Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa.

I just sent two small wonders to the Small Wonders exhibit at Southwind Gallery in Topeka!

The guidelines for the exhibit are 12x12 inches or smaller, and $350 or less.

The small wonders I sent are in that ballpark!

 

 

Beach Cafe, Happy Hour.

8x8 inches oil on panel and a link to your great zoom view  (link)

 

 

Beach Cafe, Dusk.

8x8 inches oil on panel with your stellar zoom link here  (link)

 

Also of note, my entry to to MVIS exhibit (Missouri Valley Impressionist Society) which was hosted by Southwind Art Gallery, remains at Southwind for a little longer! You have yet more time to see it. In person. Which as we all know is the very best way to enjoy art.

 

 

Sunny Morning Plaza, Malaga.

28x35 inches oil on canvas and another zoom link  (link)

 

Later, Karen

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Greetings, 

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, and this edition to my Painting Of The Week column.

I have been talking to you about small daily paintings a LOT lately, no??!!

Okay. Yes, I have been having a lot of fun with them.

The combination of studying a person's features AND zooming in AND using my imagination is, well, just pretty captivating!

Yesterday's (3 30 2020) painting:

 

 

Conversing In Tarragona, oil on panel @ 5x7 inches  (click link to portfolio)

is a good explaining tool.

Here's one of my original photo references from that spot, as I was riding the city bus from Tarragona to Salou.

 

 

Zooming in. Yes, indeed. It's what people watchers do, you know. And I am really good at it!

I hope you are enjoying these small daily paintings as my brush translates the countenances of a few of the people we share this world with! 

Later, Karen

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, from where I am sending another quick note!

Aaaand this just in: One of the 'countenance explorations' paintings was just featured in a showcase of artists at Artsy Shark!

It's sure fun to feel special! 
Here's your link for the article:  (click link)

 

btw, I listened to a good sermon about looking for joy last Sunday. I realize it's all around me when I open my eyes. You should try it, too! It's quite the blessing.

 

Have a lovely day!

Later, Karen

 

and of course, you need the painting:

 

 

Hello. oil on canvas, 20x20 inches. available for your special perusal at 2010 Gallery in Kansas City.

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa.

I have another quick post for you this afternoon!

This gem has just been added to my website portfolio in the Countenance Explorations folder.

 

 

Sunny Penza.

Oil on canvas, measuring at 20x20 sundrenched inches!

This one was much fun to paint, and I hope you enjoy it as well.

It's zoom view link:  (click link)

 

 

Later, Karen

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, and your painting of the week.

We had that interesting phenomenon in the studio this week, where seemingly the painting tells the artist what to do, and how to paint it.

It happens, you know.

It all began with memories of a fun day in Zadonsk. Evidence: the accompanying photos. 

 

 

Colorful Zadonsk.

 

 

Folk musicians and costumes.

 

 

One of us is NOT Russian  :)

 

 

First course!

 

 

The original photo reference.

 

I loved the costumes. I loved the exuberance of the vocalists as they belted out their music.

I began as normal for this painting, looking at the photo references in my editor. As is often the case lately, I am compelled to zoom in and try to understand a specific person. With thoughts of painting a folk musician in costume, fading in the rear view, I arrived at my first decision: it will be another 'countenance exploration'.

 

 

Zooming in to the 'countenance exploration' view.

 

 

Determining the focus.

 

I cropped to the perfect painting agenda, and moved onto the next step in my process, the brown paper color sketch.

This step has varied appearances. Sometimes, it's a fairly complete and lovely little sketch. Other times, it's hasty and scratchy, and only someone like me can see what on earth is going on.

This time? Yes, you'll note I didn't even finish it - I got to the part where I swiped a brush full of a titanium white suggestion of her teeth into place, and suddenly it was crystal clear. 

I would be painting the high note.

Err, I would be painting HER high note, and the appearances thereof.

 

 

A (somewhat blurry!!) photo of the brown paper color sketch. (I was still thinking of putting some of the gemstones of her costume in at this point!)

 

I have written to you lately that I have been playing with 5x7 panels, doing small studies of a larger canvas idea.  And for this

painting, that was my next step. It became a study of HOW do we know, HOW do I translate to canvas, that this person is giving it everything they've got? Going for that high note?

 

 

A fun little 5x7 study.

 

We use the phrase 'corner of the mouth' sometimes, right? Did you know that corner disappears when somebody is singing the high note?! I am not a voice teacher by any stretch of the imagination, but I can tell you when someone goes for the high note, their lips thin at the sides which makes them seem fuller at front and center. Wow. Artist anatomy, at it's finest. 

Let's move on, shall we?!

 

Have I mentioned that I find it helpful to look at others work that I can learn from? Here are two of those -

 

 

 

 

Yes, in the end the festival costume was edited out. Ignored. Just didn't seem important right now. Maybe I will paint it some other day!

 

For today, HERE is the painting:

 

 

Oil on canvas, 20x20 inches.

A link to it's view&info in my website portfolio, the Countenance Explorations folder:  (click link)

 

I hope you enjoyed all those photos!

I can be reached with any questions or comments at these places:

On my website contact page: (click link)

My facebook studio page:  (click link)

My instagram page  (click link)

AND the very BEST place is found at the lower right corner of my website front page:  (click link)  There you will see 'Get New Art Alerts' which will send you an image of each painting as I complete it and add it to the website portfolio. It works really well to stay current - I use it for artist's work I enjoy following!

Thanks for stopping by!

Later, Karen

 

 

 

 

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa.

From where, this very morning, the fedex guy stopped by and picked up a box with two paintings.

(of which I am quite proud )

Destination: Okoboji, Iowa, and the Pearson Lakes Art Center.

It's almost time for their Biennial Exhibition, and they selected two of my paintings to be included in the exhibit.

I always think about the Pearson Lakes Art Center with happy thoughts. After that big hiatus known as 'between college and getting serious about painting again' the Pearson is where I finally found another life drawing group and started learning all over again. It was a definite good time.

And so, of course, you want to know what paintings you could possibly see up close and personal like?

 

 

Free Time, Al Fresco.   A website portfolio view:  (click link)

and:

 

 

Simply Splendid, My Dear.  A website portfolio view: (click link)

 

They chose well, didn't they?!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you get to see the exhibit.

I'll put details on my events page:  (click link) 

Later, Karen

 

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa, where I have added a new event on the calendar!

The Holiday Art Market in Iowa City, Iowa is happening at the Iowa Memorial Union, on campus at University of Iowa.

The dates are December 7th and 8th, 2019

I will add complete details on my events page found at this link (click link)

Of further note, let's focus on the phrase 'holiday art'. I am in the midst of a collection of 'holiday sized paintings'. To date, the subjects seem to be singular - a Christmas ornament, a pear, a coffee mug - you get the picture.

Oh wait, no you DON"T get the picture, at least not today - the first canvases of this group are waiting for the camera. 

Stay tuned. It will happen soon.

We can only hope!

Thanks for stopping by!

Later, Karen

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa.

Today, we will talk about normal. Yes.

I just recently completed the Strada Easel 30 day challenge. Participating artists paint from life each day. Strada's facebook page says 350 artists made it all the way through. I am amongst a hardy crowd - it was indeed a challenge.

But let's get to the subject indicated in that title at the top of this:  NORMAL.

As my most faithful readers know, studio painting large figurative works from photos and sketchbook references is my normal. Plein air is my new adventure. Still life setups are for spare time.

Therefore, I found it really interesting to read comments from some of the rest of the 349 about how the challenge took them out of their norm. Many commented they went from focused tiny details to macro big picture paintings. I like that!

Did the challenge precipitate new adventures as much as daily painting from life? I like that too!

This artist who's norm is large figurative works, found herself (on a rainy afternoon) painting out the studio window, looking down on a mass of Coleus. (crazy colored purple and green plants)

So very far from my normal. But I like THAT as well!

I really don't think the resulting painting of that day will win me an Oscar, but here's a curious thing: being away from my normal has created a crazy desire to get to painting something figurative, and SOON.

So, stay tuned. It feels like more of the countenance explorations I've been working on since May, will increase in number.

But first, I go to Dubuque, Iowa for one more plein air adventure to polish off this year's plein air season. Yes, it is listed on my event page. For the details (click link)

Thanks for reading, and here's the painting that caused my ramblings of this day  :)

 

 

Later, Karen

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa, where we just returned, following a lovely vacation that finished with an exciting plein air paint out in Central City, Colorado.

Let me explain please. Oh wait, let's just put the cart before the horse, and give you a visual:

 

 

Yes, those would be the 5 paintings I created in 2.5 days  of the Central City Opera sponsored 2019 Central City Plein Air Festival. 

(And yes, please take note of the three 'sold' tags. As I've already told you, it was ever so exciting!)

Whew!

Now that we have that out of the way, let's get down to the reason for the title of this post:

90 Minutes And Counting.

You see the painting on the lower right of my group? Yes, the flower pot on the light post. That is the painting I painted for the Central City quick paint.

Have you ever heard of a 'quick paint'?  Most plein air events include a quick paint. The norm is 2 hours of break-neck paced painting. Central City decided to cut it to 90 minutes. Yup, ninety minutes.

As a result of that extreme workout, I've decided to share my rules for the fastest quick paint ever, with my favorite readers.

Let's begin:

 

Rules for the quickest plein air quick paint of all quick paints:

1.  Scope out the target area in advance. Participating artists were told by earlier email that the quick paint would happen on a 2 block stretch of Eureka Street. I planned two scenarios, one for sun, and one for clouds. We got sun.  (Yay!!)

2. Arrive early no matter what. Central City plein air quick paint started at 12 noon. I registered, and got my panel stamped at 11am. I had perfect timing.

3. Have your palette ready to go, with plenty of paint squeezed out. You don't want to waste precious brush time, digging for the right paint tube. Ditto for the gamsol&galkyd. Have your Viva towels and trash bag ready and waiting; brushes and palette knife in easy reach - when the starting bell chimes, you'll be ready to grab and go!

4. This next rule should probably be in all caps, but that would be very annoying? Please, just don't gloss over this very important rule:  Get your value sketch down! It's so important, that it's why I gave you rule #2, so you'd have enough time. If your sketch book is laying there with your painting road map detailed in it, it's almost like paint by number.  (kiddingjustkidding) But it will definitely be the aid every quick paint artist needs.

5. Central City plein air quick paint had lots of people walking about, eager to ask questions and take photos of the artists. Did you know they don't really mind if you say something completely unintelligible while you are painting?  KEEP PAINTING. They will just be amused when they realize the artist can't talk and paint at the same time.

6. Set your phone alarm. I already told you this specific quick paint started at 12noon. I set one phone alarm for 1pm, and a second for 1:20pm. 

7. Resist the wayward temptation to change your original value sketch, especially if the tempting happens as the second alarm goes off. Second alarm time is time to decide where to put your signature, NOT the time to make some random huge change.

8. Central City Opera House has a lovely outdoor courtyard, where participating artists were invited to bring their finished (?) painting on their easel and compete in the award judging. I was not the first artist in, nor was I the last - sometimes middle is a great place to be.  I did not win the quick paint award, but the judge came over to speak with me after the event, and mentioned his short list  :)  which definitely bolstered my spirits after such an invigorating work out.

9. I stuck to the quick paint rule book, and played the game pretty darned well.

 

And there's another quick paint on the horizon - Bluff Strokes, Dubuque, Iowa - I'll let you know how it goes!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Later, Karen

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa.

I am newly returned to Grinnell from Amana, Iowa, and a weekend of "Fresh Paint Amana" a plein air paint out held every year in Amana on Labor Day weekend.  Yes. A good time was had by all. (I'm pretty sure of that)

That made today, not only Labor Day, but Catch Up Day.

There will be a fleet of forth coming photos of new paintings, to be sure.

But right NOW I need to let you know about three paintings that are traveling soon!

Missouri Valley Impressionist Society's annual juried exhibit is on the nearby horizon. Of 200 paintings entered, 50 were selected. I am pleased to show you TWO of them. Wow!

 

 

Morning Plaza Cappuccino. 

A scene I absolutely love AND would love to visit again. And soon. Remind me to tell the whole story in the painting of the week column next week?

 

And the second:

 

 

The Pause That Refreshes.

Yes, I would love to return to this scene as well. I guess we can safely say that I think travel is a marvelous adventure!

A link to this painting's place in my website portfolio:  (click link)

 

Next!  Just a few days ago, I received an email that this painting has been accepted to the Art Of The Heartland, at Mena Gallery, Mena, Ar.

 

 

Galena Cellars Al Fresco.

A zoom view link to it's page in my website portfolio:  (click link)

Time to go buy some more packing tape. I've got paintings to ship!

Thanks for stopping by,

Later, Karen

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa.

I am ever so pleased to tell you about another event that I just added to my calendar.

Bluff Strokes, a week long paint out in historic Dubuque, Iowa is on my agenda for October 2019!

 

"SEE DUBUQUE THROUGH ARTISTS' EYES!

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa.

I mentioned in yesterday's post that 3 paintings from the 2018 Fresh Paint paint out are currently in my studio.

I am taking advantage of that and giving each of them their best photo op!

I guess that means the post plein air painting adrenaline rush does not necessarily result in good photography skills.

Wait: let's say instead that the adrenaline rush restricts otherwise excellent photography skills - yeah, that's the ticket!

At any rate, I now have a really great photo of Millstream Patio, Waiting. to share with you.

As follows:

 

 

12 x 16 inches, oil on panel, and just yesterday got a nice protective layer of gamvar (varnish)

At present it is not framed, but I would be ever so happy to slip that in a frame for you - just let me know.

 

Here are a few links for you:

a zoom view of Millstream Patio, Waiting.  (click link)

and a view of a painting from the same plein air event, that IS framed and will show you the style of plein air framing I am currently enjoying using:  (click link)  

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Later, Karen

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa.

I signed up for the #AbundantArtShow which officially started today.

(Day 1 task was to officially sign up!)

Today's official mission is to share a work in progress, along with a few works from other artists doing this challenge, whose entries I especially like.

Logic says I grab the canvas that is leaning on the wall and photo it. But there, right next to it on the wall, is the board with the reference photo and the color sketch. Logic also says they should be included, right?

I have mentioned the "color sketch on brown craft paper" that we worked with at a workshop I took last fall. The workshop instructor was Dawn Whitelaw. Some day, I need to catch up with Dawn again, and let her know how much I appreciate this tool.

We were working from reference photos at the workshop, so for starters, everyone began by editing/combining/manipulating those. The comparable could be done with a viewfinder and thumbnail sketch, if working plein air.

Next step, was to fasten a small piece of brown craft paper to a board, and start exploring the reference material there, in color.

(I found it pretty amazing, how much freer it felt to be working on a piece of scrap paper!!)

My 'artist specific' task at the workshop was to focus on getting the light patterns to make more sense, and this tool continues to be used in my studio for that.

So now, for the color part of this post. 

First, the work in progress, a cafe scene where the morning sun was bathing some folk in Malaga.        

 

 

Followed by the board of reference material:

 

 

And then, a few more examples of the color sketches, that are now a part of my process:

 

 

 

 

 

I think it's pretty apparent that I don't consider the color sketches as sacred-pristine anything! It's okay to draw on them, accidentally smear them, make color checks on them. But still, I've found that no matter their condition when I'm done with the canvas they are 'the tool' for, that I find satisfaction in keeping them in a file to look back on. Possibly it's my track record. Possibly it's my record of playing with paint no holds barred??!!

At any rate, it's a tool taught to me, that I appreciate and enjoy.

Thanks for reading.

Later, Karen

 

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell.

But!

This studio will be in mobile-mode within a pair of short weeks!

I will be one of the 100+ artists painting at Augusta Plein Air.  (Augusta, Missouri - more details can be found on my events page - a link at the close of this article)

In preparation, this painter is trying to come out of the deep freeze (otherwise know as the upper midwest) and rev up the plein air painting routine. Somewhat.

Did you catch that word 'somewhat'?

Yes, I have done some self analysis. I enjoy plein air painting.

WHEN it's sunny, warm, and not windy. Hot is okay, cold is not.

But let's be real - I live in Iowa.

So, when we total up the hours, I have way more fun hours spent in the studio than en plein air.

But because we should value all the good advice given us, and I sincerely do, I will continue to remember Anna Kushnarova's words:

"Karen, you need to paint on the street to study the light!"

(Thank you always, Anna!)

Rev up that plein air painting, indeed!

Later, Karen

 

-and because it's too freaking windy to photo Tuesday's plein air panel, how about some color from the February trip to Atlanta?

 

 

Augusta Plein Air Festival on my events page  (click link)

A zoom view of the accompanying painting, Just Around The Corner  (click link)

- no pun intended to the title of this article - (!!!)

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa.

That title up there, "Chicken In The Studio"? Yup. It happened today.

Before we get into this very far, are we agreed that the word chicken has more than one connotation? 

Of course, it means creatures that say cluckcluck and cockadoodledoo, and peeppeep.

It can also mean tasty edibles.

And then, going around to the colorful side of things, it can mean, per MerriamWebster

 

b: any of various contests in which the participants risk personal safety in order to see which one will give up first, or

c: scared, timid, and cowardly.

 

Whew. A little bit of variety comes with the word chicken! This blog post will attempt to cover almost all.

All right. Let's begin at the beginning.

My painting friend, Leila, came to paint today. Grinnell schools are on spring break this week, and so Leila asked if it would be okay if her daughter came along. But of course!

They had succumbed to the charms of two baby chicks at the Bomgaars store a day earlier. And the baby chicks came too. 

So, for real, chicken (err, chicks) in the studio.

No, we did not attempt to paint them. We were busy with a still life of red pears.

But after the studio disbanded for the day, it occurred to me that there has to be a heck of a good analogy in there, Chicken In The Studio.

And I think I am personally out in front of the curve of said analogy! How often does THAT happen??!

Now tell me, artists everywhere, that you don't know what "chicken in the studio" usually means? Phooey. 

We ALL do. 

It's that day when we are scared to make the big decision with the composition.

That day when any onlooker can look at our brush strokes and say "cowardly, weak"

That timid little attempt at getting the darks dark, and the lights light.

Aargh. Chicken in the studio.

Did you catch that self back patting a few lines earlier where I mentioned I might be out ahead on the curve of this whole analogy?

I recently started back into my bus window series. A light bulb had turned on, and I realized that I was too remote from what I wanted each painting to say. I was holding my subjects too far away. Was I chicken to get up close? Maybe.

But here's the irony: once I made the big non-chicken-afied decision to get into the canvas with alacrity, it turned the whole series around. I am having a ton of fun, and the bold decisions seem to be helping other much sought after traits to fall in line, as well.

Who knew such a thing was possible?

Chicken in the studio. I am today recommending if you have chicken in your studio, it should be the fluffy yellow peeping kind.

Later, Karen

 

 

 

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell.

I have a failure to report to you today. It's extremely foggy here this morning, so may we use that as the excuse??!!

I suppose not. But let me begin at the beginning.

A few weeks ago, I shared this painting with you:

 

 

This caption accompanies the painting:

 

al fresco at the Burgermeister, near Red Square.

a study for a larger canvas.

stay tuned.

 

For those of you who have stayed tuned and are wondering if you will like the larger canvas more than this "study", well you can just stop that right now. The exploration of this setting on a larger canvas went out on the garbage truck Monday.

 

This brings to light a few choice thoughts on the subject of studies:

 

1. for art patrons and even some artists, who think that every painting an artist creates is a winner and deserves a place in history, or at least, the world - sorry, you are holding on to an erroneous thought.

2. while studies are an excellent beginning to a larger canvas, they are not a guarantee of it's success.

3. and the choicest thought I've saved for 3rd, possibly I did not study enough for this particular paint-on-canvas adventure?

 

I love art history, and have explored many of the greats.

How many times did Cezanne paint Mont Sainte-Victoire?

And how many times did Monet paint that haystack?

Google 'Barge Haulers On The Volga' - Ilya Repin, and count how many times he created it. Search out the pencil/charcoal drawings of this subject which he did, as well.  I got to see an exhibit in St Petersburg where several of them hung next to the final rendition and it's incredibly interesting to see the progress from beginning to completion. May I share some images please?

 

 

 

 

 

My visit to the State Russian Museum was in 2015 (before we gained much success with the Russian language, ha!) but now as I look back at these images, I enjoy the accompanying label. See down there in the lower left corner?

 

 

In text it's

In pronunciation, say S-kees.

In definition, English, it's a sketch. A study.

 

And you thought artists just knocked out winner paintings all day-everyday. Effortlessly.

Dream on, art lovers, dream on.

And for the artists reading this page, keep up the good .

Later, Karen

 

 

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa.  A very white (snowy) Grinnell, I might add.

It's time for summer.

And speaking of summer, I just added a new event to my summer calendar.

I have received an invitation to Geneva Arts Fair 2019.

We will plan for beautiful weather and even more beautiful art!

I hope to see you there!

Many thanks,

Karen

 

and a link to my events page (click link)

 

     Galena Cellars Al Fresco  (Portfolio link)

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Greetings, 

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, where it's always a happy day when this kind of message is in my inbox!

 

"Dear Karen, 
Congratulations! Your painting, "Like Notes On A Page.", was selected as part of the FAV15% (jury's favorite 15% of the entries) in the November 2018 BoldBrush Painting competition. 
You may view the FAV15% paintings, including yours: http://faso.com/boldbrush/fav15/220 "

 

Even more so, a painting that was so much fun to paint 

 

Later, Karen

 

 

Like Notes On A Page.  And that handy zoom view (link)

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell.

Today I went to a gallery walk. 

It said art.

I am here to report, it wasn't.

Let's hearken back several seasons ago when I was in a college art class. The professor walked in, dumped the trash can upside down, told us to paint how we felt about it, and then walked back out.

Now let's hearken back just a few years ago, 2014. Spouse and I were in our second year of living in Russia. I had started working with Tatiana Evgenia's drawing group, at a time when I had less Russian words than they had English words. We did good to make sure I knew the day of the next meeting!  But two things about Tatiana Evegenia's group:

1. they tolerated my drawings when the models ended up with crooked eyes and missing cheekbones

2. and the group was good at demonstrating with a pencil what we all were unable to verbalize

I was amidst classically trained Russian artists, and also Tatiana's students who were in the midst of training. I quickly learned how woefully lacking my education was.

In about 2016, I joined Anna Kushnarova's drawing group. Anna's group had a little more English, and by that time, I could speak a bit more Russian. We could talk - somewhat!!

They too, tolerated my American college "education". But I had learned a bit at Tatiana Evgenia's group - I didn't lose as many model's cheekbones, and while I could get eyes placed a little more correctly by this time, I still had a long way to go understanding their structure. It was an excellent group, and by the time we moved back to live in the US in December of last year, I had learned a chunk from them. (I still have a long ways to go)

My favorite story to tell at Anna's drawing group, in Ru-glish, of course, was about the college professor who said paint how we feel about the trash. At first they wouldn't believe me, that a professor of art would actually do that.  Then when they figured out I really meant it, Anna said in very close English "it is a pity".  After I got to know Anna better, I learned that "it is a pity" was her group of English words that she used to mean "that's really sad".

So now we are down here at the bottom of this post, and I have to do that thing that everybody disapproves of, where an artist defines what is art, and what isn't art. Or maybe I should get really brazen and define who is an artist, and who isn't.

Putting some stuff together, calling it art, and yourself an artist, is by the rest of the world's definition, nonsense. Here in the US, we for some reason allow it.

I don't know why.

Go learn how to draw. Study. Educate yourself.

Quit with the pretend - if you want to call yourself an artist, you've got some work to do.

Thanks for listening to my rant.

And don't start checking my paintings for crooked eyes or missing cheekbones  

Later, Karen

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, where I complained about the temperature, during my afternoon commute home.  All 11.5 feet of it. But this is a summer person writing this post, and ready for summer to come back!!

Enough with the weather whining already, eh?

And really, this post is about another matter entirely.

I would like to mention that all though Art On The Prairie 2018 is  now in the history book, as featured artist of the event, my portion of the exhibit remains on display at La Poste  (Perry, Iowa)  One happy patron found that to their delight this evening and will travel back home with this little gem:

 

 

It's always a good day, when a painting finds a happy home!

 

Later, Karen

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa - the very same studio, from where, tomorrow morning, I will load three paintings into the dweebvan and point it east on I80.

Destination?

Quad City Arts Center. Rock Island, Illinois.

If you haven't already heard, The Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa is hosting the exhibit 

French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850-1950

I consider it a must see!

And that's on my agenda for tomorrow as well.

But let's get back to the title of this post "And A Trio Of Cooper Paintings". 

The Quad City Arts Center (on the Illinois side of the river, quad city metro - Rock Island, Illinois) is hosting a companion exhibit to the Figge's.

Regional artists were juried for the exhibit, and voila! Three of the four paintings I submitted were accepted to show. Yes, I am quite pleased!

Links to help you with your day of impressionist art excitement:

 

Quad City Arts gallery

Allevents.in RockIsland

French Moderns: Monet to Matisse (at the Figge)

 

Have a great visit to the Quad Cities. I know I will!

Karen

 

 

Al Fresco. La Concorde.

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, where the painting we are talking about today recalls a time when the studio was in Lipetsk, Russia.

Now, before I confuse you:   I am in Grinnell, and the painting du jour was painted in my spiffy little Grinnell studio, yes, indeedy.

But the reference material -  THAT comes from when my studio was a balcony off our Lipetsk apartment.

Time flies. A year ago this date, we were busy getting in one more Moscow adventure.

When we returned to Iowa, and the Grinnell studio was finally ready to work, I wondered if I would feel okay painting from reference material that came from our "grand adventure". It was, after all, over and done with.

But here's a funny for you. I am getting quite impatient with myself for not getting MORE of those adventures onto canvas FASTER.

Oh, if I were speedy!!

But! For the painting of the week of this focus, I WAS!

I used the brown craft paper color sketch method for a quick thumbnail, simplified to ONLY what I wanted to say, put the paint on the canvas, and presto! Effervescence!

 

And yes, it's already in my website portfolio (click, link)

Also a link to my 'painting of the week' column for a look at those references  (click link)

 

 

Effervescence.

A bit of sunshine for you to help you remember summer, until it comes again!!

Later, Karen  

 

 

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell.

Today, I am asking (up there in that blog title) a redundant question, because I'm fairly confident it has already happened.

I was sitting in the studio, thinking about the petunias I need to add to the current easel painting, not paying attention to what was at the end of my gaze. Then, I DID focus. On this:

 

 

It's on my website, and has already been to one exhibit as "Bykhanov Park News".  

I've told you in past messages here about writing on the back of the canvas, my focusing thought for the concept of the painting.

The back of this canvas reads "the light that peaks through".

Yup. I got that right, didn't I?

But as I sit here in my studio this morning (yes, the sun is shining beautifully on crisp fall leaves) I remember the pleasant mornings spent in the very same park where this gentleman is reading his news.

Summer mornings where the sun has already informed you, that it's going to get warm today, really warm. And a bit of shade on your park bench is ever so enjoyable.

A special morning where all you've got on your agenda is to sit on a park bench and read the news. 

Ahhhh, summer.

Can I change this painting's name? Absolutely.

Stay tuned!  (portfolio, click)

 

Later, Karen

 

and if you'd like a few more photos, they're available for your viewing pleasure on my painting of the day column  (click link)

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell.

The very same Grinnell where the Angel Wing Begonias froze on my front porch Saturday night.

Aw shucks. I think summer is done until next year. I now have to put shoes on and wrap a fleece throw around me for the morning commute out to the studio. Life's little challenges.  

Okay, time to focus. That title up at the top of this post: The Why.

You'll remember me talking about the recent workshop I attended, at the AIS event in FishCreek, Wisconsin? There were many good take-aways from the workshop, but the one that I'm thinking about today is in fact, The Why.

We had had our group discussion of the morning, and were all delving into our reference material, headed toward putting that first brush full of paint onto canvas. The instructor, Dawn Whitelaw, was working her way around the room, speaking with each artist individually about their composition. About halfway around the classroom, she stopped, and in a very firm, clear voice said, "paint the why, not the what".

Yup, we all knew that already. If an artist forgets to say in the composition&color&brushstrokes&lights&darks&shadows WHY they want to paint it, then it's just going to be another canvas with some paint on it.

(We should take a vote to see if there are enough of those out in the world already?!!!)

Is part of the power of, and reason for, taking a workshop, hearing those lessons we already know repeated, with emphasis? Think of it as a realignment for the artist brain, and getting priorities straightened out?

Yup. Priority #1. Paint the why, not the what.

Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Karen

 

and why not, a bit of random color for this post

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell. Where I have affirming words to share with you today  :)

I was at my study group last night. We are reading/studying in the Lysa TerKeurst book "Uninvited".

The words that grabbed hold were:

 

"There is an abundant need in this world for your exact brand of beautiful."

 

So for all you artists, and others, who ever get rejection letters, there you are. Take heart.

That's it for this morning.

Go paint something beautiful.

Later, Karen

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell. Where I can guarantee there will be NO plein air painting today. We are uber rain soaked and it continues to fall. On the upside, the grass sure is green  .

But!

We are going to talk about plein air painting.

This was my first summer where I actively participated in plein air paint outs. Yup, I scored success in some places, but definitely not all.

On my last post I did a bit of self promotion about a newly arrived notification of an honorable mention award from the Brush Creek Art Walk opening reception. (Gorman Discovery Center, Kansas City on October 2nd)

All artists were allowed to submitted two paintings to the exhibit, which I did, just before I put the trusty dweebvan back on I35 pointed towards Iowa. I was a good distance removed from Kansas City before I remembered that painting #2 had not been photographed. Alack and alas. But I was not turning back at that point in my weekend.

Today, however, I can share that through the miracle of modern science and some random person posting from their phone cam, I have a photo for you, of the evasive painting.

It's got serious shadow effect, and definitely not the best photo ever, but here we have "Sunday Morning кофе"

Sunday Morning кофе, a roasty-warm morning view of Starbucks, Kansas City Plaza area, KC, Mo.

Follows your ever handy zoom view link to my portfolio page of the same painting:  (click link)

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Later, Karen

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, where we are still trying to create a semblance of order after being at the AIS workshop/opening in FishCreek, Wisconsin, all last week. The workshop portion of the event especially, increased the speed of wheels turning, with the possibilities of where to go from here!

But that's not the focus of today's post.

The focus has a Kansas City origin.

Last night came the email about honorable. 

Yup. An honorable mention. That thing that happens when you are just shy of first, second, or third place.

If you'll remember, a couple weekends ago, I was at the plein air event Brush Creek Art Walk. (hey, a couple weekends ago, it was still nice hot summer!!) Anyway, a bunch of artists, myself included, did our best to paint the Kansas City Plaza area, en plein air.

I think you'll also remember me lamenting that I was remiss in getting a good photo of one of my paintings from the event.

Yup, that one. That would be the one the event judge gave the honorable mention nod to. 

Sunday Morning кофе

Otherwise known as a sundrenched morning on the veranda of Starbucks, at the KC Plaza location. (And by the way, it was lovely to be able to step away from my easel, over to the cafe, and order an iced latte    in the midst of a morning's painting)

The exhibit of the event's paintings is showing at the Gorman Discovery Center in KC for the entire month of October, and I'd love for the painting to find a happy home in KC. The other option is for it to find a happy home from Grinnell! And in that case, I WILL get you a photo.

In the meantime, how about a look at the other painting I submitted for the exhibit?

 

 

Butterfly Flowers, because that's what she was giving out at the Gorman Center that weekend...

And your handy link to the zoom view  (link)

Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Karen

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa.

The very same Grinnell, where the studio was vacant all weekend, because I was at Fresh Paint, the plein air paint out, in Amana, Iowa.  We dodged the rain storms, and had a very successful weekend!

And, ta-dah, an award!

Here's a link for you:  (karencooperstudio.)

I know, I know, it's not a great photo. I must have been a little tired from 3 days of plein air. After I turned my paintings in to the exhibit, I suddenly realized that I'd forgotten to photograph them.  Boohiss.

The only option remaining was to photo after they were hung, and the exhibit opened. It was an indoor exhibit, with definitely variable lighting.

These things happen, eh?

Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Karen

 

And the painting, of course:

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell. Where yesterday's rain has moved on east. And we got the camera out to add the latest, and my new favorite to the website portfolio!

As some of you know, I had an exhibit at the Geneva art fair in July. 

My exhibit had the splendid location of being right next to Galena Cellars patio. Sunday afternoon not only brought out the jazz, but a patio full of happy patrons. I am certain they were inwardly hoping this artist would gather up enough info from the scene to paint them.

And so I did.

 

 

Galena Cellars Al Fresco, Geneva. With Jazz.

 

With a handy link for that all important zoom-able (link) view,  I say thank you for your interest in my work, and this one is a wrap!

Later, Karen

 

- while we are here, how about a link (link) to my ongoing 'painting of the week column', where you will also find a few of my reference photos for this painting?!

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell.

Have any of you noticed?

A few short weeks ago, I was lighting up the net, posting a plein air painting or study, one right after the other.

And then? I wasn't.

You'd like to know what that means, wouldn't  you?

It means pretty darn quick, you will see something else. Not a study. Not a plein air.

It will be a little bigger and a lot more involved.

And I am ever so pleased with it. 

We are told that plein air painting, and studies inform the more complicated studio paintings, and the studio paintings are the ones I think about as I go to sleep at night.  

Stay tuned. We will hope that tomorrow is a good photo shoot day!

Later, Karen

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell.

Today, the thought (one of the thoughts) rolling around in my head, is about when is it TOO LATE to correct an error on a painting?

So artists out there: do you have a time limit?

If it's photographed and on your website, is it then un-edit-able?

If it's hung on your wall at an art fair once, what about then?

If it got accepted to a juried exhibit (didn't win, didn't sell) is it okay to edit then?

Ahhh, the dilemmas of the figurative painter. When that hand you drew/painted two months ago, now looks immature and questionable. 

And worse yet, you NOW know how to correct it. Is that the blessing of the situation - that possibly the skills are still progressing, and what was once okay is now not acceptable?

I repeat: ahhh, the dilemmas of the figurative painter!

Stay tuned. I may be re-photographing a painting.  

Later, Karen

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell. Where I was not painting in the studio this morning...

At my drawing group that I attended in Lipetsk, most of the group work was done in studio. But the constant emphasis was 'we must paint outside much too - the best way to learn about light'.

And so yours truly has been working that angle with a little more emphasis since returning to the US.

While I was out there this morning, I was also remembering a phrase from a video:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0Qbw7Wlsgc 

 

about 'painting ugly' where the brushstrokes up close are not smoothed and perfected, but the painting when viewed from the correct distance is spot on. My goal for the morning!

 

And your painting of the day:

 

 

Down There, The Depot. Grinnell

 

and your handy zoom view (link)

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Karen

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, where we are gearing up for an exhibit this weekend in Geneva, Illinois.

You caught that title right? It's the question of many artists who finish a painting at the very last moment possible before having to transport it. And of course, with oil paints it's not a matter of drying - oil paints oxidize. But that word just wouldn't fit well in the title, now, would it?

At any rate, the (let's just call it drying) drying of any oil painting is not a fast process. Especially when the paint layers get a little thick, as is the case of the painting du jour.

Let me tell you about the painting, please.

I was in Minneapolis early June, and did the scenic route home, which of course took me down river, and through Red Wing, Minnesota, home of the St James Hotel.

I am certain I've shared my fondness for al fresco dining & cafe verandas, and the St James has an outstanding one.

I enjoyed myself completely, and quite possibly made a nuisance of myself with my sketch book and camera. So it goes.

The results are already in my website portfolio, but of course, I am ever so happy to share it here as well.

 

 

In The Shade. Al Fresco At The St. James, Red Wing.

 

It's large enough - 40 x 40 inches - and as you know the farther I get from the painting with my camera, to get the whole canvas in the frame...let's just say the best way to view it is in person.

I took pity on you somewhat, and took a detail shot:

 

 

And then there's the fun little study that happened:

 

 

And likely if you haven't had the pleasure of the St James Veranda, a few photos?

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 days later......

so while I intended to have this posted before driving to Geneva, here I am in my hotel room in St Charles finishing it up. Things go that way at times, you know!  And as I was loading the car in Grinnell on Friday morning, I looked at spouse and remembered that I had not sent invitations to all my mailing list people. One of these days organization WILL happen.

The first day of the Geneva art festival went well, and we'll hope day two is strong as well!

Thanks for reading.

Later, Karen

 

 

 

 

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa.

I have a painting announcement for you today!

This painting:

 

 

Looked Out The Bus Window And There You Were. Growing Up.

 

just received it's traveling orders! Yes indeedy.

The Old Courthouse Arts Center, Woodstock, Illinois, annually produces the juried gallery show Real People.  "Real People is a national juried fine art exhibition celebrating the arts through faces and figures."

 

I am happy to report that the above painting will be showing amidst the esteemed collection of paintings that comprise the exhibit.

 

The painting is from my series that I fondly refer to as "the bus window series", built on my adventures of riding the city buses in Lipetsk, Russia. For more info of the painting, plus a handy zoom view, click this (link) to visit my website portfolio.

 

The exhibit will be held at the Old Court House Arts Center in Woodstock, IL, (northwest of Chicago).  (art center link)

The exhibit will run from Thursday August 16 through Saturday September 29 and include a gala Artists' Reception.

-Thursday August 16: Real People opens.

-Saturday August 25, 7p -9p CDT Gala Reception

-Saturday, September 29: Exhibition Closes.

I have the reception penciled in on my schedule, I will update as the event gets closer.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Later, Karen

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Greetings, 

Welcome to the Cooper studio, and your newest painting of the week.

Yes, it's been in the website portfolio for several days, but you want to know MORE, don't you??!!

High Noon Al Fresco, Mertsen.

My goal/plan was to absolutely totally completely wash the painting with light. Sunlight. Big sunlight.

After all, it was high noon. A great time of the day, especially in summertime!

Yes, Mertsen is a Lipetsk cafe, and about this time last summer, I did a plein air study that pushed the goal/plan of big light somewhat. I suppose that's the beauty of taking a plein air study back to the studio - you can push the light LOTS. All those woulda/coulda/shouldas can be realized.

What fun!

- the plein air study

 

- a photo reference

 

- taking out the color helps me see values better

 

- cropping the image to my focus

 

 

- High Noon Al Fresco, Mertsen.

- and a link for a zoom view (click link)

-another link, this one goes to the Painting Of The Week column in entirety (click link)

Thanks for stopping by. Have a lovely day!

Karen

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Greetings,

Welcome to your newest painting of the week.

Funny story:

I shared a while ago, that at a workshop, the instructor said, "write your focus or central thought right on the back of the stretcher. It will help you stay on course."

I have been pretty consistent with following through on that advice. 

Do I still wander a little now and then? Yup. Do I think the practice helps sometimes? Yes.

Anyway, on the back of the stretcher of your painting of the week, it reads "Cavtat walkabout". It conjures up memories of a dropdeadgorgeous day, when we took the water taxi down the coast of Croatia from Dubrovnik to Cavtat. 

Sort of.

This painting was a treat to have on the easel. Sparkle and light and good memories, and most every brush full of paint seemed to know where it was supposed to go. Yup, that Cavtat cafe scene had it all. 

Nope.

Let me explain.

Here's the deal: it made a lot of sense to me that the painting should be named after the cafe that we so enjoyed. But in every photo reference I have, the sign was just a little inconclusive, couldn't quite make out what the name of the place was.

Enter google maps, of course. Google knows all. And can point out names of places on the map as well.

Except it wasn't there. I zoomed in on every cafe in Cavtat. Zip. Nada. Нет.

Finally, I zoomed in on one of my photos. I could just barely make out Mlini. On a chance, I googled "cafe Mlini, Croatia". 

Did you know there is a town named Mlini in Croatia??!! And it's right on the coast between Dubrovnik and Cavtat!!

Criminy.

The whole time I've been thinking about the adventure, the whole time I've been mentally scheming about the painting, the whole time I was writing on  the back of the stretcher with my super red marker "Cavtat walkabout", the whole time I spent putting paint on canvas - I was in the wrong town! 

We didn't go to Cavtat, we went to Mlini!!

So, if/when you see this painting in person, you should have somebody help you look at the back of the canvas, and then you can tell them this story  :)

 

 

 

 

 

There you have it. Caffe Bar Hogar, MLINI, Croatia.

Thanks for stopping by.

Later, Karen

 

and a link:  (click link for zoom view)

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell.

-Where we are catching our breath between opening receptions!

-Last night's event, the opening reception at Cornerhouse Gallery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa:

 

 

 

-And tonight, we travel to the other side of Iowa (and across the river!) to Omaha for the Missouri Valley Impressionist Society annual exhibit, where two of my paintings were juried in!

 

One Hot Day On Sovetskaya.

and

Gorky Park Bucolic.

Thanks for stopping by!

Later, Karen

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa.

I sincerely hope you took in that title up there with optimism, rather than alarm. Because, really, it's all good!

The new studio, for all intents & purposes, is complete! May we have a round of applause? Спасибо!

All that hole making up there in the title line, is about paintings getting hung. Wow, what a feeling  :)

And for the curious, yes, we are planning a studio opening party, midsummer, date as yet undetermined. Please stay tuned.

For those who don't want to wait, email me

 

[email protected]

 

to make sure I am in studio, and then just drop by. No, you can't be first, the first studio visitor has already visited  :)

And of course, what am I worth if I do not give you visuals?! Here we go:

 

The plan  :)

 

The implementation:

 

The results!

 

 

 

 

Yes! You did see some paintings never before seen at this location. And you are likely wanting to ask "why aren't those in your website portfolio, Karen??"

Ha. They are still wet. Yes, I hung a wet painting on my brand new studio wall. (It's okay, I know how to repaint walls too  :)  )

Anyway, there is a big photo shoot coming soon around here. We'll get all those never-before-seens in the portfolio soon.

Thanks for stopping by (to read) and don't forget, NOW you can stop by and look at real paintings, in person.

Always the best way to see art.

Later, Karen

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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa.

And hey! It's a for REAL studio now! But please, let's take these updates one at a time.

First, let's talk about a gallery!

Yes, I am ever so happy to announce that there are now sixteen (16!) Cooper studio paintings hanging out in a new (to me) gallery located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, ready and waiting for you to experience.

Your pertinent info:

 

Cornerhouse Gallery

 3318 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

(319) 365-4348

http://www.cornerhousegallery.com/

 

We open with a reception on May 10th, 2018.

 

 

Pretty exciting, right?? Hope you can come!

Later, Karen

ps. stay tuned, I will be taking photos of the new studio space one of these days soon, and you will be the first to see them  :)

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Greetings, Welcome to the Cooper studio, Grinnell, Iowa. I promised you the next newsletter would have details of the upcoming opening reception at Cornerhouse Gallery, Cedar Rapids. Hmmm. Yes, that will happen too. Soon. In the meantime, I have an announcement for the west end of the state, and further. The MVIS (Missouri Valley Impressionist Society) 7th Annual Juried Exhibit is up & coming in Omaha! And I have two paintings accepted into the exhibit! Art to look at on both ends of the state, what more could we ask for??!!   Your details: Gallery 1516 1516 Leavenworth St Omaha, Nebraska May 11th thru June 30th with the opening reception on Friday, May 11th, 7-9:30pm.   I am planning on being at the opening, and hope many of you can get in to enjoy the exhibit too!   Later, Karen   For ease of reference, I will add the exhibit info to my website events page as well. (link) And a look at the two paintings accepted:       Gorky Park Bucolic       One Hot Day On Sovetskaya

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