Zoom Class Jan 8 or Jan 11

Take an Art Break!

SMALL FORMAT WINTER WATERCOLOR LANDSCAPE 

Live from Michele’s NW Studio via Zoom

Michele Cooper, Instructor

• Wednesday, January 8, 2025
• 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM PST

OR

• Saturday, January 11, 2025
• 10:00am-12:00 PST
• Registration is open 

Project: New Small Format Winter Watercolor Landscape 

• Paint a winter landscape step by step 
• Choose 5x7”, 8x10” or 9x12” format, for a winter watercolor scene 
• Live paint along, feedback and/or watch replay
• All levels,  Ages 14 through adult

**Zelle Register michelec12@gmail.com 

Tuition: $45 for a 2hr. class on Zoom, replays available 

Payable by Zelle, check **

Each Zoom class will have a session live and also an additional pre-recorded project, taking you step by step from drawing, painting, and details. Examples here are part of my preliminary preparation for the zoom class. Similar and additional subject matter will be presented live.

More information here; https://michelecooper.blogspot.com/2024/11/two-new-winter-one-day-watercolor.html

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.

Plein Air Sidewalk

 This is the view out the south window of my studio. We have been having some fantastic sunny weather here in the Pacific NW.  I'm sitting at my desk, working on ......desk stuff....and the urge to go out and paint is irresistible.



 I've spent some time making a contour drawing with a 2b pencil on 140# D'Arches watercolor paper.

Whew! these black pants are burning me up! No time!

Now for the rest of my setup! I have so many outdoor painting kits, you wouldn't believe! Just search this blog for descriptions of a few (watercolor outdoor kit, and/or plein air).

So what do I use for painting 4 feet away from the studio? A camp chair, cardboard box, folding palette, two or three brushes and a water container. I just flick the excess water off my brush into the bushes, no need for a sponge.

Gotta stop, haul everything back into the studio, shower, change and zip off for my night class at SVC. Weather's supposed to be good tomorrow, so I'll take this up again then. I'll update this post with the finished painting as soon as it's done.
Stay tuned! :-

It took a while, but here is the finished painting.

Free Watercolor Video Lesson

Iris Fields
5x7" Original Watercolor
by Michele Cooper

Foregrounds and value studies seem to be two of the most challenging aspects of painting a watercolor landscape.

This subject was covered in one of my recent classes, but I wanted to connect those two aspects to a finished example. So several days later, long nights and editing out lawnmower sounds and a tiny spider descending into frame from my skylight............and......Voilà! I have one more YouTube demonstration to add to my channel!

You can watch it right here on my blog or click the little rectangle to the right of the YouTube logo in the lower right corner of the video to see full screen here or on YouTube. Let me know what you think, okay?

Free Watercolor Lesson

Original watercolors by Michele Cooper.

Two examples of tulip fields, using the principles of gradation and alternation with reference photo.

For those who are curious about what goes on in my watercolor classes, here is an excerpt from a recent session, with visual aids, demonstrations and sample assignments.

Using Walnut Ink or Liquid Pencil, study lights and darks of your subject.

Select one of your reference photos or sketches. Make one or two eighth sheet watercolor sketches to work out the composition, then use the sketch to make a larger painting.

Have fun, all you Sunday painters!

Red Roof Progression

Red House on the Bluff
8x10" Original Watercolor, Line and Wash


First, I used a photo reference and micron pen....no preliminary drawing, no eraser!

Next I painted a pattern of light and shadow.



Finally, I worked on the variations of light and dark tones, warm and cool colors and textures, while trying to keep it fresh and "sketchy".

 This one's not in the show at Gallery by the Bay. I just finished it in the studio yesterday.

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