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acrylic painting 'Flower Shopping In Red' January 31st, 2008

by cooper on 1/31/2008 5:39:40 PMComment on this

Greetings,

So, regarding that sign all painters should have glued to their foreheads "Quit fussing with the dang thing' well, I think I felt it at just about the right time today. There are some really messy brushstrokes, especially down by her shoes, and I was contemplating doing some of that aforementioned fussing. I think I even had the paint on the brush, when I happened to glance over at the semicircle of books poised across the floor. It occurred to me to check and see what Berthe Morisot did on such occassions as these, and guess what? She left the messy strokes intact! And so I say "so be it"! And try to enjoy my messy brushstrokes, remembering that famous people made messy brushstrokes too :)

By the way, we're calling it 'Flower Shopping In Red'---just thought you'd like to know :)

Later, Cooper

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'flower shopping' acrylic painting on the project blog, 1-31-08

by cooper on 1/31/2008 8:33:48 AM1 Comment

Good morning!

This entry was scheduled for 1-30-08 rather than 1-31-08, and I have nothing but this moronic pile of electronics to blame. Well, maybe rather all the pesky school children who clog the circuits when the weather gets bad. Is that even possible? If not, then why can I always bank on turtle pace internet whenever there is an early out or cancellation of school?!

At any rate, the generically titled 'flower shopping' painting is yet progressing. Daughter Lindsey critiqued that the model apparently has 'cankles' (that lovely condition where your calves and ankles blend together making it impossible to determine when one stops and the other starts) Did she not read the part where I discussed the 'self portrait' aspect?! Oh well, she is the daughter getting ready to have twins (!!) and just got the prescription of 20 hours of every day horizontal. She is already concerned about brain-numbing, so I guess we will allow her opinionated critiques.

At any rate, here is yesterday's look at 'flower shopping' and then I am back to painting.

Later, Cooper

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January 29th, 2008 on the project blog, acrylic painting 'flower shopping'

by cooper on 1/29/2008 8:33:47 PM1 Comment

Greetings!

Welcome to the project blog. Once again the victim of frigid weather, I decided painting flowers would help me feel better. I saw a photo with a pose that I liked, which became a problem, because I was pretty sure the pose required a skirt and strappy shoes rather than jeans and wooly socks. So I cranked my happy ceramic heater up to full blast, put on the skirt and shoes long enough to block in the shapes, and from then on out the camera image is good enough! I was a ways into the painting before I remembered to click the camera, but there are four images here that describe the progression somewhat. I am doing a road trip tomorrow to deliver some paintings, (to Minnesota, as if I haven't had enough of the cold stuff in Iowa) and so I am not promising continued effort on this painting until Thursday. We'll see you then!

Later, Cooper

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Late Lunch At The Wharf, acrylic painting, January 25th, 2008

by cooper on 1/25/2008 5:28:44 PMComment on this

Greetings!

I actually have two images I wanted to upload for you, but one did not make it in front of the camera before dark. I have discovered my best photos happen in outdoor light. Bear in mind I am dealing with a little HP camera, and outdoor light---we finally warmed up to 18 degrees today. Enough of that story!

The wharf painting has a name, but no signature. However, considering yesterday's painting chronicle, we should probably call it done. Therefore, 'Late Lunch At The Wharf', 21 x 17 inches, acrylic painting on a heavy gessoed paper. Enjoy!

Later, Cooper

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Late Lunch At The Wharf, acrylic painting, January 25th, 2008

by cooper on 1/25/2008 5:25:39 PMComment on this

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project blog, January 24th, 2008, acrylic painting, wharf

by cooper on 1/24/2008 11:35:30 AM3 Comments

Hello everybody,

Welcome to the project blog on this arctic January 24th, 2008. I jumped right back into the wharf painting this morning. You know that rule that all painters have (should have) printed on their foreheads? Stop just before you think it's done! Let's see, what's my excuse this morning? Too much coffee? Forgetfullness? Having too much fun?

Ok, I will upload the photos and then go back to the studio and take out that splotch of yellow that was splotch too many :)

Later, Cooper

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daily painting on the project blog, January 23rd, 2008

by cooper on 1/23/2008 2:24:26 PMComment on this

Greetings!

Welcome to the project blog on this January 23rd, where NO ONE wants to go outside, not even the dog. The weather guys said we hit our high temp at noon---a perfectly obnoxious 6 degrees.

As you might have noted from previous blog entries, when this kind of weather strikes, I choose to put my paint and therefore my thought process in a happy (yes, my sanity checked out ok at last inspection) place, ---summer. This painting, of which I have three stages photo-ed for you already, has a temperature of approximately 87 degrees. Feels good, huh? :) I am working on a gessoed heavy paper that measures 17 x 21 inches. Because I have my wonderful ceramic heater in the studio, cranked way up, this painting is moving right along. I will keep you posted!

Later, Cooper

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apologies, January 17th, 2008, poppies painting on canvas

by cooper on 1/17/2008 3:54:51 PM1 Comment

Greetings,

There was lots of paint happening in the studio today, but not good paint. For those of you who have been watching the poppies painting, my apologies, but it's gone now. Yes, that would be called frustration-to-the-max in any studio. After I get back from Colorado, I will put a new piece of canvas on the stretcher and try again.

There was a forum topic recently on aboutpainting.com where people gave their views on reusing canvases. Many people wrote in that when they didn't like how a painting turned out, they just gessoed it over and started again, and then shared their various techniques for doing so. What they didn't mention was how the canvas is sagging from scraping, how it's 'pores' are all filled in, how there are bumps and bulges left from previous impasto, and more importantly how awful it is not to have that fresh canvas feel. The poppies started out on a nice fresh canvas, and it was a good start. I began to second-guess the composition on about day two, realigned things a bit, again on day three, and this morning painted over the entire bottom half of the painting. All of a sudden it became that reused canvas. The freshness was gone and I couldn't get back to that place where poppies are floating on long skinny stems in the summer sunshine.

So call me spoiled if you must, but a new canvas next week! Wow, I'm glad I'm in the habit of stretching my own!

Later, Cooper

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January 16th daily paint, poppies

by cooper on 1/16/2008 7:28:18 PMComment on this

Greetings,

Today, January 16th, on the project blog: let's just call it a painting makeover. A whole bunch of ultramarine blue paint disappeared. Tomorrow will probably see the rest of it go:) As I sat and waited for the image to upload, I looked at 'the real' and decided that mess of tangled up leaves and stems at the lower-left-center is in desperate need of help before I can make any more blossom decisions! But there are a couple of blossoms that are getting to the "I like'm stage"!

Later, Cooper

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January 15th at the project blog

by cooper on 1/15/2008 5:52:54 PMComment on this

Greetings!

Happy Tuesday January 15th to you! And welcome to today's rendition of the project blog. I have been having a great time reading one of my Christmas books, a wonderful Renoir thing, chock full of lovely, large, full-of-color images. And then last week I had the overwhelming compulsion to paint poppies ---yes, I know, it's the middle of winter. At any rate, the photo is less than spectacular, but when I look at the painting 'in the real' I am pampering myself with the idea that it's beginning to develop a bit of sparkle. And now that the newsletter has been unleashed on the world, maybe I can actually paint ALL DAY tomorrow!

Re: that newsletter: I composed, I finiggled, I tucked images into locations that no other artists with FineArtStudioOnline even know existed, I made text boxes within text boxes, I realigned, I scooched things over, and I promise you those are all good and valid newsletter terms. All of you people who are lucky subscribers to my email newsletter should have received the inaugural copy today. The copy that came to my email box was sans images, and had scrap HTML code, you know, the < > { } > ?//! garbage, all over the place. Padgett, whom I nominate to saint hood, the tech from the aforementioned web host, said 'hey, it looks okay from here' and then a good friend who was brave enough to subscribe, forwarded her copy to me. Praise the Lord, it looked stunning, at least in my book it did! But now, the big question is, if you are reading this and you also happen to be subscribed to my newsletter, which version did you get? ---the me-tearing-my-hair-out version, or the lovely copy that my friend Mary got? By the way, go get a copy of Petticoat Ranch---she's the author. (and I've got a link to her on my links list)

Okay, you are tired of reading, so here's the image of the day:

Later, Cooper

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poppies x two

by coope on 1/11/2008 5:16:40 PMComment on this

Greetings from the project blog, January 11, 2008,

This is going to be quick, here they are, we'll talk later! :)

Cooper

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by on 1/10/2008 9:55:58 AMComment on this

Good morning!

This is just a quick stop by the office before the daily paint starts flying.

I know a lot of artists read this, and I want to draw your attention to a new webzine for artists. It's located at http://createbetterpaintings.com I will confess to signing up several weeks ago, with the full intention of looking at the first issue and then sending back a 'sorry, no thanks' Guess what? I just got done doing the paypal thing to make the subscription official. Yup, it's a good one. You should go take a look.

Later, Cooper

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daily paint project blog, January 9th, 2008

by cooper on 1/9/2008 8:34:01 AMComment on this

Good morning,

Ok! The cafe scene is signed, hopefully the signature won't get painted over in one of those latent alternations:) Oh, and we're calling it 'Casual Dining'.

Later, Cooper

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new kid on the block

by cooper on 1/8/2008 9:06:51 AMComment on this

Good morning!

It's still early so no wet paint yet. But a quick mention, if you came here via the FineArtStudioOnline home page, you might have seen there a grouping of 'new artist's' websites. Among them is the website of an artist I met this past fall at Two Rivers Art Market in Des Moines, Iowa. Gin Lammert is a pastel artist and a fellow Iowan. I don't normally get 'stopped' by work as realistic as hers, but these paintings have 'the glow' ---you know, that magic something which works like a magnet and just pulls us in. You should stop by and see for yourself--she's at www.ginlammert.com

Later, Cooper

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daily paint project blog, January 7th, 2008

by cooper on 1/7/2008 4:38:02 PMComment on this

Greetings and happy Monday!

What a great January 7th it has been, and there is still some of it to do yet!
Today's daily paint still went on the cafe scene painting. The paint layers are getting numerous and thick, maybe it's time to finish up? :)

I think the lady in red probably needs some shoes yet, and the lady in blue wants a chin. But this project is getting close.

Later, Cooper

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daily paint, January 3rd, 2008---caucus day!

by cooper on 1/3/2008 5:13:58 PMComment on this

Greetings!

It's just about time to go caucus, like a good little Iowan:) That means unless I go for the night shift again, today's daily paint is pretty much spread. It doesn't feel like I made much progress, just lots of corrections. When I cleaned brushes I realized they were all small ones---not a good sign. Tommorrow will need to be a big brush day!

Later, Cooper

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January 3rd, 2008, daily paint progress

by cooper on 1/3/2008 8:57:55 AMComment on this

Good morning!
So I worked a 'night shift' last night and decided to record progress before it got all covered up by today's daily paint. Here it is:

Ok, now back to the studio.

Later, Cooper

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daily paint on the project blog, January 2nd, 2008

by cooper on 1/2/2008 5:12:28 PMComment on this

Greetings,

(I will make this machine behave, I will make this machine behave------) Ok, so attempt numero quatro. Welcome to the project blog. As I have tried so diligently to explain, and will not accept defeat in so doing (!!!) the daily paint for today landed on a painting started last week, of a cafe scene. Today's work focused on the lady in red, who had kind of a snooty gaze thing going for a while, but I persisted there as well, and I think we ended in a tie. There, that explains the current vagueness of gaze, right? At any rate, here it is for today January 2nd, 2008:

Later, Cooper

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