"Still Life Demonstration (Farmer's Market Finds)"

11"x14" Alla Prima Oil on Belgian Linen Panel available

While I participated in the Cashiers Plein Air Festival this July I was asked to give a demonstration for ticket holders and patrons of the community.  My still life was purchased from the local Farmer's Market a few yards away from the Village Green Commons where I gave the demonstration.

available at https://www.haganfineart.com/art/still-life-with-farmers-market-by-mary-hoffman

"Come Sit With Me II"

8"x8" Oil on
Gallery-Wrapped Canvas painted en plein air alla prima on location at the Skylight Farm in Cashiers, NC NFS Gifted

This was my first painting I painted while visiting Cashiers NC to participate in the Joy Garden Tour.  I loved the morning light highlighting this sweet vignette.

"Church of the Good Shepherd"

11"x14" Oil on Linen Panel  painted alla prima En Plein Air on location at this church located on highway 107 south of the cross roads of Cashiers, NC  sold

This lovely little historic church was the subject of my Thursday morning painting for the Joy Garden Tour.  At the Sunday Jazz Brunch when this was purchased, the buyer informed me of the heartbreaking tale of a woman who lost all four of her daughters under the age of 7 to cholera while her husband had to be away for the winter.

Imagine leaving your family for work and returning 3 or 4 months later to your grieving wife who tried desperately to care for your four children, lost them to sickness and buried them herself digging through frozen earth.  Imagine being that mother who faced a mother's worst nightmare alone.

My new friend who now owns this painting says that each time she comes to town she stops by to pay her respects at the monument the church set aside honoring this mother's courage and strength.  It is marked by an old iron gate behind the church.  There you will find the story inscribed at the site.

"Resting Among the Flowers"

 10"x8" Oil on Cavas painted alla-prima En Plein Air on location at The Mountain Man Caves off of Hwy 107 in Cashiers, NC  sold

(This image has no shine, the second image has good color but a shine, so I am showing the painting both ways.)

This charming structure was once the guard gate to one of Cashiers very exclusive communities: Wade Hampton.  It is now "retired" to the "Mountain Man Cave" property and is surrounded by lovely flowers and landscaping.

On this Thursday afternoon, I set to paint here for the Joy Garden Tour.  My friends who conceived the concept for the Mountain Man Caves purchased this little building and relocated it on their property to function as an extra "community" building, affectionately known as "The Dog House."  The Dog House is complete with a seating area and bathroom and allows the Man Cave owners to come and hang out together and play poker or "whatever men do in their caves."

"Meander"

16"x8" Oil on Canvas  sold

This is the morning painting, the first of two paintings, I painted for the Joy Garden Tour.

The top of this trickling brook is fed by a beautiful large pond full of rainbow trout and other species of fish that "happen" to find their way into the waterway through a pipe.  I'm told by the garden owner that they even find their way "out" down this little stream. 

This garden was created by the owner himself and it was glorious!

This stream winds its way down under a lovely little step bridge adorned with colorful flowers in a window-type basket.  The walk-way with which the bridge is connected leads the wanderer either back up into the garden (with this being the view on the way back up toward the house) or rambles away from the house toward the back of the property which leads to the golf course fairway.

"View to the Course"

The Copper frog was made in Charleston, SC and now resides in this glorious garden in Cashiers, NC

11"x14" Oil on Linen painted en plein air Alla~Prima on location at one of the 5 gardens featured in The Joy Garden Tour of Cashiers North Carolina. sold

This view is from the outdoor kitchen deck of the house looking down into the lower level pond out toward the back of the property which backs up to a golf course.  Yes, there is access to the golf course from here. :)

This is a fund-raiser for the community's Village Green: a beautiful 12-acre facility that caters to the Cashiers community & visitors and the surrounding area.

"Rock Mountain Morning"

The early morning mist gently rises from the cool valleys below

8"x10" Oil on Canvas painted en plein air alla prima style on location at Skylight Farm in Cashiers, NC  sold

I painted this painting as I awoke early that Saturday morning.  I noticed the clear sky was being met by the cool valley mist between the mountain tops and I quickly set to work!  This was painted with a cup of coffee in one hand and a brush in the other!

painting in my PJ's

"Quiet Interlude"

 12"x12" Oil on Cavas, painted alla prima en plein air on location at Skylight Farm in Cashiers, NC  sold

This was my final painting I was able to paint for the Joy Garden Tour.  I loved the organic, sweep of these rock steps and how the moss frames them in their nooks.  It is as though I must stop to consider the beauty before I step!

"Still Life with Flowers and Fruit" SOLD

14"x11" Oil on Linen Panel SOLD at the Joy Garden Tour

"High Hampton's #8"

11"x14" Oil on Linen Panel  (available at www.maryhoffmanfineart.com)

Our final morning to paint before the judging!  High Hampton Inn and Country Club beckoned to be painted and here I found, up on this bluff looking down at the lake and onto the 8th green, my vision.  I enjoyed this painting process so much!  What a beautiful world in which we live - especially in the Blue Ridge Mountain area!

"Pearly Gates" (Entrance to Camp Merrie-Woode)

14"x11" Oil on GessoBord brand panel

The finale of the Cashiers Plein Air Paint Out was Saturday's

"Quick Draw."

One of the iconic images of Camp Merrie-Woode

is the entry gateway to the Camp dubbed the "Pearly Gates."

This painting is available for sale at the Mountain Mist Gallery in Cashiers, NC. 

You may call me or contact David Berger for more info.

"Old Bald" - Fairfield Lake at Camp Merrie-Woode SOLD

9"x12" Oil on GessoBord brand panel   sold 

The mountain granite in the mornings glowed a cool blueish-pink contrasting beautifully with all the green trees.  Had to try to capture this majestic icon of Camp Merrie-Woode!

"Virtuous Memorial"

12"x9" Oil on GessoBord brand panel   

Camp Merrie-Woode's Chapel is located here (which is to the left just out of site of this vantage point).  The small stone gazebo at the lake's edge is the Orr Memorial dedicated to the man and his wife who founded this wonderful girls camp.  Inside inscripted into the stones at the tops of each pillar are the "Merrie-Woode Virtues" taught each young girl while camping at Merrie-Woode.  Some of the virtues that I can recall are "cleanliness," "courtesy," "generosity," among others.. . I am certain a Merrie-Woode girl can help me out with the others!  :)

"Priscilla's Chic Boutique"

9"x12" Oil on GessoBord brand panel

I forgot to post this earlier, it's a plein air piece I did while in town at Cashiers NC.  I painted this on the last day of the Cashiers Plein Air Paint Out.  This cute little building houses an Interior Design room, a cute clothing boutique and Garden & Home Decor store.  The red facade is eye-catching and I've desired to paint this for years.  I had to paint quickly as the cars began to park in front of me - ha!

"Lil' Valley Shack" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel  sold

 

The Cashiers Plein Air Painters were privy to some of the most beautiful private property on which to paint.  The owner of this magnificent land allowed us to walk through her front door onto her back porch where we set up our easels.  The home owner's graciousness was the epitome of hospitality that we experienced all over Cashiers.  She owns a Highlands Cow named "Carolina" who happened into the scene but quickly walked to a more shady spot; too quick for me to capture.  However, I enjoyed her hillside pasture.  This one is also one of my very favorites of the week.

"Sun Lovers" (aka: "Kristin's Sun Lovers)

5"x5" Oil on Gallery-Wrapped Canvas  NFS

Prior to painting "Snowballs in Summer" I found these lovely pink Cone Flowers against the dark green background and thought they'd work on the small canvas format I had.  When I brought it home from Cashiers NC, my daughter (who loves anything PINK) and I thought it would be an appropriate addition to her bedroom decor.

"Wolf Lake - Chinquapin"

12"x16" Oil on Linen Panel

This started out as a 16x20 but proved to be too much for me to handle Plein Air.  So I trimmed it down and the composition improved!!!  This was done en plein air and it is the largest plein air painting I think I've ever done in one outing (alla prima).

I'm told the lake is so named because when viewed from above its shape resembles a wolf.

"Snowballs in Summer" SOLD

8"x6" Oil on Linen Panel   sold

The Hydrangeas in Mountainous Cashiers were so beautiful!  They are still in full bloom where it's a bit cooler than South Carolina's heat.

"Lonesome Falls" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Gessobord brand panel  sold

The gracious folks at Lonesome Valley residential community opened their arms and their hearts and allowed the Cashiers Plein Air Painters to capture the beauty of their neighborhood.  I've painted these falls before and I just can't get enough!  This was one of my personal favorites.

"Merrie-Woode Morning" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Linen panel   sold

The Cashiers Plein Air Paint out brought us to a lovely place.  The all-girls summer campground, Camp Merrie-Woode, proved an enchanting place for me to paint. . . I fell madly in love with the environment, the atmosphere, the campers and counselors to the point that I'd like for my own daughter to attend.   This non-denominational Christian camp is a tough place to get into, so cross your fingers and pray for the best!