The Kiss

18x24 graphite pencil on paper

The Three Riverwalks

The new Riverwalk paintings are now at the gallery.

Arneson River Theater - SOLD

12x9 oil on panel

The Arneson River Theater is located in the La Villita Historic Arts Village. It's one of the settings that visitors to the Riverwalk most enjoy. I really enjoyed painting this one.

Sunny Afternoon on the SA River - SOLD

12x9 oil on panel

This is the second Riverwalk painting I've completed this week. My goal on this one was to finish in a day, stay loose with the brush strokes and enjoy the process and I accomplished all three.

Susan sold my 8x10 Stack of Whites at her gallery. Some folks from Michigan took it home with them. That felt good.

Riverwalk Memories - SOLD

12x9 oil on panel

My time to watch Susan Carlin's Gallery (downtown San Antonio in La Villita Historic Arts Village) where some of my work hangs, is on Mondays. The majority of folks coming in are looking for Riverwalk souveniers. This is my first Riverwalk painting.

Purple Doors in La Villita - SOLD

I've never seen anyone go in or out of these lovely purple doors. The front of this little building in La Villita, with its copper bell and Mexican pot with blooming cactus, looks like a set design for a play. This weekend is the Starving Artist Show in La Villita. If you make it down today, stop by and say hi to my sister Susan in her Gallery/Studio behind the Little Church of La Villita.


6 x 6 inch oil on panel

The Squeeze

What can I say?


18x24 inch charcoal on paper

Letting In The Light

I'm still waiting for that bright idea, but in the mean time here is the second assignment for a drawing class I'm taking.


18x24 charcoal on paper

Waiting for a Bright Idea

That's the name of this small 6 x 6 oil. Here's how it went...

After the launch of my new website, running errands and various other oh so important activities yesterday and making necessary tweeks to the website this morning, it was finally time to paint.

I set up my new shadow box and walked around the house looking for something to put in it. The light bulb was on the kitchen counter and voila! NEXT!

New Website Launch

It's definitely time for a new blog post.



My new website was finally launched this evening and I chose Kayley's Bliss for the home page image.
www.pattycooper.com

I made the decision to remove the many older personal webpages on my website and replace them (for now) with art only. I would like to hear any comments you may have on the new design and content.

Some of my paintings, prints and cards are available at:
Susan's Art Gallery & Studio
La Villita Historical Arts Village
San Antonio, Texas

Unless someone actually walks into the San Antonio gallery, they wouldn't know that I have paintings for sale, so... Until I have a large enough collection to approach other galleries who are online, I thought the website would be a way for someone to make a purchase.

Now I can get back to PAINTING!!!

An Amazing Day

It's hard for me to let the day end. What an amazing day. Some days are just like that--packed full of "events that alter and illuminate our lives." Here's the low down.

It started with hours at the computer - I'm rebuilding my website. Late morning my daughter and I went to see the newly released movie, Julie & Julia. I so related to Julie as she began her blog and reached out into the world not knowing where her words and efforts would take her. A must see movie.

During the previews I dug in my purse and wrote down a quote from the new movie Fame, "All the things you want to change about yourself and keep secret, they're your power! It's who you are." I just love knowing and being reminded of that.

When I got home Susan (sister) called to let me know she posted a notice about my art and blog on her blog. She's got many wonderful fellow artists and fans that visited my blog today and left encouraging comments of which I am greatful. Thank you all sooooo much!

I dropped by Susan's to pick up paints and paintings and I locked my keys and purse in the car. Not 10 minutes later my friend Karen showed up and gave Stella and I a ride home where I found another key--barely an inconvenience at all.

Kayley and I were preparing to do another round of t-shirt silk screening this evening when I got a call from Marianne. All she said was, "Can I come over? I have something I want to show you."

My dear friends Marianne and her husband John showed up 30 minutes later with a great surprise. Yes, the shadow box. John built me a shadow box to be able to do my daily paintings. It moves up and down and I'll be able to control the light and shadows. Thanks to Carol Marine, who posted a picture of the shadow box her husband built, John was able to use it as a reference. I'm so thrilled I can hardly stand it.


So thanks to my daughter Stella, who got me out of the house today, and thanks to Karen who showed up at the perfect moment and gave Stella and I a ride home, and thanks to my sister Susan who included me on her blog, and thanks to all the folks who visited my blog today and especially those who left me encouraging comments, and thanks to Kayley, my artist friend who is spontaneous and fun, (we silk screened 30 t-shirts this evening!) and thanks to my friends Marianne and John who surprised me with a wonderful shadow box I would have never built myself, and thanks to Carol Marine who posted a picture of her shadow box, and thanks to the universe that continually spins my hopes and dreams into reality. What an amazing day.

Almost Rain - SOLD

This landscape, titled Almost Rain, was completed today. The artist demonstration videos and DVDs I've been watching have been helpful with new info and techniques.

Painting Progression

My friend Marianne mentioned she would like to see the progression of one of my paintings. I snapped a few shots of the painting I'm currently working on and built a simple animation of the progression to send her. Her advise, "Put it on your blog." So here it is (so far.)

Blue Succulent - SOLD

I forgot to mention that two weeks ago the oil painting "Succulent Blue" sold. I shipped it off to its new home, it arrived safely and we're all happy. Thank you Mezzo!

South Texas Color - SOLD

This painting is part of the previously posted series and is probably my favorite of the group. I'm glad that I took the time to pull over, even with the whole family waiting in the car, and snapped some pictures.

Kayley's Bliss

On July 4th, Susan and I put all the kids, boyfriend and girlfriends in the hot seat and took photos of them separately. We got some great portrait shots of each of them.

Kayley (Lyle's girlfriend) and I have been spending some time together the last few weeks exploring silk screening. We've had so much fun and I've gotten to know her better. For Kayley's photo I had her hold up her hands as part of a portrait I had seen in my mind. "Kayley's Bliss" is the finished portrait.

If you knew Kayley, this would make sense. She's an artist who, in her swirling universe, is sprouting new creations everyday. Her tattoos include the tree on her chest. She considers her body another canvas to create on.

I am so fortunate to have many young artists and musicians around who inspire me to dig down into the creative hovel. Thank you swirling universe!!

South Texas Spring Field - SOLD

My trend of painting everyday continues. This little 8x10 oil on panel was done yesterday while listening to Lyle lay down drum tracks in his studio. Life is good, very good.

South Texas Landscapes - SOLD

Yesterday I painted at home for four hours and completed the South Texas Highway painting, then painted at Susan's for two and a half hours and painted the South Texas Fields and Clouds.

All three kids remember our trip to the coast when we pulled over so I could take pictures of the clouds. Stella was only 4, Jake 6 and Lyle 7. One of the memorable moments of our trip was a big turtle in the road. We stopped the car and Joe jumped out to move it and when he picked it up of course it peed and scared him to death. We all laughed. Although she was only 4, Stella can tell you the story of slamming her thumb in the door. Ouch. Even with her smashed thumb we managed to have a great time.
I've done both these paintings before with pastels but it felt really good get gooey in the oils, stick with bright colors and not get too tight.

Stack of Whites - SOLD

One of mine and Susan's favorite artists to watch paint is Helen Van Wyk. She used to have a TV show but now Susan has many of the episodes on VHS. Her lessons include a painting of a white pitcher, eggs and egg shells. It inspired me to paint the stack of white cups on my white kitchen counter up against a white background. Everyone had to stumble around the easel and supply table in the kitchen (sorry.)

Little Red Pitcher - SOLD

I just love this little red ball pitcher I found at the Goodwill. This is my second painting of it.

Patty's Art Revival & Tulips - SOLD

I am painting, again. This time it's the oils that call me.

My unconscious art block broke on June 31, 2009 after a reunion with my dear friend Marianne who worked with me using EFT. I haven't gone a day without painting since.

That was a Tuesday night and Wednesday morning I gathered my supplies and went to Susan's house (sister) and she made a spot for me in her studio to paint right beside her. She is a constant source of encouragement.

That same week, while painting at Susan's, she had a call from one of the artists that share her downtown studio and gallery saying that she would be leaving. Susan turned to me and asked if I wanted her spot.

So here I am in Susan Carlin's Art Studio and Gallery located in downtown San Antonio's historic village called La Villita. This is my second Monday. I hung two pastels here last week and Susan sold my tulip pastel. Yeah!

I'll be learning to post some pics of the things I'm working on. I've finished several paintings and there are a couple worth posting later today when I get home.

Thanks for stopping in and I'll keep you posted!