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
In today’s post for Tilted Windmills, I write about how my experience as a disabled person has given me greater insight into when it’s best to write your own story around what is “normal.”
tiltedwindmills.substack.com/p/the-perils...
tiltedwindmills.substack.com/p/the-perils...
The perils of chasing “normal”
A valuable lesson learned from my disability
tiltedwindmills.substack.com
July 15, 2025 at 8:35 PM
In today’s post for Tilted Windmills, I write about how my experience as a disabled person has given me greater insight into when it’s best to write your own story around what is “normal.”
tiltedwindmills.substack.com/p/the-perils...
tiltedwindmills.substack.com/p/the-perils...
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. 👇🏼🧵
She’s been doing well. Lucy’s always been sensitive to the health issues of her pack—both myself and Lola. When Lola’s health took a turn for the worse, that was hard on Lucy and we could see she was trying to comfort Lola as best she could. After Lola passed, Lucy seemed much less stressed.
July 10, 2025 at 8:56 PM
She’s been doing well. Lucy’s always been sensitive to the health issues of her pack—both myself and Lola. When Lola’s health took a turn for the worse, that was hard on Lucy and we could see she was trying to comfort Lola as best she could. After Lola passed, Lucy seemed much less stressed.
July 9, 2025 at 9:11 PM
This is the tale of Norman, the title character from one of my favourite childhood picture books, which had a significant influence on me as an artist and newly minted picture book illustrator.
Read all about it in my latest art newsletter.
athenacreative.substack.com/p/i-am-norma...
Read all about it in my latest art newsletter.
athenacreative.substack.com/p/i-am-norma...
I am “Norman the Doorman”
A lifetime's worth of influence from one of my favourite picture books
athenacreative.substack.com
July 8, 2025 at 2:33 PM
This is the tale of Norman, the title character from one of my favourite childhood picture books, which had a significant influence on me as an artist and newly minted picture book illustrator.
Read all about it in my latest art newsletter.
athenacreative.substack.com/p/i-am-norma...
Read all about it in my latest art newsletter.
athenacreative.substack.com/p/i-am-norma...
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
That’s them! I now have 4 pairs of Billy’s as they’ve been the easiest shoes to put on post hospital.
This is my other jazzy pair.
billyfootwear.ca/collections/...
This is my other jazzy pair.
billyfootwear.ca/collections/...
Black Leopard BILLY Classic D|R II High Tops CPMA-Certified AFO-Ready
Zip quickly into your Black Leopard BILLY Classic D|R II High Tops in style. Fast, fun, easy, empowering€”BILLY goes universal, combining fashion with function and adaptive with mass market.
billyfootwear.ca
June 25, 2025 at 11:01 AM
That’s them! I now have 4 pairs of Billy’s as they’ve been the easiest shoes to put on post hospital.
This is my other jazzy pair.
billyfootwear.ca/collections/...
This is my other jazzy pair.
billyfootwear.ca/collections/...
Billy’s for the win! Sadly that pattern seems to be reserved for kids, but I really like their easy side zipper designs.
billyfootwear.ca
billyfootwear.ca
BILLY Footwear Canada
Revolutionize your footwear experience with Billy Footwear! Our unique FlipTop design blends style, comfort, and accessibility, making shoe-wearing effortless for everyone. Embrace the fusion of fashi...
billyfootwear.ca
June 25, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Billy’s for the win! Sadly that pattern seems to be reserved for kids, but I really like their easy side zipper designs.
billyfootwear.ca
billyfootwear.ca
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.
How considerate. 😂
June 22, 2025 at 9:06 PM
How considerate. 😂
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
Happy early birthday. 🥳
I will say that my 40s have been very good to me.
I will say that my 40s have been very good to me.
June 18, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Happy early birthday. 🥳
I will say that my 40s have been very good to me.
I will say that my 40s have been very good to me.
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
Not yet. I’ve been picking away at it between other projects, but I plan to take my time with it.
June 17, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Not yet. I’ve been picking away at it between other projects, but I plan to take my time with it.
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
Actually I’m using another company now called CopyRepro. They’re within motoring distance of my apartment and the fellow who runs the company is great.
copyrepro.ca
copyrepro.ca
Home - High Quality Reproduction Services - Copy Repro Inc.
Experience high quality, low cost printing at Copy Repro Inc. Book your order now.
copyrepro.ca
June 10, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Actually I’m using another company now called CopyRepro. They’re within motoring distance of my apartment and the fellow who runs the company is great.
copyrepro.ca
copyrepro.ca
Thanks so much for the shoutout, Glenda! They’re even printed right here in Calgary too. 😁🇨🇦
June 10, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Thanks so much for the shoutout, Glenda! They’re even printed right here in Calgary too. 😁🇨🇦