Athena Cooper ♿️🎨
@athenacreative.substack.com
fine art painter, illustrator, writer and creativity coach based in Calgary, Canada
Website: athenacooper.ca
Newsletter: athenacreative.substack.com
Dog mom to Lucy 🐾
Website: athenacooper.ca
Newsletter: athenacreative.substack.com
Dog mom to Lucy 🐾
Pinned
Cheers to a fresh new year with lots of big creative plans. Stay tuned!
#ArtVsArtist #FineArt #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting
#ArtVsArtist #FineArt #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting
Norms can be a tricky business. In some cases, they can be a positive force, helping to foster shared values, compassion, and connection. In other instances, however, they can seed unhelpful feelings of shame, burnout, and disconnection from others. 👇🏼🧵
July 15, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Norms can be a tricky business. In some cases, they can be a positive force, helping to foster shared values, compassion, and connection. In other instances, however, they can seed unhelpful feelings of shame, burnout, and disconnection from others. 👇🏼🧵
July 9, 2025 at 9:11 PM
An artist with a day job decides to take a big risk to share their art with the world.
No, this isn’t my story — although it could be. 🧵👇
#Illustration #KidLit #KidLitArt #ChildrensBooks
No, this isn’t my story — although it could be. 🧵👇
#Illustration #KidLit #KidLitArt #ChildrensBooks
July 8, 2025 at 2:33 PM
An artist with a day job decides to take a big risk to share their art with the world.
No, this isn’t my story — although it could be. 🧵👇
#Illustration #KidLit #KidLitArt #ChildrensBooks
No, this isn’t my story — although it could be. 🧵👇
#Illustration #KidLit #KidLitArt #ChildrensBooks
Absolutely loving this paint-by-number that I’ve been chipping away at between other art projects for months. It’ll probably take me until the end of the year to finish, but it’s so going to be worth it. 🎨🥰 #Painting #PaintByNumber
June 30, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Absolutely loving this paint-by-number that I’ve been chipping away at between other art projects for months. It’ll probably take me until the end of the year to finish, but it’s so going to be worth it. 🎨🥰 #Painting #PaintByNumber
Lucy was looking especially adorable on our walk tonight. Must’ve been the cheese. 🥹🧀 #BTposse #TerrierTuesday #DogsOfBluesky
June 25, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Lucy was looking especially adorable on our walk tonight. Must’ve been the cheese. 🥹🧀 #BTposse #TerrierTuesday #DogsOfBluesky
When I started my newsletter/blog three years ago, it was born out of my sense of frustration and outrage at feeling leashed to the social media behemoth.
You can read how my relationship to social media has evolved in the 89th edition of Athena's Art Newsletter.
You can read how my relationship to social media has evolved in the 89th edition of Athena's Art Newsletter.
Why I gave up on social media as a creative entrepreneur
The forgotten art of handshake marketing
athenacreative.substack.com
June 24, 2025 at 3:10 PM
When I started my newsletter/blog three years ago, it was born out of my sense of frustration and outrage at feeling leashed to the social media behemoth.
You can read how my relationship to social media has evolved in the 89th edition of Athena's Art Newsletter.
You can read how my relationship to social media has evolved in the 89th edition of Athena's Art Newsletter.
Lucy is very conscientious about making sure we’re all properly groomed. 😅 #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky
June 22, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Lucy is very conscientious about making sure we’re all properly groomed. 😅 #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky
And now for your listening pleasure, the musical stylings of Lucy playing her squeaky ball. 🐶🎶 #BTposse #TerrierTuesday #DogsOfBluesky
June 18, 2025 at 2:56 AM
And now for your listening pleasure, the musical stylings of Lucy playing her squeaky ball. 🐶🎶 #BTposse #TerrierTuesday #DogsOfBluesky
All work and no paint-by-number makes Athena a dull gal. 😅 #Painting #PaintByNumber
June 18, 2025 at 12:01 AM
All work and no paint-by-number makes Athena a dull gal. 😅 #Painting #PaintByNumber
A few snapshots from our walk along the Bow River with the pup last night. I think one of these is going to end up as a painting someday. 🥰🌅 #Calgary #PaintingInspiration
June 17, 2025 at 7:36 PM
A few snapshots from our walk along the Bow River with the pup last night. I think one of these is going to end up as a painting someday. 🥰🌅 #Calgary #PaintingInspiration
Me: Lucy, I'm trying to work on the picture book here.
Lucy: But... belly rubs? 🥺🐶 #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky
Lucy: But... belly rubs? 🥺🐶 #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky
June 16, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Me: Lucy, I'm trying to work on the picture book here.
Lucy: But... belly rubs? 🥺🐶 #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky
Lucy: But... belly rubs? 🥺🐶 #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky
We stopped in to visit some folks I know who are working on a new mural just across from the Telus Convention Centre downtown. They’ll also be touching up the CUPS mural on the side of the same building. Doug was the original artist behind that one too—30 years ago! 😳🕊️ #Calgary #MuralArt
June 14, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Poor Lucy. 😅 The pup was minding her own business when this magpie came by and began trying to tweak the tip of her tail! It wasn’t like it was attacking her and just seemed to want to tease her no matter how often Lucy chased the bird off. #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky
June 13, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Poor Lucy. 😅 The pup was minding her own business when this magpie came by and began trying to tweak the tip of her tail! It wasn’t like it was attacking her and just seemed to want to tease her no matter how often Lucy chased the bird off. #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky
My world looks very different when compared to where I was this time last year—and not just because I was in the midst of my lengthy hospital stay. While I might look fully recovered now, there have been significant changes. Read more in my newsletter.
athenacreative.substack.com/p/what-recov...
athenacreative.substack.com/p/what-recov...
What recovery looks like one year later
Plus: lots of new greeting cards in the online store
athenacreative.substack.com
June 10, 2025 at 5:20 PM
My world looks very different when compared to where I was this time last year—and not just because I was in the midst of my lengthy hospital stay. While I might look fully recovered now, there have been significant changes. Read more in my newsletter.
athenacreative.substack.com/p/what-recov...
athenacreative.substack.com/p/what-recov...
While I've been doing a great deal of digital painting of late for the picture book, there's still something about good old-fashioned brushes and paint that persistently calls to me.
Learn how this acrylic painter is dipping her toe into the world of oil painting.
#Art #Painting #OilPainting
Learn how this acrylic painter is dipping her toe into the world of oil painting.
#Art #Painting #OilPainting
Scratching the itch
Because sometimes I just need to paint
athenacreative.substack.com
May 30, 2025 at 12:22 AM
While I've been doing a great deal of digital painting of late for the picture book, there's still something about good old-fashioned brushes and paint that persistently calls to me.
Learn how this acrylic painter is dipping her toe into the world of oil painting.
#Art #Painting #OilPainting
Learn how this acrylic painter is dipping her toe into the world of oil painting.
#Art #Painting #OilPainting
Unwinding this evening with my latest paint-by-number after a full day of iPad digital painting work on the picture book.
Phew… sometimes I really just need to paint with real paint. 🎨 😮💨 #PaintByNumber #Painting
Phew… sometimes I really just need to paint with real paint. 🎨 😮💨 #PaintByNumber #Painting
May 29, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Unwinding this evening with my latest paint-by-number after a full day of iPad digital painting work on the picture book.
Phew… sometimes I really just need to paint with real paint. 🎨 😮💨 #PaintByNumber #Painting
Phew… sometimes I really just need to paint with real paint. 🎨 😮💨 #PaintByNumber #Painting
A little over a month ago we had to say goodbye to our sweet senior pup, Lola. She lived 15.5yrs and brought her light to everyone who met her.
She passed peacefully on our bed surrounded by her family—myself, my husband and young Lucy all by her side.
#BTPosse #DogsOfBluesky #RescueDog #SeniorDog
She passed peacefully on our bed surrounded by her family—myself, my husband and young Lucy all by her side.
#BTPosse #DogsOfBluesky #RescueDog #SeniorDog
May 28, 2025 at 1:20 PM
A little over a month ago we had to say goodbye to our sweet senior pup, Lola. She lived 15.5yrs and brought her light to everyone who met her.
She passed peacefully on our bed surrounded by her family—myself, my husband and young Lucy all by her side.
#BTPosse #DogsOfBluesky #RescueDog #SeniorDog
She passed peacefully on our bed surrounded by her family—myself, my husband and young Lucy all by her side.
#BTPosse #DogsOfBluesky #RescueDog #SeniorDog
I have been planning my dream accessibility renovation for so many years. As an artist, I knew I wanted our space to be beautiful, but as a disabled woman and wheelchair user, I knew it also needed to be functional for both myself and my able-bodied husband. 🧵👇
April 22, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I have been planning my dream accessibility renovation for so many years. As an artist, I knew I wanted our space to be beautiful, but as a disabled woman and wheelchair user, I knew it also needed to be functional for both myself and my able-bodied husband. 🧵👇
Lola changed my world—and my art!—when I adopted her back in 2010. Now, as we face the challenges that came with her recent health scare, I am just thankful for every moment that we have with her.
#DogsOfBluesky #SeniorDog #RescueDog #Painting
#DogsOfBluesky #SeniorDog #RescueDog #Painting
The Lola factor
Entering a new life phase with our beloved pup
athenacreative.substack.com
April 8, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Lola changed my world—and my art!—when I adopted her back in 2010. Now, as we face the challenges that came with her recent health scare, I am just thankful for every moment that we have with her.
#DogsOfBluesky #SeniorDog #RescueDog #Painting
#DogsOfBluesky #SeniorDog #RescueDog #Painting
15yrs ago, I had the honour of carrying the torch during the Paralympic Relay in Vancouver. Those were heady days, and the country seemed to be overflowing with national pride. 🇨🇦
Today, #Canada is living through very different times... 🧵👇
Today, #Canada is living through very different times... 🧵👇
March 11, 2025 at 2:36 PM
15yrs ago, I had the honour of carrying the torch during the Paralympic Relay in Vancouver. Those were heady days, and the country seemed to be overflowing with national pride. 🇨🇦
Today, #Canada is living through very different times... 🧵👇
Today, #Canada is living through very different times... 🧵👇
I’ve become a little obsessed with the Finch #SelfCare app these past few weeks. This morning my birb, Frankie, is looking especially Canadian as he hangs out in Vancouver sporting blue jeans and flannel. I love that he kinda looks like a cozy, off-duty air force pilot. 😅🧵👇🏼 #MentalHealth
March 5, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I’ve become a little obsessed with the Finch #SelfCare app these past few weeks. This morning my birb, Frankie, is looking especially Canadian as he hangs out in Vancouver sporting blue jeans and flannel. I love that he kinda looks like a cozy, off-duty air force pilot. 😅🧵👇🏼 #MentalHealth
Creating art has often been a way for me to process my anxiety about forces that I can't control, and there is quite a bit going on in the world right now that fits that description.
Read my latest post about how March promises to be a busy and stressful month for a great many reasons.
Read my latest post about how March promises to be a busy and stressful month for a great many reasons.
Creativity in anxious times
Or my love-hate relationship with March 20th
athenacreative.substack.com
February 25, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Creating art has often been a way for me to process my anxiety about forces that I can't control, and there is quite a bit going on in the world right now that fits that description.
Read my latest post about how March promises to be a busy and stressful month for a great many reasons.
Read my latest post about how March promises to be a busy and stressful month for a great many reasons.
#BlueSkyArtShow - Monochrome
A couple way, WAY back sketches from my animation school days. I loved this life drawing exercise where we were asked to draw the light on black paper. It’s something I’d love to experiment with again someday.
#FebruArty #Sketch #LifeDrawing
A couple way, WAY back sketches from my animation school days. I loved this life drawing exercise where we were asked to draw the light on black paper. It’s something I’d love to experiment with again someday.
#FebruArty #Sketch #LifeDrawing
February 15, 2025 at 11:38 PM
#BlueSkyArtShow - Monochrome
A couple way, WAY back sketches from my animation school days. I loved this life drawing exercise where we were asked to draw the light on black paper. It’s something I’d love to experiment with again someday.
#FebruArty #Sketch #LifeDrawing
A couple way, WAY back sketches from my animation school days. I loved this life drawing exercise where we were asked to draw the light on black paper. It’s something I’d love to experiment with again someday.
#FebruArty #Sketch #LifeDrawing
Reposted by Athena Cooper ♿️🎨
👇🏻👇🏻
Portuguese editorial cartoonist Zez Vaz reaches back to Tiananmen Square to call on American defiance.
February 15, 2025 at 7:26 PM
👇🏻👇🏻
Stefan reflects on a conversation he and I had over our Valentine’s Day brunch about our different approaches to decision-making and how embracing anticipatory thinking and a future focus can help improve our #MentalHealth in the long run. 🤔
Reflections on ambivalence
The benefits of a future orientation on mental health
tiltedwindmills.substack.com
February 15, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Stefan reflects on a conversation he and I had over our Valentine’s Day brunch about our different approaches to decision-making and how embracing anticipatory thinking and a future focus can help improve our #MentalHealth in the long run. 🤔