Trumpet Flowers - NFS

10x8 oil on canvas panel
Just loved the shapes and colors.

Sonia - 1983

pastel on canson (1983)
Another reminder of the art I was making in 1983. Sonia and I reconnected during my last visit to Santa Cruz and I look forward to seeing her this coming week during my next visit to California.

Andy in Santa Cruz - 1983

pastel on canson
I loved coming across this photo today. This is a pastel portrait I did years ago (1983 - you do the math) of Mezzo's friend Andy. What I remember about Andy is that he was mighty cute, really smart and funny.

Early Morning Boat Ride - SOLD

14x11 oil on panel
I'm at the gallery today and just finished another Riverwalk painting. This was an exercise in deciding what elements to include from my reference photo - which was very busy. I simplified. Now if I can get looser...

Hill Country Vista - SOLD

10x8 oil on canvas

Gathering Sunflowers - SOLD

16x20 oil on canvas
Love all the colors in this painting.

Waterlily Radiance

16x20 oil on canvas
This painting started a year ago when my sister and I went to the McNay Art Museum for her birthday. We took lots of reference pictures and had a great time. This waterlily called to me.

Time For a Walk - SOLD

6x6 oil on panel
The first title that came to mind was, "How Many Cups of Coffee Does It Take To Write a Song? Then, "Song Unsung." Then, "Maybe Some Coffee Will Help." Then, "Time For a Walk." Whew. What would you have titled this painting?

Under Rosita's Bridge - SOLD

10x8 oil on canvas
Rosita's bridge in just a short walk from Susan's Gallery. It crosses the San Antonio River to the Arneson River Theater which is a popular performance stage for cultural dancing. The river boats are a fun and informative cruise on the San Antonio River through downtown.

Early Morning Riverwalk - SOLD

10x8 oil on canvas
Riverwalk San Antonio is a popular tourist destination. This painting is of the heart of the Riverwalk where you can cross the bridge and find all kinds of shops and restaurants on either side.

To "The Blue" - NFS

8x10 oil on canvas

My Alpine, Arizona friend and I took some great long drives in the forests around where she lives. This painting is from a photo I took on our way to "The Blue," as the locals call it. It's a little town named Blue in the Apache Forest. It was a beautiful cloudy day and I loved the icy blue bushes along the side of the road. I tried to find out what the name of them was but couldn't find it in the "Plants of Arizona" book. If anyone knows, let me know!

The painting is for sale. If interested, send me an e-mail.

Mezzo At Her Computer - NFS

6x6 oil on panel

I painted this before I left on my trip in early June while I was watching the gallery. The shiny places are where I just made some corrections and signed it. I'll take a better picture after it's dry and the rain has stopped outside.

The Texas Flower - SOLD

6x6 oil on panel
I wanted to start and finish something at the gallery today, yes, bluebonnets. It's for sale framed or unframed. If interested, send me an e-mail.

Texas Spring - SOLD

8x10 oil on canvas, framed
I'm trying out this new "floater frame" on my latest Texas landscape. It's nice in that you see all of the canvas. With a regular frame you loose about 1/4 inch all the way around. I painted all the way around the edge of the canvas because it is visible in this frame.

Little Pitcher

6x6 oil on panel

Fields of Texas - SOLD

6x6 oil on panel

Perdido Creek - SOLD

20x16 oil on canvas
This painting went to live with folks in Florida last week. I started out painting it with a brush but at some point picked up a pallet knife and kept going. When Spring rolls around I'm heading out to capture more Texas country.

Working the Gallery

I'm working the gallery (Susan Carlin's Art Studio and Gallery) this beautiful Spring-like San Antonio, Texas Saturday. The sun is shining, it's 70 degrees, and the wind is blowing the dry leaves around.

There are three artists represented here: my sister Susan, Bonnie Mann and me. We all have original paintings, prints and cards for sale.

A happily "just engaged" couple from Albuquerque, New Mexico came in this morning and took away one of my Arneson River Theater prints as a souvenir. Lots of happy people out roaming the river today.

Kayley and Loretta

This little 10 x 8 oil is a painting of Kayley and the sweet little cockatoo, Loretta. The photo was taken by Kayley.

Little Church of La Villita - SOLD

This "Little Church of La Villita" was commissioned by some folks who were married there. As soon as it's dry and varnished I'll be shipping it off to its new home.

Off To Europe

I dropped my son Lyle at the Airport this morning. He is off to Los Angeles to meet up with his band, The Faceless, and then they're off to Europe for a five week tour.

What does this have to do with art? Being a part of my children's lives is the most creative thing I've ever done. I didn't paint a thing over the holidays but I did take some reference pictures.

One of the most important things I did this holiday season was to connected with some old and new friends. I was reminded that the essence of me is music. So besides painting, going to school full-time this Spring, I'll be playing the piano and remembering that I'm a songwriter.

Here is wishing everyone a wonderful new year filled with events that alter and illuminate our lives.

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!