North Cascades Fall Getaway Workshop Announcement

Watercolor a single leaf or an entire hillside of autumn colors!

I am pleased to announce an art adventure opportunity for those who love the outdoors, the Pacific NW, and sketching and painting in watercolor. On Oct 7-9, I will lead a watercolor class on Fall Color, Trees & Mountain Atmosphere at the North Cascades Institute's Environmental Learning Center on Diablo Lake. It's 2 nights, three days of overnight "learning and lodging."

 We have an indoor classroom as well as the beautiful outdoor studio of the great North Cascades.

Institute naturalists will share the natural history of the many species of conifers in the North Cascades as you learn to record your impressions in watercolor and ink. Experiment with lush autumn colors and unconventional tools like twigs and corsage pins!
See more details here, listed in Learning Center Programs under Autumn Flora and Conifers.

No matter what the weather, the North Cascades provide inspiring views in any season. Here are a few of my quick sketches from a summer hike. Artwork by Michele Cooper

Celebrating 30 Years of Connecting People, Nature & Community!

Named a "Top Three Spots in the North Cascades" by The Seattle Times and "Top Ten Great Getaways" by ParentMap Magazine, the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center is a hub of discovery for all ages in one of the wildest, most biologically diverse landscapes in North America. Operated by North Cascades Institute in partnership with the National Park Service and the City of Seattle, this award-winning residential campus is nestled on the shores of Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park Service Complex.

Everything but the kitchen sink

They say if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I say if the ink spills, grab your dip pen and make a sketch.

I used every thing at my disposal. 

It's Freecode, not Freelode

On my live periscope today, I opened up some art materials mail. And in one of the packages was a lovely shiny new red fountain pen which said Freelode on the box. (After the broadcast, I looked it up and I guess the company name is Freecode.)

Now doesn't that label look like it says "Freelode" to you?

Anyway, I figured out how to take it apart still further, and Voila!, the ink adapter worked like a charm!

Periscope Broadcast Live on Thursday

I got a bunch of orders back from Amazon and can't wait to share them with you. Come on over to my live broadcast Thursday afternoon for some surprises and experiments in watercolor!

Probably will do this around 2:30 or 3:00 unless art interrupts life!
Watch on periscope/michelecoopart 

Faux leather roll up case for watercolor sketch kit

 

Thinking of going on a nature walk in the crisp fall air? Why not take your watercolor sketch kit along?

This faux leather roll up case will hold:

• A waterbrush that carries its own water in the handle
• A disposable fountain pen with water soluble ink
• A wee four color DIY watercolor set in a mint tin
• A #2 mechanical pencil,  .7 mm
• A Sharpie waterproof  fine point grip pen
• A folded blue paper shop towel

*Available only for registered students at the October 7,8 and 9 North Cascades Fall Getaway Workshop 
Please contact me to order.

*Kit includes: 1 faux leather roll up case, 1  #2 mechanical pencil, .7 mm, and 1 Sharpie waterproof  fine point grip pen (other items are not included, display only)

Summer Workshop Photos

It's been the busiest summer I've had in a long time! I'm finally able to begin catching up on correspondence and share a few of my art adventures with you.

Here's an overview of a day at one of my Urban Sketching Workshops at Skagit Valley College this summer. What a great day we had, sketching out there together! 

Class Schedule: Day 1, Saturday 

Intro, handouts

2 take home sketchbooks, fold and cut

Practice sketching indoors, outside on campus

11:05 bus to Skagit Station-sketching on bus

Walk to Tri-Dee (use mid-day break to pick up any materials you might need)

Group Photo taken next to the mural at Tri-Dee

Farmers Market Lunch and Demo 12:00-1:30

Class paint until 2:30

Share sketchbooks

Ink wash demo 

Return bus sketching 

Share sketchbooks

Day 6 and one more Video Tutorial

For Day 6 of World Watercolor Month, I made a short video on how to paint a cloudy sky. I used my little DIY Altoids kit and a travel brush to demonstrate some basic techniques. I hope you find it helpful. Follow this link to watch the tutorial on YouTube. 

Update!

I can't believe my photo on Flickr has gone up to 7.5K views! https://flic.kr/p/JFRdXb

Day 5 of World Watercolor Month - 5th Free Watercolor Video

Just for World Watercolor Month, I have made 5 short YouTube video tutorials on easy how-to watercolor techniques and I will post them here each day. That way you can learn how watercolor works as you do your daily practice. Follow this link to today's free short video tutorial.

Today is Day 5 and I am having so much fun looking at the vast selection of watercolors from around the world being posted on Instagram and Facebook! This time my tutorial is about color temperature and easy to do value scales. Watch the video for tips on how to mix them.

Watch today's YouTube video for tips on making light and dark gradations with the 3 color palette. Wine bottles provide the opportunity to play with warm/cool colors. Wait till you see my page full of warm/cool color swatches to try!

Let's Practice!

Watercolor Value Gradations and color temperature  with a Limited primary palette of just three colors. You will need:

1. Fabriano Artistico, Arches or Saunders Waterford 140# watercolor paper 
2. Pentel waterbrush, your choice of a round watercolor brush 
3. water in small plastic cup
4. 3 small tubes of artist's quality watercolor (squeeze a bit out onto a saucer or make a DIY tiny travel palette and use the lid for mixing.
5. Colors: Azo Yellow, Quinacridone Rose, Phthalo Blue (green shade)

Well, that's the last of my five special YouTube videos made just for World Watercolor Month. If you have enjoyed them, please give me a thumbs up or comment. Check out my Periscope videos for more watercolor tips and demonstrations. Stop by and say hello!

Day 4 of World Watercolor Month - 4th Free Watercolor Video

Just for World Watercolor Month, I have made 5 short YouTube video tutorials on easy how-to watercolor techniques and I will post them here each day. That way you can learn how watercolor works as you do your daily practice. Follow this link to today's free short video tutorial.

Today is Day 4 and I imagine that by now you may have created some lovely color swatches and then some rather grungy puddles of "mud". So as long as we are going to make muddy colors, let's make some glorious ones! Grey can be be a luminous color. Watch the video for tips on how to mix them.

Watch today's YouTube video for tips on mixing grey colors in watercolor with the 3 color palette. 

Let's Practice!

Watercolor Mixing Grays with a Limited primary palette of just three colors. You will need:

1. Fabriano Artistico, Arches or Saunders Waterford 140# watercolor paper 
2. Pentel waterbrush, 1/2" synthetic flat watercolor brush
3. water in small plastic cup
4. 3 small tubes of artist's quality watercolor (squeeze a bit out onto a saucer or make a DIY tiny travel palette and use the lid for mixing.
5. Colors: Azo Yellow, Quinacridone Rose, Phthalo Blue (green shade)

Day 3 of World Watercolor Month - 3rd Free Watercolor Video

Just for World Watercolor Month, I have made 5 short YouTube video tutorials on easy how to watercolor techniques and will post them here each day. That way you can learn how watercolor works as you do your daily practice. Follow this link to today's free short video tutorial.

Today is Day 3 so let's try glazing, one of the 3 basic methods used in watercolor. 

Learn how to get darker colors by glazing or layering watercolor wet on dry.

Watercolor Methods Limited primary palette=glazing with just three colors. You will need:

1. Fabriano Artistico, Arches or Saunders Waterford 140# watercolor paper 
2. Pentel waterbrush
3. water in small plastic cup
4. 3 small tubes of artist's quality watercolor (squeeze a bit out onto a saucer or make a DIY tiny travel palette and use the lid for mixing.
5. Colors: Azo Yellow, Quinacridone Rose, Phthalo Blue (green shade)

An example of glazing technique, layering washes in the leaves.