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Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.

I have a fact for you.  We are a people watching society.  EVERYBODY does it.  Why do you think the fashion industry does what it does, dollars speaking.  Why do you think people have multiple televisions in their house?  Why do you think cars can be sold on the power of the image alone?   Everybody wants to look good, because they're pretty sure everyone else is watching.  Yeah, so that last sentence is likely erroneous, but the rest are solid.

So that was the FACT paragraph, next up, the CONFESSION paragraph.

I came to grips with it a long time ago.  I watch people more than the average people.  I am a no-holds-barred people watcher.

Because, not only do I people watch for all the normal reasons that everybody else uses, but I people watch, because I don't want to miss the next great opportunity for a painting.  That's it, the bottom line.

And if you are wondering, yes, sometimes it can cause me distress.  Sunday afternoon, husband and I delivered paintings to the Wine Bar Art Gallery in Arnolds Park, one of my favorite places in one of my favorite places.  Arnolds Park/Okoboji is almost due north of Jefferson, and guess what?  There were still a few patches of snow in the road ditches.  Whew!  But no impact on our day, because as we sat down to a sunny table at The Wharf cafe, the signboard out at the end of Mau Marine's pier read 75 degrees.  Perfect.  

And of course, after lunch we had to stroll around some.  Always keeping the camera at the ready in such situations, I spotted a couple of women standing by their bicycles.  I instantly recognized a perfect painting.  I immediately went into the fakey pose where my "target" is supposed to think I'm shooting something behind them.  Only to realize, I knew these people.  Friends we hadn't seen for several years!  Dios mio.  My gig was up, they both laughed, and asked if they made it into the next painting.

People watching.  What an adventure it is.

Later, Cooper

And of course you'll want to know that People Watching is quite likely going to be the title of the canvas, currently parked on the easel.  And to prove my points, all of 'em, note that the people I'm watching are watching someone too... people watching.  What an adventure it is.

Greetings,

     Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.  And you saw that title, "Husband Talks Halfway Points".  

     Let's get real, I'm the painter, not him.  

     But it's caused me to wonder:  do I talk about composition a lot?  Has my non-artist husband heard me murmur thoughts about composing a canvas, in my sleep?  Am I too obsessive about composition?  Soooooo obsessive that my agricultural career husband now talks halfway points, and how it affects the current easel resident?  Just like a crazy artist?

     Is it even possible to spend too much time on composition?  Nah.

     Husband has just been around this gig long enough that it's rubbing off on him.  Hey, I know cows and pigs, too  :)

     And by now, surely you need to see the current painting on the easel, and cause of his line of compositional reasoning about it.

     See how the path takes a left turn and runs right off the canvas, almost exactly at the halfway point?  And can you feel how uncomfortable that is?  No wonder we're not supposed to cut a canvas in half with the paint brush!  (what was I thinking!)  And if you look really close, there's a sketch line, below it, where the path will probably be tomorrow.  Just the sketchy line already makes it feel better.      Who'd a thunk it, eh?

     It all became blatantly obvious the moment I turned canvas upside down.....Dios mio.

     Stay tuned for the finish!

Later, Cooper

     Oh.  And it already has a name.  "I Like Your Music, Mister"

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa, where today we will discuss Omaha, Nebraska.  Sort of.

You'll note that my online portfolio often mentions the Dundee Gallery, in Omaha, and yes, of course, they show my paintings.  As of Friday, they have new & more to show.  

Would you like their link?  But of course!

http://dundeegallery.com/

-Located in historic Dundee—Omaha, Nebraska, the Dundee Gallery is home to an outstanding collection of paintings, sculpture, ceramics, glass, and jewelry. Our artists’ works range from great gifts for friends to a piece trans­forming your home or business-

And there are several excellent places to eat right in the district, so make a day of it!

And the painting attached to this post?  Walking The Neighborhood.  And the neighborhood they're walking?  Dundee.  Naturally!

Later, Cooper

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, Jefferson, Iowa.

Scanning.  In our techno-modern world, scanning really is a multi use word, but the title and focus of this post is going to settle on Webster 2B:  

 to glance from point to point often hastily, casually, or in search of a particular item

I've mentioned in recent posts that my current job description includes 2 hours of research for my spouse's work, scheduled to happen during non studio hours.  Makes for a full day, and encourages excellent use of each hour.  Shew!  That said, my scanning speed has picked up considerably over the last several months.  My eyes attack that screen with a vengeance, picking out only the necessary stuff.

Okay, so to continue this post, we need to veer over to the Jefferson Public Library  (one of my fav city institutions by the way!)  I finally got my email address added to my patron account, which among many benefits is that helpful email about "your books are due".  Have I mentioned that Jefferson's library is actually two buildings with a connector atrium?  Children's section on the east, adults in the west wing.  And it only makes sense that the books due warning comes with labels designating which wing your stuff is due at.  Until.  Speed scan that line and what do ya' get?  Adult books, Jefferson Library.  Dios mio.  Yes, I backed up, slowed down and reread that one.  And made a mental note to get the almost delinquent one up there yet this morning.  

But really, you've got to admit, scanning is normally a good thing.  Scanning is usually a self tool to absorb just the information you need.  Brief.  To the point.  Concise.  Narrows the finish to a powerful, compelling result.

I am reading Landscape Painting, Inside and Out, Macpherson.

"Quickly glance at your subject, then shut your eyes.  What harmony, mood and overall color quality does the scene exude?   What one color is predominant?  Trust yourself."

"Choose your color notes.  Look at the subject for one second, then look away from it.  React to your first impression.  If you stare too long into the scene, the colors and values can start to bleach out from overanalyzing.  Trust your impression of the color."

I think he means trust your scan.

So you have 53 tubes of paint on your table, and a desire to use them all - one scene, one canvas.  May I suggest that would be a perfect time to do a little scanning?  Pick and choose.   And the forest scene?  Better if you don't paint in every tree you see.  Survey that scene with a scanner eye - you'll catch the important ones, the one's you should paint in.  The street scene is more intriguing if you don't paint in every single sign, every brick in the building, every person on the sidewalk.

Right??

Scan.  Find the good stuff and get it on the canvas.  Leave the rest by the wayside.  Scan.  Yup, part of an artist's job description is to pick and choose.  Who knew?!

Later, Cooper

And tomorrow a new painting to post.  Stay tuned.