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Over-kill

by Cooper on 7/31/2010 8:54:46 AM1 Comment

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa. I have decided we are going to talk about over-kill this morning.

I double checked to make sure that was really the word I want to use---the "urban dictionary" told me this:

Overkill More than what is needed. In gross excess of what is reasonably expected. An excess of something beyond what is required or suitable for a given purpose. Originally applied to nuclear weaponry.

Now why on earth are we going there, you ask? Here are your answers to that question in random order. It's July. We woke to fog. My daughter is a pianist. I have been working on a painting of sun and shadow. Hmmmm... the plot thickens.

Let's start with the pianist. Said daughter is working on her doctorate in pedagogy/performance. She mentioned a remark her professor made. That you need to go for the 200% so that it "appears" like a solid 100%, because if you go for 100%, it will appear weak. People who hear a performance geared to 100% will think, "hmmm....did she really give it her all?" Overkill seems to be a requirement in piano performance.

Now let's address "July" and "fog" in the same pararaph. Considering that it's Saturday, my husband made an early morning trip to a local pond to see if any fish were feeling friendly. I went for a morning run. We got back to the house about the same time, and simultanelously said "ewwwww". The air, both inside the house and out, was thick with stick. I've mentioned before, I am a fan of open windows and summer air, but something just seems wrong with fog in July. The husband said "we ARE turning on the air conitioner, period". It's on. But. We had to set the thermostat at 74 degrees to make it cycle. That's crazy overkill, but at least I am not sticking to the keyboard as I write this. Overkill is necessary to make the air conditioner work.

And finally we get to the point about some art. Painting. Sun and shadow. If I give either the sun or the shadow just 100%, will it be a solid performance? If I don't set it out of the comfort zone, will it work? The painting is about people gathering at a coffee shop in a town by the lake, circa July. If the sun is not glaring with overkill, will people even notice that it's a sunny day? If I am reserved with my color application, will anybody "get it"? So overkill it is---white and cad yellow in the sunny places, ultramarine and violet in the shady places. Is there really yellow in the sidewalk in front of the coffee shop? No. And is the wall of the shop, back there in under the front porch, really violet/ultramarine? No. But revert back to the previous paragraph conclusion: overkill is necessary to make the thing work.

The camera died. No photo. You'll just have to trust me on this one. Update after a trip to some store that sells cameras. Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

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Just Like Riding A Bicycle

by Cooper on 7/29/2010 9:41:26 PMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa. Jefferson is a fortunate town. It just happens to be on the RaccoonRiverValley Bicycle Trail. http://raccoonrivervalleytrail.org It's one of those great trails that used to be a railroad line, that ran from DesMoines out to Jefferson. We made the ride down to the "Winkleman Switch" tonight, just a short jaunt but very enjoyable.

As we rode I was thinking about school starting again, and with that, the life drawing group I study with on campus at IowaStateUniversity. And THAT made me think about the old phrase "just like riding a bicycle". Surely my thought process is clearly visible? Let me explain. When people talk about a learned skill that's never forgotten, they say it's "just like riding a bicycle" meaning once you learn it, you've got it. You never forget it. You can ride a bicycle nonstop through your youth, take a ten year break, decide to start again, and get right back on and do it.

Now, what on earth does THAT have to do with art, you ask? Actually, I think art is the negative value for that old saying. The life drawing group I went to when we lived up north was a bit seasonal at times, various gaps in scheduling. We were always a little surprised when we got back on schedule and everyone had to whine a little bit about being rusty. It WASN'T "just like riding a bicycle" We found we could not immediately start right back in where we left off.

Dare I say that artists CAN'T share that phrase with bicycle riders? Do you really think you can paint/draw/create whatever for a year, stop for a while, and then start right back up where you left off? Maybe it depends on where you want to go with your art. If you are wanting it to grow and develop, I don't think it works to say it's "just like riding a bicycle". I would venture that continued growth requires nonstop practice.

Surely we need a bicycle painting here, don't you think?

Road Ride, acrylic painting on a 36 x 24 inch canvas.

Yes, this is an older painting of mine, but it is doubly appropriate for this blog post! Not only have we already talked about the phrase "just like riding a bicycle", but this is RAGBRAI http://ragbrai.com week in Iowa. 15,000 people riding their bicycles from the Missouri River on the western border of Iowa to the Mississippi River on the east. Road Ride is hanging at the Clear Lake Art Center currently, as Clear Lake was one of the "night camp" towns for this year's RAGBRAI. The painting, you ask? Painted the year RAGBRAI had a "night camp" in our previous hometown of Spencer, Iowa (2007) What a party. Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

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That Blog Post? (yawn)

by Cooper on 7/27/2010 9:33:10 PM1 Comment

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, in a sweltering Jefferson, Iowa. Normally I am a "throw open the windows and let the fresh air in" kind of person, but today is one of those days when there is none. So I had a little moment of concern about an hour ago, when the thermostat started inching it's way back up, even though the air condtioner was running full blast. I had done the bad thing: ran the dishwasher and the oven. I knew better, but raw zucchini bread isn't worth much, and the dishes have to get clean somehow and it takes hot water no matter which way. Anyway the subject of the day has nothing to do with any of that. Instead we need to talk about writing a blog post.

More specifically, Writing An Enjoyable And Readable Blog Post.

A newsletter came in the mail the other day. The real kind of mail, like a mailman with two feet, instead of the internet with a webhost. A group of kids had been to a youth retreat and some of them wrote brief notes of their adventures to publish in the church newsletter. So, good kids, good event, all good. I have to address writer of note #3 however. "Honey, your note was so stiff and dry, I could not for the life of me, bring myself to read the whole thing".

How many of us write our blog posts as good artists, good events, and then bore our readers to a point just this side of comatose? How many fair-weathered readers never get to the conclusion of our posting because it's just unbearable?

I found a handy little list of blog writing tips, that's a good place to start, eh? I picked out my favorites :)

1. TITLES ARE IMPORTANT!

Is it too much to ask that a title be informative, to the point AND clever? There seem to be a rash of blog posts lately written by members of that club that label all their paintings "untitled", however with their blog titles, it seems to be more a consensus of boring us to pieces. Quite possibly a post titled with the name of your most recent painting "Butterfly on Asclepias" will cause someone to send the blogging sheriff and his posse knocking at your door with a pair of handcuffs. Bear that in mind. A good title should pique our curiosity, shouldn't it?

2. Make Lists

Lists are easy to read, aren't they? See? You are reading one now.

3. Spices

Spices, yes, really. I am talking about the punctuation kind---you know, bold, italics, all-caps, that kind of spice. But think about the culinary kind of spice (since I knew you already were) What happens when you throw too much basil in that pasta sauce? (I know, I know, that's next to impossible, but try to imagine) It takes away the magic when you over-do. Surely you've heard the phrase "less is more"? Use those italics to give it some zing---it only takes a LITTLE.

4. Give Them A Pretty Picture

Do you remember going to the library when you were a little kid? Did you pick the books that didn't have any pictures? How about the ones that only had black and white pictures? Now, let's be honest here: we all love text that's accompanied by an enjoyable image. In fact, I still pick the books with nice pictures, Renoir, Morisot, Degas, to name a few :) Your readers are quite probably still kids at heart. They probably still like colorful pictures. Share one with them now and then. Look how easy it is:

Sidewalk Traffic, an acrylic painting on a spiffy little 20 x 24 inch canvas. Just off the easel and available in my portfolio.

5. Chop Off That Paragraph
Shorter paragraphs. Let me repeat that: SHORTER PARAGRAPHS! I read a lot of blogs. If someone writes a blog where the paragraph is so long it runs off both the top and the bottom of the screen, I give up. Is it human tendacy to think we'll never get to the end, if we can't see it? And if we think we'll never see the end, we start to be concerned about how much time this is taking, and can we really devote that much time to reading this person's thoughts? Shorter paragraphs. Please.

6,7,8...AllThatOtherStuff...10,11,12...

I suppose you are wondering where I put the paragraph about SEO, and the paragraph about linking, and I suppose there should have been mention here about vital content, and something about writing famously so everybody reads your blog post no matter what, but seriously, aren't there enough people out there telling you all of that? And right up at the top of this, I clued you in: I am after the enjoyable post. An informative, educational writing is only worth something if we enjoy it enough to stick with it. If you are like the kid who wrote that stiff little dried up paragraph in the church news letter, it really doesn't matter what vital content you include, because most of us won't make it all the way to the conclusion of your article. We'll have clicked away. So please, keep on sharing good information, but give it some life while you're at it. Make it a joy to read. Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

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Brag

by Cooper on 7/20/2010 9:04:46 AM1 Comment

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper Studio, Jefferson, Iowa. It's brag day. Even if I am a little behind schedule with it. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? How about this one:

I was at the Linn Creek Arts Festival this past weekend, and important people liked my work :) The photographer almost missed her, but you'll note the art center director holding the "envelope" at the lower right? Yeah, best of show ribbons are nice, the ones that come with "envelopes" are even nicer!

I am traveling again this weekend---Clear Lake Art Sail (Clear Lake, Iowa) A delightful little show in a park by a lake. You should come. Hours are 10am-4pm, Saturday, July 24th.

Time to go sling some paint around on a canvas. Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Cooper

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Wannabees

by Cooper on 7/13/2010 9:07:56 AM1 Comment

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa on a gorgeous Tuesday, July 13th.

I just read the latest "painter's keys" newsletter from Robert Genn. Most of it was about the age old problem of knowing when it's time to stop on a painting, how to avoid working a painting to death, literally and figuratively :)

The article included a statement that really stopped me:

"I find our world to be loaded and cocked with creator wannabees. We artists represent the last bastion of the hand of man."

I would love to sit down and have a cup of coffee and converse with Mr Genn about his thoughts given there. To me, the contrast between the wannabees and the creatives is especially stark.

I just returned home from KraslArtFair, St Joseph, Michigan. (yes, it's a wonderful event) Lately, at art fairs, I've noticed my work attracting more young people---maybe it's what I'm painting, or the way I'm painting, or is it the "creator wannabee" factor? Quite possibly it's the compilation of all three. Is it the next generation looking ahead and contrasting automated versus creative? I try to always encourage: practice, practice, practice, and never stop with the studying. I balance it with: it's hard work and you have to have the determination to persevere. And as they walk away romancing the life of an artist, I wonder which side of that contrast line between wannabees and creatives they will end up on?

Ok, so we'll rename today "philosophical Tuesday" :) but now it's time to go paint. Thanks for stopping by. Have a lovely day.

Later, Cooper

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Maps

by Cooper on 7/8/2010 8:34:54 AMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, on a SUNNY beautiful day, in Jefferson, Iowa.

There's probably minimal painting happening in the studio today, as it's time to pack again. This weekend I am showing my paintings at KraslArtFairOnTheBluff, in StJoseph, Michigan. If you feel the need to give yourself a treat, go there---there are not many spots on the map as beautiful and relaxing as the park overlooking LakeMichigan. There is a perfect hotel, The Boulevard Inn, right next to the park. I have plans for someday when there is a blizzard heading east from Nebraska: I will grab my husband, load us into the car, drive to that hotel (hopefully staying ahead of the storm) move into an upper floor room, and watch the storm come across the lake. I think it will be an exceptional sight. :)

Anyway, maps. When I travel to art fairs, I am pretty picky about maps. I learned quite a while ago that saving paper does not rate, when compared to having mapquest directions to my location printed off in LARGE ENOUGH TYPE to read sans glasses. Tollway traffic through Chicago does not approve of people stopping to read the fine print on their maps.

And then, maps of the art fair sort. Last summer there came an aha! moment. Prior, setting up my display at an art fair was a long drawn out process---which painting should hang where, what painting would fit into that long skinny space, which one would fit into that wide space, ooops, we didn't leave enough room for that one, better scoot it over 4 inches---you get the picture. The solution was so simple, I can't quite believe it took me years (literally) to see it.

I use a propanel display system as my exhibit walls at art fairs. I "hinged' together pieces of foam core that simulate the dimensions of my display system. Using the same scale, I print images of my paintings that are making the trip to the art fair. Do you know how much easier it is when, glass of iced tea in hand, I can sit at the kitchen counter and plan my exhibit? If I think "Smells Like Summer" looks better next to "Ped Mall DogWalk", but then change my mind and think I need to try "Elementary School Readers" all I have to do is move a couple little squares of paper. Surely I don't have to tell you how much easier THAT is than moving the actual paintings? And getting it right, when you know you've got people coming to see in just an hour or so?

Prior to the great aha moment that lead to the mapping system, I used to plan for a minimum of two hours to get everything organized for an exhibit. May I brag a little?---I now allow 40 minutes. For those of you who have not set up an art fair exhibit, I know, I know, that's only an hour and ten minutes difference. But. On the morning of an art fair, it's a BIG difference. May I share just a little more insight about that?

If I had a roadie who set it all up for me, so that I could waltz in last minute, it would be different, but usually, I am on my own, doing it all myself. People come to art fairs hoping for an enjoyable outing. If I am out of sorts due to a hectic setup, helping those people enjoy their outing is a dim possibility. By removing the chance of "hectic" from the setup routine, it gets my day off to a good start, where I can share with visitors about my paintings, and we can all enjoy the day.

The 49th Annual Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff happens on July 10th, 10-6, and July 11th, 10-5. If you want to see the booth map in action, you'll have to stop by exhibit #164 about 7am on July 10th. The good folks of Krasl, and Port 412 are serving breakfast for the artists and I plan to hang paintings before dining! :)

Later, Cooper

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I Photoed The Queen Yesterday

by Cooper on 7/2/2010 9:24:57 AMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper Studio, Jefferson, Iowa, where the day is so beautiful, I can hardly stand to be indoors. We'll fix that soon.

But first, about that title, I Photoed The Queen Yesterday, yes, really, I did. Let me explain. I've already told you about my exhibit of paintings at TheWineBarArtGallery in Arnolds Park, Iowa. Yesterday was the day to retrieve paintings from the exhibit that have not yet sold, as well as deliver a painting that will hopefully help raise funds for the Gull Point State Park in the Iowa Great Lakes. The weather was just as stunning yesterday---other than the painting "shuffle"---I had the rest of the day to enjoy in a pretty darned enjoyable place. And so I did.

When people see my paintings, I often get the question, "where do they come from?" I know part of the question is specific location, but just as often the question speaks to inspiration, and why I think what I see will become a painting. It would be okay to paint paintings of things I know would sell well, accepted popular subject matter. But when I'm out and about, looking at what's around me, that's not necessarily where my camera goes. If my husband is with me and the camera, he often asks "what on earth are you looking at with that thing?" :) Heck, I think we are talking about gut instinct here. I always figure it's a gamble worth taking and sharing.

And see, I really did photo the queen yesterday. Specifically the Queen II, but who's counting. I keep making jokes about painting the "Queen". Quite possibly there have been enough paintings of the "Queen" painted to lay a road clear across the state of Iowa. Hmmmm-----but maybe, just maybe---a cute little dog catching a drink from a paper cup, with the queen in the background-----yup, that would certainly have possibilites. Thanks for stopping by, and have a lovely day.

Later, Cooper

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