Country House in Spring

8 x 10 Oil on Archival Board

This house has attracted my attention every time I pass by it.  It sits alone on a large piece of property which I think must have been a working farm at one time.  I've thought many times, in different seasons, about painting it.  This day the light, atmosphere, and white flowers on the large bush on the side were too much to pass up.  Also, I loved the tilted antenna...or clothes line.  I thought about leaving it out, but it does work to pull your eye back into the painting.  This is one of my favorites :-)  If interested, just email me at shelleykoop@gmail.com.

Brotherly Love

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9 x 6 Oil on Archival Board

Meet Desi and Jack, two wild and crazy rescues who have found a wonderful home...Lucky dogs! This was a difficult painting to do because both dogs are so black and blend in together in one mass with two heads.  I had to vary the tone and texture to describe what part went with which dog :-)  A total learning experience.  Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks....

Cloud Study, Smith Mountain Lake

6 x 12 Oil on Archival Board

We here in Virginia have been having lots of pop up storms mixed with bright sun lately.  The weather changes too fast for me to grab my little easel and set it up to record what's going on, so I decided to set up my go-to palette in advance and keep the easel by the window.  I'm glad I did.  The clouds the other day were awesome, and I got this little study down quickly.  I was thinking I would work on it after the initial try, but I'm leaving it alone.  I really think it portrays that moment in time.

Patrick on Second Friday

8 x 10 Oil on Archival Board

This little painting is my "Ode to Patrick".  Simple as that :-) 

Green Canoe on Smith Mountain Lake

9 x 12 Oil on Archival Board

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Smith Mountain Lake is so diverse due to its huge size.  We live on the Gills Creek portion of the lake which doesn't have the distant mountains.  Actually it does, but one has to stand on the roof of the house to see it :-)  This is the Blackwater part which has a totally different feel.  I love the ins and outs of the land.  The lake has 500 miles of shoreline, so there's plenty of places to paint without repeating too often.  The trick here is to sketch your painting in quickly, because the colors and shadows change if you look away for a minute.  If interested in purchasing, please email me at shelleykoop@gmail.com. 

Have a great weekend!

Attracted by a Man in Uniform

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12 x 6 Oil on Archival Board

A woman studying "Achille De Gas in the Uniform of a Cadet" by Edgar Degas at the National Gallery.  I'm usually not drawn in by this type of portrait, but the woman was so intense in her attention to it that I walked over to really look at it.  Because the pose is so casual in this piece, it gives a feeling that the viewer might know the subject...a young naval cadet, (actually Degas' brother).  After having completed so many, when I go back to painting these art patron pieces, (after landscapes, etc.,) it feels like I'm back in my Zen place :-)

Mother's Day Flowers

  

FLOWERS FOR YOUR MOTHER'S DAY...HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYONE!

Quiet Paddling on Smith Mountain Lake

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12 x 12 Oil on Archival Board

There are so many ways to enjoy Smith Mountain Lake, and this is one of my favorites. Painting the reflection of the kayak and the multitude of colors and shades was the best part.  Mixing, Mixing, Mixing....My new-found joy! 

Whitecaps on Smith Mountain Lake

8 x 8 Oil on Archival Board

 

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A windy day plein air from my studio window.  There was only one sailboat at the time, so I took the liberty of adding two more.  Wouldn't it be great if life was like that? ... If something doesn't appeal to you, just conjure up what does.