Cashiers Plein Air Festival

 2016 Cashiers Plein Air Paint Out Award Winners

L-R: Richard Oversmith (Artist Choice), Kathie Odum (Honorable Mention), 

Harold Frontz (third place), Greg Barnes (Winning Pastel - 1st Place), Me (Mary Hoffman - Quick Paint), Larry Moore (2nd Place), Judge Norma Hendrix

 What an incredible week it's been!!  A whirlwind of action and painting hiking up and down mountains and traversing waterfalls and creeks; avoiding as many bug bites and sunburn as I can and all the while meeting and associating with the greatest folks around.  I love this place!

"Got Any Grapes?" 14"x11" Oil on Gessobord, Quick Paint Winner!

"Canyon Kitchen View" SOLD

 12"x12" Oil on Linen Panel sold painted en plein air on location at the Famous Canyon Kitchen at Lonesome Valley in Cashiers/Sapphire Valley NC

I had to get this down quickly because as I painted I could hear thunder rumbling in; and where there is thunder there is lightening!

"Dinnertime!" SOLD

8"x16" Oil on Canvas sold Painted en plein air on location at Camp Merrie-Woode as the campers were cleaning up to head off to enjoy their evening starting with the dinner bell.

Great Plein Air Paint Outs bring out Great Friends Old & New

Lovely Patron Kathy Erickson came from Atlanta to watch the Plein Air Artists at work Artist Jim Carson is one of the greats!

My awesome and gracious hosts Rebecca & Terry Wiler

 My new friend I affectionately refer to as "California Kim"- fab artist Kim VanDerHoek

 The Village Green Board Chair, the Judge Norma Hendrix and Plein Air Festival Coordinator Extraordinaire Ann Self

"Touching Heaven" SOLD

 11"x14" Oil on Linen Panel sold  Painted en plein air on location at nearly 5,000 feet above sea level on 400 acres of private property outside of Cashiers NC

To get an idea of the GRANDNESS of this stunning property, there is a little building left of center that represents a little one-room school house (replicated); I was standing on a bluff above the field leading down to that school house. A little dirt road lines the next ridge above a small valley which leads back upward to the small Christmas Tree Farm behind that.  As I painted this, a black bear wandered out of the tree line into sight at the top of the hill above the Christmas Trees.  Beyond the big ridge of green trees is another valley and beyond that are rolling mountains of purple mist.  It was almost too much to take in! WOW!

"Touching Heaven" was purchased on the last day of the sale at the last hour by a woman who came in hoping it was still available.  . . she explained to me that she saw the painting at the Gala the night before but didn't buy it and then couldn't sleep all night for thinking of it.  What a relief, she said, when she came in and saw that it was not yet sold!

My Demo of Camp Merrie-Woode's Old Bald & Lake Fairfield

 "The Grandeur of Merrie-Woode" 11"x14" Oil on Linen Panel painted on site at the Village Green Alla Prima during my Painting Demonstration for the Cashiers Plein Air Paint Out

 I enjoyed talking to a lovely group of spectators and artists about my plein air set-up and how I approach a painting. Using a snap shot I took while painting at Merrie-Woode a few years earlier, I produced a sizable painting in under 2 hours. My favorite part is the foreground lilypads.

Call David Berger for more information and availability of this piece:

Mountain Mist Gallery  (828) 743-1801

"The Honeymoon Cottage"

"The Honeymoon Cottage" 12"x12" Oil on Linen Panel sold  painted en plein air on location at High Hampton Inn & Resort

I was shielded by a tree and a large bush from any golfers who might tee off just above me.  But I got the best view of the iconic cottage. The grist Mill was (and I think still might be) a working mill. I don't know how old the cottage is but it is most likely close to 100 years old. I guess I can Google that. I had a blast painting this. I'd heard so much about it and yet never sought it out or saw it in person.  I am so glad that I did this year.

"Mornin' Cuppa Coffee"

12"x12" Oil on Linen Panel  available at Mountain Mist Gallery in Cashiers, NC

While at the High Hampton Inn and Resort painting this scene of Rock Mountain, a man sat in one of the rocking chairs just in front of me to my left as he also enjoyed the view sipping his morning cup of Joe.  What can I say, he inspired the title.

Call David Berger at the Mountain Mist Gallery for more information about this piece.

Mountain Mist Gallery

(828) 743-1801

"Thanks for Thinking of Me"

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel sold
Painted en plein air, Alla Prima, on location at the Village Green in Cashiers, NC

This is another view of the meditative Garden located within the Village Green

"Norton Falls"

 8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel  sold
Painted en plein air, on location at Norton Falls on Lake Glenville, Cashiers/Glenville NC

My hostess, Rebecca Wiler, along with her two dogs, Winston and Buddy, toured me and fellow artists, Karen Hewitt Hagan and Mary Ann Cope in her Pontoon Boat to this locale: Norton Falls where we all painted this refreshing site.

"Merrie-Woode Mist"

8"x16" Oil on Canvas Painted en plein air on location at Camp Merrie-Woode during the Cashiers Plein Air Paint Out July 2016

The morning was cool and the mist was rising off of Lake Fairfield and the light united it all!

Contact David Berger of the Mountain Mist Gallery in Cashiers for more information regarding this piece.

Mountain Mist Gallery

(828) 743-1801

"With Thoughts Of You"

12"x9" Oil on Linen Panel sold

Painted en Plein Air on location at the Village Green of Cashiers, NC and will be featured as the cover of the 2017 Joy Garden Tour's Catalog Cover.  I'm thrilled!

Cashiers Plein Air Festival

Cashiers Plein Air Paint Out of North Carolina

I'm thrilled to announce that my painting "Got Any Grapes" was an Award-Winner during the Quick Paint the final day of the Cashiers Plein Air Festival!

"Got Any Grapes?" 14"x11" Oil on GessoBord

It's the local Lemonade Stand started by a young girl who wanted to raise money for her elementary school.  The word got 'round and after a big donor matched what she initially earned and then Grandparents of other children matched that amount, she brought a check for more than $300.000.00 to her school!  Now, the tradition continues as students volunteer to man the lemonade stand throughout the summer.  All proceeds go to their local elementary school.

The title comes from the song my children loved to listen to on YouTube about a Duck that walks up to the Lemonade Stand and asks the Man, "Got Any Grapes?" 

Here's the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtN1YnoL46Q

Once again, the friendly folks of Western North Carolina did not disappoint and came out in droves to share in the fun and festivities all the while showing the Artists what true hospitality is all about!

 I was asked to present a Demo and paint for the crowd a painting of Camp Merrie-Woode

 Fellow artist, Larry Moore, exemplifies how the Artists feel during the rigorous painting week.  But it is always fun!

Real Estate Studio Preview Show

Announcing the Real Estate Studio Art Show 

214 King Street in Historical Downtown Charleston, SC

August 4 through September 13, 2016

The following is only a preview of the many works you'll see there.

Each painting is available for sale through

the Hagan Fine Art Gallery & Studio

27 1/2 State Street

Charleston, SC 29401

www.haganfineart.com

843-901-8124

 

"A Length Ahead" 20"x24"  SOLD

 

"Twighlight's Last Gleaming" 30"x40" AVAILABLE AT

HAGAN FINE ART GALLERY & STUDIO

177 KING STREET

CHARLESTON, SC 29401

www.haganfineart.com

"Intercoastal Wonder" 6"x8" nfs

"Pitt Street Cottage" 6"x8" gifted, nfs

"Pitt Street Morning" 8"x6"  sold