Newly Minted -SOLD

'Newly Minted' 

ACEO 2.5 x 3.5 inches

watercolor on paper 

SOLD

I've always had a soft spot for palomino horses. This horse is actually a Haflinger, and has a gorgeous golden color with an INCREDIBLE flaxen mane. I have always wanted a Haflinger horse. But I'm a tall gal (5 ' 9") so I'd have to find a taller one since they are typically small horses. But beautiful. And gentle. And sweet. I could go on, but I sense I may be losing your interest with all my adjective throwing around. ;)

Reference photo by Limit of Gold on DeviantART. 

In other news, today I finally watched Neil Gaiman's 'Make Good Art' commencement speech, and was completely blown away. It is a little long (20 minutes) but so completely worth your time. I feel so inspired and uplifted since watching it. And Mr. Gaiman is so amazingly awesome that I. . . just. . . well, you should watch it. You'll see what I'm talking about. And this does not just apply to visual artists, but writers, photographers, dancers, musicians, knitters, whatever. Here it is: 

Dainty Scratches (SOLD) and a Birthday Huzzah!

'Dainty Scratches' SOLD

5 x 7 inches oil on masonite panel

Carrying on with the foals series of paintings. This little girl, Almirah of Gypsy Lane Farm, stole my heart when I saw her photo. She really has this sweet, dainty look about her, even though she also has that shapely, muscular build that is a trademark of her breed. 

In other news my friends, today is my birfday. :) 

Huzzah for me!! My family and friends have made me feel so loved with hugs, kisses, birthday wishes, phone calls, text messages, facebook messages, and the promise of birthday cupcakes (Hallelujah and Huzzah!! ) and handmade cards from my boys. 

It is a good day. How blessed we are to be alive.

And I'm also giving myself a dragon day. I've finished two commissions, heard back from happy clients, so now I plan to just have fun and take the day off. My little boy is sitting in my lap right now as we speak, er, I mean type. 

He likes to push the button on the web cam. :) 

And since it's my birthday,  and also because you all are so awesome. . . 

 I'm going to be giving away a page from my sketchbook to one of you. So if you'd like a chance to win it, just leave a comment telling me what your favorite subject that I paint is. You can comment here on my blog, or on my facebook page, or simply email it to me at crystal@crystalcookart.com. 

And then on Wednesday night I will choose a random commenter to give one of my sketches to. 

This is also my chance to say thank you, so very much, for all your kindness and support throughout the years I've been blogging. Hope you all have a wonderful day. I know I will, I mean I have cupcakes and cheesecake (thanks mom, love you!) coming in my near future!!

  

A new year, a look back, and a blogoversary giveaway!

Two years ago this month I started this blog. And I had no idea it would be such a hugely positive way for me to connect with others about my all consuming passion for art. You guys have been a huge support for me, encouraging me when I doubt myself, praising me when I don't deserve it, and just being downright awesome in every way. This artist's life can be very lonely, but you guys make it less so. Much less so. :)

So there will be a giveaway, as my way of saying thank you. :) But first, a look back at last year.

I set a goal for 2011 to grow more with my painting skills and when I look back at the work I've done over the last year I think that I really have grown. I've tried new mediums, new subjects, new points of view. I've let go of (at least some of) my fear of failure when it's time to sit down and paint. I've painted from my heart, subjects and compositions that matter to me, things that I wanted to paint. I've been true to myself.

And I think that is the greatest thing an artist can do.

So, with that in mind, I've compiled a list of paintings that I feel were milestones, paintings that really helped me stretch, or see things in a new way. And there's even a painting here that I've never posted before.

Here we go!

Sparkle

7" x 9" watercolor

Obviously this painting is a portrait of my son, so there's nothing new there :) but the thing about this painting that helped me grow was making those lost and found edges in his clothes, and maintaining his sweet face and eyes as the focus point. It's easy for me to paint everything I see in focus and be very literal about sharp edges since I love detail so much, but I think not having everything sharp makes a stronger impact, at least with this piece it did.

Next!

Still Life Interruptus 2

10" x 14" watercolor

With this painting I really pushed color and light, much more than what was seen in my reference photo, and much more than I usually do. Let me just tell you, it took guts for me to splash so much cadmium red all over his skin tones. I was a nervous wreck every time I sat there and watched the wet paint drying, asking myself "what have you done!" But in the end it was worth it. I really like the glow. 

Next! No soup for you! (sorry but it had to be said)



Solemn

7" x 9" watercolor

This painting helped me see what a big difference having a well thought out color scheme can make in your finished work. I like the color harmony here. I think that I only used about five tube colors to create this painting. Wierd since I'm a color junkie and usually use everything on my palette! And I really like the variety of edges here too.  

Next!

Beauty Inside

6" x 6" watercolor

This was the first still life I ever painted. And painting this proved to me that you don't always need a face or figure to tell a story or have some drama. Go figure! ;)

And really I could talk about what I learned from every single painting I did last year, but that would be boring so here's one more. . .

Sleepy Baby

8" x 10" acrylic on masonite

This is the one I never posted, but painted back in June of last year. Working with acrylics is an interesting experience for me. I feel like I'm completely out of my comfort zone and I'm always interested to see that how I paint with acrylics is entirely different from how I paint with watercolors, or even colored pencils. It's like I have a different personality that only shows up when I paint with acrylics. I think I'll call her Genevive. (that's for you Brodie ;)

But I digress, the growth that comes from painting with acrylics shows up in my watercolors too I think. I feel more daring, more brave, less afraid to fail when I approach my next watercolor. It's very. . . liberating I guess you could say.

Now onto the giveaway. :)

As my way of saying thank you for being the rock stars that you are all you need to do is leave a comment on this post (or on the corresponding link to this blog post on my facebook page). In your comment you don't need to tell me how awesome you think I am (although that would be cool. Kidding. . . kinda :), you can tell me something awesome about you, like what your favorite cupcake flavor is, or your future plans for world domination (Mwa ha ha!!!).

I'm not requiring you guys to do anything extra for this giveaway, just comment and you're entered. But. . . if you want to share it with others through facebook, or your own blog, or some other way, then  that would just be awesome and I would be your best friend forever (I'm sorry I just can NOT bring myself to write BFF), but you don't have to. :)

Then next Monday night I will randomly choose one person who will win a 5" x 7" print of my painting Timeless Remedy:

and on Tuesday I will post who that winner is. :)

Thanks everybody. It's been an amazing two years. Here's to a great new year! Huzzah for 2012!!!

Art Books That Rock

It's no secret that I love books. Add in some beautiful art and I am in heaven. Seriously. (Me + books = 4ever!) And lately I have found some awesome ones that deserve to be talked about.

'Small Works'

by Kim Rempel

'A colourful collection of some of the artist's favourite small paintings from 2009-20011. Enjoy!'

Kim is awesome. Her work is equally awesome. Her blog is one that I stalk daily because there is always something fun and happy that I find when I look at her paintings. This book just bursts with Kim's personality and vision. It's obvious that Kim loves what she does and her joy for painting is contagious. The thing I liked most about this book was that I was able to get a closer look at Kim's work. Brush strokes, texture and color are more visible. It felt almost like I was looking at the real thing. :)

Click here for ordering information for Kim's book.

'Varmints' 

a picture book for children published in 2008

by Helen Ward

Illustrations by Marc Craste

Once, the only sounds to be heard were the buzzing of bees in the grass, the murmuring of moles in the earth, and the song of birds in the sky. These warmed the hearts of those who cared to listen —- until the others came to fill the sky with buildings and the air with a cacophony of noise. With dramatically lit artwork and a spare, intriguing text, Varmints tells of a pastoral world in need of protection and of the souls who love it enough to ensure its regeneration. blurb taken from Goodreads.com

While browsing the shelves of the book sale at my kids' school last week I spotted this amazingly gorgeous and epic picture book. I took one look at it (and the half off price tag, which, let's face it, sealed the deal right there!) snagged it off the shelves and had to restrain myself from petting it in front of the other parents. It is SO beautiful!

The illustrations in this book are more beautiful than any I've ever seen before. Seriously. It has an edgy, urban feel to it that I adore, and I love the huge scope of some of the page spreads; the huge skyscrapers and tiny creatures, great grassy fields and little bees. The characters are cute, without being overly so, and there's this whole conflict of dark versus light in the story and the illustrations so that there is this big, undeniable message of hope that is simply incredible.

If you don't collect picture books (like a squirrel hoarding nuts for the winter like I do) then see if you can find a copy of this at your library. You won't be disappointed I promise.  

'Working South'

by Mary Whyte

In Working South, renowned watercolorist Mary Whyte captures in exquisite detail the essence of vanishing blue-collar professions from across ten states in the American South with sensitivity and reverence for her subjects.

"When a person works with little audience and few accolades, a truer portrait of character is revealed." Mary Whyte

For a watercolor portrait artist this book should be required reading. Page after page of gorgeous reproductions of Mary's paintings featured in her Working South exhibit along with pages out of her own journal that chronicles who these people are and why she felt so drawn to tell their story in paint.

This is my desert island art book. If I could only take one it would be this one, because it reminds me of why I want to paint portraits. To showcase what makes each of us human and remarkable no matter who we are, how much money we have, or what we look like.

Mary is a master. Her work deserves every bit of acclaim she's received and more. I dare you to look at this book and not feel inspired to run for your brushes. No, wait, I take that back. I double dare you. :)))

And if you are lucky enough to live in the area of one of Mary's exhibits you should run and see it. Like right now. Check out this link for more details about this exhibit.

So, tell me what art books are your faves? Any undiscovered finds you simply must share? ;)

Huzzah my friends!

P.S. I am working on a Halloween painting that is SO fun. I'll be back on Thursday with a post about it. See you then!

A Reason to Pout and three pictures of pure AWESOMENESS

"A Reason to Pout" acrylic on gessobord, 8" x 10"

The Work of Childhood series #2

Lately I've been feeling very drawn to acrylics. I don't know why. It's not because it comes easily, because it doesn't. It's not familiar and comforting like my watercolors, or soothingly meditative like my colored pencils. It's unpredictable and challenging. Maybe that's the appeal. I love a good challenge.

I really like this painting. I like the colors in his face and I like seeing the brushstrokes. And those pouty lips. :)

But. . . I kind of feel like a traitor for liking these acrylic paintings so much. I feel like I should not enjoy painting with them as much as I do, because they're not watercolors and that's sort of what people expect from me.

But they are fun, different, new. And sometimes that's just what I need. And it's not like I'm giving up on watercolors. Not at all. It's just nice to try something else for a change you know?

Now, onto pictures of AWESOMENESS.

The other day the Utah Watercolor Society hosted a demonstration given by one of my favorite artists ever.

Can you guess who it is? (If you follow my Facebook fan page you probably already know)

That's right! Alvaro Castagnet!! Can you even believe how awesome that was? Seriously, I felt like I was meeting a rock star. I may have stuttered when I asked if I could have a picture with him. I was a little bit fangirl. . . ok, ok I was a lot bit fangirl.

It was incredible to watch him paint, he's so confident and passionate that it was infectious. It made me want to run for my brushes. And hearing him speak about painting with passion, and being bold, holding nothing back, going for major impact was so cool. 

He was funny, and warm, and just plain AWESOME. 

I wish you could have been there. :)

And then last week I got to meet one of my favorite authors of all time!

Photo by Jenny Martinez Photography

Sarah Dessen! I have loved her books for years, read all of them, own most of them, and she is a major source of inspiration for my writing. I just love her. Her book "The Truth About Forever" is coming with me if ever I get stranded on a desert island. It's one of my top five favorite books of all time. (Which is saying a lot considering my list of favorite books is about five miles long)

And she was so nice and humble and just truly genuine. I think she and I could be friends if we were neighbors. :)

And yes, once again I was a fan girl of epic proportions. I just couldn't help it. I mean this is the Dessen we're talking about! She is incredibly AWESOME!

It was so cool. :D

It's inspiring to be around creative people who want to share and help other creative people. It's just one of my favorite things in the whole world.

See you next week everybody!

P.S.

Dear Alvaro,

I hope you will forgive me for posting this photo of you with your eyes closed, but I simply had to. For the sake of AWESOMENESS. I hope you understand. :)

Sincerely,

your most devoted fan girl,

Crystal Cook

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