Blakeney, Lena Stovall, 1878-1964.

Lena Stovall Blakeney was an artist who lived and worked in southeastern Oklahoma from 1899 until her death in 1964. Her works excelled in close observations of people and landscapes of southeastern Oklahoma during its transition from Indian Territory to statehood. Before she moved to Oklahoma, L.S. Blakeney attended The Ward Seminary For Young Ladies in Nashville, Tenn. In 1898, Blakeney was the art director of "The Iris," the school's yearbook, a copy of which is in the collection. As editor, Blakeney created many drawings for the publication. Moving first to Ladonia, Texas then Hugo, Indian Territory in 1899, Blakeney continued to develop as an artist, and she began painting with oils. She also did illustrations, as she was a fan of contemporary artist Charles Dana Gibson. Later in her life, Blakeney visited New Mexico (circa 1933-1940), and she worked with painters and printmakers Doel Reed and Joseph Fleck.