Kekaulike Mall with USK Oahu

When you have blue skies, warm breezes, palm trees and a bustling market square in Chinatown, it begs to be sketched. A few of the USk Oahu sketchers were kind enough to meet with me on Saturday afternoon for an impromptu outing at Kekaulike Mall in downtown Honolulu.

Here's my finished spread with my cool new USk Oahu fridge magnet from AJ! Thanks, AJ!

Check out more photos by Sebastian and our sketches on Flickr!

We met at the intersection of Kekaulike and North King St at 1:30, exchanged sketching stories, browsed each other's sketchbooks and realized we should probably get busy! That's Sebastian, Harald and A.J. (above) making the most of the hour of intense sketching we did during our visit to Kekaulike Mall. Sebastian wore an official orange USk Oahu tee shirt for easy recognition.

We felt that we could have spent a lifetime there, but accomplished a decent start in our sketchbooks. As we shared our sketches, we promised to get together again in early January for another outing. 

I liked the way the bananas are hung on a rail above boxes of fresh produce. It's illuminating to take the time to read the produce signs, even if you can't read the part written in Chinese. There are so many new and interesting subjects here: a rainbow display of shiny plastic housewares, a variety of brooms made in all sizes, shapes and materials and a gigantic durian which was mercifully intact! I  had to go back for another go at the sketches I started, finishing up some text and adding color.

A bit of history about our location: Much of Chinatown in Honolulu was rebuilt at the turn of the century after two fires. In the 1980s the city developed both Maunakea Marketplace and Kekaulike Mall to draw in commercial ventures. Along with O`ahu Marketplace, these centers teem with immigrant entrepreneurs selling fresh produce, seafood, clothing and household items.

Beach panorama

Here you go, all those wearing warm socks, indoors with a blanket by the fireplace. 

I posted a video on Instagram showing step by step progression. 

Candy from a stranger

Would you? Take candy from a stranger? And then follow them to another location out of curiosity?
Sounds like the plot from a horror film. And yet.......

I realize this seems like a lure, but I promise, no malware lurking while I paint something sweet on Periscope today.

That's what happens all the time on social media. A common malady on today's social media is "comment spam". Has this happened to you:

You open your blog and see that you have a new comment or two. As you start reading a compliment about your content, images, etc. you begin to feel gratified that someone has taken the time to communicate their appreciation. Then annoyance and disappointment set in. There are two suspicious links and a request to visit their website for thousands of free followers on your Instagram or blog. It's a little like taking candy from a stranger. Don't click the links in the comments!


Up until now, I have allowed anyone to post their comments here immediately. Recently I have received a few manageable comment spams which I delete as soon as I see them. But to avoid wasted time and energy, I need to be able to manage them effectively.

 Therefore, I am putting a protective measure into place. I will set my comments to moderation. For a short while, you will need to fill in the secret wobbly letters or numbers to prove that you are a real person, not a spam robot. Please take the time to go through this extra step, just for a while until the robots go away.

Your comments matter. There’s no doubt about it. I particularly enjoy reading what you have to say on any particular blog post here.  I want you to feel that my site is a safe place to be. And I want to know what you are thinking. I am energized and invigorated from reading legitimate remarks from real people like you – engaged readers adding thoughtful and insightful discussion to my content.


Don't worry about my links in these blog posts. They are safe. Just don't click links in readers' emails or tempting sales websites in their comments. Meanwhile, you can always comment on my Instagram posts where blocking spammers is easy and there are no problems for readers who want to comment.

Now. Who wants chocolate? What's your favorite candy? Watch my periscope.tv/michelecoopart today at 4:30 Pacific Time while I paint a sweet watercolor demonstration.

Yesterday's Drybrush Demo on Periscope

It was fun demonstrating live yesterday afternoon on periscope.tv/michelecoopart 

We had people from Camano Island to Seattle to Virginia to New Zealand watching as I shared some tips on drybrush technique in watercolor. If you missed it, you can still watch the replay.

I enjoyed sharing the process of discovery as I played with a granulating, low chroma palette of Daniel Smith colors. For those who asked, the easel I used can be viewed here.

Thanks again for watching!

"Snowline"--Original Watercolor by Michele Cooper (8x10" on Arches 140lb Rough)

I was inspired by this photo from the North Cascads Institute Instagram. 

A Seasonal Turning Point

The end of November and beginning of December creates a shift in the landscape here in the Pacific Northwest. The North Cascades Pass is now closed until May. Fall colors fade and disappear under new snowfall as the snow line comes down lower into the foothills.  (View and comment on Instragram) Watch live on Periscope at 4:30 today for a watercolor demo of similar scene.

As I sorted through my studio yesterday, I picked up this half sheet watercolor and decided to make a few adjustments. Not a lot, just a few refinements and then signing it. The contrast of soft, rough and hard edges is a challenge to ones watercolor technique, brushwork and timing. Sometimes it takes a while to allow the initial impetus to fade and to see the painting on its own terms.