Watercolor classes start Thursday in Stanwood

I want to thank A Guilded Gallery for this very nice write-up in their recent newsletter. Hard to believe, but classes in Stanwood start this week already. It feels like summer today, but I guess fall is here!

Watercolors with Michele Cooper Michele Cooper has been teaching local artists for over 25 years, and leaves a trail of work anyone would be proud of. She is a  signature member of the Northwest Watercolor Society, and her paintings are widely recognized

Michele teaches us to see shapes instead of things. Starting with contour drawings and value studies, she stresses that we should "paint what we see, not what we think we already know." 5 Thursday classes; Sept 18, 25, October 2, 9, 16th, and again on Oct. 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13, and 20th. Price for 5 class session is $150 To register or for more information, please click the leaf badge in the right column www.michelecooper.com  For a collection of recent sketches, visit michelecooperart on Instagram

Multiple compositions from the same Scene

As I was waiting at a stoplight the other day, I snapped a photo of the scene to my left. It was the sky that first caught my attention.

The longer I looked, the more compositional possibilities I saw.
So far, I've cropped out 9. Here are a few.

How many can you find?

Watercolor Cards Workshop Tomorrow

"Weathered"  Sold

Here's a preview for those enrolled who subscribe to my blog. :)
See you tomorrow!

Make your own Watercolor Cards

These are just two of the designs for our upcoming watercolor workshop for beginners on Dec 1,  at Kirkland Arts Center. No experience necessary, all materials provided. As you can see, one is simpler, very easy for beginners to do. The other is similar in design, but uses more colors and technique. Once you learn the technique, the sky's the limit!

More info...............If you want to continue practicing at home, I have a Watercolor Starter Kit that can be ordered in advance and taken home after the workshop.
Open to new students and returning ones. Call in (425) 822-7161, come in, or register online.

Start with the Darks

Autumn Silhouette
Original Watercolor by Michele Cooper
Artwork: 5x7      Framed: 8x10"
Price: $95 framed, $75 matt/wrap, or $60 without

This demonstration shows how to "paint backwards".....in watercolor, that means starting with the darkest values.

Hollyhocks for Summer

 "Hollyhocks for Summer"
Original Watercolor by Michele Cooper
Size: 5x3.5"  Price: $35 plus S&H

Once the painting is dry, I usually erase the pencil lines. Sometimes, though, I think keeping just a few lines from the original drawing can make it a touch more personal. You can get a glimpse of the artist's creative process from start to finish.

Watercolor with Friends

Today I had the pleasure of teaching a private workshop at my NW Studio. The weather was perfect for painting outdoors in my shady and secluded blue and white garden. We kept up our energy with snacks and beverages.

Some of the group had never painted in watercolor before. As you can see, everyone did a great job. (One person is missing from the class photo, but her artwork made it!)

Why not schedule a private workshop for you and your friends? Especially while we can paint in the garden! The weather is supposed to hold up for at least 10 more days. I provide everything, art supplies, beverages, door prizes and more! Click here for more information.

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.

Dream of Sailing ATC

Dream of Sailing
Original ATC by Michele Cooper
2.5 x 3.5"
Watercolor

This is a recent ATC of mine that I traded to a friend. It makes me think of the atmosphere and the experience of being in the San Juan Islands.

Choosing a Still Life Composition

 With my one little red plum, I started investigating the possibilities of composition.

I already painted it whole, so I cut it in half. No turning back now!

Each half is different: with and without the pit still in. The hollow half shows a different set of shadows inside. I could choose a variety of viewpoints....looking from above or different side angles. One way, it would show both the inside and outside of the plum.

Turn it this way and that, shine the light just so, and soon I realize how much like a jewel this little red fruit could appear.

Winter River

 Winter River
Original Watercolor 5x7"
by Michele Cooper

The Stillaguamish River is only a bit down the road from our house and provides endless possibilities, painting included. I hear the brown trout are running, but it's cold out there!

Sketchbook page with Value Study and Ink Sketch

Here's a page out of one of my sketchbooks. I have two sketches, room for one more and a haiku that I wrote about the experience of being in the high mountain atmosphere of Colorado.

The value study is done with 3 pens, a 30% warm grey, a 60% cool grey and a black Micron pen. The same Micron pen was used for the ink sketch.

There was no opportunity to do this on location as I took this photo from the bus on the way to Silverton. We rode the old mining train back.

Pike Place Market Line and Wash

"Pink at Pike Place"  Sold
Original Watercolor Line and Wash
8"x10"

This was a class demonstration. As usual, I used no preliminary drawing. I started with the head, using my Micron Pigma pen.
 
 Once I finished with the line work, I used watercolor, selectively, to complete the composition.

A lot was left out and a few things changed from my photo reference.

Autumn Leaves, Watercolor Class

A recent batch of fresh watercolors from students in one of my classes.

Beautiful work!

Watercolor Starter Kits for Beginners

 For those starting watercolor for the first time, it can be an expensive enterprise to buy all the supplies you need for your first class.

Maybe you're not even sure you will like watercolor and just want to try it out.

I've put together a Watercolor Starter Kit especially for those taking my classes and Art & Wine Workshops.

Cost: $25.00  (delivered in class or pick up at my studio)

What's Inside:
1 mechanical pencil with eraser
1 waterproof  support for watercolor paper
1 high quality 12-color watercolor paint set, semi-moist pans
2 watercolor brushes, 1 small detail and 1 large round
3 sheets of 140# professional quality watercolor paper (can be used on both sides)
Helpful pages on color mixing, technique and more,  to get you started.

Just enough to get you started the first day of class and keep you going for the rest of an eight week series. (It comes with enough paper to get started, but you will need to resupply as you use it up.)

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 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

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!

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