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Greetings,

 

Welcome to the Cooper studio, again, on this fine Iowa Thursday. 

 

You know, I've written a lot about the summer art fair venue lately, but there's a side benefit that I have just plain forgot to mention.  It's the people watching.  The most interesting people in the world come to art fairs. 

 

All shapes, sizes, ages, and kinds of language.  Sometimes they come because they love art, and sometimes they come because they love funnel cakes.  Sometimes they come because they're bringing the music.  In the case of this pint-sized music lover in Powderhorn Park--well, I think her daddy brought the music.  I remember that the music was just as fine as her dancing.

 

And you wonder where painters get their inspiration.  Sheesh.

 

Enjoy.  And have a lovely evening.

 

Later, Cooper

 

Oh, one more thing--of course I already have the painting in my website portfolio.  Just click on this link and it'll take you right there.  It's an acrylic painting on a 12 by 12 inch canvas, and the title, you guessed it:  There's Music In The Park Today And I Can Dance.

Greetings,

 

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.

 

It's sign-the-painting-day, in red, of course.

 

And this must be why I paint people.  Walkin' With Her Honey--you sure couldn't name a landscape painting that, and probably not a still life.  If you're crazy enough :) to paint abstracts, I suppose you could put that title on one of them.  But it wouldn't tell the story like it does on this one, would it?

 

There's not a man, woman or child among us that doesn't watch the people living life around us.  And sometimes as we people-watch, we happen upon a simple yet perfect little story like this one.  And I'm glad I got to paint it.

 

Thanks for stopping by.  And here's the painting:

 

  Walkin' With Her Honey, an acrylic painting on a perfect little 12 x 12 inch canvas.  And yes, I just put it in my portfolio,  in case you happen to need a "zoom-able" view.

 

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

 

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.

 

I am happy to tell you that I came home from Prairie Village Art Fair (Kansas City area of Kansas) with some paintings, but not nearly as many as I had when I started the adventure.  Thank you Prairie Village art lovers!

 

Just before I pointed the art van south last week, I added two freshly completed paintings to my portfolio, but did not get a chance to post them here.  One of them is now a Kansas resident, but I thought you'd enjoy seeing it here anyway.

 

  Sidewalk Conversations, an acrylic painting on a 20 x 20 inch canvas, and the new Kansas resident.

 

  Riding In A Husker Hoodie On The Hancher Trail, an acrylic painting on a 24 x 24 inch canvas.  I plan on exhibiting this painting at the Omaha (Nebraska) Summer Arts Festival this coming weekend, June 10, 11, and 12. 

 

 I showed this painting one of the day's of the Prairie Village event--a woman involved with the "Huskers in Kansas City" group (7000 people?!) stopped by and the title of this painting caught her eye.  She appreciated it in the style of any good true Husker  :)  Hopefully a few people in Omaha will as well!

 

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

 

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.  Let's talk color today.  After all, it IS one of my favorite subjects.

 

Once in a while (okay, more than once in a while) I get that kind of comment.  You know, they say things like "wow, bright".  I used to be concerned.  Now I understand they probably have a Terry Redlin print hanging over their fireplace.  Dios mio.

 

So, that title, amarillo, rojo, and azul.  Next week I get to spend some time with my favorite Colorado two-year-old.  His mommy and daddy are determinedly teaching him both English and Spanish.  They will be away for a week, so I get to hang out with Arridian. 

 

I think maybe we can spend some time talking color.  He can teach me how to say amarillo--I don't get the r's very well.  And I can tell him about painting with a very primary colored palette-- yellow, red, and blue.

 

In fact, my ultramarine, cad red med, and cad yellow (amarillo!) deep, share palette space with titanium white, violet, and sap green.  But that's the extent of it--those six, so when I say limited palette, I am sincere.

 

I often wonder how people that accept abstracted paintings so readily, think that a tree must be green and all people must be "flesh" colored?  They observe somebody's canvas with paint dribbles or globs smeared all over it, and say "hmm, interesting"--I give a figure nice cad red skin and they say something like, "wow, that person really had a bad sunburn".  Huh?  Sometimes I tell them about the warmth and immediacy of the color red.  How the painting wouldn't do what I wanted it to if the person had "normal" colored skin.  I tell them that when I have cad yellow (amarillo!) on my brush, I feel like I am spreading sunshine around on the canvas.  And that blue works for  people's various attributes just as much as it does for skies and lakes/oceans!  Aaaah, color, don't you just love it?!

 

I think tomorrow could be a very interesting day at the easel.  I'll let you know  :)

 

Later, Cooper

 

Greetings,

 

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.

 

Yes, we all know that I tend to whine about winter.  OH. WELL. 

 

I love summer, and by now, we all know that also.  But I would not call myself a summer princess, so that's your clue for knowing that it's the name of this painting.  Just some people on the sidewalk in Omaha last summer.  Aah, summer.....

 

Enjoy the painting.  And of course, it's in my portfolio, for a zoom-in view.  

  Summer Princess, acrylic painting on a perfect little 12 x 12 inch canvas.  Click on that colored word "portfolio" in line 7 up above for a zoom view.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

 

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.  And dang, but the blizzard is here.

 

So what is there to do but paint some summer?   Or fond memories thereof?

 

So, Park Path Buddies.  Acrylic painting on a perfect little 12 inch canvas.  Aaaah.  Summer.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.  We will discuss The Look today. I'm sorry, but you know it had to happen.  And it's not really my fault.  We are blaming it on ArtCalendarMagazine, even though those people put out a wonderful publication, which no artist should be without.

I finally got started reading my online copy of ArtCalendarMagazine this morning.  Next up was the article about a figurative painter from LosAngeles, Kent Williams.  The heading described Mr. Williams as a consummate draftsman and rigorous observer.  Rigorous observer.  Aaargh.  The Look.

Rigorous observer.  So easily written.  Deceptively easily written.  Take a moment and peer into the meaning of those two words, bearing in mind that Mr. Williams is known as a figurative painter.

You don't get it?  You must be focusing on landscapes or still lifes.

At a recent event, I was across the room from a friend who was in the motion of painting a bunch of flowers.  She was doing "the squint", you know, blurring out the unimportant, concentrating on finding what matters for the painting.  Of course, she deserved a bit of teasing, due to the interesting countenance it gave her.  But what's a painter to do?  We have to squint.  

However, you need to be aware, "the squint" is only part of The Look.  Back up to paragraph #2 where we unleashed the phrase "rigorous observer".  Followed closely by figurative painter.  Granted, if that figure you are painting is a model in your studio, they possibly understand the squint.  The Look.  But some of us are trapped in the intrigue of painting the folks out on the sidewalks of our lives.  Those poor folks don't know we are just being rigorous observers.  They see someone do "the squint" in their direction, and they begin to worry.  A complete stranger, doing "the squint", and following up with a camera--whoa--we have to wonder if sirens and arrest are imminent.

Yes.  You are correct. I do exaggerate.  But it's a constant battle of artist-desire to capture everyday people doing their everyday thing on canvas, versus artist trying not to annoy those everyday people doing their everyday thing.  

So, I hereby promise to try and not be too rude with my rigorous observing.  And if you aren't an artist, at least now you know the reason behind "the squint" --- The Look, and you don't have to go running for cover.  And if it happens to you, questions or a quick peek at the sketch book are all cool, be my guest.

 Thanks for stopping by!

Later, Cooper

Okay, one more little bit.  I have to show you this painting again.  I saw these kids at ArnoldsPark, in the town by the same name, next door to Okoboji, Iowa. Surely you understand the need to paint them?  When photos are involved, more than one is always better.  So my camera and I stood fence-side by the "Scrambler", and every time their little car came around, I clicked.  By photo #6, the boy in the middle was beginning to show signs of "who are you, and why are you taking our picture?"  By photo #7 he was beginning to express his strong desire to have his daddy come talk to me.  At that point I decided to let them finish their ride unencumbered by artistic intervention.  But it was worth it, right?  :)



  Slide On Over, acrylic painting on canvas, measuring 30 x 30 inches, and yes, in my portfolio  (click on the red text) as well.
 

 

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.

I'm sure I have mentioned before, an affinity for bicycles, at the Cooper house.  Cooper-the-youngest, in fact, is currently working at a bicycle shop in Boulder, Colorado.  And yes, the checkout people at the grocery store still think I'm crazy for loading my purchases into a back pack.  But I didn't have to start the car, and it was a lovely day for a bicycle ride.

How ironic is it then, that the house across the street was just recently purchased by a couple from Virginia, who own a bicycle shop?  I am writing this in IOWA, you need to remember.  Jefferson, Iowa, to be exact.  Not exactly a major metropolis.  And a long way from Virginia.  Are we all mentally humming "It's a small world, afterall" ?

Actually I think it points out the certainty that "bicycle" is a universal langage.  Whether it be racing, mountain, BMX, commuter, or pleasure, or any other purpose, riders of two wheels speak "the language".

And is that why my artist's eye is being roped in by cyclists repeatedly, of late?  I don't think I want to dwell on the details, painting them is more fun.

 Arriving, an acrylic painting on canvas, measuring a substantial 40 x 40 inches.  Available in my portfolio, of course.  (click on the red to go to my portfolio)  Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

 

 

 

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.  This afternoon I think we should discuss a stab in the dark.  Or at least a stab in the dark regarding painting.  Bear with me here; there is a relationship in this line of thinking.

 

I was at EmptyEasel.com this morning watching a cool video clip.   Artist Jan Kunz demonstrated her method for correctly painting sun and shade on a boy's face, and it worked pretty slick.  She had her grey scale-value scale right next to the painting, and demonstrated how she kept checking to make sure the paint was matching the scale at the intervals she intended.

 

I began to feel guilt creeping over me.  When was the last time I held my little value scale chart up next to a painting?  In fact, I wondered where my little value scale chart WAS.  Hadn't seen it for a day or two.  Or three.

 

And then I paid closer attention to the painting Jan Kunz was working on.  It was drawn out with very precise pencil lines.  They bore no resemblance at all to the wet, purple colored brush marks that the people who live on my canvases usually start out with.  Yes, I suppose we must call those wet, purple colored brush marks something akin to taking a stab in the dark.

 

A bit of the guilt ebbs away as I console myself that some of these differences have to do with painting style decisions, rather than just the fact that I will never be able to paint like Jan Kunz.  I tell myself that while precision is definitely Kunz's friend, un-precision (yeah, made that one up) might be mine.

 

I am very glad I took the time to watch the video clip.  ALWAYS the student and I did learn.  And I WILL go hunt down my value scale chart and repost it by the easel.  Am I going to dwell on exact matches?  Probably not.  But having the good tool nearby makes the stab in the dark a little more likely to be successful.

 

About those nicely refined pencil lines, those probably aren't for me.  I really do like drippy-wet purple paint (actually it’s Maimeri Brera violet) 

 

And after all, that is the only one true certainty about artists, isn't it?  That no two of us are alike?  Ha, kind of like snowflakes.

Later, Cooper

 

 

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.  We are packing today.

Tomorrow, June 25th, at 11am, begins the Omaha Summer Arts Festival.  I am exhibitor #81, in front of the library.  And lucky you, assuming you come, will be the first to see a painting that at the moment, is parked in front of a fan, hoping it's varnish will dry quickly.  Sure!

The painting is number two in a potential series.  My camera has been attracted to people walking their dogs lately.  Why is that?  We do not know.  But it's happening, and it's fun.  See?




And if you can't come on the 25th, try for the 26th or 27th.  We are there all three days, downtown, on Farnam Street.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa, on a fine, um, is it Thursday? morning.  Hey, that's what a Monday holiday will do to a person.  Couple that with a calendar blur and it can definitely lead to "what day is it, and where am I?"  Please note that title:  "Tired Car" which of course would describe mine!

On that note, let me share a copy of my JUNE NEWSLETTER with you: 

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio.  Around here we definitely agree a picture is worth a thousand words.  I have two June pictures for you, pictures of how I will be spending most of my June!

(Iowa City, Iowa, Hinsdale, Illinois, Omaha, Nebraska)

-------and then for the entire month of June, I will have a solo exhibit at the WineBarArtGallery, in Arnolds Park, Iowa, with an opening reception on May 28th, 6-8pm.



As I plunk all that info into this newsletter, I realize I should add one more image for you.  It's the final painting completed for the exhibit at Arnolds Park:

   Glad We Don't Have Much To Do,  acrylic painting on a perfect 30 x 30 inch canvas.  As noted, it will be available at the WineBarArtGallery, Arnolds Park, Iowa, during the month of June.  And how appropriate is that title??  Maybe I will get bit of that in July!  Thank you so much for your appreciation of my work!

Later, Karen

What the newsletter copy doesn't mention is that I'm still squeezing in painting hours!  :)  I have a few cool little still life paintings finished up just in time to travel to Iowa City with.  Aren't I amazing?!  Sure :)  See you at the Iowa City Arts Festival this weekend?  Hope so.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa, where at the moment the sky is gray.  But!  The weather people are telling us nice warm sunshine for the afternoon.  Maybe tipping 90 degrees for the weekend.  Yay!

By now, you are wondering about that title, "Paid With A Brownie", aren't you?  Paid.  I did.  I was.  Let me explain.  This morning I added three extra blocks to my morning run.  I know---pshaw.  That's nothing.  But it made me happy.  And I decided to pay myself for the extra effort.  A brownie.  Oh wait, you don't understand, do you?  These brownies were baked fresh last night.  And we dumped in a whole bunch of white chocolate chips.  As if a brownie isn't chocolate enough already, eh? 

It's kind of like the painting I'm working on.  It's of a beach cafe up at Arnolds Park, Iowa.  It will hopefully finish up in time for my exhibit which opens at the WineBarArtGallery in Arnolds Park, a week (eek) from today.  For some reason, maybe diligence?, I was being pretty faithful to the true setting of this cafe.  It's a view from the west, looking into the open side of the cafe and through to the back where you can see the greenspace, called Preservation Plaza.  It's a lovely view, but it wasn't working for this painting.  So I did the unthinkable.  I painted over the greenspace.  It was a tough decision.  We've enjoyed many a great concert on that greenspace.  But it was right for the compositon of the painting.  And then I decided to give myself a treat.  You know, like pay myself for the tough decision.  I painted the floor of the cafe red.  Dang, it's almost as good as a brownie.  It's good to pay yourself for the tough decision, don't you think?  Especially when there's a painting involved  :)  Must be time to get back to work. 

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.  We are re-grouping after one of those kind of weekends.

But.  I am pleased to announce there is a solo exhibit of 34 paintings officially up at the Clear Lake Art Center.  And they are mine.  Amazed, aren't you?  So am I!  The paintings all deal with living on the sunny side, optimisim, no worries---all that good stuff.

The Clear Lake Art Center, which you might have guessed, is located in Clear Lake (Iowa) is a unique building all on it's own.  Here, let me give you a visual: 

   Prior to 2005, the building was a US Bank facility.  A couple of grants allowed it to be turned into the excellent art center it is today.  The lighting in the exhibit space is especially wonderful.  The town of Clear Lake, Iowa is a funky main street town where the main street runs right down to the shore of the lake, which this perfect little resort town is named for.

I think this painting illustrates the attitude, and don't forget to read the title  :)

  No Worries, acrylic painting on canvas, 16 x 24 inches, currently hanging at, you guessed it, the Clear Lake Art Center.

Later, Cooper

Oh, and yes, you should stop in and see the exhibit.  You'll enjoy it, I'm sure.

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.  57 degrees at 8:43am.  Can't beat that.  The post title alludes to me being present.  In the studio.  Ha.  I am going for a run.  Way too great a morning not to.  Then we will paint.

And I have been.  Here's something for you to look at:

  Waiting For Sunset, acrylic painting on a lovely little 12 x 12 inch canvas.  And it's in my portfolio, of course.  Maybe I will come back and paste the link in here for you later, but right now, I'm outta here!

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.  Spring.  Ha!  We got it! 

And when I tell people how it affects my painting, they look at me out of the corner of their eye.  Quizzically.  A few look at me straight on.  Dubiously.

But look what I found today.  There really is a name for that condition.  (come on, aren't all conditions named by now?)  So, here we go:  Seasonal affective disorder.  (SAD)

Overview

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs in relation to the seasons, most commonly beginning in WINTER.  (duh)

Symptoms

• Afternoon slumps with decreased energy and concentration
• Carbohydrate cravings
• Decreased interest in work or other activities
• Depression that starts in fall or winter   (I think "when the snow starts" needs to be interjected here)
• Increased appetite with weight gain
• Increased sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness
• Lack of energy
• Slow, sluggish, lethargic movement
• Social withdrawal   (hey, the traditional Iowa blizzard makes this one mandatory)

Treatment

As with other types of depression, antidepressant medications and talk therapy can be effective. Light therapy using a special lamp to mimic light from the sun may also be helpful.

Symptoms commonly get better on their own with the change of seasons.

Causes

The disorder may begin in adolescence or early adulthood. Like other forms of depression, it occurs more frequently in women than in men. Most people with the "winter blahs" or "cabin fever" do not have SAD.

Okay.  So I am probably one of those who really just do the "cabin fever" part.  Actually, mine is probably more unique---a significant annoyance with winter.  But that part about carbohydrates cravings---oooh yeah---popcorn.  Do I need to say anything more there?!

All those symptoms and gloom and doom words about this syndrome came from Google health, by the way.  And I want to draw your attention to the sentence right before the "causes".  Symptoms commonly get better on their own with the change of seasons.  Isn't that great?  But then, around here we already knew that part too.  Look what it did to the painting today:

  It's got a ways to go, but one of those paintings that has a name even before it's done.  Smells Like Summer.  That list of symptoms up there?  Gone.  I painted with so much energy and concentration---you'd have been amazed.  And not one single popcorn craving either.  But maybe tonight after the sun sets, we'll go for a little of that.  :)

Later, Cooper

 

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.  Alternating sun and clouds, spring style, can't argue with that.  It was a little tricky getting photos done today, but I have one to show for it.  And it causes me to ponder a thought:  How much of "painting from memory" is really just faking it?  Lot's of people talk about painting from memory, or imagination.  How do I feel about that?

  Library Bike, acrylic painting on a 30 x 40 inch canvas

Surely by now, you've all heard about the Cooper family relocation of last fall.  My husband and I promised ourselves as soon as the house sold we would update our bicycle status.  (that sounded a little unusual as I typed it---you'll just have to forgive us for our  skewed priorities :)  Anyway, the house sold,  Cooper the younger, who was closing out his high school employee status at the local bike shop encouraged his bosses to give us a good deal  :)  (thanks Bikes, Boards, and Blades!) and we now ride the trails with an increased level of dexterity and finesse!  My old bike, an ancient Schwinn, had been dubbed by the family as, you guessed it, "the library bike"  It had this cool little metal rack on the back, perfect for ferrying library books to and from, as well as fetching home the occasional bag of groceries.  But I've already told you, the younger Cooper spent his high school moments working at a very cool bike shop---so it was a little upsetting to him to have his mom riding around town on a creature as decrepit as the library bike.  As soon as the new bikes cleared the threshold of the driveway, the library bike went out the back--I would love to say we donated it to a worthy cause---but truely there was no worthy cause that wanted it. 

Hey, we are finally back to my original question almost!  The person in this painting needed a bicycle, or was it this bicycle needed a person?  I don't really know which came first here.  What I do know is that not just any old bike would do---it had to have a little bit of personality too.  While the new bike is lovely, it does not have a rusty old rack on the back, and it's streamlined self was at odds with the composition here. 

People look at my paintings and ask if I paint from memory.  I always tell them no.  I love having the actual subject in front of me as I paint, but if not that, then a photo.  But I needed the library bike, so today I painted from memory.  It gets a little tricky when it comes down to suggesting bicycle spokes.  Logic says you stretch wires from the rim to the hub, right?  Au contraire.  There are many and numerous patterns that spokes are arranged in.  (insider info!)  I know they cross at various places, so what's a painter to do?  I faked it.  And really, why would I want to paint each and every spoke with exact precision anyway?  That's not what it's about.  And with faking it--you get the idea, right? 

Maybe instead of "faking it" I should use "suggestion"?  And we can stretch that concept even further---the whole canvas is really just paint arranged in a way to suggest an idea.  Paint on canvas to trick your eye to make you think about a person sitting in front of the library with her bike.  Wow.  I am so deceiving.  And it gets worse.  The library bike was green.  Dark, homely, green.  Surely you'll forgive me for faking that, right?  This person, and the composition really wanted a red bike.  Have a lovely day.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.

Flipflops, sunglasses, cool beverages, cutoff shorts, beach sand, sunny days, vacation time.....feel free to add you own personal favorites.

  Gossip With A Glass Of Wine, an acrylic painting original on a wonderful little 12 x 12 inch canvas, as seen outside the Wine Bar, Arnolds Park, Iowa, on one fine afternoon last summer.  (portfolio)  I do believe this painting carries through with that flipflops, tank tops, cool beverage theme quite well :)     

  Strawberry Smoothie, an acrylic painting original on a slightly larger but still wonderful 24 x 24 inch canvas.  This painting talks strawberry smoothie, and of course, what better cool summer beverage?   Flags fluttering in the warm breeze...   (portfolio)

  Summer Loop, also a delightful little 12 x 12 inch canvas, colored up with acrylic paint, comes complete with two of those slushy drinks you get at the little stand on the Loop.  Loop, for anyone needing Arnolds Park (Iowa) nomenclature, is that delightful little stretch of lake front off Okoboji, where summer vacation rules. (portfolio)

  Lazy Afternoon, also acrylic paint, also on canvas, this one a little larger at 20 x 30 inches.  But the good summer memories are here.  Sharing a conversation, a dock, a couple of Coronas, and a lazy summer afternoon. (portfolio)

  No Worries, this canvas is a lovely 16 x 24 inches.  While I suppose "no worries" could refer to the physicalities of the painting, I was really referring to the folks in the painting.  They are at that place we all want to be---relaxed, with a good book, summer sun shining down, no worries.  My husband suggested that they probably had a couple of coronas at hand also---I must have missed that part of the scene :)  (portfolio)

Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa, on a blizzard pending day.  At least that's what they're telling us.  The US Highway 30 "corridor"  is supposedly the target.  Like, how can they they pin it down that close?  And does it matter that my house is 10 blocks off of highway 30?  And no, that's not what the title of this post is about.  Time Out, No, Really.  

So, a couple days ago, I wrote about artist's 'crutches', and I suppose there were at least a few of you out there who mentally said "she should have included photo references".  Yup, I am well aware that the painting goes better when you paint from the real instead of a photo.  But.  I have this affliction/syndrome where the scene usually just doesn't inspire me unless it includes people.  And most of those people are disinclined to staying in one place long enough for me to paint them.  Every now and then, I get a 'life drawing model' opportunity, but the random corner cafe people are just too mobile.  So regarding time, and photo references, is there a statute of limitations on the viability of a photo?  :) 

Here's one I've been saving for a while.  Time Out.  Did you catch the sign?  :)  What a golden photo opportunity, right?  So glad I caught it. 

 

And here's the block in.

  I know, I know, it's just barely recognizable.  It'll come.  And for those of you wondering what happened to the kids on the scrambler, from yesterday's post---they, too, are a little closer to living on the canvas.  Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, again, this December 28th-day in Jefferson, Iowa.  This morning's post alluded to my neighbor possibly walking the dog.  It's a non-definitive siting, because of massive snow banks, big enough to hide a dog.  But hey, the leash was leaning ahead of the neighbor in such a way as to indicate there had to be a dog in there somewhere pulling it out taut like that.  Anyway.  I thought about the idea of walking the dog, and decided I liked it enough to paint it. 

Here is where I had to start editing.  How can you possibly paint "a dog walking" if you can't see the dog?  Fortunately, the same neighbor, and her dog, are regular walkers.  And the little HP camera recorded them earlier this fall BSC (before the snow came)  Plus, they look much happier in my painting than they did in the snow :)  See?

   Crisp Fall Morning Dog Walk, acrylic painting on a perfect little 12 x 12 inch canvas, available in my portfolio, of course.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio.  I am here, post-blog-vacation, to let you know that I survived the most recent, albeit self-imposed, whirlwind.

The finale of the art show season is almost always the University of Iowa Thieves Art Market.  This year was not an exception.  I had a painting that needed to be done.......  You get the picture.

But!  It was so very worth it.  A wealth of patrons with lovely complementary words, as well as patrons with Visa cards.  Who could ask for a better season end?  Thank you Iowa Cityians, one and all.

As for the painting that caused me to be AWOL from writing here, you ask?  It's varnish dried just in time for it to make the trip to Iowa City, AND it found a family in Iowa City as well!  I love when that happens.

The bad news is the good camera was at college on the only possible afternoon for a photo-shoot.  We tried with the handy little HP, but results are minimal.  Bear with me, I'll post what little of the painting we captured, so you can at least get an idea of what I was working on so studiously:
 
  Curb Side Parking, an acrylic painting on canvas, measuring an ample 36 x 42 inches.  The main part of the image the HP messed up was of course, the value structure.  The shadowed area of the porch is really significantly darker with more violet.  The sidewalk area in the real painting is much lighter, and kind of salmon colored.  So I enlist you to use your imagination in that department.  And no worries anyway, it's new owners seem quite pleased :)  After all, they have the original!

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, on a rainy Jefferson, Iowa day.  We even had thunder during the night!  But the temperature remains ABOVE freezing, so yea for that!

Now.  About that title up there:  Fireworks, Or At Least Some Applause.  I am trying to give myself a good review here.  Is that even legal?  Better yet, who cares?  Way back in April of 2007, I ended up with some photos that I knew needed to develop into a painting, and yes, dated photos, so definitely April 2007.  Uh huh, it's taken that long.  So the next time you are at an art show and feel compelled to ask the question, "how long did that take you?", you are now prepared to soak in any sort of answer.  There are paintings out there that can be painted in a  day, and then there are those that take two and a half years. 

And as I write this, it just occurred to me that I have to go sign this one yet.  But it's photo-d, and logged into my inventory file.  So at long last, we are calling it complete.  I think I will go put on a pot of coffee, and celebrate a little.  This one makes me feel pretty successful.  Maybe I can even give myself a little applause :)

  Friend, acrylic painting on an impressive 40 x 40 inch canvas.  The exact trouble with a 40 x 40 inch canvas is that you need to see it in person, the real painting, not just an image on your computer screen.  Yes, I think it's impressive on the computer screen, but you should see it in person. Dare I say, that you would have to stop for a while in front of this one.  Hey wait, some of you can do that!  I am planning on having this one at exhibit at the University Of Iowa Thieves Market, during the weekend of December 5th and 6th.  University of Iowa Memorial Union, in Iowa City, Iowa.

Later, Cooper

 

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio where the question du jour is "How long did that take you?" 

And it IS the number two question on the list of top ten questions people ask painters, you know.  I am not positive, but I think the general public wants to assume that the smaller the canvas, the less time it takes to paint it.  Poor disillusioned souls.  They are ever so erroneous in that assumption.

My theory on canvas size is that unless you don't have much to say, and therefore paint, you need a big canvas.  I always seem to have plenty to say, which makes thinking on the small canvas a tough job. 

However, I have a healthy respect for people who prefer to hang a smaller canvas in their space.  And so every now and then I throw abandon to the wind and go for the small canvas.  This time the "nice young men in their clean white coats" were coming for me, I'm pretty sure :) but I signed the painting just in time, so no worries.  I continue to paint on!  Here's today's efforts: (and yesterday's, and the day before's....)

   I Can Appreciate That, an acrylic painting on a wonderful little 12 x 12 inch canvas.  In my portfolio, but not yet varnished.  We'll get to that, I promise!  Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome back to the Cooper studio.  So the afternoon is winding down, and it's time to head towards my life drawing class.  First, would you like to see what I played with this afternoon?  It was still-life-day again.  Now that I look at it photo-d, it might need just a bit of adjustment, but here's the photo anyway.

   Window Ledge Still Life 11 11 09, an acrylic painting on paper.  Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa, where we are being blessed with another gorgeous autumn day.

Some of you may be wondering about the title of this post, Lean It On The Wall.  Actually, I consider "leaning it on the wall" to be an integral part of the bag of tricks available to me, as a painter.

I find it helpful in any case, and essential  in the case where the painting is on a larger canvas.

Take the current easel occupant, for instance.  It's a 40 x 40 inch canvas.  I have been planning it since April of 2007, drawing it in various situations since then, and finally putting it's paint on it's canvas, starting about 2 weeks ago.  (Should I apologize about that April 2007 date?  You're right, but some things just take a little longer than others.)   But you get the picture---I can see this one in my sleep.  When you know something that well, I think it's easy to "visually read" between the lines.  Did I put that line in right, or did I just think I did?  Surely that little dark place behind her arm is dark enough, or wait---is it?  Have I just made it darker so many times that my mind won't even consider that it's not dark enough?

So, today, it gets to hop down off the easel, and find a bare space of wall to lean on.  I know other artists who turn their paintings to face the wall, possibly out-of-sight-out-of-mind for a while?  I prefer that they look at me, and I look at them.  Every now and then catching something from a different angle will suggest an additional brush stroke. 

I suppose I should share a photo of it's progress to date, oh, and it had a title way back when the idea first happened in 2007.  It's Friend.



That's it for now, we'll see what transpires as it leans on the wall for a few days.  Thanks for stopping by!

Later, Cooper 

Ps:  post scripts may be written in red, surely?  I had occasion to read back through some of my notes about this painting---apparently it consumed my thought processes in that space of time.  Just letting you know, others have voted yes on the whole timeline, including the outcome.  The painting has been selected for Galex 44, and will be hanging in said exhibit beginning 3/13/2010 for about a month.

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio in Jefferson, Iowa.

Booth slide, bah humbug!  There are at least 1300 of you out there who are fully aware that Saturday, October 31st,  was the deadline to submit your application for the Des Moines Art Festival 2010.  And as all 1300ish of us are also fully aware, the folks in charge in Des Moines require the dreaded booth slide.  And what self respecting Iowa artist does not jump right in there with yet another application?

Woe is me.  My booth slide was aged two years, which in other words means two years too old.  I am nothing if not brave, so I got out the push broom and cleared the driveway of leaves.  I pulled the canopy back up the basement stairs from where I thought I had stored it away for the winter.  The pro panel bags are just as heavy, and there are four of them.  Once they are arranged to perfection, I selected the perfect paintings for a booth slide, and added them to the most perfect display ever.   I added the booth slide to the images of my paintings and sent the Des Moines Art Festival folk my BEST APPLICATION EVER!  I do bear that liability of an Iowa address, but otherwise, it was perfect!  (yes, you have to be from Iowa to get that joke)

I breathed a sigh of relief.  Done.  Finished.  Now, totally prepared to point, click and send for all the rest of the shows I intend to apply to for the year 2010. 

I opened up the next show file.  Aaargh!#*!  Another booth slide, and aaargh!#*! it's not the same!  They have different rules.  They don't play the game the same way.  They want a different angle on the booth slide.  Corner to corner, and if you use a mat bin at the show, you have to have it in your booth slide.  Your have to have four canopy weights (well, of course you do) and we'd better be able to see proof of it in your booth slide.  We won't love you if you don't do it our way.  Dios mio.  I am back to square one with the dreaded booth slide.  Yahda yahda, I'll probably survive.

How about some blog post color?  That should help us all feel better!  Here you go:

   Window Ledge Still Life 11 3 09, an acrylic painting original on paper.  And yup, it's already in my portfolio, even though I haven't cut the mat for it yet.  I promise to get that done pretty quick, ok?  Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa. 

Cooking, or dining out?  Dinner is in the crockpot, cooking, therefore, we're eating in tonight.  And it's smelling good, so I'm ok with that.  But I have a question for you:  is there something magical about "dining out"?  Going to a cafe or restaurant, enjoying a hopefully delightful meal, in a pleasant location, ---even if the food is rather ordinary, the pleasant location alone can still make you feel special. 

Obviously the people in today's painting have the pleasant location part under control.  And my husband and I dined at the same cafe recently and can vouch for the food quality, good barbecue :), so maybe this couple was having one of those leisurely meals that leaned toward being magical---

  A Table At Smokin Jakes, acrylic painting on canvas, 12 x 12 inches.  For those who need to know---Smokin Jakes, just up the hill from Lake Okoboji, in Arnolds Park, Iowa.  Yup, that would be just a couple blocks north of the Legend roller coaster :)

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio on a chilly (make that cold) fall day in Jefferson, Iowa.  But the leaves are certainly a whole bunch of great colors!  Wow!

Because today's post title includes the words "two pots of coffee", let's talk about the build-up effect.  The build-up effect has been a common topic of conversation at the Cooper house over the years.  It's factoring in again today, I do believe.  Maybe I should define the build-up effect for you---many think it's the principle of one thing leads to another that leads to another and to another.  No.  The build-up effect, in actuality, is many little things happening separately until you've got a mammoth pile-up of little things---you get a spark, and whoosh---SOMETHING will happen to get your attention.  THAT's the build-up effect.

So how's the build-up effect working in Jefferson, Iowa today, you ask?  It's climatological.  Autumn is here.  The weather folks ran the stats on last evening's newscast about what a cool (again, make that cold) autumn we've got going on here.  Apparently our daily highs are setting record lows.  The new programable thermostat is still in the package on the kitchen counter, and the century old thermostat that came with the house purchase is, well, unmanagable.  One little mark on the dial can take you all the way from roasting to really cold AND---here begins the build-up effect---needing a good hot cup of coffee to hang onto.  The sun seems to have vacated the town for the day.  Hot coffee is the perfect solution for that too.  Yup, I brewed my second pot on the day at about 11:30am. 

Ha!  And how does that affect the painting, you ask?  Two people sitting in an absolutely sun-drenched window, drinking coffee and engrossed in their books.  I thought the answer was obvious too.

   Sunny Window, Good Coffee, Serious Study, an acrylic painting on canvas, measuring a spritely 12 x 12 inches, and as always, available in my portfolio.  Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio on a stunning fall day in Jefferson, Iowa.  And regarding hay, no, really, there's none of that in the studio, although there does seem to be a fair collection of leaves falling off all the plants recently moved in from the patio.  But.   The deal is, the weather people were just doomandgloom on this morning's newscast.  They told us we'd better really enjoy today, because tomorrow, well---

Ok.  So I plopped a few bananas on the shelf by my studio window, roped in yet another geranium model and took advantage of the gorgeous sunshine that we supposedly won't get any of tomorrow.  In camera-retrospect, I could have punched the darks a little deeper to make the sunshine jump a little higher.  Ha!  Surely our next sunny day won't be that far off---I'll give it a try then.  For now, here's today's painting:

  Window Ledge Still Life 10 7 09,  acrylic painting on a nice little 16 x 20 paper.  Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio.

Let's wax poetic for a moment.  What is the perfect activity every American should partake of in the season of autumn?  Outdoors, crisp fall air, countryside, happy weekend----you get the picture.  An apple orchard.

When our kids were little and we lived along the Missouri River, our annual fall pilgrimage took us to "Small's Apple Orchard" at Mondamin, Iowa.  We always tried to mesh the trip with one to a state park called "Preparation Canyon" of Loes hills fame.  The interesting thing about "Preparation Canyon" was that we couldn't find it except for when we were lost.  Interesting, huh?  Good memories.

Now we are in central Iowa, at Jefferson, but that doesn't lessen the need for a trek to the apple orchard.  And we are in luck, a few miles west of Jefferson, just off US highway 30, is a perfect little apple orchard.  Deal's Orchard.  We picked a mixed bag---Empire, Jonathon and Golden Delicious.  Next weekend they are having their harvest festival.  We just might have to make an extra trip this year.

   Deal Apples, 15 x 15 inches, acrylic on paper, complete with a little camera glare.  That's what happens when you work past sundown an have to take the pic indoors.  Darn.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio.  Ha!  The resident blonde furball (as in golden retriever) is more alert than his normal senile self today.  We are having periodic episodes of lightning and thunder, causing him to lift his head up off the floor and look at me with question marks in his eyes.  I pat him on the head, and mumble something like "you're ok, go back to sleep" and he obliges.

And.  Not that lightning and thunder cause me bouts of fright (as in the pooch), I do believe it affects studio actions.  I painted another still life today.  Amazing.  There are other plausible reasons for this phenomenon.  The weather lady murmered the f word (frost) the other morning, and because I do enjoy wintering over geraniums, the keepers are now all indoors, many of them in the studio.  So ready models.  Another reason?  I started in a new life drawing class last night, where we are working strictly in charcoal.  Black and white, shades of grey.  NO COLOR.  Now if that's not enough to throw a person off stride, well, anyway!  Another reason?  Change of season, and dang beautiful geraniums.  They were fabulous out on the patio all summer long, and I didn't paint them once, until their very lives were threatened by Iowathermalflux.  (yeah, I made that word up, but I think it's pretty descriptive)

Ok, let's color up this post a bit:

   Window Ledge Still Life 10 1 09, an acrylic painting on paper, measuring a seasonally perfect 20 x 16 inches.  And of course, available in my portfolio.  Enjoy.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, where we are all packed to go to the Octagon Art Festival in Ames, Iowa, tomorrow, bright and early!

But.  That's not what this post is about.  Rather, I think I mentioned in the title something like "just left of tradition".  You might remember I have been thinking about parades lately,  probably due to a series of photos I took at Spencer, Iowa's Flagfest parade this past June, and the first painting resulting there of.  A parade, marching band complete, has to be one of America's best traditions.  Load one onto "Flagest" weekend, and what more can you ask for?

But have you ever seen a painting of such an event?  Let me guess, the "flagfest parade" in your painting had rosy cheeked, blue eyed babies with curly blond hair all tied up in pink ribbons, right?  I am pretty sure that's why I was so drawn to the sight of this family sitting across the street of the parade route from us.  Not your typically painted American family at the parade, but ever so much more interesting, in their determination to build on the age old tradition.

Thanks for stopping by.

Oh, I guess I'd better add the photo :)

   I Love A Parade, acrylic painting on a 30 x 30 inch gallery wrapped canvas, available in my portfolio, of course.  Don't you just hope that lots of paraders threw candy for the little girl to catch and that her bag got really full?!

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa, on the second day of fall.  Regarding fall, so far, so good :)

Today's daily paint again landed on the "parade" canvas.  I vaguely remember this parade that happened last June was kind of a slow one.  The Shriners in their silly cars did lots of rev'em up manuevers.  The politicians shaking hands along the parade route, lagged way behind their respective convertibles.  Heck, even the goof driving the Bikes, Boards and Blades truck down the parade route stopped in front of us for several minutes.  And he didn't even have any candy to throw at the kids!  (yes, it's legal for me to say that--the owners were of course riding the parade route on bikes, their employee (Cooper-the-younger) was driving the shop truck.)

Anyway, slow parade.  Even the painting of it is moving along pretty slowly.  There have been a few personal trials (did you know when you react to an antibiotic it can take 2-4 days for the itchy red rash to go away?)  (by the way, today is day 4, I still itch but it is getting better)  But.  I painted most of the day today, and it felt good.  And most of the paint landed where it was supposed to.  Sort of.  After dinner tonight, I came back out to the studio to "assess" and discovered that the window right next to the easel has a multitude of white splatter.  Darn.  Would you like to see where the painting is so far?

  It's got a ways to go yet.  Like what is that glaring white triangle doing right there on the dad's shoulder?  And the little girl really needs a face lift.  The background is mud.  Ha!  At least I won't be at a loss for what to do in the morning!  Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio.  So what about a parade?  Does it smack of the traditional for you? 

And what is it about a marching band that can bring tears to your eyes?  The good kind.  Happy tears.  Maybe I'm the only one with the problem?  Can't be.

Does it happen because of the history of the parade?  And has there ever been a good parade that doesn't have at least one marching band?  I am admittedly one of those people who has to wave back when someone on a float waves.  I clap for the flag corp, and I cheer for the band.  Yeah, and my eyes mist over too.  If it happens to be one of those parades where people throw candy for the kids to catch, I make sure I catch a couple, too.  I love a parade.  I know, that's been said before, and to music even.

In fact that music has been running through my head while I'm working out the current easel occupant.  Spencer, Iowa is host to Flagfest every June, and it comes with a very nice parade.  This past June we sat right across the street from the most interesting family.  I had the camera with me, of course, got multiple shots, and now they are coming together for a great painting.  I can already tell---sometimes you have to work with the canvas before it starts to feel right---no bragging---but this one felt right the moment I put the brush on it.

Nope, I don't have a photo of the canvas yet, but I have something to put you in the mood!  Isn't it grand?!



Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio.  Regarding yesterday's promise for an image about 10am---well, I'll bet it's 10am somewhere.  Just not in Jefferson, Iowa, as we speak.

But here's the work:

  We are temporarily calling it geranium study.  With my glasses off, it looks ready to sign, but I had to put my glasses on for the camera and decided otherwise :)

Regarding the (ahem) model, it's one of my sanity geraniums.  While we were still at Spencer, Iowa, wondering when the house was going to sell, and when the great relocation to Jefferson, Iowa, was going to happen, there were some dubious moments where I was ready (almost) to walk away from it all.  The alternative was to go out and pamper my pots of geraniums.  On really dubious days, I made a trip out to buy a new one for the collection :)  And when the time came, we moved the WHOLE collection.  They seem to like living in Jefferson, and there are multiple good windows in our new/old house where they can overwinter.  Have I mentioned we bought  a 1901 craftsmen bungalow?  It's a charmer and will be even more so once we get rid of the 70's vintage carpets!  Avocado and rusty gold shag---woohoo.

Later, Cooper

ps.  Tomorrow I am at Artapalooza in downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa.  Stop by if you are in town!

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio.  What a beautiful, and unusual day.  I painted a still life today.  Me, the person addicted to painting people, painted a still life.  Wow.  See, I told you it was an unusual day.  In reality, purists would disallow it as a still life.  It's a pot of geraniums that I cropped the view of pretty seriously.  I wanted to paint it at eye level so I actually put a shelf up by my easel, at just the right height for that.  And yes, the shelf does look a bit odd from a decorator point of view, but it's functional.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices :)

I couldn't quite go cold turkey.  I also started a little 12 x 12 canvas of a musician I saw earlier this summer.  Her swingy green dress is turning out to be red, so it should be fun :)

But the day got away from me, and it's already dark, and with that, the photo opportunity of today's work is gone.  We'll see if that can happen tomorrow.  Check back in at about 10am-ish.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio on a pleasant Iowa morning.  It's a wash-nature kind of morning, just enough of a little rain shower to rinse everything off.

Should I mention that all of that is per our new Jefferson, Iowa location?  And despite the chaos of moving company leftovers, I have been painting!  The first canvas that happened in the new studio, well, I'm not showing.  Something about an adjustment period apparently.  The second is not quite ready to sign, but I like it quite a lot, and it will definitely get that signature in the next few.

One interesting thing about the new studio is the audible proximity to the family room, where the morning news is still on.  Matt Lauer just gave valuable airtime to a discussion of Michelle Obama wearing shorts on their family vacation to the Grand Canyon.  Holy buckets.  EVERYBODY wears shorts to the Grand Canyon.  And wouldn't we all question her sanity if she wore a three piece suit there?  Give the poor woman a break.  Wow, political commentary direct from the Cooper studio, now there's a rarity :)

Hey, I'm so off subject, I almost forgot to add the painting image.  Here we go:

   As I think I already said, this is on a 12 x 12 inch canvas.  Give me one more day to contemplate, and then it will hopefully be in the portfolio, ready for the world :)

Later, Cooper
 

Greetings, welcome to the Cooper studio.  I'm concentrating, can't talk now, but here's what I'm working on:

  40 x 40 inch canvas, whew, what a workout this one is turning out to be!

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

And welcome to the Cooper studio on a beautiful July morning in Spencer, Iowa.

I have two paintings for you to enjoy this morning.  In no apparent order, here we go:

   Where Shall We Sit? (July 4th At The Park),  an acrylic painting on canvas, measuring 20 x 20 inches.  It is available in my portfolio, of course!

   Park Event, (Hurry, They're Starting!), also an acrylic painting on canvas, this one measuring a perfect 12 x 12 inches.  And for your continued viewing pleasure, available in my portfolio, as well.  Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio on a beautiful July Monday.  How beautiful you ask?  It is so nice out, that the canvases that needed primed had it happen out on the patio.  I love this kind of weather :)

Now about that impending signature.  The current easel occupant is getting close.  In fact, I thought we were there, UNTIL, I put the photo up on the computer screen in black and white.  Give me another half hour at the easel, like I said---just about there.



Later, Cooper