New DVD Release--Homer's "Gloucester Boys"

Step by Step 20 minute lesson on DVD

Here's a first look at the cover of my new watercolor  instructional DVD, Homer's "Gloucester Boys."
Release date:
August 31, 2012

The cover art shows the demonstration painting in the lesson.  Discover watercolor secrets of simplifying figures as Michele Cooper demonstrates Winslow Homer's "Gloucester Boys", step by step.

Learn how to simplify the figure into two basic shapes, create strong contrasts of light and shadow, drop in color for skin tones and use specific brushwork for soft and rough edges. There is a bonus section of photo references so that you, too, can create dozens of your own simple but effective watercolor figures.

Price: $20.00 for one DVD plus $5.00 S&H

"Flooded Fields 3" - Corrective Measures

Here's the third of 3 installments of my new watercolor demonstration video, "Flooded Fields".

It's commonly thought that you can't make corrections in watercolor....once it's on the paper, it's there for good. In Part 3 of my new video, I show you two reasons to change the "finished" painting and the methods you might use to accomplish it. Get ready to use an X-Acto blade and paint over the entire foreground of a "finished" painting.

There are a few tips on color mixing and brushwork, too.

Please let me know what you think. Once you watch it, don't forget to give it a thumbs up if you "like" it. Thanks for watching Parts 1 and 2 and for your kind words and comments.

"Flooded Fields 2" - The Foreground

Here's the second of 3 installments of my new watercolor demonstration video, "Flooded Fields". Please let me know what you think. Once you watch it, don't forget to give it a thumbs up if you "like" it. Thanks for watching Part 1 and for your kind words and comments.

Tomorrow, I will post Part 3.

"Flooded Fields 1" New Video

Here's the first of 3 installments in my new watercolor demonstration video, "Flooded Fields". Please let me know what you think. Once you watch it, don't forget to give it a thumbs up if you "like" it.

Tomorrow, I will post Part 2.

Flooded Fields

Flooded Fields
Original Watercolor
by Michele Cooper

I've just finished the rough cut of my video of this painting. It's got lots of unorthodox watercolor tricks, like painting the darks first, using a knife blade to recover whites and testing out washes over the "finished" painting.

Would you like to see the video? Stay tuned!

Bear at Woodland Park Zoo

 Bear at Woodland Park Zoo
15x22" Original Watercolor
by Michele Cooper

Since we were immersed in Winslow Homer's hunting and fishing adventures last weekend, I thought I might post one of my own trophies. No canoes, guns, camping or guides, just a family membership to Woodland Park Zoo and my field painting kit.

Day Two of the Homer Workshop

Grace, Tamara, Nancy, Karen and Jennifer (standing in for Cherry) hard at work.


My artwork examples









Demonstration at my table.






Free to work on their own paintings for the rest of the afternoon.

Day One of the Homer Workshop

 Here we are, the supplies for our two day workshop on Winslow Homer, ready to enter the gallery and get to work.

 Students working at their color exercises and sketching their compositions.

 


Books, paints, reference photos, visual aids and more available to use during the workshop.

"Choosing the Subject"
by Michele Cooper
Original Watercolor 15x22

As I survey the remainder of the summer, I have so many subjects from which to choose. I want to take advantage of the beautiful weather and paint outdoors every day that I can.

Another House Portrait

 Here's another commission for a house portrait. I do these for one of the top real estate agents in the nation.

When one of her clients buys their first home, she commissions me to paint a small watercolor house portrait for them and includes it in their gift basket on closing.

Art & Wine - Tuscan Landscapes

We have a new series of classes at Kirkland Arts Center--Art & Wine!
Everything is included: wine, cheese, nibbles, &  art materials (watercolors, paper, brushes, etc for my class) 

My class did Tuscan Landscapes while tasting 3 wines from the region: a Pinot Grigio and two reds. We used an aereator to make sure the reds gave their full bouquet and taste....see it along the right center border? The cheeses and other nibbles went perfectly with the wine, as did the fun afternoon of art and conversation.

Hmm. Wonder who's going to sip that last half glass of the Rosso?

Don't miss the next one, coming up on October 6.
Contact to save your spot: TEL: (425) 822-7161 - EMAIL: info@kirklandartscenter.org

Gallery Presentation Tomorrow

Sailing the Catboat
by Winslow Homer






Watercolor and gouache over graphite 
7 1/2 x 13 3/4 in.

You're Invited!
Art History lll, Winslow Homer, an Artist's View | Gallery Presentation by Michele Cooper
Kirkland Arts Center
Thursday, August 9, 2012
6:30pm - 8:30 pm

Winslow Homer once predicted that if he won a place for himself in the pantheon of American artists, it would be for his watercolors. ''You will see,'' he told a collector, ''in the future I will live by my watercolors.'' How did he do it? What colors did he use?  Michele gives an overview of Homer's watercolors from the viewpoint of a practicing artist.

Please call KAC for your reservation:  (425) 822-716
Fee: $10 per person