Davis, Kyle :: Kimono Girls

"Cradle" by J.A.W. Cooper

Artists: JAW Cooper (All) , J.A.W. Cooper (All)

2 Comments - 2,469 Views - 0 Like

Additional Images:

Initial Rough Sketch

Moleskine transfer

Framed

Previous Item:
Kimono Girl by Brittney Lee

Next Item:
Kimono Girl by Steve Mannion

Artwork Details

Title:	"Cradle" by J.A.W. Cooper
Artist:	JAW Cooper (All)
Artist:	J.A.W. Cooper (All)
Media Type:	Mixed Media
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	2,469
Likes on CAF:	0 1
Comments:	2
Added to Site:	9/5/2015
Comic Art Archive:

Description

I have been admiring the inimitable work of J.A.W. Cooper for years but hadn't added any of her work to my collection. Near the end of February 2014 I decided that I needed to remedy that so I contacted Cooper, as she likes to be called, about possibly having a kimono girl commission done. At the time she was completely booked but told me that she was working on a solo show for La Luz De Jesus gallery that was at that time scheduled for April 2015. She said she would let me know if she ended up doing any pieces with that concept or pose that I had referenced. She asked which mediums I liked and I told her I liked her gouache work as well as her graphite pieces. I jokingly told her if she did end up working that concept into the show she would have an immediate sale.

It was April 2, 2015 and had now been over a year since I inquired about the commission. As I always do, I was looking through my instagram feed when I saw Cooper had posted a new sketch she was working on. Her solo show "Viscera" had been moved back from April to August and she had been posting progress shots of the pieces she was working on. I immediately recognized the pose and could tell where she was going with the piece just from the rough sketch. I wasn't sure if she would remember my email or not so I decided to go ahead and send her another reply asking about the sketch. She sounded glad to hear from me after all this time so we began discussing what she had in mind for the piece. She gave me the complete rundown on what she had planned. Of course I loved the concept that she described. Over the next couple days we chatted and discussed the piece and she kept me up to date how it was coming along and even included progress shots. I decided even before the piece was finished that I had to own it since it was basically the piece I tried commissioning from her. I wasn't exactly sure when to inquire with La Luz about purchasing it so I asked Cooper. She said at her last solo show pieces were selling before she even finished them and that I should contact Matt Kennedy at La Luz ASAP. She hadn't finished the piece yet and thought I might want to wait until I had seen it completed but I couldn't wait since I knew it was meant to be. I emailed Matt shortly after I had received the email from Cooper telling me to contact him ASAP and she did as well to let him know I had first dibs on the piece. By mid afternoon April 4th I was talking to Matt and paying for the piece. And so the wait until September began.

For the show she did a few pieces in moleskine sketchbooks. This was one of those pieces. Cooper said "Just as the gold ink makes it harder to reproduce in prints I feel like executing work in a sketchbook means that the piece really has to be experienced in person making it more of an original art object. These Moleskine pieces for the show are meant to be more spontaneous and intuitive than the larger more planned out pieces (the theme of the show is "Viscera") so I work in the Moleskins also because it conceptually supports themes I am exploring. And then on a purely personal note- I always prefer the more unfinished sketches and studies of other artists to their finished polished pieces because I feel like you get a more intimate view of their thought process� so I have a deep abiding love for the "rougher stuff.""

I love everything about the piece. Cooper did an amazing job and I have to say this is one of my favorite pieces that I have seen her do so I am thrilled to have it. The Kimono girl is absolutely gorgeous and all of the cherry blossoms and branches in the background are sublime. Having her holding that blossom in her hand was a fantastic touch and the way the kimono transitions into the background is phenomenal. And who can forget that amazing hawk. Cooper always draws such brilliant animals and this one is no exception.

When I wanted to commission her for a piece I knew she would blow me away but this came out even better then I even imagined. She might not have taken my commission at the time but in the end I ended up getting my kimono girl commission from her after all. It was like she made the piece just for me and maybe she did. The piece was done in the two mediums I told her I liked, Graphite and Gouache and even priced where I said I wanted to be when we were discussing it way back in February. To me it doesn't get much better then this. I couldn't be happier adding a new kimono girl, let alone one from one of my favorite artists. The perfect addition to my collection from one of the most amazing artists out there.

Thank you so much, Cooper. It was a real pleasure working with you to add this piece to my collection.

Size 5.5x7.25 in a moleskine sketchbook.

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	Kyle Davis
Joined:	December 2007
Last Login:	September 2025
Website:	http://JoshHowardCollector.com
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Kyle's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

Contact the Owner

Use can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
but, you must be logged in to use this feature.

Comments on this Artwork

You must be logged in to make comments.

Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004

Posted on 9/6/2015

Very elegant piece. The back story is great and adds a lot of context to the art.

Mighty Hal
Member Since 2008

Posted on 9/7/2015

A great story and such a striking piece. Congratulations!

All
	Richard Donnelly 9/6/2025 2:08:00 AM
	David F. 9/6/2025 1:44:00 AM
	Gio Scarp 9/6/2025 1:38:00 AM
	--J S-- 9/6/2025 1:24:00 AM
	Sam Casciato 9/6/2025 12:38:00 AM
View All


	Alan E 9/6/2025 12:05:00 AM
	Aidan (Re-Legion ) Lacy 9/5/2025 10:56:00 PM
	Tom McDonald 9/5/2025 10:46:00 PM
	Abraham Martinez 9/5/2025 9:33:00 PM
	Chris Johnson 9/5/2025 9:08:00 PM