Monday, July 13, 2020

Fun with Watercolor on Location at Langus Riverside Park

Friday, July 10, 2020
It was a beautiful afternoon for a watercolor workshop along the banks of the Snohomish River. The scent of wild roses hung in the air as kayaks silently glided across the ripples and reflections in the lazily flowing water.

The hum of traffic in the distance could be heard now and then but the twittering of wild birds captures ones attention as they go flitting among the branches of the trees. Now and then a couple in quiet conversation strolls by.



A man walking his dog on the sidewalk past my car stops for a moment to compliment my work. He says his wife enjoys painting watercolors, too. He wears a face covering and keeps about 10 feet away. I have had my mask on while we talked and put it in my pocket in case I feel the need to wear it again.

I'm parked in a good spot, a safe distance from most passersby.


It's so nice to see the smiles on the faces of my online students, safe and comfortable at home, yet together here with me at the park.



I have detailed knowledge of all my favorite spots for summer outdoor painting. I have decades of experience in painting on location and teaching watercolors.

I'm going through dozens of practice runs on how to set up my filming and broadcast equipment for live interaction. So far, so good. Except once in a while the internet gremlins show up with a new glitch. Still, it's pretty close to being there face to face.

PS. I'm still training my assistant, but if you hear snoring from under a distant tree, it's NOT the internet gremlins.




Here are my 3 little ATCs from our location at Langus Park. We are collecting these for each of our summer workshops. At the end of the series, we'll have a swap among those who attended.


Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Schedule Updates for Outdoor Online Workshops

Until it is practical to meet in groups, our workshops will be live online through Zoom
This summer I am sharing some of my favorite outdoor painting spots through a series of 5 watercolor workshops. Check here for updates on Location and start times for our live online interactive summer sessions.

Registered students will receive a private video of the scene the evening before the workshop. This will help you get familiar with some of the subjects available, ambient sounds, etc.

Register for workshops 

Tentative schedule (there is room for adjustment due to weather, unforeseen circumstances or request by participants-i.e. switch from am to pm) Updates will be published here on my blog, Facebook Art Page and Instagram linktr.ee/michelecooperart 

1. Friday, July 10 (the majority favors pm) 2:30-5:30 pm
Location: River reflections, trees, mixing greens, kayaks in action, basic composition on location
Zoom live interactive on location 

2. Tuesday July 21 -- 2:30-5:30 pm
Location: Coastal scene, embankments, inlets, wildflowers, meadows and marshland, clouds, driftwood beach, foreground composition on location
Zoom live interactive on location

3. Wednesday August 5 — 2:30-5:30 pm
Location: Picturesque vintage harbor, tidal estuary. Options include boats moored in the marina, wildlife in the estuary, boardwalk, old harbor and buildings, dry dock and along Union Slough leading out to Gardner Bay.
Zoom live interactive on location 

4. Monday August 17 (9:30am-12:30pm) has been switched to (9:30am-12:30pm) because of weather watch for extreme heat (TBD by registered members of the class)
Choose Dates
Location: A secluded area in a public garden. 
Options include mass plantings of perennial flowering shrubs, ancient trees, an English garden complete with phone box garden seat, fishing pond with lilies, a cool shaded creek with small wooden bridge, drought plantings, vegetable garden, children's garden and more.

Zoom live interactive on location 
 
5. Wednesday Sept 16 (2:30-5:30pm)
Location:  Rural scenery
Options include: barns, fields, farm equipment, animals, winding country roads, early fall color

Zoom live interactive on location 
 
I am flexible on the start time for classes. Initially I plan am classes from 9:30-12:30   and  pm classes from 2:30-5:30. This takes advantage of the light conditions in summer. Please let me know your preference.

I don’t expect especially large attendance, so we can check in the day before and see how it goes with the weather and the group. It really will be like a small group of friends planning a pai9nt outing for the day.
 
Choose Dates

Sunday, July 5, 2020

Register for Summer Watercolor Workshops 2020


Save your spot, register now for our summer series of Five Online Watercolor workshops. Each workshop will be 2.5 to 3 hours depending on subject matter and student engagement.
There will be two workshops in July, two in August and one in mid September.

Tentative schedule (there is room for adjustment due to weather, unforeseen circumstances or request by participants-i.e. switch from am to pm)
Friday, July 10 pm                           Wednesday August 5 pm
Tuesday July 21 pm                         Monday August 17 pm

Wednesday Sept 16 am

Choose Dates
Participants will receive full details about the virtual meeting place, materials, expectations, and other useful tips before each workshop. Scroll down for information about registration, level, and cancellations policy. For questions contact Michele Cooper michelec12@gmail.com

Level
Workshops are designed for all levels of participants from beginners to advanced painters. Instructor will provide guidance and tips necessary to get started for beginner painters while more seasoned artists will be challenged to further their skills with a fun array of fast-paced subjects and themes. Some previous experience will be helpful but not required.

Registration 
You can register for individual workshops, take the entire series of 5, or pick and choose any 3.

One workshop at a time $45

I am All In (Take all 5 workshops at $37/workshop) $185
Pick and Choose 3 ($40/workshop) $120

Avoid fees and register by emailing michelec12@gmail.com with your choice of workshops.
You can send your payment by:
  1. Venmo (@Michele-Cooper-49)
  2. Cash App ($MicheleLCooper)
  3. Paypal (https://www.paypal.me/michelec12) Keep in mind PayPal charges a small fee unless you use the "friends" option. 
  4. Check to Michele Cooper 
Cancelations
Because of the uncertainty of this time you can cancel any workshop or package at any point for a full refund. Transaction fees will be charged if applicable.

Thursday, July 2, 2020

New 2020 Summer Series of Live Online Watercolor Classes

I found a lovely spot to paint in a nearby public garden.

Let’s paint on location this summer. I would love to share a few of my favorite spots with you where we can paint together, apart. As we follow official guidelines toward gradual reopening where we live, let’s share the joys of sketching and painting outdoors. Join me live online every 10 days or so as we explore the season with watercolor.



  • Live watercolor demo from  Michele Cooper

  • Suitable for ALL levels of painters 

  • Plenty of Q & A

  • Take advantage of the “mobile studio”

  • Interact/chat with other attendees

  • Paint along with me or paint later

  • Send me a photo of your painting and I will critique and showcase in a special video on YouTube!

I am running a free live online informal meeting with a brief watercolor demonstration on Wednesday, July 8th at 6 pm PDT.  Wherever you are, join me for this Q&A session about the upcoming summer series of workshops and a free live demo of people walking dogs. To join, please fill out my 2 minute survey.


This online workshop is suitable for painters of any level.  Each session there will be an interactive demonstration/tutorial in Watercolor.  I will go at a slow pace and describe with commentary what I am doing and the techniques I am using.  The commentary will only be in English, and I will try and speak slowly in case I have any attendees where English is not their first language.
All you will need is a good/reliable internet connection, and a headphone or PC speakers to hear me and to hear each other .  If you want to, you'll be able to ask plenty of questions as I go along.  There is a $45.00 USD fee to attend this live session.  It will not be uploaded to YouTube (as a Public Video) or available to anyone apart from the attendees who have paid to watch.  I should be able to send you a link to the recording of the demo afterwards, which only you can see.  
The demo might be an hour to an hour and a half in duration (depends on how many questions/comments I get!).  We will paint at a slow speed and in stages.  So you can paint along with me if you want, or wait until you receive a link to the recording. I suggest that you find a quiet spot outdoors to follow along with the recording.

What you will need (apart from paper and water)
  1. See my Sketching Equipment page for suggested on location equipment.
  2. Your normal palette of colors (I mainly use, organic vermilion, alizarin crimson, burnt sienna, raw sienna, cerulean blue, cobalt blue, ultramarine blue, aureoline yellow and new gamboge yellow, white paint for highlights).  You don't need to use these colors.
Hope to see you online!
Contact me if you have questions.

Watch my series on “Flooded Fields” ahead of time for tips on painting on location.
Here’s a free series to demonstrate my usual approach, special techniques and methods during a typical outdoor watercolor excursion.

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

World Watercolor Month Returns!


Join our Summer Outdoor Painting Watercolor Workshops, Live Online
Bring your Watercolors! July/August, 2020
More information 

I’ll share some of my favorite painting spots with you.