What's the Perfect Color for Black Friday?

Chocolate

The word of the day

Heirloom.

What comes to your mind when you hear that word?

Start with a title. 

Instead of looking around for objects that you could use as painting subjects, why not look around for titles that will generate a painting? I can think of lots of still life objects like jewelry pieces, chinaware, pottery, tools, watches, quilts, etc. that would fit the word "heirloom".  What do you feel like painting today?

Sunday painters – Lavender Earl Grey tea

Try a variety of arrangements and alternative viewpoints.

Last time, I found my still life on the kitchen window sill. This time, circumstances led me to it. My coffee maker was all warmed up, I went to the fridge to get milk for a latte' and......horrors!......no milk! What to do? Well, when life gives you lemons.......you slice them and put them in your iced tea!

It's been hot for us here in the Pacific NW. We've been having temperatures averaging 84°F. Add to that the fact that the lavender harvest has just peaked and the plants along my driveway still have blooms. A caffeine kick start may still be had if one makes tea, iced tea for this weather! Lavender Earl Grey seems just the right blend.

^{Remember when setting up your own still life, that appropriate objects are just the beginning. You must keep in mind that the viewpoint, compositional placement, color scheme, and lighting need to be considered. Which of the three choices above seems to work the best, in your opinion?}

Studio corner with still life and plein air sketches

Springtime gets the creative juices flowing, both in nature and in the artist. It's a time when one has renewed hope, a feeling of joy and an new outlook on the possibilities life can present.

Here's a peek at some of the things I find inspirational; objects that I always have available in the studio and some sketches from an impromptu engagement with the outdoors.

I trust it may give you the spark you need to renew your efforts to improve your own work.

The jam that wasn't there

Original Watercolor by Michele Cooper
Size: 10"x8"
Price: $100

We like it. A lot. Look at it in the light!
Here's what's left of our apricot preserves after Sunday morning breakfast.


Here's the set up in my studio. I needed to get the eye level and light from the window just right, so I stacked up some things until it worked.

Coffee Cherries

Coffee Cherries  (7x5")
Original Watercolor by Michele Cooper

Are you dying for some color about now? Me, too!
Here's a page from my 2014 Sketchbook Project with more than grey for color.

We've been taking our crisp, cold, blue skies for granted this past week, and now we're suffused with the usual wet, grey winter atmosphere.

"The richest kind"

My grandparents made coffee in a percolator on top of the stove. Since my grandmother believed everything Mrs. Olson said, she bought just the richest kind---Folgers.

I always thought the key was the neatest thing. It came attached and you wound it around until it was all one tidy little coil and the lid came off. Too sharp for kids like me to handle.

This is a page from my 2014 Sketchbook Project. Search my name for any digitized pages from previous projects I'm in.

Indian Corn

Indian Corn by Michele Cooper
Micron Pen
Size: 9x12   (click image to zoom)

Well, now I have a problem. I drew this on location at Gordon's Skagit Farm, froze my fingers off and decided to wait to paint the watercolor wash later. I'm not so sure I should.
What's your opinion? See my inspiration here.

Potpourri

Potpourri
Original Watercolor by Michele Cooper
Size: 11x15"  Price: $200

Here is a loose watercolor of a bowl of potpourri with a dominance of warm color. I love the interplay of light and shadow on the circular shapes and the complementary orange/blue color scheme.

Strawberries in the Studio

Two Strawberries & Leaves   sold
5x7" Original watercolor

I love the beautiful weather we've been having. And the strawberries in our patio pots are still coming!

To get the shadow composition I wanted, I had the strawberries up on a stack of books in another part of the studio and moved back and forth from there to my easel to paint them.

Rhododendrons

Rhodies
18x24"   Original Watercolor
by Michele Cooper


All our rhododendrons in our garden are in bloom. In fact, some of them are getting soaked in the rain and blossoms are falling off.

You can get a pretty nice bouquet out of just a few branches. I hear the best time to prune them is when they are in bloom.

Sketchbook Fold-Out with Apple

Two 5x7" sections showing
with 4" journal tab

Since this sketchbook journal was made accordion style, it's fun to see what you get when pages are folded out at random.

Los Tres Amigos Progression

 One of the 38 paintings in my show at Gallery by the Bay this month is "Los Tres Amigos (Tomatillos)"

8x10" Original Watercolor Framed : 11x14"
(Click images to zoom)

I started out with a contour drawing from the set up in my studio of two tomatillos and a husk. I painted the warm and cool lights and darks, capturing the light and cast shadows.

For the background, I used a darker value to highlight the tops of the tomatillos. I used Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper, which creates some very nice textural drizzles wet on wet.

Finally, I painted just a few of the delicate veins in the husk for texture.
(Click images to see larger)

To purchase this painting, please contact Gallery by the Bay or pick it up in person Wednesday-Saturday, 11-4.

To learn how to paint in watercolor, come to my new series of classes starting April 17 at Gallery by the Bay. For more info please

Phone	360-629-4297
Email	byindy@hotmail.com

Apples

3 apples, north light
7x11
Original Watercolor Demonstration
by Michele Cooper

I painted this as a demonstration for one of my classes. Even though the subject was in north light, the photo comes out a lot cooler in this photo than the actual color of the original artwork.

Tip: Click the photo for enlargement