Elaine Cooper Biography

Elaine Cooper as always had a love for art even as a child during her school days. Elaine remembers a particular painting of a knight on a horse, which Elaine is sure, was terrible but Elaine got a gold star from the then headmaster who was obviously a man of vision. The direction Elaine Cooper took was not in fine art but as a designer in the textile industry, which Elaine loved for 25 years. Then a few years ago Elaine Cooper was encouraged to change direction and Elaine began to draw and paint with watercolours, discovering a long forgotten interest. To begin with her work was mostly figurative and still life, but unusual in it's content, mostly fine line and very detailed but Elaine always saw something more in the ordinary. Being self-taught Elaine Cooper felt able to experiment with different mediums, acrylics, oils and texture and eventually her style became looser and Elaine began painting floral images of poppies and sunflowers then branching into the more exotic varieties, but her flowers are never mainstream, Elaine like her subjects to have personality. Elaine loves the modern trend towards minimalism, mixing hot Mediterranean colours with cool neutrals.

The narrow tall Mediterranean buildings Elaine Cooper has admired while holidaying in France inspired her paintings of houses. Elaine sees them as quirky Individuals nestling among the hills, each one with its own character, attempting to form a relationship between the viewer and the viewed. A love of Rackham and Arte in the early days and Leonardo's genius with texture and love of architecture inspired her work even down to the flower pots that sit excitedly by the door waiting to see who chooses this house.

Elaine Cooper usually works at least 8 hours a day in her studio. Each morning is a joy, especially when Elaine begins a new project. Elaine Cooper also loves the days spent planning and sketching, coming up with new ideas, Elaine finds the rush of creativity so exciting, working for hours without any idea of time. Looking out of her studio window, Elaine is lucky enough to be surrounded by the hills and open countryside of the Rossendale Valley. Elaine Cooper loves the spring and summer and on good days Elaine moves out into the garden which has such Inspiration for her.

Elaine Cooper likes to think that sometime in the future people will want to collect and enjoy her work. Elaine imagines people discussing it amongst themselves, finding hidden meanings and secret messages that even Elaine Cooper may not have intended, but would encourage, as a painting is a personal possession. Most of all, her ambition is to continue to paint as it has changed her life in the most amazing way.

This artists page is under construction and prints will follow soon. 

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