Lee Alan Boynton

God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 Lee Alan Boynton, 62, departed this life Sunday, April 24, 2016, at Lilac Hill, the family home in Annapolis, MD, with his family at his side. Born October 26, 1953, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Lee received his BFA from Syracuse, University in 1976. He continued his studies at the Art Students League in New York City and the Cape School of Art in Provincetown, Massachusetts. A devoted Christian, Lee's art and his faith were closely intertwined. He learned to paint the light studying with Henry Hensche at the Cape School of Art. Henry, an Impressionist painter, opened Lee's eyes to the poetry of using color to capture the ever-changing effects of light. Lee took what he had learned in the oil medium, and applied it to watercolor. He pioneered techniques for adapting the Impressionist theories of color and light to watercolor, and co-authored Painting the Impressionist Watercolor with Linda Gottlieb, one of his longtime watercolor students. Lee was passionate about stewarding the Impressionist theories of color and light first established by Claude Monet, the father of Impressionism. He taught his students in workshops and classes "to see and paint the light" for over thirty years. Lee was instrumental in establishing the Mid Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association in 2001 as the hosting organization for the plein air painting competition, Paint Annapolis. The success of their inaugural competition sparked a trend on the east coast. Lee won awards for watercolor and oil paintings in Paint Annapolis, Plein Air Easton and the Wayne Arts Festival. A fine craftsman, Lee was well known for the palettes and carrying boxes he made for artists. He found inspiration in the lives and craft of boatbuilders, and built two dories for his family. The working watermen of the Chesapeake Bay and coastal Maine were an important theme in his artwork. In 1995, Lee was commissioned to paint three historic murals for the city council chambers in Annapolis. Other historic commissions included a painting of historic Londontowne and of George Washington's distillery for Mount Vernon. Lee is survived by his wife, Martha, and their three children, Jonathan Boynton, Margaret Boynton, and Catherine Boynton, all of Annapolis. He is also survived by his parents, Doris and John Boynton, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and his brother Clark Boynton (Cheryl) and his nephew Jack of Charlotte, Vermont. A celebration of Lee's life will take place at The Redemption House Life Center, 7489 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 on May 14, 2016 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Lee's memory may be made to Redemption House Life Center, 7489 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd, Glen Burnie, MD 21061.