Christmas Adrift - Smith Mountain Lake

6 x 9 Oil on Archival Board

Christmas Cards Available/ Sold Out!

Painting SOLD

New Christmas painting that I just finished, and cards available with or without greetings inside. Now is the time to think about your Holiday cards before the Thanksgiving rush next week. If you are interested in ordering cards, just email me at shelleykoop@gmail.com. They are printed on heavy, quality card stock - envelopes included. You can get as many or as few as you'd like.

Christmas 2017 Commissions

It's hard to believe, but Christmas, 2017, will be here before you know it. I've completed two Christmas commissions already and have one waiting, so now is the time to order. I will take orders until the week after Thanksgiving. Because the paintings are in oil, it takes time for them to dry and be ready. If interested, just email me at shelleykoop@gmail.com or FB message me.

Christmas, 2016

8 x 10 Oil on Archival Board

Last year, one of our neighbors hired this horse and carriage to take their grandchildren for a ride right before Christmas.  It was a sight to see when they came down our street, and most of the neighbors came out to gawk.  Naturally it was a photo op for me, and I decided to paint it this year for my Christmas card adding a few things...Like snow...and runners on the sleigh. 

I wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!  One can only hope and pray that this coming year will bring peace to us, all over this precious planet of ours.  I want to thank you for looking at my artwork throughout the year.  I definitely feel blessed! 

Theodore the Christmas Rabbit

8 x 8 Oil on Archival Board

 

SOLD

This is my last post before Christmas, but before I sign off for the Holiday I want to thank you all for making this such a great art year.  I really appreciate your interest in my work and all the commissions you have entrusted me to do, as well as the positive feedback you have shared with me throughout the year.  You have all enriched my life.  Merry Christmas to you and your families.  See you soon.

Christmas Snooze

SOLD

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

This is "Brooklyn," who belongs to Tallulah's wonderful groomer/trainer/boarder.  She is a beautiful Golden who absolutely deserves to be painted.  This is what they refer to as a "Dog's Life."

Thank you all who have purchased my paintings this year.  It has been a wonderful year for me, and I really appreciate it.  I am so glad that my paintings have found good homes and hope they bring you all as much joy as I get when I'm painting them. 

 Have a safe and wonderful Holiday!!

Look What's in the New Dick Blick Catalog

If you happen to get the new Dick Blick catalog and look at pages 80 and 81, you will see seven of my paintings displayed in Blick's frames.  How exciting for my artwork to be chosen to appear in their Christmas catalog!  I'm really blown away by the honor :-)  Thank you, Dick Blick!!

A Very Serious Elf

Christmas Photograph, 2013

One has to be extremely fast to capture Tallulah, our Sproodle, in her elf get-up.  You can't even see the red top of the cap.  Her expression says it all:  "Really???"  This was the third try, and quite frankly, I gave up.  Not the best picture of her, but the ears look good...  

I want to thank you all for checking in on my blog and for the wonderful emails and feedback throughout the year.  I'm so thankful for you all :-)  I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  

Christmas Tree with Red Dye #3

Pastel on Wallis Paper

SOLD

I painted this and used it for my Christmas card a few years ago, and I still love it.  Every time I see the  photo I have of it, I can taste peppermint (not a favorite of mine).  I licked each and every one of those candies to get them to stick together so I could paint them.  I wasn't feeling so great after setting it up, but being a dedicated artist, I pushed on and painted the still life.  What hardships we artists have to endure....Hope you all are finishing up on your Christmas shopping.  I'll post again before Christmas to wish you all a good one.

So Many Naughty.....

5 x 7 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

I am bidding this painting on my Daily Paintworks site.  If interested, go to the link on the right.  This Santa was leaving our local bank and looked neither happy nor jolly.  In fact, he looked downright grumpy.  At first I painted him just as I saw him, but decided that he looked too sinister and gave him a slight smirk.  Still not a Ho Ho Ho type of guy, but not quite a "Bah Humbug" dude either.  I hope you all are making headway shopping for the Holiday.  I'll check in before Christmas.

Ho! Ho! Ho! ..Or Not!

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

This "Santa" man looked like he had the world on his shoulders as he walked by me at the Hotel Roanoke.  He was dressed the part, though.  He had on a red velvet jacket and, of course, the hat.  His wife was leading the way and the interesting thing is that she was not dressed "Christmasy" at all.  As a matter of fact, she looked rather plain, so I wonder what the scene was like at their house that morning as they dressed.  Whatever it was, I so enjoyed painting him!  Bah Humbug and Merry Christmas all rolled into one.

Christmas Tree With Red Dye #3

SOLD

 

What fun this one was to do!  It took me over an hour to set up the candy.  I first tried to stack them, and naturally they wouldn't hold in position.  My next thought was a glue stick, but I couldn't get it open.  So...being creative (or crazy), I decided to lick each one.  The only trouble with that was that I hate mint, and every time I stuck one on, three came off because I was so sticky.  By the time I was done, I really wasn't in the mood to paint.  I photographed them and painted them the following day.  I must say though, I smelled very minty for quite a while.  I used this as my Christmas card this year. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

Fresh Snowfall

SOLD

The barn in New Hampshire again...New perspective.  This is one of my favorite snow paintings and again was used for a Christmas card with an added wreath and red bow on the front door.  My mantra in December is "Please Snow," however, sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for! 

Smith Mountain Lake Christmas

This was one of my Christmas cards from a few years ago.  I had a commission to paint a tree on the end of a dock, and this is what I came up with.  I've sold a lot of these cards the last few years.  It's always fun to open cards people send me and see my own paintings.  This isn't any particular Smith Mountain Lake scene.  It's just from my imagination and could be anywhere here at the Lake.  I still like the "feel" of the cold water and winter sky.  I love Christmas!!!

Barns in Winter, Smith Mountain Lake

SOLD

As I've said, I love snow, and I did this painting for my Christmas card a few years ago.  It is one of my favorites.  Again, the barns are in Floyd which is a perfect place to get inspiration.  The rest of it is Smith Mountain Lake.  By the way, stop by Goose Creek Studio in Bedford.  They are presenting a funky Christmas tree event.  I will post the painting I submitted in the coming days, but you can see all of the artwork there soon.  As it turns out, I think I'll use the one I am putting in as my Christmas card for 2011.  I am so inspired by Goose Creek Studio and Patrick and Mitchell (the owners).  They are the most supportive guys in the world, and I'm truly honored to have my work there.  If you have time, check out Goose Creek Studio!