Lee Audia’s early childhood was spent in the New Mexico town of El Rito, near Taos, where her father worked for the Forest Service.   Her earliest memories are of adobe walls, rounded corner fireplaces and the Taos light on nearby hills.  All this began to shape an affinity with the light, colors and choice of subject that resonates in her work today.  In her growing up and early adult years, she explored her strong creative spirit in creative writing projects. 

It was not until she met her first painting teacher, watercolorist Winnie Givot , in a spiritual studies workshop.  Sitting together, the two became immersed in an art project they had been assigned, and ignored the direction to move on to the next agenda item.  Winnie asked her to attend a beginning watercolor class she was giving.  The prompt answer was, “No.”  Better judgment prevailed and Lee has painted almost every day since! In addition to southwest images, Lee explores the multi-layered meaning of myths and legends.  Her Egypt-inspired series of women and hawks has been shown locally and in state watercolor shows. 

• Watercolor Society of Oregon, Aqueous Media Exhibit. 2005
  
• Watercolor Society of Oregon Fall Exhibit
• The High Desert Museum, July 2007 Art and Design Exhibit.
  
• Watercolor Society of Oregon, Fifth Place Award, 2007
  Aqueous Media Traveling Exhibit-
• International Society of Experimental Artists 2004 Exhibit
• Sunriver  Library, 2006 Artist Exhibit
• Recognition Award at Mirror Pond Gallery's
  2008 Natural Abstractions exhibit.
• Sixth Annual Watercolor and Pastel Show
  November 2008, Bend, OR.
  

Lee belongs to the Watercolor Society of Oregon and the International Society of Experimental Artists.  Her work has been shown locally in Bend, Oregon, at Mirror Pond Gallery, Sage Gallery, Bend Library, Sunriver Library and D. A. Davidson Brokerage; on the state level at Watercolor Society of Oregon Exhibits; and is in collections both locally and regionally.