On location sketching Workshop in Edmonds on August 31

 Stretch your Sketching Skills with Panoramas

Class Date: August 31

9-12:30

An on location sketching and watercolor painting workshop

with Michele Cooper, Instructor 

Follow Michele’s simple lessons on how to draw and paint an exciting panoramic sketch in line and wash. Meet at ARTspot at 9:00. After a brief review of the art materials and the painting strategy, join Michele on location as she simplifies this complicated subject. You’ll start by finding and drawing your key landmarks so you know everything is in the right place.

FEATURES included in this on location workshop:

• Learn how to simplify your sketch and paint a panoramic format 
• Use continuous lines to draw lively sketches in ink
• Watercolor techniques for spontaneous effects
• Quick drills on how to draw and paint water, trees, sky, buildings

Get drawing tips on how to quickly establish an accurate composition, how to add notes of interest with pen, and how to pull your painting together with watercolor tinting.

Location: ARTspot & outdoor location TBA

Date: Saturday, August 31 rain or shine

Time: 9:00-12:30PDT

Tuition: $140

Register through ARTspot. Students can sign up via the website (ARTspot Edmonds | Art Supply Store ) in person or can call at 425-640-6408.

Materials:

Sketchbook: Particularly for this workshop as we are sketching panoramic views:

A sketchbook designed for multimedia. Takes ink, pencil, marker, and watercolor equally well.

Hardbound books help support your drawing while standing or sitting with it in your lap.

1. I like *Pentalic Aqua Journal 5" x 8", Watercolor OR
2. Handbook Journal Co. Artist Watercolor Sketchbook Journal, Pocket Panorama 3.5 x 8.25 Inches, 140lb CP
3. or Choose your own preferred paper and make an accordion or maze book.
4. Binder clips. To hold the pages open.

Choose from the options in the rest of the materials list here.

Please call ARTspot or contact me through Instagram or Facebook to let me know if you have any questions.

About the artist:

Michele Cooper was recently one of the guest artist instructors at Sketcher Fest Edmonds. She has been associated with USk Seattle since 2014 and was a Seattle 10×10 instructor for the tenth anniversary series of urban sketchers workshops. Michele has two new books on travel sketching as well as three sets of greeting cards. One set is especially about Edmonds. Drawing, painting and anything to do with art has always been Michele Cooper’s  passion. She loves sharing her discoveries and has taught adult watercolor workshops both internationally and locally from Anacortes to Seattle since 1979.

My Instagram 

https://www.instagram.com/michelecooperart

My Facebook page 

https://www.facebook.com/ArtMicheleCooper

My Blog

https://www.michelecooper.blogspot.com

Small Format Watercolor Workshop - January 3, 2024

   

Small Format Watercolor Workshop 

Join us January 3, 2024 at 6:30pm PST

Ready to have a fun hour or two with other creatives painting watercolor? We had a great time in December so let’s do it again! Live online and interactive.

In this workshop “small” means 5x7”, 8x10”, 9x12”

You may want to choose the smaller format for three reasons:

1. Limited display space.
2. Cost of framing.
3. Practice for a larger composition.

Join me from the comfort of your own home on Wednesday, Jan 3, 2024 at 6:30pm PST

Paint along, ask questions about watercolor materials, methods, etc. Get some unique tips and hacks from experienced artists.

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM PST

Live from Michele’s NW Studio via Zoom

All levels,  Ages 14 through adult

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

Payable by Zelle, check 

What color scheme would you choose?
Original watercolor by Michele Cooper (5x7”)

Message me on my Instagram/Facebook or email me (michelec12@gmail.com) with YOUR NAME AND EMAIL to get access to our live interactive watercolor workshop on Zoom.

What’s next?

After I receive your tuition, name and email address, I will send you preliminary instructions and handouts.

I will send you the Zoom link a few days before the workshop

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

6:30pm PST

You will need:

A stable Wi-Fi connection 

A laptop with webcam, tablet or smart phone

Optional: AirPods, headset

About 5 minutes early on Wednesday, you may join the Zoom meeting. I will let you in from the waiting room. Make sure your video is on and your audio is off until you want to speak. Smile and wave to greet your art friends. Text where you’re from in the Chat.

For approximately the next two hours:

1. Enjoy the demonstrations by Michele
2. Paint along (have paper, paint, brushes and water ready)
3. Ask questions about watercolor

If you want to paint along you will need:

Three pieces of 140# CP or 140#Rough watercolor paper

(one 5x7” and one 8x10” and one  9x12”)

Watercolor paints and brushes

(materials list, handouts, references sent upon registration)

Just use what you already have. Here are some options. 

My Instagram 

https://www.instagram.com/michelecooperart

My Facebook page 

https://www.facebook.com/ArtMicheleCooper

Can’t wait to see you soon !

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

#4 Aug 17, 2020 $45.00 USD #5 Sept 16, 2020 $45.00 USD Both Aug 17/Sept 16, 2020 $90.00 USD

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

#4 Aug 17, 2020 $45.00 USD #5 Sept 16, 2020 $45.00 USD Both Aug 17/Sept 16, 2020 $90.00 USD

World Watercolor Month Returns!

Mark your calendar for the official month-long celebration of watercolor as World Watercolor Month returns in July! Founded in 2016, this is the 5th anniversary, and so I hope you'll help us spread the word! Psssst... also the souvenir shop is open and the prompts are posted! ;-)

Join our Summer Outdoor Painting Watercolor Workshops, Live Online

Bring your Watercolors! July/August, 2020

More information 

Register

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

Arrival for a three day workshop on Nature Journaling in the NorthCascades

I'm looking forward to meeting my students for a weekend of sketching in the North Cascades.

The bridge across Diablo Dam

During the workshop, my focus will be on my students. When I have time I will draft a few articles, but I'll be posting these after we return.

The back of our classroom as seen from the surrounding path

The beautiful bronze eagles that overlook the amphitheater.

Part of the discovery at North Cascades Environmental Learning Center is the sighting of beautiful wildlife bronzes throughout the property.

Winter Workshop Day Two

Looking over the Great Wall of Art and final projects on day two.

If every expert was once a beginner, then these beginners will  be experts in no time. Just look at all the work they did this weekend! What a great group!

Congratulations, Krista! You won the drawing!

Finished another 2-page spread in my Nature Journal on Periscope

I finally finished another two page spread in my nature journal from the Summer Watercolors in the North Cascades workshop that I taught June 16-18. I was hoping to visit a little with any of the participants who might drop in while I broadcast the demonstration of the deer and hummingbird. See the Flickr album here.

This time I used my iPhone and could see if people were logging on as well as any comments while broadcasting. Here's the finished two page spread after adding some narrative to the live demonstration on Periscope today.

The following photos show each stage of development that lead up to the final result.

The additional watercolors and a few headlines on today's periscope.tv/michelecoopart 

I added pencil sketches of the deer to my 9 minute scope from last Wednesday. 

The page began with details about weather and a quick sketch before lunch of all the tech involved to get my presentation up and running. The presentation turned out great. And right on time!

A Forest Discovery

At noon we took our sack lunches on a short trek to Buster Brown field. We spent a wonderful afternoon sketching in the meadow. On the return hike Sylvia and I discovered a bracket fungus growing near a woodpecker hole.

We have some growing on our birch trees, too. I actually saw and heard the northern flicker who made the holes in our tree when he did it.

The fungus in the N. Cascades National Park looked like a set of steps and with the moss covered "porch roof" over the hollow spot, reminded me of a fairy tale house that a tiny gnome might live in.

I added the sketch to my nature journal page for the day along with some swirly gnome-like writing. During lunch I sat on a fallen log, shared by some big black carpenter ants. I'm not sure yet if I'll add them to this spread.

Bracket fungus, lichen and moss share the bark on this tree in the forest.

The Great Wall of Art

Built by beginning watercolor students in just two days, the Great Wall of Art is up this afternoon at Kirkland Arts Center.

We had a great time painting watercolors together this weekend. Superb work, everyone!

And here's a view from a second floor window after lunch today!

Beginning Watercolor Workshop Today and Tomorrow

After an introduction to basic watercolor methods, my students brought leaves from outside into the studio and painted these! Aren't they great?

Everyone is off to lunch, but you can see that they have begun building the Great Wall of Art!

We are definitely making inroads on the first pad of watercolor paper! Return for updates tomorrow!

Faux leather roll up case for watercolor sketch kit

 

Thinking of going on a nature walk in the crisp fall air or the shady forest canopy in summer? Why not take your watercolor sketch kit along?

This faux leather roll up case will hold:

• A waterbrush that carries its own water in the handle
• A disposable fountain pen with water soluble ink
• A wee four color DIY watercolor set in a mint tin
• A #2 mechanical pencil,  .7 mm
• A Sharpie waterproof  fine point grip pen
• A folded blue paper shop towel

*Travel kits available only for registered students at the October 7,8 and 9  North Cascades Fall Getaway Workshop  and the June 16, 17 and 18th North Cascades Summer Workshop. Not available through mail order. I will deliver your order at the workshop on the first day.
Please contact me to order.

*Travel Kit Options

1. Basic Kit includes: 1 canvas or faux leather roll up case, 1  #2 mechanical pencil, .7 mm, and 1 Sharpie waterproof fine point grip pen
2. Basic Kit plus one handmade 4-color watercolor tin
3. Basic Kit, 4-color watercolor tin, plus one disposable fountain pen (water soluble ink)

*Important: Any other items in the photo are display only and not included.(i.e. Leaves, water brush, easel)

Sunday painters, join the class!

I am teaching a watercolor workshop for beginners this weekend and I thought I would invite you Sunday painters to "virtually" join our class. Pretend that you are with us. Yesterday we went outside and picked up a whole bunch of autumn leaves. Then I showed them some of my tricks and techniques. Here are the results. Didn't they do just great?!

The essence of Autumn!

The little stone church

I was on Saltspring Island teaching a watercolor workshop with this as my morning demonstration one day. We had a great location, where we ate our box lunch on the lawn, then turned facing away from the church to sketch the vintage ferry dock.

Most of the materials were brought to the island by barge.

Plein Air Workshop - Day Three

My Demonstration

Ben settles in to paint the tidal marsh.

We're on location on Camano Island. We spent all day here, painting, sketching; a picnic lunch and ice cold watermelon at the end of the workshop day.

It's not often that a location provides clean facilities, picnic tables, shade,  an inspirational subject, AND a comfortable bench. My intimate knowledge of the location and several scouting forays paid off!

Jeanne working in the shade.

Plein Air Workshop - Day Two

 "It's all downhill from here"
Original Line and Wash Watercolor
by Michele Cooper

One of the two quick sketch methods covered in our 3 day workshop...Line and Wash. If your time is limited, or you just want a way to quickly get the essential character of your subject, line and wash is one method that works.

These scenes are all over the territory we covered today in our plein air workshop.

In a Private Garden

John's Irish Shed
Line work with Micron Pen
by Michele Cooper


 We were working on thumbnail sketches at a viewpoint over the ocean, when the owners, John and Helen, invited us into their private garden next door. It is a prime example of what skill and loving care can accomplish.
John built the shed. Helen is a notable fine artist in her own right. Visit her website here.

My plein air workshop students and I were captivated and inspired by John and Helen's kind invitation and stunning garden. You could paint for a lifetime here. Thank you, John and Helen.

Plein air between the raindrops

Here's my demonstration from this afternoon, the first day of our 3 day plein air workshop.

In the afternoon, I took everyone to my secret spot where it doesn't rain when I'm there to paint. Evidently, it was the only spot in the entire vicinity that was dry. It was perfect: lots of NW atmosphere with mist on the distant purple hills, a vast panorama of golden summer fields, a skein or two of Canadian geese flying over, and a flock of swallows skimming back and forth over the field.

Travel Light with Plein Air Watercolor

Yesterday, I took the most minimal kit I could think of:
Hat, spray bottle with water, Kilimanjaro paintbook (bound with both watercolor and sketch pages) , and my zip up kit with the 12 color Yarka pan set, brushes, pencil, etc.
Put keys, camera phone in your pocket, find a log or rock to sit on and have a great day learning from nature.

Except for the Yarka pan set, here's a peek inside the carry case.

Just in case this one is not compact enough, try this pencil case set.