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Dining Out And Other Pleasures

by on 6/29/2009 6:51:46 PMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio. It's been a productive afternoon. I mentioned a certain amount of rebellion at getting a gaggle of photos done and loaded? Ha! Done, present, and accounted for. Here we go:

Dining Out, acrylic painting original on an impressive 40 x 40 inch canvas, available in my portfolio.

Lost In Thought, acrylic painting original on a heavy paper, measuring a quiet little 16 x 20 inches. Also available in my portfolio. This painting happened at a life drawing session when the regular model was not able to be there. Isn't it great the way those things turn out? :)

Lunch On Iowa Avenue (Takanami), acrylic painting original on a perfect 12 x 12 inch canvas. Available in my portfolio. A sidewalk cafe group I "found" in Iowa City, Iowa :)

Park View, acrylic painting on canvas, measuring a great 12 x 12 inches. NOT available in my portfolio, this one already has a great home in Nebraska!

Pushing The Burley Across Campus, also an acrylic painting on canvas, this one measuring a lovely 12 x 12 inches. Available in my portfolio, I found these walkers in Iowa City, Iowa as well. And in case you're wondering, a burley is one of the baby things with oversized wheels that can either be pushed, or towed behind a bicycle. The link is a great shop to find one at---the baby trailer, not the baby :)

Surely that's enough color for this post. I have a few more to get done, mostly life drawing work, but we're calling it good for now.

Later, Cooper

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20 Hours And The Economy All In One Blog Post

by Cooper on 6/29/2009 2:41:22 PMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio.

Re: the 20 hour challenge. Has anyone else pushing for the 20 hour challenge come across any changes? Here's one I wasn't expecting---I seem to have moved into a stage of blogposting rebellion. I now have a good excuse to not get my photo-ing done and subsequent posts made, because of course, I have been painting.

I was at exhibiting at the Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Omaha, Nebraska, this past weekend, and promised many people that my website was current and that every painting I have ever painted is chronicled there. Upon returning home, and checking to make sure---oh, what a liar I am. I promise to put it 2nd from the top on the week's to-do list :).

And so, about that Omaha Summer Arts Festival. Are you sure we are in a recession? Or is it a media ploy to mess us all up? I am developing this theory that all it would take for economy to "turn around" is for the media to tell us it has. Or maybe they could just come out and say, "ooops, we made a mistake, sorry for all the trouble it might have caused you". I am fully aware of areas of the country that have taken monumental financial hits. At the same time I wonder how much those problems have been exacerbated by a media that took delight in telling us all how bad it was. But. The good news is, it appears that Omaha, Nebraska managed to exempt itself from the bad-news-department. And a good time was had by all at the Omaha Summer Arts Festival :)

Later, Cooper

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Lights And Darks

by Cooper on 6/16/2009 7:08:04 PM2 Comments

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio.

Six hours of studio time today, and 5 1/2 of them landed on the cafe scene canvas. So, darks and lights, why does it always take more darks than you think? I was even thinking I was getting close UNTIL I did the blackandwhite thing with my photo program. Oh dear. It's definitely back to the drawing board, err, I mean, easel, tomorrow.

Oh, and the other half hour? I started a new little 12 x 12 inch canvas. Some people from Iowa City, Iowa are getting painted :) It will be a fun one, I promise!

Later, Cooper

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Omaha Summer Arts Festival

by Cooper on 6/15/2009 8:02:20 AM1 Comment

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio.

The Omaha Summer Arts Festival is just around the corner, and fast approaching. In fact, let me give you the dates:

Friday, June 26th, 11am-8pm
Saturday June 27th, 11am-8pm

Sunday June 28th, 11am-5pm

And even more importantly, let me tell you where I'll be :)

I am artist/exhibitor #82, which means in front of the library, vaguely the intersection of 14th and Farnam, in downtown Omaha, Nebraska.

I have been fielding a few questions regarding which paintings I will be bringing :), and yes, as many as possible, but the trusty van does have it's limitations. If you have connected with a specific painting at my website and are needing to see it up close and personal, please let me know. I will make sure it has reserved accomodations for the trip!

Ok, the studio calls.

Later, Cooper

Don't you love it when the stupid machine thinks it knows what you want to do? I have tried three different ways to link the address into the above text----aargh. Here's the address for further info: www.SummerArts.org

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Same Old Question

by Cooper on 6/14/2009 12:22:32 PMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio.

I mentioned in a previous post a pair of library books that I am in the midst of. One is simply titled "Renoir", written by a gentleman named Walter Pach. Mr. Pach lived during the years of 1883-1958. I love connecting the dots. Pach lived 36 of the same years as Renoir, and 4 of the same years I have. Sometimes I think we consider some of the famous ones to be so remote time-wise, that they become an "inaccessible" of sorts. I love that I can read Pach's writing, words that were spoken to him by the person he was interviewing!

But. Back to the aforementioned purpose of this post. Same old question. And here it is: What is art? I wish I had a dollar for every person who knew, pretended they knew, or formulated an idea of a possibility of what the heck a good definition would be. Maybe I'd even share some of it with you :)

Walter Pach talked to Pierre Auguste Renoir about that same old question. Would you like to hear what he said?

"Nowadays they want to explain everything. But if they could explain a picture, it wouldn't be art. Shall I tell you what I think are the two qualities of art? It must be indescribable and it must be inimitable.... The work of art must seize upon you, wrap you up in itself, carry you away. It is the means by which the artist converys his passions: it is the current which he puts forth which sweeps you along in his passion."

Kind of gives you goosebumps, doesn't it?

Also kind of throws "painting to match the sofa" out the window, doesn't it? And those reproductions that are "more affordable and kind of remind you of the original"----nah-uh, I don't think they cut it either.

Ok, time to say "I'm outta' here".

Later, Cooper

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Two-Oh, Yes

by Cooper on 6/12/2009 7:09:48 PMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio on check-that-twenty-day. Two-Oh, twenty hours, hey, I had to go until 7:00 but I got'em in. Where did this week's twenty land? Life drawing on Wednesday night, several little pieces, maybe you'll get to see those later. But. Most of my time has been spent on the cafe scene. It's a 40 x 40 inch canvas, and I'd swear it's growing. I've got a really crummy photo for you, but it's time to go make food, so crummy photo will have to do. I promise you there's really a lot more color involved than the photo shows. Maybe next session the folks seated at the table can grow some legs. What a concept, eh? Stay tuned.

Later, Cooper

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Libraries, Good Ones

by Cooper on 6/11/2009 9:58:48 PMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio on a beautiful June evening in Spencer, Iowa.

On the previous post, I spoke of the pleasures :) of time spent in Iowa City, Iowa. This evening, let's add one more paragraph to that broad subject! Let's talk libraries. Some of you have heard me say that "when I get old and senile, and my kids take away my car keys for safety's sake, I want to live within walking distance of a really great library"!

---Could be that Iowa City should be on my list of target destinations. I currently live four-some hours distant from Iowa City, and I am a cardcarryingpatron of the Iowa City Public Library anyway. When I stopped by last weekend for an art book-fix, we discovered that my card needed "updating"--the last address they had for me was Brooklyn, Iowa, distance 50 miles. I held my breath and waited for the librarian to ask "where on earth is Spencer, and how far away is it" but I lucked out. She just blinked and typed it in.

Did I mention that I got two excellent books? Pierre-Auguste Renoir by Susan Rayfield and Renoir by Walter Pach. I am spending my sketching time working from images in the books, so see, there's another good reason.

However, I digress. I think I started this post with the intention of doing a top ten list of favorite libraries that have great collections of art books, but at this point, my list isn't that large. I can give you my top three, in no specific order :) Yes, the Iowa City Public Library makes the cut, and the second is even more distant, but equally amazing in their collection of art books. That would be the public library in Longmont, Colorado. I am fairly confident they both have art book collections that would keep me busy from here to eternity. Number three hails from Storm Lake, Iowa and is housed in the architectural finery of Buena Vista University. I recommend the "visitor" card at this fine facility, the (ahem) cost of getting a student card there is substantial :)

If you are an Iowegian (yes, that's slang for living in Iowa) do you know about the State Of Iowa Library Silo system? It's an interlibrary loan system, and a massive resource if you have just a little bit of patience. The above "Silo" link will get you to the catalog, and then your just take your findings to your local library and they order them in for you. Here's where it gets a little tricky though---some local libraries just order them in and some make you pay to order them in. Heavy sigh. My local library would be of the latter group.

And hey, do you want to know what I painted today? This is a painting blog you'll remember! I am working on a nice, big, outdoor cafe scene. It's got a ways to go. I am going to have to lock myself into the studio tomorrow. I am six hours shy of my 20 hour week!

Later, Cooper

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Yay For The Guy In The Golfcart

by on 6/8/2009 5:16:40 PMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio. Right out of the starting gate here, I need to tell you: I will never again hold a golfclub in my hand, nor will I ever stand next to a stupid little white ball laying on the grass wondering about hitting it with the aforementioned golfclub. There. Now you know I am talking about the CART portion of the word golfcart, not the golf portion.

On with the story. The 2009 Iowa City Arts Festival, Iowa City, Iowa, is now in the history books. Like all proper June art festivals, it involved a little rain. But let me tell you about Iowa City folk. They are of a sturdy strain.

When winter happens, they embrace it wholeheartedly. No where on earth will you find more fur-topped boots than Iowa City, Iowa in December. (we ignore the category Ugg) The scarves found there are incredible and amazing. Color, design, pattern, length----some of these critters wrap the neck three times and still skim those fur topped boots! I am trying to impress you with the absolute fact that they do not mince on weather preparedness.

Saturday's morning rain? Ha! That did not stop the good folk of Iowa City. What an amazing collection of umbrellas. I got a wonderful photo of a charming little girl in her pink rain coat, pink boots, and carrying her pink umbrella. Yes, of course she had beautiful blue eyes and perfect blond hair, what did you expect? I wish I had asked the mom for permission to use the photo here---sorry.

Do you suppose "recession" is a season? Ha! That "season" didn't stop Iowa City either. Amazing. I sent paintings along with happy patrons in the rain, and when the sun came out in the afternoon, I still dispersed paintings.

Then came word of the forecast. Darn. Overnight strong winds, potential heavy rain. Just what an owner of a imbecile EzUp wants to hear. Glutton for punishment that I am, I put it all in the car. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right? (And yes, a couple other (ahem) lucky EzUp owners had theirs blow over during the night)

Sunday dawns. I start flipping channels for the forecast du jour. Strong wind, heavy rain, possible hail. Lovely. Those weather guys, they were sure united, I'll give'em that. Except for the guy in the golfcart. Hey! It's the golfcart again! Finally were getting to the crux of the story!

Now let's review: EVERYTHING is packed safe and secure in the car. I've already logged in an excellent show. I don't need to risk setting everything back up, do I? I drive to the show, park the van in front of location #104, and drink my coffee. Here comes the guy in the golfcart. He has already proven himself to be an excellent show manager---calm, steady, in the right place at the right time, always has the information you need. He has covered a lot of miles in his golfcart. His information at 7:56amSunday was that the skies would be clearing, a sunny afternoon would be ours, the storms would hold off until after the show closed, probably start during the drive home.

Did I mention the guy in the golfcart had a very honest face? I set up my exhibit. I sold a painting. At 11:30am, I put on my sunglasses. I sold more paintings. I packed the car. I was all the way up highway 218, "the avenue of the saints", as far as Waterloo when the storm hit. I drove merrily on home. Yay for the guy in the golfcart.

Later, Cooper

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Add One More

by Cooper on 6/4/2009 10:25:00 AMComment on this

Greetings,

Again, welcome to the Cooper studio.

The camera is busy this morning, you may add one more:

It Happened Downtown, an acrylic painting on a marvelous 30 x 30 inch canvas. It, too, is available in my portfolio, or for your viewing pleasure at the Iowa City Arts Festival, in the downtown district of Iowa City, Iowa this weekend, June 6th and 7th! You will find me in exhibit #104 on Linn Street, just east and around the corner from Brueggers Bagels.

Later, Cooper

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Burning The Early Morning Oil

by Cooper on 6/4/2009 8:47:39 AMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio.

Burning the early morning oil. Ok, so I paint with acrylic paint. That's your clue that the aforementioned 'early morning oil' is of the figurative sort and refers to a stretching of the normal schedule.

But. With a few flicks (make that quite a few flicks) of the paint brush, I have a cool little painting to show you:

Ice Cream At Eleven? Perfect! is an acrylic painting on a perfect little 12 x 12 inch canvas. Available in my portfolio OR for your personal inspection/enjoyment at the Iowa City Arts Festival, downtown district of Iowa City, Iowa this weekend, June 6th and 7th!

Later, Cooper

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20something Hour Thoughts

by cooper on 6/2/2009 11:01:05 PMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio where the sun has set on a beautiful day. I got a grandly early start with the paint brush this morning. Fortunately. Because at 11:45 another real estate agent called, "could we possibly do a showing at 5?" But of course. That's what the sign in our front yard is there for.

So to the battle stations we went. Man the vacuums. Shake the rugs. Scrub the sinks. Turn on all the lamps. Put Olliver in the car. (yes, that would be the dog) I'm not going to give you my whole check list, I'm sure you already get the picture. Oh, and we have added 'hose down the patio' to the check list because somebody on HGTV said fresh, clean patios are desirable. The showing went well. We'd been back in the house for about ten minutes when another agent called for 10am Friday.

So now let's talk about the 20 hour painting challenge.

When our eldest was born, my husband and I made the decision to raise our kids ourselves, no day care. Back in the good old days, especially in Nebraska (!) that was called "being a homemaker". I don't believe the term "stay at home Mom" had been invented yet :) But Nebraska was starting to come of age. "Rural" Nebraska women were being convinced that they could do the career, and ironically most of them still claimed to be homemakers. I scoffed loudly at the claim whenever asked, because I knew there was no way any woman, no matter how superpowered, could do the eight hour a day career and still be "a homemaker". I always wanted to ask of one of these superwomen, "who's covering for you?" "Who is doing your "homemaking" while you are at the job, and who is doing your job while you are "homemaking?"

The 20 hour painting challenge is causing similiar thought patterns. I know many artists who say 20 hours is nothing--they brag of 60plus hours of studio time each week. So who's covering for you? Who is packing your van for the weekend art festival? Who put the stretchers together and stretched the canvas, and primed it? And if you don't believe in that, then who did the shopping for the ones that somebody else made for you? Who photographs your art and puts it on your website? Better yet, who organizes your website? I love that there are a few artists who have spouses that write their blog posts for them. Talk about covering---that's dedication!

I suppose I'm trying to point out that being unique individuals, we each have unique schedules to manage, with varying amounts of stuff on those schedules. Lori WoodwardSimons is the force behind the 20 hour challenge, and I appreciate that she is viewing it as a means of encouraging each other to do the best we can with those unique schedules. Ha! In between loading the van for the Iowa City Arts Festival, and prepping for a Friday AM house showing, I might be able to use a few schedule bolstering words.

I have a new little painting on a 12 inch canvas that I'd love to show you, but it's not photographed yet. Maybe I can squeeze that in before loading the van. Dios mio. Have a lovely evening.

Later, Cooper

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Piggyback

by on 6/1/2009 3:14:26 PMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio on a fine Monday.

A good painting session got this little canvas to a stage where it screamed "stop" at me. It was very definite. I looked at it sideways a couple of times, and upside down once, and amazingly, I went ahead and signed it. I am into a book about impressionism and several artists lack of finish. (which they were famous for so I guess that turns lack into bonus!) Maybe I read too late at night and it planted in my thoughts---at any rate, here it is:

Piggyback To The Park, acrylic painting on a great little 12 x 12 inch canvas. Available in my portfolio. Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

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