C. Lei Guthrie was born in 1974 in Montgomery, Alabama. Growing up in an art family with two brothers and a sister for playmates and little people that most adults think are make believe.

As a little girl C. Lei was first a Brownie, Bluebird and then a Girl Scout. Participation in Girl Scouts gave C. Lei an appreciation for her heritage. In Junior High and High School, she entered several Native American student art competitions. In September 1998 she entered her first adult competition and won third place in sculpture. With a number of student awards, her work has been widely excepted by galleries across the United States.

Most notably is her piece the "Great Blue Heron," which illustrates the story of a race of little people and their challenge in nature.

A long time ago, there was a race of Little People. They were very tiny, maybe 5 or 6 inches tall. Life was good for the Little People except for the occasional attacks from visiting birds. One day a Cherokee hunter, we don’t remember his name, showed them how they could make little bows and arrows to defend themselves against the birds.

Now, for a hundred years the Little People live by the marsh in harmony with the world. When one day a flock of Blue Herons came and with their long legs, the Little Peoples arrows fell short.

The women and children went screaming into their homes in the sides of the marsh. They were fearful of the long beaks of the Great Blue Heron.

The tiny warriors stood their ground against their enormous foes. As a punishment today for terrorizing these Little People, the Blue Heron has to feed alone and is never seen in flocks.

Third Place Kituwah, Asheville, N.C. 1998

Achievement Red Earth, OK. City, OK. 1992

Achievement Trail of Tears, Tahlequah, OK. 1992

Merit Award Red Earth, OK. City, OK 1991

First Place Intertribal Ceremonial, Gallup, NM. 1990

First Place Five Civilized Tribes Museum Muskogee OK 1989

First Place, Three Rivers Artist, Tahlequah, OK 1989