iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 30/06/2025

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

Unfinished paint by number of a goldfish in a sunlit fish bowl

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 25/06/2025

Lucy was looking especially adorable on our walk tonight. Must’ve been the cheese. 🥹🧀 #BTposse #TerrierTuesday #DogsOfBluesky

Lucy the Border sitting at attention with my splatter paint shoes on the wheelchair’s footrest.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 22/06/2025

Lucy is very conscientious about making sure we’re all properly groomed. 😅 #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky

Lucy licking my husband’s closed eyes as he drinks his morning coffee.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 18/06/2025

And now for your listening pleasure, the musical stylings of Lucy playing her squeaky ball. 🐶🎶 #BTposse #TerrierTuesday #DogsOfBluesky

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 18/06/2025

All work and no paint-by-number makes Athena a dull gal. 😅 #Painting #PaintByNumber

Partially finished paint-by-number of a goldfish in a sunlit fish bowl.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 17/06/2025

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

Sunsetting behind the clouds over the Bow River

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 16/06/2025

Me: Lucy, I'm trying to work on the picture book here. Lucy: But... belly rubs? 🥺🐶 #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky

Lucy the Border Terrier stretched out on her back with her belly exposed for rubs. She lays beside my iPad on the beige striped comforter on the bed.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 14/06/2025

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

Athena seated in her power wheelchair outside a building with a mural being worked up by folks elevated in a scissor lift platform. The partially completed mural shows a giant, futuristic face with an exposed brain and the building’s windows appearing as the face’s futuristic visor.

CUPS mural with two hands outstretched releasing a white dove.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 13/06/2025

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

Lucy the Border Terrier sniffing the grass under a tree with a magpie standing right behind her about to tweak her tail.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 29/05/2025

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

Detail view of an unfinished paint-by-number showing a goldfish in a fish bowl.

Unfinished paint-by-number showing a goldfish in a fish bowl.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 28/05/2025

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

Athena, her husband and Lola, a Pomeranian / Jack Russell Terrier, smiling joyously from her over-the-shoulder carrier.

Lucy, the Border Terrier giving Lola gentle licks on her face as she sits in her carrier.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 05/03/2025

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

Frankie, a cartoonish penguin-like creature, is waving at the viewer as he stands next to his smiling brown turtle outside in an autumn scene in Vancouver. He is wearing a brown leather cap with goggles, pink flannel and blue jeans.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 15/02/2025

#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

Sketch done in white on black paper of a seated male figure with a sheet wrapped around his lower body. He sits on a folding metal chair with his elbows on his knees and head leaning into one hand.

Sketch done in white on black paper of a figure lying on his back with a sheet wrapped around his lower body. He has an arm outstretched and a bare foot propped up on two pillows.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 14/02/2025

#FebruArty - Pair Portrait of myself and my husband that was part of my 2024 exhibit on romantic love and #disability. Technically still unfinished, but that’s also a fair description of any relationship. 💕 #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting

Painting by Athena Cooper of an able-bodied groom and a wheelchair bride. The groom is a tall, slim bearded man in a dark suit. The bride sits in her power wheelchair with the seat elevated so that she can touch foreheads with her new husband. She has long dark hair woven with a band of tiny white flowers and wears a white, lace wedding dress. They gaze at each other lovingly with the bouquet of flowers held between them.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 10/02/2025

#FebruArty - Rings This painting is based on the photo I took to announce my engagement way back in 2018. My husband picked the perfect ring for me based on this earlier painting inspired by our relationship. #ArtYear #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting

Painting by Athena Cooper of a solitaire diamond ring with the diamond embraced in graceful curves on either side. The ring sits atop a stained glass inspired painting with two figures—one cool blue and the other fiery orange—with white light emanating from their joined hands in an echo of the ring’s design.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 09/02/2025

A painting I did of our girls, Lucy and Lola.

Painting by Athena Cooper of two small dogs resting on a blue-grey couch. Young Lucy the brown and black Border Terrier lays looking alertly off into the distance. Senior Lola the golden Pomeranian/Jack Russell Terrier is sleeping stretched out beside her.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 09/02/2025

#ArtYear - I completed this piece over a decade ago and it’s still one of my favourites. It doesn’t look much like the original stock photo reference, but I still love how delicate and vulnerable she looks. #FebruArty #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting

Painting by Athena Cooper of a fair skinned woman with long flowing red hair and bright blue eyes. Her elegant hands tenderly touch her chin and the side of her face.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 06/02/2025

Lucy felt that the fuzzy socks I laid out for the freezing Calgary weather today were much better suited as a pillow. #BTposse #DogsofBluesky

Lucy the tan border terrier curled up on our bed using a pair of fuzzy purple, navy blue and pink Nordic style socks as a pillow.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 04/02/2025

Sadly, Princess Lola still insists on poop walks—unlike Lucy who has the good sense to use the artificial grass patch on our balcony. It was, as you say, *bracing*… 🥶

Athena bundled up in all her winter gear seated in her power wheelchair.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 04/02/2025

#TerrierTuesday… it’s currently -24C in #Calgary right now—or -11F for the Americans playing at home. Lola is all of us in this ridiculous weather. #DogsOfBluesky #RescueDog

Lola the golden Pomeranian / Jack Russell terrier wedged deeply in a pile of fuzzy blankets on the couch.

Graphic from a weather app that shows the temperature as -24C and cloudy in Calgary, Alberta, feels like -33C.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 04/02/2025

#FebuArty Day 4 - Purple Deep rich eggplant purples have long been my favourite colour and can be found in many of my paintings. I'm especially proud of the textured purple glass that makes up the lamp in this older piece. #ArtYear #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting

Painting by Athena Cooper of a purple stained glass lamp shade with a pattern of trailing green leaves and red trumpet-shaped flowers.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 03/02/2025

#FebuArty Day 2 - Shoes I took today’s prompt as my inspiration for a practice colouring piece using Adobe Fresco and a stock photo. I’m currently figuring out the workflow and style for my picture book project as I await final approvals on the sketches. #ArtYear #Art #DigitalPainting

Black and white photo of a close up view of a pair of ballet slippers on point. The shoes have been digitally coloured in a painterly style as bright red with purple shadows and yellow highlights.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 02/02/2025

These are the things we Canadians are fighting for… it’s not an abstract concept… it’s a set of values and way of life distinctly our own. I’m reminded of one of my favourite quotes attributed to Fred Astaire… “If you’re going to go down, go down swinging.”

Athena in her power wheelchair decked out in her Canada Day gear of a red Olympic Roots hoodie and a wicker fedora. She is leaning over to pet Lola, the golden Pomeranian/Jack Russell Terrier, who stands with her front paws on the footrest and a white bandana with red maple leaves around her neck.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 31/01/2025

Day 31 of #JanuArty is Angle The Peace Bridge is nothing but angles and a favourite dramatic backdrop for tourists, weddings and grad photos. A perfect painting to end off the month. #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting #ArtYear #Calgary

Painting by Athena Cooper of the Peace Bridge lit up at night. The bridge is a series of triangles stretched out over the Bow River. Light from the bridge shines down as a series of vertical pillars across the water. Several geese can be seen in silhouette on the near shore.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 30/01/2025

IMPORTANT: Calgary’s annual hot chocolate festival starts this weekend. That is all. List of this year’s contestants to get you started - yychotchocolate.com/contestants #Calgary

Photo of Athena from the 2023 festival holding a cup with Aggudo’s Salted Caramel Chocolate Dirty Chai. She’s smiling as she sits in the cafe wearing a grey puffy jacket and a knitted bright red cap with a brim.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 30/01/2025

Day 30 of #JanuArty is Green Thinking about brighter days as we approach the end of January. This beautiful spot is a short walk from downtown in Prince’s Island Park #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting #ArtYear #Calgary

Painting by Athena Cooper of a park bench by the turquoise waters of a river. The sun shines brightly through the leaves making them appear lime green and casting dappled shadows on the grass.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 30/01/2025

Today marks one week home from the hospital. Lucy seems to be enjoying the stack of positioning pillows I brought back with me. 😅 #BTposse #DogsofBluesky

Lucy the tan border terrier lying on the bed with her head resting on a stack of two different throw pillows.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 29/01/2025

Day 29 of #JanuArty is Curve One of my favourite paintings in recent years and the perfect one for today’s prompt. #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting #ArtYear

Painting by Athena Cooper of two figures reflected in the mirrored surface of a Christmas ornament sitting in a glass vase of ornaments in a coffee shop. One figure is bearded and wears a blue shirt. He sits at the table with a coffee mug in his hands. The other wears deep magenta holds the smartphone and is taking the picture.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 29/01/2025

Social media seems especially doom and gloom tonight. May we find the carefree ease of these two as we fall asleep. #OnlyBeautifulThings #DogsOfBluesky #BTpossse

Lucy the tan Border Terrier asleep on the grey throw blanket on the end of the bed. Lola the golden Pomeranian/Jack Russell Terrier is asleep in her poofy donut bed on the floor at the end of the big bed.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 28/01/2025

Welcome to my new home office setup. 😁 Even though I’m now home from the hospital, I’m still dealing with pain and limited energy when in the wheelchair. This allows me to simultaneously work and rest. I even got myself a Bluetooth keyboard so I don’t have to tap type all the time. #Disability

Queen-size bed with dark blue sheets and a padded grey headboard. Blankets are pulled back on one side and there’s a light blue heating pad laid across one pillow. An iPad is clipped into a black stand that arches over the bed allowing someone to utilize it on their back.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 28/01/2025

Puppy Lucy had her own way of doing things from Day 1. Here she decided that she didn’t like the location of her bed, so she simply moved it. Another time she even dragged her bed all the way down the hall from the living room to just outside the bedroom. #TerrierTuesday #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 28/01/2025

Day 28 of #JanuArty is Flat I grew up on the west coast with mountains, so the flat expanse of the prairies still sometimes feels jarring. This was a commission piece I did based on a photo taken just outside Regina, Saskatchewan on New Year’s Eve 2020. #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting #ArtYear

Paintings by Athena Cooper of a deep blue twilight sky with a band of bright yellow, pink and lavender along the horizon. The piece is very wide emphasizing the flatness of the prairies. Two bare winter trees are silhouetted against the view and a lonely street lamp illuminates the snow that has been pushed up along the side of the road.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 27/01/2025

We snuck upstairs yesterday to check out the progress on the accessibility renovations on the suite we purchased last fall. This gives you a sense of the transformation from what the bathroom previously looked like and the barrier-free roll-in shower that’s being installed now. #disability 👇🏼🧵

Small narrow bathroom in our rental apartment with a sink, vanity, toilet and bathtub at the far end of the room.

Partially complete roll-in shower with a recessed nook on the far side and dark grey tile lining all the walls.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 27/01/2025

Day 27 of #JanuArty is Red Based on a photo taken during the height of COVID. My favourite thing about this painting is my red hat. #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting #ArtYear

Self-portrait painting by Athena Cooper. Artist poses outside on a chilly Calgary day looking directly at the viewer behind her square rimmed glasses. She wears a bright red knit cap with a brim, a light grey puffy jacket and a dark blue cloth mask with red flowers on it.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 26/01/2025

Day 26 of #JanuArty is Broken This painting is from my solo exhibit last year on romantic love and #disability. I wanted to represent how something as simple as a flat tire on my wheelchair is a complete showstopper in my world. #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting #ArtYear

Painting by Athena Cooper of a close up view of a flat front tire on my wheelchair.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 25/01/2025

Day 25 of #JanuArty is Vegetable Okay, this one is admittedly a stretch, but maybe there some vegetables on that sushi filling somewhere... 🤷🏻‍♀️ #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting #ArtYear

Painting by Athena Cooper of a sushi roll wrapped in a slice of bright orange salmon on a white plate next to a pair of wooden chopsticks, wasabi and sliced ginger. A bottle of soy sauce and a bowl of rice sit in the background.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 24/01/2025

Here’s some double terrier trouble. 😉

Lucy the young tan and black border terrier lying next to Lola the senior golden Pomeranian / Jack Russell Terrier on the bed.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 24/01/2025

First Friday home after being in hospital for 10 long months. That blissed out look can be attributed to a homemade breakfast with scrambled eggs made from real eggs—not whatever stuff the hospital uses—and French press coffee with hot chocolate powder and oat milk. Divine. 🥰 #TGIF #Disability

Athena sitting in her power wheelchair wearing her coffee sloths nightshirt and holding a mug of coffee. On the table in front of her is a plate with partially finished scrambled eggs, a few leftover French fries and a spot of ketchup.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 24/01/2025

Day 23 of #JanuArty is Sweet Lucy was only a few months old here and having a snuggle during her first long wintery walk. Watching the relationship develop over the years between her and my husband has been the sweetest thing. #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting #ArtYear #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky

Painting by Athena Cooper of Lucy the tan and black border terrier puppy being held against my husband’s chest on a chilly day. She’s looking directly at the viewer with a penetrating stare and my husband is snuggling her close, kissing the top of her head. He’s bearded and wears a dark magenta puffy coat and a brown leather flat cap.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 23/01/2025

Day 23 of #JanuArty is Opposites Young and old. Alert and chill. Lucy and Lola are quite the pair. #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting #ArtYear #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky

Painting by Athena Cooper of a pair of small dogs lying on a grey-blue sofa. Young Lucy, the brown and black border terrier, has her head raised and stares alertly off into the distance. Old Lola, the golden Pomeranian/Terrier, sleeps stretched out beside her.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 22/01/2025

Day 22 of #JanuArty is Monochrome A foggy morning scene from when we still lived in Vancouver. #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting #ArtYear

Painting by Athena Cooper done in shades of blue of a street lined with parked cars and trees fading off into the morning fog. A cyclist rides away in silhouette.

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Athena Cooper ♿️🎨 @athenacreative.substack.com · 21/01/2025

I usually save posting this until May 4th, but it seemed appropriate to share today.

Text: “#Resist” Abigail Mouse in her wheelchair sitting back to back with Horace the Tortoise. Abigail is dressed as Rey from Star Wars and holds her quarter staff at the ready. Horace is dressed as Finn and holds a glowing blue lightsaber. Behind them is a whole group of figures with lightsabers in a wide variety of colours.

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