may also text or call me or text my assistant with any inquiries.

My number is: (660) 553 - 1990 (text or call)
My assistant's number is: (435) 232-4574 (text only please)

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