Cucumber Mint Ice Water

We are forecast to have a heat wave so I am getting prepared. Snip a few stems of mint, slice cucumber very thin, add ice and water. Ahhhhh, refreshing....and highly paintable!

I've already guzzled three glasses.

Ocean

The weather has been so beautiful this week that it makes you feel guilty when you're not out there painting. But then, once you're out of the air conditioned car, NW heat melt takes over. The solution is to find some shade on a hilltop and let the ocean breeze cool you off.

There's a very special reason why I wanted to use "Ocean" in this post. :-)

Hummingbird

I wish there was a zoom feature on my iPad camera. This is the best I could do from my viewpoint, without disturbing one of the 5 or 6 hummingbirds that visit our back yard.

Bonney's Bachelor Buttons

"Bonney's Bachelor Buttons"
Original Watercolor by Michele Cooper
Size: 3x5"

I recently had lunch with some fellow artists. These bachelor buttons were in the garden path as we walked up to the house. I now have a few added to my blue and white garden.

Hmmmmm. The background greens are much more yellow green than they look here on my monitor.
See yesterday's post.

I want to keep it

Have you ever planned a gift for someone who really deserves something special...then it turned out so well that you wanted to keep it for yourself?

Well, here is my hand painted thank you note, temptingly sitting on my studio window sill. No, no, It was intended for my friend. I am putting it in an envelope right now!

Tuscany-the little frog pond

 "Secret Pond in Tuscany"
Original Gouache Painting by Michele Cooper
Size: 8x10"

We stayed at a lovely villa in Tuscany. If you take a walk in the late afternoon, you will hear frogs. Follow the sound and it takes you down a farm path to this lovely secret spot in the cool shade.

The Gate at San Gimignano

"Gate at San Gimignano"
Original Watercolor by Michele Cooper
Size: 15x11"

We've recently been out of town, then had a succession of out of town visitors. Sorry for the wait as life has interrupted my painting and blogging.

 (I took this from my travel paintings while in Italy.)

Art & Wine, Watercolor Lighthouse

"Watercolor Lighthouse"
Original Watercolor by Michele Cooper
Step by step painting for Art & Wine
Size: 9x12"

Tonight was my 4th Art & Wine workshop for Kirkland Arts Center. What a great group of people....and I think they were amazed at what they could do.  After a little wine, cheese and some step by step instruction, they realized that they were artists, too!

Art & Wine is where you come and taste wine, paint without having to bring ANY supplies, and have fun from 3-6 on a Saturday with me. I'll lead you through a colorful watercolor painting (this time it was a lighthouse) step by step. Bring a friend, no experience necessary! It's Art & Wine. Details here.   Or we could set one up in your area this summer. :-) Write to me and I will send the FAQs.