 | Each of Cooper's pieces is individually hand-crafted using canvas, acrylic paints and sealants. While the materials used to construct the floorcloth are basic, the result is quite durable. A well-constructed floorcloth will provide years of pleasure and hold up to substantial use. Each painting is signed and dated.
A floorcloth, or floor-cloth, was a generic term that referred to a carpet substitute of either treated or untreated wool, linen (flax), or cotton. Floorcloths went by many names: painted, printed, stamped, or common carpet, oil floor cloth, wax cloth, fancy-pattern cloth, Masonic flooring, summer floor mat, drugget, crumb cloths and various combinations of the above. The first written reference to a painted floor cloth is a 1722 British receipt for a floor oyled cloth. Originally made of canvas, linseed oil, whiting and pigments, a painted floorcloth was waterproof, insect resistant and easily cleaned.
Floorcloths are one of the earliest forms of floorcoverings, attaining great popularity in England in the 1700's. They were first imported by Americans during the early years of our history and eventually manufactured here. Interest in floorcloths declined with the development of linoleum around the turn of the century. The second half of the 20th century has seen a resurgence of interest in the medium reflecting the breadth and variety of contemporary art. Floorcloths have become a fashionable alternative to area rugs.
Floorcloths, Cooper says, "are paintings
crafted into rugs ... a good marriage of art and craft." Cooper's particular paintings
depict whimsical graphic images in rich, wonderful colors. "My designs are primarily about color and how it relates to the adjacent color," Cooper says. "My images come from my personal experiences, the garden, my kids and all of the visual stimulation around me. I enjoy the response of my viewers when they are inspired by the colors, when they respond to the energy color gives."
|
