Two Great Photos

Hello,

Wow, you can't top my day! I am a brand spankin' new Gramma!

On this blog I like to write about things that make me paint paintings the way I do--well, they ought to get interesting now!

Twenty fingers, twenty toes, 9 lbs and 34 inches, divide by two! And here they are!

Liberty Jean and Mia Corrine, pretty cool, huh?

Later, Cooper

acrylic painting, life drawing and current work

Hi there!

Chemistry stress, twin grandbabies ready to enter the world, long days at the greenhouse. keys locked in cars, a dog that finally realized it's not as cold as it was and now wants to go for more frequent runs :), life drawing group that can't stay on schedule, just a few of my excuse for not posting regularly lately! But I have been painting, and the proof will be in the uploaded photos.

Our life drawing group has actually met twice in the last two weeks, which is a new record for this winter. Yes, we are supposed to meet every week, but there have been a few interferences!

The two images here are from life drawing from March 3rd, and March 11th. Neither is complete, but you may refer to paragraph one of this post for already mentioned excuses for my troubles with completed paintings lately!

Then I have another image of the large canvas that has been hanging out on my easel for about a month! Slowly but surely, I do believe I'm getting it where I want it! First, a detail photo, and

then the whole canvas:

Later, Cooper

acrylic painting, more of the 'Delta Force Reader'

Howdy!

So every roof line on the house is dripping, yea! It's cloudy, but it's melting, so I'm ok with that. We got home from church, and the air was so mellow that Ollie and I got a run in already!

Way back in January the Thursday night studio group had a model reading 'Delta Force' and several paintings have come from those sessions. This one:

I had earlier called done, but it wasn't signed, nor was it varnished. Maybe it won't ever be? :) At any rate, yesterday after we finished our day's work on the current remodel project, (ugh) I was shifting things around in the studio---you know how these things go---I ended up with this one back on the easel. It's got a real name now, I think when I get done posting this I'll go slap a signature on it! Another Chapter Of Delta Force Reader, 16 x 20 inches, acrylic on canvas. I'll put it up on my website as well, should it need to hang in your library!

Later, Cooper

acrylic painting, February 25th, 2008

Hello everybody!

It's a windy night in Spencer, Iowa! We started the day with husband-sliding-kind-of-ice. My spouse was supposed to leave for work at 5:30 this morning. I watched him head out the driveway and slide right across the street and into the snow bank on the other side. So he managed to get his vehicle back in the driveway and came back in the house. Aaaah, Monday. The ice was followed by snow. School said '2 hour late start' and then gave up and called the whole day. The snow stopped by mid afternoon, and I was still hoping for a slight chance to work with the Monday night life drawing group. After I was done at the greenhouse for the day, I buzzed north out of town to check the highway---yeah, the wind had decided to warp out to gale-force, and highway 71 was a white out. So, I cranked up my happy little ceramic heater in the studio and painted some more sunshine and warm breezes onto the street cafe scene painting that I have been working on. I have earlier photos posted on the project blog, and here's one that has tonight's work included.

Later, Cooper

acrylic painting

Howdy everybody!

Spring is trying to come, or maybe a few of us are trying to force it. ---Today I started working again at the garden center (Del's Garden Center, Spencer, Iowa) which means it is time to start planning your 2008 garden. Note that I said planning, not planting :) Isn't it crazy to think that all those beautiful little plants that you buy in early May need to get started now? We worked on things like spikes, ivy, springerii, etc today. It's a great fix for cabin fever, but it's also going to make me change my painting schedule a bit. I wonder if less time to spend at the easel made me put the paint on with more determination, or speed, or maybe even less caution? At any rate the evening's work is posted on the project blog tonight.

One painting note that is getting to be a frustration point: we had to cancel our Monday night life drawing group again. People are sick, the roads are covered with yucky-crappy icey stuff, and when that -4 degree temp and 30 mph wind hit me in the face, I cringe enough that my whole spine aches. Whew, listen to this painter whine! I'll be better tomorrow, I promise.

Later, Cooper

acrylic painting 'Picking Summer Flowers', February 15th, 2008

Greetings Everyone!

There's frost on the window this morning, the kind that has feathery little edges that radiate out from a center section that's impervious to vision. I am pretty sure it's illegal to say radiate and frost in the same sentence, especially when it's a minus 9 degrees that's causing it. Welcome to my town, Spencer, Iowa. I guess it encourages thinking warm thoughts?

Somewhere on this blog, or the other blog that I keep, I wrote a mission statement of giving the reader insight as to why painters do what they do. And then the 'artbizcoach' Alyson Stanfield has given the message in her newsletter, that artists need to write their purpose and vision statements as an aid to moving their careers forward. And then, being winter, and needing to drink more hot coffee--it's the build-up effect. Regarding all that, I am wondering if somewhere in what I have been pushing toward recently is my vison or purpose. I have always said I paint still lifes and people, that figures are more challenging, and when I need a breather from the challenge I paint a still life, because they're easy. So why have I given two of the three still lifes painted this year to the garbage guys? And I have a growing pile of figurative pieces? I have always been a people-watcher. [Now that will get you the remarks! "Too much eye contact, Cooper", "Mom, you're embarrassing", "That's annoying", "Quit staring", "How rude" --ok already!] But there is something fascinating about how people move their hands, their posture, a slight hesitation before they act---did I use the phrase build up effect already? :) Ok, now you are wanting me to stop and this post has been rather colorless to this point. So, how about an injection? I promised to do better with getting photos of this painting in the later stages, but I failed. The painting just wanted completion! Signed and named, here is the acrylic painting 'Picking Summer Flowers'. It measures a lovely 21 x 17 inches. It's an acrylic painting original on heavy gessoed paper. Can you see summer? :)

Later, Cooper

Acrylic painting on February 12th, 2008 At The Cooper Studio

Greetings everybody!

Winter is still here, and in utter defiance, I am still painting summer. 'Summer School Student' got parked a little too close to the easel, so when I started the day it was begging me for just a little more paint. I obliged. I like it even more.

On the project blog I confessed to photo amnesia (or something like that) Still feeling the inspiration from the Kevin Macpherson book, I am trying to start or 'block in' a new painting everyday. (note that the word finish is not included in that phrase) So I started blocking in a nice summery-flower-picking-kind of painting, and I just kept going. I suppose I should get the book back out to read and see if that's legal, huh? :) In regard to the project blog, the idea is to take photos at various stages to show the painting's progress, and from that point of view--oops. But sometimes when you are on a roll, eh, you know what I mean. But the flower-picking painting---it needs more paint, and I'll try to squeeze in a few extra photos tomorrow.

Later, Cooper

Cooper acrylic painting, 'Summer School Student', February 11th, 2008

Howdy everybody,

Yea, it's snowing again! You'll note I have decided to start operating under the Murphy's law pretext here, we'll see if it does any good. School closed at 1:30 today, the wind is blowing and now I need to decide if we should call off Monday night studio group. I am pretty sure we've cancelled more than we've met this winter---arrrgh. (summer's coming, summer's coming!)

Actually in a way, we are getting closer. Spencer is home to Northwest Iowa's premier nursery/garden center 'Del's Garden Center'. It's also a wonderful place at which to work, which I do during the springtime, and will start at again next week. I work in the annuals buildings where all things colorful happen!



And not to be slacking, I have a painting, quite likely finished, and ready to show you. It's got a name now: Summer School Student, it measures 17 x 21 inches, and is an acrylic painting on paper. It's chronicle of progress is logged in over at my project blog, so bop over there if you are curious as to it's stages. Otherwise, just stay here and enjoy!




Later, Cooper

hey! I almost forgot---guess what? I won a book and a gift certificate! My author friend Mary Connealy is part of a group called Seekers (http://seekerville.blogspot.com/ ) and so I apparently stuck a comment in the right place. Yea!

Book Review: Fill Your Paintings With Light And Color

Howdy!


Well folks, at 2:00 this afternoon, February 10th, it was a -6 degrees in Spencer, Iowa. Lovely. (yes, that's dripping with sarcasm, probably in icicle form) Let's get on to better things! In an earlier post, I promised to write about the three artists whose work I had just read/about. I had hoped for contrast but when I went back in a second time, I realized it would be comparing apples to green beans. (an apple fresh from the orchard, or just picked green beans, steamed lightly and topped with just a bit of butter---I show no partiality!)

But for now, let's talk about the Kevin Macpherson book. Speaking of good things to eat, first glance tell you this book is chock-full of eye candy! It starts with several pages given toward the 'well equipped painter' ---pretty regular list, but with the addition of a 'thick chisel pointed black marker' for sketching. Keeps the prep sketch big and simple. "If you use a pencil you may draw things instead of shapes" (guilty!)

The book includes great demos, example: Practicing Simplicity With Figure Studies "The big shapes. Do not think separate objects. The ear, face, and neck are all one interlocking shape" Must be a good place to jump right in with that aforementioned big black marker. He works through still life and landscape demos as well, eight total. Regarding the big shapes, he gives a clear example on page #55: "Thinking simply will build your painting quickly. Look at your subject and ask what one color choice best represents that mountain, tree or sky. Imagine you are cutting the shapes out of colored paper; this helps you to think big. If you also imagine you will be charged one hundred dollars for every piece of colored paper you use, you will be very selective."!

And don't forget the paintings---page after page of beautiful paintings to look at.

I tend to have a half circle of open books on the floor around my easel while I work. Sometimes they are there for inspiration, sometimes for problem solving, sometimes it's the eye candy thing and I'm hungry! I got this copy I read from the library, but am planning on ordering my own soon. I wonder what Macpherson would say if he knew he was joining my open book circle with Renoir and Morisot? Have a great day!

Later, Cooper

article from Worthington Globe: Northwest Iowa Artisans Road Trip

Greetings!

Today I have a copy of the Worthington Globe article on the A.R.T. exhibit for you. Tomorrow I have to sand walls---no you don't want to know more about that. We'll see if the current piece on the easel can get a few minutes of time as well :)

Later, Cooper

Iowa artists to show their stuff at Nobles County Art Center
BY BETH RICKERS DAILY GLOBE

WORTHINGTON — The next Northwest Iowa Artisans Road Trip won’t take place for eight months — Oct. 4-5 — but local residents can get a glimpse of what the event is all about at an exhibit opening Sunday. The Artisans Road Trip (A.R.T.) exhibit will open with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Nobles County Art Center, 407 12th St., Worthington. The exhibit features selected works by artists involved in A.R.T. A.R.T. is an annual tour of studios and galleries featuring more than 40 northwest Iowa artists representing seven counties. “A.R.T. invites you to travel Iowa’s scenic byways and back roads looking for one-of-a-kind art treasures,” explains the event’s Web site, http:// artisansroadtrip.com. “Artisans will offer a rare glimpse into creative processes as they demonstrate their craft in personal and unique workspaces.” One such artisan is Karen Cooper of Spencer, Iowa. Cooper moved to Spencer two years ago and participated in her first A.R.T. last October. “Not only do you meet people coming through for the Artisan Road Trip, but you get to network with a lot of artists who you wouldn’t get to meet otherwise,” she said about the experience. On Wednesday, Cooper served as courier for artisans from her area of northwest Iowa, toting their art to the Worthington gallery. In her “car pool of art,” she also brought four of her own works.

BRIAN KORTHALS/DAILY GLOBE Spencer, Iowa, artist Karen Cooper stands between two of her paintings that will be part of the Artisans Road Trip exhibit opening Sunday at the Nobles County Art Center in Worthington.



“I paint with acrylic, all on canvas,” she explained. “I use a gallery wrap-style canvas, so the edges are all finished — no need for a frame. I like strong color. When some people say ‘strong color,’ they mean a small spot of red in the middle. I really like red, so I use a lot of it.” Cooper works with a studio group of artists that meets regularly at the Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, Iowa, and they have models come in and sit for their sessions. “Whether it’s intentional or not, I’m really focusing on figures a lot lately,” she said. “I’m intrigued by all the different ways you can present them.” Other artists participating in the Worthington exhibit are: Dennis Dykema, Spirit Lake, Iowa, landscape paintings; Avis Davis, Spirit Lake, floral and abstract paintings; Hank Hall, Spirit Lake, pottery; William Lieb, Spirit Lake, metal, plastic and wood sculptures; Dan Ruf, Milford, Iowa, photographs; Sharon Sadusky, Jackson, paintings; Sue Biederman, Spencer, watercolor, pastel and pen and ink drawings; Judy Hemphill, Spencer, photographs; Barbara McGee, Peterson, Iowa, contemporary equine and Western art; Connie Hankens, glass sculptures. The exhibit will continue through February. Gallery hours are 2 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 372-8245.

BRIAN KORTHALS/DAILY GLOBE A sculpture by artist William Lieb is framed in front of a painting by Avis Davis, both of Spirit Lake, Iowa. The works will be featured in an exhibit opening Sunday at the Nobles County Art Center.

Daily Painting, February 5th, 2008, Acrylic Painting "Mums On The Table"

Howdy,

Welcome to my journal blog this February 5th, 2008. It's still winter today in Spencer, Iowa, but I am going to hold off the whining as the weather reports for southeast of here (Des Moines etc.) are growing ugly! But for the meantime, how about a still life painting of mums? Note the window with actual green stuff outside instead of the brown sticks that are currently masquerading outside my window as trees :)

acrylic painting 'Mums On The Table', 15 x 15 inches, acrylic on gessoed paper

I have been painting and reading about painting. What a combination, huh? I promised a few days ago to give you a written opinion of the then current book authored by Kevin Macpherson, but since have polished off an additional book by Gregg Kreutz, and a good magazine article on Margaret Dyer (from a new e-zine: www.createbetterpaintings.com) that will probably have to be included in that written opinion. It's kind of interesting to absorb three artist's 'rules of painting' in that small an amount of time. It would seem that when work from all three artists can appeal to one person (me), they are all well known artists, and they are all sharing their theories, that some of them would overlap, right? I am rereading to discover commenalities, but so far they are few!

On the project blog, I have several images of 'starts' or paintings with just the big shapes blocked in--yeah, one of the aforementioned authors recommends practicing that. One a day, was the presciption, ---kind of sounds like vitamins, and hopefully it will have a similar effect! Ok, time to get back to work.

Later, Cooper

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

Howdy,
Well the sun is pink on the horizon. I can see it through frost free windows, not because it warmed up today, but only because the office managed to catch a few rays at just the right angle!
Hey, we think flower shopping is finished. It has an official name: 'Flower Shopping In Red'. It's chronicle of coming to be is on the project blog.
When I am at the project blog and refering to the posts at this site I claim that this is the journal of why painters do what they do (meaning this painter). Today while standing at the easel, poised and ready to break a rule, I had one of those ah-hah moments. I decided it came as a result of the bad habit I have of spreading stuff in a circle on the floor around me and in true journeling form, look:









It's called creative mess! Ok, here is the real image: 'Flower Shopping In Red' Enjoy!
Later, Cooper

'flower shopping' painting, January 31st, 2008

Greetings!

Hey, the sun is shining on Spencer, Iowa this morning! Now, if I could just position it to melt the frost coating off the office windows! (summer's coming, summer's coming)

Yesterday I took a 'carpool' of art work to Worthington, Minnesota. The A.R.T. (northwest Iowa artist's road trip) group is having a show at the Nobles County art center. The art center is a nice space in the Worthington library building (407 12th street), with areas for rotating exhibits as well as a permanent collection. They seem to focus on local and regional art and have some really interesting pieces to look at. Also of note to those of you who reside in that area of the country, there is an opening reception this Sunday, February 3rd, from 2:00 - 4:00. So what a great opportunity: you can return your overdue library books and look at some interesting art all in one trip :)

This blog entry title alludes to painting and I have been at it more than recent posts would allow you to believe. The 'flower shopping' painting (not it's real name we assume) is becoming more interesting, despite it all. I have a Kevin Macpherson book home from the library, and when you contrast that with a Margaret Dyer tutorial from an online magazine, that I have now read at least ten times, well, yeah, despite it all. I am eager to go spread some more paint on this thing, so I will postpone telling you about the library influences, but not too long.

So, here's 'flower shopping' stage five. And I just realized this blog has no mention of stages one through four, oops. They are posted here. Time to go paint now!

Later, Cooper

Thursday night studio painting

Good morning!

So it's January 28th, that means Monday, and I've finally made it to a space to upload last Thursday's studio painting for you. We don't even want to think about what that means for this week's schedule :)

About the model, he had his right foot propped up on a milk crate, and for some reason, every time I put a bit of paint on it, it get's larger, which has created a rather bizarre look to the whole thing. Yes, I suppose it would help to actually paint the crate (and put a floor under the poor guy---what a novel concept, eh?) But I am actually feeling a bit bizarre myself this morning, so I believe this guy will get propped up in the corner of the studio so I can look at it now and then and be reminded that imperfection can sometimes be curiously interesting. Have a lovely day!

Later, Cooper

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

Hello everybody,

If you have been reading my weather whining, and watching the weather-results summer wharf painting, well then, I have an update for you.

The temperature warmed up to about 18 degrees today. The 15 degree-minimum-dog and I went out for a good, long walk. I wore the embarrassing snowmobile suit and it was almost too warm, amazing!

And the wharf painting has a name, but no signature yet. But if you bop over to the project blog, and read that chronicle of this painting, :) we are probably calling it done. So here it is, 'Late Lunch At The Wharf', acrylic painting on heavy gessoed paper, 21 x 17 inches.

Later, Cooper

Summer in the studio! acrylic painting, the wharf

Hello everybody!

If they choose one of those 'sister cities' for Spencer, Iowa, I'm pretty sure it will be up past the Arctic Circle. At noon, we were parked at 6 pathetic degrees and counting. Unfortunately, we are counting down. Who needs a northwest clipper when it's already 6 degrees?!

Bah humbug, I'm painting summer today. This painting is lolling at a lovely 87 degrees, yes! I will upload the most recent photo for you, but there are two more on the project blog as well.

Later, Cooper

daily paint, acrylic painting, January 21st, 2008

Howdy!

It's bloomin' cold in this town today! (Spencer, Iowa) I have a warm painting to show you, so hopefully that will help. I finished this (sort of) this morning, January 21st, 2008. It was started at open studio (Pearson Lakes Art Center) last Thursday night. It seemed like a good piece to begin on this morning as I have been paint-free for three days.

We had a great trip to Colorado. The Denver Museum of Art, a great little Greek restaurant, two questionable card games (Brent won both of them), but best of all, time with our Colorado kids. They have a new house, and it was nice to see them there---it's my THE MOM-hangup, where I always feel better if I can visualize them in their space:) And a very nice one it is, they even have a nifty little enclosed hot tub in the back yard. We opened the side doors so we could watch it snow while we mellowed in all that nice hot water:) Whoever dreamed up such a crazy concept was really a genius. Ok, here's the painting, acrylic painting on canvas, 16 x 20 inches, Studio Model Reading.

Later, Cooper

Painting

Hello everybody,

I just stopped by to let you know I am NOT in hibernation, although the temperature is Spencer, Iowa today would encourage that pastime. We are settled at a balmy 1 degree, and that's with the sun shining! Ollie and I tried to go for a run yesterday. Ten year old Golden Retrievers are only good to about 1o degrees, I've discovered. We only got about three blocks before his legs cramped and we had to mince our way back home. sigh (summer's coming, summer's coming)

On the painting front, if you want to bop over to my project blog, that will tell you the whole story, with photos, no less. In a nutshell, I spent the whole week on a canvas that last night was removed from the stretcher and put in the trash. Sorry, but sometimes these things happen. When your thinking and brush work in tandem, and one of them gets muddled---well, there you are. At any rate, the junior and I are flying to Longmont, via Denver this afternoon. We have not been to Brian and Lynn's (eldest son and daughterinlaw) for too long. Today is the day, but the bad news is Wayne can't go. I will take him out there this summer:)

Later, Cooper

new webzine for artists

Good morning,

I am stopping by the 'office machinery' quick before going in to paint. By the way, the view out my office windows this morning is stunning. As they are second floor windows, I see treetops and rooftops, and today they have a very gentle covering of fresh white snow. By now you know I could live quite well without the stuff, but today I am here to say that this edition is lovely!

First, I want to share that I am almost now permanently shaped like our office chair, as most of yesterday was spent working on my first 'artist newsletter'. It will be an email version, and if you'd like to see a copy, add yourself to the email subscribers on my website. Easy to do, just click on the 'email newsletter' on the front page menu.

Second, I want to bring your attention to a new webzine for artists. It's located at http://createbetterpaintings.com/ . I will confess to seeing the advance notice several weeks ago, putting my name in, and telling myself I can always cancel after seeing the first edition. So guess what, I just visited paypal to make the subscription official. I was extremely pleased with the first issue. Five featured artists include Mary Alice Brackman, Margaret Dyer, Susan Lyon, Misty Martin, and Robert Moore, including tutorials-yes! A person could spend a lot of time there! I recommend you stop by to see it.

Ok, time to go spread some paint around!

Later, Cooper

daily paint, January 9th, 2008, cafe scene painting 'Casual Dining'

Greetings,

January 9th, 2008 is a cool one in Spencer, Iowa. The weather guys told me 19 degrees this morning, but we're headed for summer, right?!

I signed the cafe scene painting, and it has a name as well. 'Casual Dining' It's 15 x 15 inches, an acrylic painting on heavy gessoed paper. And here (hopefully) is the link to it's beginning look.

Later, Cooper

I've added it to my website as well, available there with paypal.

http://karencooperpaintings.com/

life drawing group

Good morning and happy Tuesday to you!

I decided to stop by quick before heading in to paint. Our life drawing group met at studio last night after a month long hiatus. It was good to see painting friends again, and we had a good session of work as well. We work for about two hours, with the time normally broken into segments of quick gesture drawings (one or two minutes on each pose), a couple of poses held slightly longer (five or ten minutes) and then the remainder of the session is spent on one long pose. The gesture drawings are designed to loosen up and focus, but ironically, they sometimes turn out better than the long pose. Last night was one of those nights:) Here are a two minute and a ten minute, ----the long pose has already been 'gifted' to the garbage man!

Now it's time to go sling some daily paint.

Later, Cooper

daily paint, January 7th, 2008

Hello!

Happy Monday! Our painting group is actually going to paint tonight, yea! We basically took off the month of December, which seemed like a long time. One of our group who has been out with nasty health issues, is feeling well enough today to try for at least part of a session's work. That is really good news for all of us!

Today's daily paint still went to the cafe scene, but it's beginning to feel like the home stretch. We will see what tomorrow brings.

Later, Cooper

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

Greetings all!

So Iowa gets to set the country straight tonight :) Yeah, right. I am planning on being a good little Iowan and doing the caucus thing. My caucusing will be of the preventative nature, and that will be enough said about that, however, you may read between the lines if you wish:)

The weather did abate slightly today. Ollie and I again waited till midafternoon to get out, but instead of the ugly snowmobile suit, I wore running shoes. Yea! Actually they are one of the sizes of soccer cleats that Brent wore for about one season before outgrowing, so I adopted them. Hey, he didn't wear them long enough to do any major damage to them, and they do well on snow/slush.

I painted all day today but didn't get far. And I'm already annoyed with a couple things that will need fixed right away in the morning. Why is it I see things like that better after they've been photo'd and onto the screen? Sheesh.


Later, Cooper

daily paint, January 2nd, 2008

Hey there,

So do we suppose it's going to warm up any time soon? Ollie and I timed our 'daily' for the warmest hour we could find, but that wasn't much. The resident 16 year old is embarrassed when THE MOM wears the old snowmobile suit to walk the dog, but hey, today I valued warmth over the fashion sensabilities of a high school junior:) We are talking minus 4 degrees in Spencer, Iowa today folks.



We are trying to get back on schedule, and tomorrow Brent heads back to school, so I should be interruption-free! I managed to squeeze some painting time in anyway. Today's daily paint was spread on and about a painting started last week. The lady in red was 'a bit snooty of gaze' today, so it absorbed quite a bit of time to 'find her' in a better mood. (yes, those are all valid art terms) Okay, and now uploading today's view:

Later, Cooper

daily paint, December 31st, 2007,

Happy New Year's Eve!

It is a clear COLD one in Spencer, Iowa. The icicles hanging from the eave outside the office window are NOT melting.

So, I am aware that my last post promised you that I would be working on the cafe scene painting. We-eeee-ll, somehow I ended up getting involved in a project to remove seven layers of wallpaper, two of them painted, from the walls of a bedroom. Ugh. If you are ever in the mood to change your wallpapered walls, strip the old stuff off FIRST! That will insure that whoever you someday sell your house to, will not be speaking of you as we are of the previous owners of our house:) The good news is, about one more good work day should complete the nasty task.

Needing a break from the aforementioned task, I spent the afternoon in the studio. Surprisingly, it was not the cafe scene that jumped up on the easel, it was the park painting that I had started many days ago. Here is a first look at the start of the painting, and now to upload today's daily paint: 'Spread A Quilt On The Grass'

Later, Cooper

Daily paint, December 27th, 2007

Greetings!

I am looking out the office windows at icicles that are very likely four feet long. And I suppose I should say that's a guess, because I can't see the top or bottom of most of them! Winter, Spencer, Iowa style! And we have had fog! I don't think that is traditional northwest Iowa winter, but it certainly is beautiful when it freezes on the trees!

I have a 'daily paint' image for you this morning, but it is actually yesterday's episode. I am going to preface it with excuses :) It's the span of time between Christmas and New Year's where everything is off schedule. My husband did not go to work on Monday morning, he went on Wednesday. Our University of Iowa daughter is here and she is facilitating a jigsaw puzzle marathon. Is it possible to take every Charles Wysocki puzzle off the shelf and put it together again? Our high school junior just told me that leftover 'strawberry pretzel salad' is a nutritous breakfast! The rest of the kids are supposedly back in their proper places, but I imagine I should check in with them just to make sure!

At any rate, why don't we just go ahead and call this whole week a holiday? Yes, we need to go to the studio, office, barn, coal mine, etc. (wherever we regularly work) but when we get there it should be like free time---do whatever you want, put the 'mandatory' list of to-do away, and get out the 'wouldn't this be fun if I had the time' list. I think it's a concept worth thinking about, but I do agree that it would probably screw up the national economy big time.

So here's the daily paint from yesterday, and I'm sure you can tell that I was not working from the 'mandatory to-do list' We'll see how it goes today!

Later, Cooper

Daily paint, December 26th, 2007, journal

Good morning to you!

After a wonderful Christmas time, I am back and in catch-up mode! I just read the Alyson Stanfield newsletter at art biz blog where she suggested writing a list of 'things accomplished' this year. Wow, what an upper it is to do that! It is way too easy for signs of progress to get hidden under the to-do list of the day!

So a couple of hilights:

1. This blog! Started in February of last year, I've tried to keep it as a journaling blog, of which I am now glad. There's a lot of progress showing between 'shades of red' (the first entry) and now.
2. Teaching a class--whew, talking about leaving your comfort zone! True, it was team-teaching, two pros and me---the rookie, but it was successful.
3. Two friends, from a studio group that I paint with, and I had a showing of our work from that group. I have shown my work before, but there was a special feeling of accomplishment with this show. In part, I think it was due to a sense of committment to progress in painting figurative work.
4. A commission completed that also took me way out of my comfort zone. I stuggled with doubt up until about the last month of work, and then it took on it's own life and just happened. I was thrilled with how it looked hung in it's place!
5. I have a website! Yeah, me, a website! And the fact that I now know how to hyperlink to it also is kind of amazing to me:) Start up was in April, and first painting sold was July. Aah, progress!
6. And while #1-5 are all signs of progress that made me feel good to put on this list, number 6 is the biggest. I look at paintings done a year ago, and paintings just recently completed and I see progress. And so, back to the studio I go, because something tells me it needs to continue.

Later, Cooper

painted late 2006, One Red Zinnia:

painted late in 2007, 'Reading In A Red Dress'

daily paint, secrets, December 18th, 2007

Howdy!

Yes, I have been painting today, but it's a secret so no, you can't see it. After all, Christmas is just a few days off.

However, as I spent a good share of the morning threatening this pile of electronics with the end of it's life, I will show you what came of that. The worst part is, all the pieces were shipped to me by the host, I just had to make them save and print correctly---it's a long story--how about you just read the results:

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You Are Invited To A House Concert!



Beethoven, Chopin and a Little Bit of
Jazz

Pianist, Abbie Cooper




Abbie Cooper began studying piano in 2nd grade in a little town in Nebraska. After her family moved to Iowa, she began accompanying as a junior high student at West Lyon and continued throughout high school where she was involved in everything in the music department from band to choir to high school musicals. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Music Education with emphasis in piano and voice at Wartburg College where she studied with Dr. Ted Reuter. She also was a member of Castle Singers, a vocal jazz ensemble, and toured the US and Australia with this group. After graduating, Abbie moved to Orange County, CA, where she taught private and small group voice and piano classes and served as staff accompanist at Vanguard University. In 2006, she completed her Master's degree in piano performance at Azusa Pacific University where she studied with Dr. Robert Sage. One year later, Abbie is back in the Midwest and working towards her Doctoral degree in piano pedagogy and performance at The University of Iowa. Her favorite composers include Brahms and Albeniz.


Date: Sunday January 6th 4pm (doors open at 3:30)

Place: Robert & Lynn Swan’s, 3181 310th Ave. Dickens, IA (From Spencer’s South “T”, 9 mi. East, 4 mi. North on N 14

Coffee, cider and snacks provided, feel free to bring a beverage of your choice and a snack to share.

Suggested donation, $10-$15 which goes entirely to the artist

Please R.S.V.P. http://us.f637.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=swanbl@ruthventel.com or 712-837-4381

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Yeah, just a little braggin' going on here:)

Later, Cooper

daily paint, December 13th, 2007

Hello there!

Well, 4 1/2 hours later, we determined Brent (the resident 16 year old) did NOT rupture his spleen OR crack a rib, but I don't think he will be snowboarding for at least 24 hours. Sigh. I suppose I'll have to sell about five paintings to pay for that trip:(

At any rate, as promised here's the finished (?) cleaned up version of the recent canvas which we have decided to call 'Boogie Board Instruction'. As the temperature is supposed to drop to 3 degrees in Spencer tonight, I think it will be quite pleasant to gaze at.

Also a quick peek at what just hopped up onto the easel, something like a castle, I think.

Ok, we will work on that one tomorrow. Right now, it's time to call it a day!

Later, Cooper

daily paint, December 12th, 2007

Hello!

We had another zinger temperature day in Spencer, Iowa, today. It's been one of those where I check the weather early morning trying to determine if Ollie and I want to walk/run early or wait until later. Even Ollie has been voting for later, and trust me there's no running, too much slick stuff. By the time I put on the snowmobile suit that embarasses the resident 16 year old, and a pair of really heavy Thinsulate boots, I've added enough weight and bulk to make me feel like a workout has been done!

I painted nice sunshine today. Yes, it had to come from a photo and a good memory:) Enjoy, and no you can't have it:) (that means NFS)

Tomorrow I will finish it up and post a nice image for you.

Later, Cooper

oh, and if you want to see how the painting started