photo by: Courtesy of Lawrence Public Library

Artist Louis Copt is pictured in front of the Lawrence Public Library with his artwork "Fuel For The Imagination."

Longtime Lawrence artist Louis Copt died Thursday night after disclosing in a newsletter last month that he had been diagnosed with cancer.

Copt was a well-known painter whose work, primarily oil on canvas, but also murals, focused on prairie themes and landscapes.

In a social media post Friday, the Lawrence Arts Center said it was heartbroken to learn that “longtime friend, teaching artist, and supporter, Louis Copt passed away last night.”

“Louis was kind, caring, and an incredible artist,” the post said. “We had the honor of working closely with Louis over the years, and his presence will be deeply missed.”

Copt disclosed in a newsletter April 3 that he and his wife were packing to visit their kids in Colorado when he “felt bad and went back to bed.” He soon discovered via a CT scan that he had stage 4 esophageal cancer. He received radiation treatment and was slated to begin chemotherapy on April 28, he wrote.

“This will drastically cut into my painting time and other art activities,” he wrote. “…I am lucky to be surrounded by my family and more friends than I can count here in Lawrence who are helping me and my family on this unplanned adventure.”