State Library displays new art
Karen Cooper's work is acrylic paint on canvas and depicts the joy of reading.
Cooper is a self taught painter, who spent her college years at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, sampling just about every department available, with textile and fashion design eventually seizing most of her attention. Although based in the home economics department, that course of study required a fair amount of drawing classes from the art department, and the introduction to life drawing was made. Many years and many experiences later, the focus of Cooper's work is again with the figure, intrigued by the stories that can be told with paintings of people, their postures, and their relationships to each other.
“I have been known to say that a painting that’s clever or pretty is not enough---it has to tell a story that holds my interest,” said Cooper. Her current work is acrylic paint on canvas, with the occasional mural added in just for fun.
A while back Cooper finished a painting called "Personal Collection."
"The collection involved is a bookshelf full of books, and right in the middle of the painting is a woman drinking her coffee, and you guessed it, reading a book. Personal Collection just happens to be painting number 30 in that series that I didn’t know was going to happen," Cooper said.
"Several things possibly caused this series to happen: First, I love books. My own “personal collection” out grew the bookshelf quite some time ago. When I get old and senile and my kids take away my car keys for safety’s sake, I plan to live within walking distance of a really great library! Second, I love painting the figure. Every person has a unique posture, attitude, and outlook on life, and if I can capture just a bit of it, then I’m already halfway home to an interesting painting. Finally, I put #1 in the hands of #2, and there you are, paintings of people reading. When people read they’re often wearing their favorite comfortable clothes, sitting/laying in their favorite comfortable position, often in their favorite comfortable chair, and as often as possible in their favorite comfortable location as well. What’s not to love about someone that happy?
Cooper's work will be on display at the State Library through January 2009. The library is located in the Miller Building, corner of E. 12th and Grand Ave. in Des Moines. For more information, call 1-800-248-4483 or 515-281-4102.
