Art by Vivian Cooper

Success! Experimenting With A Newsletter

A Few Floral Paintings Created specifically For my Newsletter

One of my goals for this year was to start a newsletter AND create a piece of art every day for 30 days. Never one to make things simple I combined the two goals. YIKES!

Now I am creating art every single day and I offer it in my newsletter for a reduced price. So far it has been working pretty well. I have  sold 4 of the 6 paintings I have offered and also received a commission to do a special watercolor for a customer! Win-Win. 

When I began this little adventure, I didn't know a thing about how to create a newsletter, send it or what kind of content to include.

I have never let not knowing how to do something stop me from doing it. I just jumped right in and developed an idea and ran with it. It is only in the first week so I still have lots of learning and improving to do.

The biggest thing I did to help myself was signing up for Mail Chimp. You can start out with a free account which is perfect for me. I like to work with low overhead cause dang it I am on a shoe string budget! Oh and I love FREE! Now I am not associated with Mail Chimp other than I use their service and they haven't paid me to promote them in any way. As a matter of fact I suggest you search around for email services. Constant Contact is another service I have heard good things about. Also NOT affiliated with them either.

I am enjoying creating my newsletter and I hope more people start to sign up for it in the future. Currently I have 37 subscribers and it has been growing steadily!

Once my current 30 day campaign is over I will only be sending my newsletter out once or twice a month. I also have a plan to offer a FREE piece of my art in a down-loadable format as a gift to my newsletter subscribers! So many possibilities! 

Here are the paintings that have sold so far!

I know it is only the first week of my new adventure but I found out a long time ago to celebrate even the smallest of successes! They help to keep you moving forward! I really appreciate my subscribers and my buyers! They make my day every day. Just knowing they are interested in my work warms my heart.

If you haven't signed up for my newsletter you can do it HERE

Don't forget I would love to paint something special just for you!

Here is the custom order painting I was commissioned to do as a result of my newsletter! I love it!

 

Triathlon Season Coming To A Close

"Finish" acrylic 24 x 30 ©VivianCooper2014

This weekend will mark the end of my Spud Muffin's (that's what I call my husband) race Season. He is a triathlete. In other words, he is crazy!

My husband has recently begun to race in Ironman Races. This is where what appears to be a completely sane and competent person decides he or she is going to Swim 2.4 MILES, then hop on a Bike and do a quick ride for oh just 112 MILES, then just for fun, run a full marathon of 26.2 MILES all in the same day! Yep you read that right. A total of 140.6 MILES.

When my mom was told of his intentions, her reaction was simple: "Why, you will just fall over dead." Thankfully he didn't. Way to support your son-in-law mom!

Oh I am not complaining that his obsession requires me to roll out of bed before the crack of dawn on race days, having slept in the clothes I plan to wear, and being rushed to the truck to head to our next adventure!

Ok I am complaining a little. A gal could at least be fed breakfast before being dragged off into the darkness! Geesh!

Don't get me wrong, there is something magical about triathlons. The excitement on race day is palpable! It is hard not to get caught up in the event. The training required is a feat in and of itself!

 You may be surprised to find out that the competitors come in all shapes and sizes! They aren't all "Greek Gods and Goddesses". Nope most have regular old everyday physiques. Heck some are even down right pudgy. And that's okay. Triathlons are just as much about mental focus and drive as it is about physical ability. Maybe more so.

By the end of this week I will once again be dragged out of bed in the chilly morning and hustled down to a transition area in Wilmington NC for the Beach To Battleship Race.  I have an important job. I am the head schlep and cheer leader. I help carry all of the "stuff" to transition and then once the race starts, I stand in strategic locations along the course and threaten my Spud Muffin with his life if he doesn't meet me at the finish line. I find this to be the perfect motivator. Whatever works.

It worked in his last Ironman in Louisville KY. Even though he was suffering from heat exhaustion and was throwing up along the whole run, he finished. That is all that matters.

Here is my sweet Spud Muffin's finish In Louisville KY. He is the beautiful bald Spud coming across the finish line at the 8:20 mark on the video. In case you want to skip straight to him.

 

 

 To celebrate his awesomeness, I created a congratulatory card. I couldn't find one I liked in the market place, so I created my own. Hey I am an Artist! It's what I do. 

You can pick these up in my Etsy Shop. Or if you really want to splurge on something nice as a gift, check out my Custom Triathlon Paintings.

So when y'all are nice and warm in your beds this Saturday. Think about me stumbling around in the dark half asleep trying to be the best schlep and head cheer leader ever.

 

Exciting News

Halloween Cards Now Available in my Etsy Shop

 

Sign Up For My Newsletter

(It's the smart thing to do)

I am so excited to finally get my news letter, Vivian's Art Views, off of the ground. The first issue will be sent out October 15, 2014. It will have details about a special campaign I will be doing in November.  I am calling it Art From The Heart.

I will be challenging myself to do a small piece of art every single day during the month of November. As a thank you to my subscribers the art will be offered exclusively to them for 24 hours at a reduced price.

Each day I will send out my news letter with a photo of the Art From The Heart. If you want to buy it you just have to be the first one to respond to the email. Unsold pieces will be placed in my Etsy Shop at full price once the 24 hours has expired. Don't miss out!

As an extra bonus, repeat buyers will get an additional discount on top of the already reasonable price. This will make it easier to start a collection. I love loyalty and I think it should be rewarded!

These little gems will be great gifts for the art lover in your life! This is why I am doing this in November in preparation for the Holidays.

After November I will be sending out my Newsletter only once a month. I have some other campaigns, contests and give aways in the works I think you will really be excited about!

No worries, your email is for my eyes only. I will never sell your email addresses or give them away! I don't like spam and I am sure you don't either!

What are you waiting for? Get Signed up! It's the smart Thing to do! Just click the link below!

Vivian's Art Views

 

 

 

 

The Lost Art of Handwritten Greetings

 

Santa Card Available in my Etsy Shop

Most handwritten cards and notes are sent around Christmas.

That is a shame.       

Why? you ask.

Think back to the last time you found a handwritten letter among your pile of bills and junk mail retrieved from your mailbox.  Now didn't you get just a little more excited about that particular piece of mail?

Did you rush to open it or save it until last so you could savor the knowledge that someone put a little extra effort into contacting you?

Sadly the art of sending personal notes and cards is being lost in our age of email and texts. Sure those forms of communication have a valuable place in our day to day communications but a handwritten note connects in way those methods never will.    

Roaring Tiger Card Available in my Etsy Shop

Sending handwritten notes has a personal warmth and sets you apart in a really good way. When someone receives a note they automatically feel a little more special, a little warmer and creates a sweet little thought of you.

The late Maya Angelou said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."  

Classic Car Card Card available on Etsy

If you are unsure of the correct occasions to send a card or note I have made a list for you. But keep in mind it is never WRONG to send something handwritten!

• Christmas/Any Holiday
• You have received a gift
• You have been treated to a meal
• You were a guest in someone's home
• Reply to an invitation
• Condolences
• Congratulations
• Apology
• Love note

I recently created some blank note cards and placed them in my Etsy Shop

Go check them out and if you like them purchase a few. If they aren't your style or taste, the kindest thing you could do for me is share this post or links to my shop. Thanks!

Happy Writing!

 

 

 

Ripped Apart on 9/11

Throw Back Thursday

Who could have predicted on a beautiful September day in 2001 our world as we knew it would change forever.

I did this painting in reaction to the horrific events of that day. I have always sought solace in my art and that day was no exception.

The feeling of confusion, desperation, fear and anger mixed so completely in my emotions my breath was literally sucked out of me.  My heart shattered. My sense of safety gone. Anger raged, sadness engulfed me.

My sadness was so profound I had to get that horrible poison out of me and onto paper.

This painting was the result.

Facing My Fears

 

"Do Something Every Day That Scares You"

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

 

I have been avoiding my blog for several weeks lately. I have been overwhelmed with the adventures of summer and the many trips we have taken as well as a once in a life time visit from my mom.

Last week we found a little Cardinal chick in our side garden. We searched high and low for a nest to return it to knowing chicks do best with their moms. It wasn't big enough to be a fledgling. It didn't even have proper feathers yet. We decided that either the momma bird evicted it from the nest for some defect unseen by humans or a predator had taken it from the nest and had dropped it. We have cats, hawks and owls on our property so that was a viable explanation. This little bird took up all of my time and stopped me dead in my creative tracks. Yet I happily invested my time in hopes of a good outcome for the baby. We fed it every 20-30 minutes for three days. It ate eagerly and we had high hopes for it's survival. Sadly late on the third day, for reasons unknown to us, it flew over the rainbow bridge. In my heart I hope it was God's way of saying, "I'll take it from here you have done all you can do." Allowing me to go back to what He created ME to do. Art.

Why am I sharing this on my art blog? Good Question.

Mostly to illustrate how unpredictable life can be on a daily basis. You never know what detours will be put in your path. Sometimes that's scary.

I am about to embark on some artistic goals for the upcoming year and I am scared. Yes I admit it. I am scared to death. No shame in fear as long as you don't let it stop you from pushing forward.

I want to share a few of them with you.

• I want to start creating one painting a day for 30 days straight. They will be small probably 5 x7 inches or 4 x6 inches. I want to really begin to focus on the process of creating and by doing smaller pieces I can complete them and feel a sense of accomplishment.
• I am going to start a bi-monthly e-mail news letter to offer special deals on my artwork. I hope to have it up and going by September.
• I am also creating a separate body of work that is very personal to me. I am going to strive toward having a show of these works within a year.

I have been playing with some images from my garden lately. These are all 5 x7 inches and I have enjoyed creating them but they still aren't exactly what I have in mind. So I plan to continue to play around until I "get it."

     

 

Okay so now you see I have some ambitious goals. I am sharing them because I am scared and I do not know what challenges will be put in my path. But I plan on moving forward no matter how many baby birds fall from the trees.

 

181 Days Until Christmas and 3 Reasons to Think About Giving Art as a Gift

© VivianCooper2013

At the time of this writing it is just 181 days until that magical day we call Christmas. A day eagerly anticipated by many people. Not only is it a day of great religious significance to Christians, it is also a day to celebrate family. On this day we look forward to family traditions, seasonal food, and gifts wrapped in festive paper just begging to be opened.

Speaking of gifts, Art makes a great gift! Here are 3 reasons why:

1 It is made by human hands. In our industrialized society, less and less is made by human hands. There is something magical about a handmade creation. Each creation has a piece of that artist’s heart attached to it forever. It is a unique one of a kind creation made just for you.

2 Art is relatively inexpensive. Yes I know some pieces can cost thousands of dollars but not all art is priced as high. Usually you can find something in your budget. My family of four can easily spend $100+ on a meal at a nice restaurant and at the end of the meal, the food is gone and so is the money. Usually for the price of two or three family meals you can get a quality piece of art and it will last a lifetime!

3 Memories of treasured moments can be captured for future generations. With proper care art will last for generations and can easily become a family heirloom to be passed down. It is a timeless gift.

Start planning now if you intend to give the gift of Art. It takes time to create art. Sometimes it takes a lot of time. If you wait until November to order art you may have waited too late. Last year I had to keep a waiting list of art orders and I had to turn down quite a few requests simply because there was no way I could complete the art and get it shipped in time for the holiday. This made me sad for the people that waited until the last minute. Don’t wait. Start thinking about it now.

I just completed this lovely graphite drawing for a client. The deep love between the two is undeniable. If you are interested in creating a custom piece for that special someone in your life then check out my Etsy Shop and get a head start on the holidays!

© VivianCooper2014

 

Throw Back Thursday

 

"Poppy John", Watercolor 12 x 12, ©VivianCopper2014

This is a painting I just completed of my Grandpa Poppy John. He couldn't read or write and it shamed him. His family was a dirt poor Irish immigrant clan. Instead of school, he had to go to work in the coal mines of Kentucky as soon as he was old enough to hold a pail and a pick axe.  His own children went to various levels of school. My mother quit school in the 8th grade to marry and raise children. His grandchildren all finished high school and many of us earned college degrees. I think of him a lot and I wonder what he would think about just how far his descendants have traveled from that one room shack in the hills of Kentucky.

I have been reflecting on my own life lately too. How far I have come and how many obstacles I have triumphed over. I think everyone should do this periodically. When you focus on the positive things you have accomplished it gives you a little boost!

The other day I found a black notebook in the top of my husband's closet while I was looking for something else. It looked familiar but I couldn't figure out why. My first instinct was to put it back and not bother with it. But then I caught a glimpse of a brown folder peeking out at me over the edge of the notebook. So I opened it and my heart swelled with pride! It was a notebook filled with art awards and newspaper articles about my art.

 When I started nursing school I packed it away and hadn't thought about it for the last decade or so. I so enjoyed going down memory lane running my fingers across the faded yellow newspaper clippings and the crisp white laminated certificates I  earned so long ago. Drinking in all of the wonderful words and remembering the happiness....

I even found my very first  art award from the 5th grade. Wow 37 years ago!!! Back in 1977!

When I say I have been painting and drawing since I could hold a pencil and a brush I am not exaggerating. My sister taught me to draw before I could even write my name as a way to keep me occupied. My mom was a single mom at the time and worked long hours.  My sister was given the responsibility of taking care of me for long stretches of time even though she was only 7 years my senior. My sister had art classes in school and she would come home and show me what she had learned. She was very pleased that I could draw exactly like she showed me and I eagerly absorbed everything....so it began.

More recently I was honored by a fellow animal lover and artist. She featured me as the "artist of the month" on her website. Check out the interview and sign up for email updates on her website. She has lots of interesting stories and information about pets and pet products. She is also an artist and has a children's book in the works. Check out her website Tails Are Wagging. In the mean time I am going to be creating more memories on my lane of the world.

Honoring Eli the Bulldog

Eli, Pastel, 11 x 14 ©VivianCooper2014

Meet Eli. He will be 11 in June. Bulldog life expectancy is usually 8-10 years. I have no doubt his advanced age is due to the love and care his mom has given him over the years. I was honored and humbled she chose me to do his portrait.

For anyone that has ever been lucky enough to be owned by a Bulldog knows the special bond that develops. They truly are children with fur and four feet.

His mom found a portrait I painted of my own Bulldog on one of my boards on Pinterest. She then followed the links to my Etsy Shop. She found my watercolor pet portraits but no pastels like the ones on my Pinterest boards. So she started a convo with me inquiring if I would be willing to paint a pastel portrait even though I didn't offer them in my shop. She told me a little about her Bulldog and of course the love she had for him just poured out in her words. How could I say no?

She has been one of my favorite clients. She knew exactly what she wanted and didn't want in the portrait. She was very clear in her expectations and exactly what she wanted the portrait to convey. I can't tell you how much easier this made my job!

My first venture in pet portraits began for me as a way to try to soothe a family member's broken heart.  Her beautiful American Staffordshire Terrier traveled the Rainbow Bridge far too soon. You can read about her story here

I always start my pastels by doing a sketch on Hahnemühle Premium Velour Paper. This is a specialty paper that feels like velvet. Perfect for capturing fur and whiskers. I always use a soft pastel or piece of charcoal for my sketch. Never use a regular pencil as it may damage the paper and sometimes shows through the finished painting.

Initial Sketch

 

Then I start putting in the darkest color. In pastel painting putting in your darkest darkest color FIRST is important. If you try to add it later over lighter colors you will never get it as dark as it should be. Putting in your darkest color helps judge the values (tones, tints and shades) of the rest of your colors.

Next I like to put in my whites so I will have the lightest value and the darkest values to judge the rest of the colors against.

Since I am right handed I work my painting from top left hand corner down to the bottom right hand corner in order to keep from smudging my work.

Once it is complete, I spray a light fixative on the work. Once that is dry I add the very last highlights which I will NOT spray. I do not use fixative on the very last layers of the painting because it can alter the colors and actually spray off the highlights.

Being able to create something special for a client makes me both happy and proud! I get great satisfaction in knowing I have created something that has special meaning and will be treasured for a lifetime.

3 Ways to Attract Birds for Painting Inspiration

 Miscellaneous Monday! 

Birds have fascinated me since I was a child. In the spring I would hunt for nests with eggs and once found I would keep a close eye on the nest. I wanted to witness a brave little chick entering the world. I was quite successful and saw many wet feather bundles  peck their way from the confines of their eggshell. I always felt a little jolt of triumph each time one burst forth.

Birds are a popular subject for painting. Try to attract as many species as possible to get great variety of reference photos for future paintings. You can do this in 3 ways.

Provide Food

Place feeding stations around your yard. I have one right in front of my studio window. Many websites give instructions on how to make bird feeders. One of my favorites is Birds and Blooms. Patiently wait and photograph the birds for reference photos as they visit the feeders. Different types of food may be offered, sunflower seeds, thistle seeds and suet seem to be the favorites in my neck of the woods. Don't forget the hummingbirds! They love sugar water and if you are patient will accept it right from your hand. Research your local birds and find out what kind of food attracts them.

Provide Water for Drinking and Bathing

Bird baths and ponds offer wonderful opportunities for the birds to drink and bathe. Always keep the bird baths clean and filled with fresh water. In the winter if you experience freezing temperatures you can buy heated bird baths to ensure your feathered friends have plenty to drink in the winter months.

 

My Backyard Pond

 

Provide Nesting Sites and Materials

Research the types of birds that come to your yard and put up nest boxes for them in different spots around your property. Plant shrubs and trees for safe nest building spots for birds that won't use a nest box. In the spring gather dryer lint, dog hair and strings and put them in a suet holder to provide nest building materials. There is a great article written by Julie Day on the site Today's Homeowner providing lots of tips and ideas about providing nesting materials. For nesting box info and building plans you can visit The Cornell Lab of Ornithology page Nest Watch

If you would like to see some of the birds I have photographed this winter visit my Facebook Page  Album here

These are two bird paintings I have completed this winter but you can see more at my Etsy Shop ViviansART

Feel free to browse around! Happy Birding.

 

Watercolor, 5 x 7 Chickadee, ©VivianCooper2013

 

 

Cardinal, Watercolor, 7 x 5 ©VivianCooper2013