"Old Time Shrimpers" SOLD

16"x16" Oil on Board   SOLD

Shem Creek and its surroundng marshes have loads of shrimp boats of the large variety.   I imagined just how many cast net loads of shrimp these small old, rusty boats have seen over the years.

Portrait of Emma in Progress

20"x16" Oil on Linen panel
Almost complete. . . this one is a work in progress

Portrait of Isabella in Progress

20"x16" Oil on Linen Panel

This is only the beginning of this portrait but I like how it started out.  I'm painting one of her sister, Emma, as well.  Emma's is nearly finished.

"Tree Study" SOLD

5"x7" Oil on treated 400 lb. Watercolor paper   SOLD

I had such a fun time painting this.  The weather and painting conditions were so perfect that I just didn't want to stop painting!  This view is part of the distant tree line at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island.  Trees here are so wind-blown from years of the ocean's breezes that even on a calm day, they appear frozen in a perpetual "blown-over" state.

"Palm Sentries"

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel
Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island offers so many beautiful views from which to paint.
I was standing in the shade of a huge Palm Tree when I painted this.  The ocean is just beyond the row of distant trees and the cool ocean breezes kept me nice and cool on this warm, sunny day.

"Observation Post" SOLD

16"x16" Oil on Board   SOLD

Inspired by an earlier post, "A View For Two"

This one will be in an upcoming show in Downtown Charleston, SC on October 26th at "Stems" located on Coming Street.

This was painted today, and what a perfect day it was to be out painting!  Perfect!

"Ashem At High Tide" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on GessoBord   sold

I was one of a half-a-dozen painters who had privileged access to a little known 55 acres of pristine beauty right in the heart of Charleston, SC.

This was painted en plein air ~ alla prima

"Peaches"

8"x16" Oil on Board

The Charleston Artist Collective is celebrating its One Year Anniversary with an Exhibit/Art Show October 26 in Downtown Charleston, SC.  This is one piece that will be there.  Hoping you will too.

"Red Tin Roof" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen                                                SOLD

Fauvism is the inspiration for this colorful painting depicting a friend's gorgeous garden shack.  Check out the Charleston Artist Collective's site.

"Shem Creek Bar & Grill" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Gesso Board   SOLD

Another one for October's Theme: "Fauvism"

"Hanging Out To Dry"

10"x8" Oil on Linen Panel

October's Theme for the Charleston Artist Collective is Fauvism~

A white table cloth and a beautiful, quirky garden Shed - complete with a red tin roof - make for a focal point.

"Fauvistic Still Life" NFS

8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel   Charitable Contribution
Sunflowers, a Starfish and a square bowl of fruit. . . all painted in the crazy colors of the Fauvism style.

"Coleman Boulevard Bridge" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD
For the Charleston Artist Collective, the crazy colors of "Fauvism" is our Theme for October. . .
this was painted on location, en plein air, on Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant looking back at the Coleman Boulevard Bridge which crosses Shem Creek.

32"x36" Oil on Canvas

An Encore presentation of a plein air painting I did of this site overlooking the Charleston Harbor toward Fort Sumter.

"The Long & Winding Road" SOLD

16"x8" Oil on Board   SOLD

Another gorgeous day in the Lowcountry! 

This is one of the Sullivans Island Plein Air Painters' (SIPP) favorite painting spots. 

It's been a while since we've painted what we've affectionately dubbed "Susie's Path"

and it was good to be back.

"Like Under The Tuscan Sun"

16"x16" Oil on Board

I am participating in an upcoming Art Exhibit with our group, The Charleston Artist Collective, and this will be one of my paintings available I plan to show.

The Tuscan Urn, the Straw Sun hat and the Sunflowers make me think of European countrysides like Southern France or the Tuscan region of Italy.

"High Tide Waterway" SOLD

8"x16" Oil on Gessoed Board   Sold

First painting today.

Hmmmm, am I finished with this?  Not sure. 

But since I treat my blog as my journal of sorts, I am logging it as an example of my journey through this artistic process.

"Afternoon Flight" SOLD

8"x16" Oil on Gessoed Board   SOLD

My second painting today. . . I just couldn't resist painting a most glorious sight. . . as I painted, a flock of Ibis "floated" by.  It was poetry in motion.  

"The Hazards of Plein Air Painting"

16"x16" Oil on Gessoed Board

My only painting of the day . . . . I worked diligently and with great enthusiasm on this rather "large" plein air painting.  I called it a day and started to pack it all up when this wet painting caught a gust and fell over face down in the sand, dirt and grass!  All I could do was laugh. 

"Approaching Storm Irene Over Charleston" SOLD

16"x16" Oil on Gessoed Board   sold

All cleaned up and saved from its fall!  I was standing on Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island looking back toward Charleston Harbor and the Downtown area.
The heavy clouds were the first indicators of Hurricane Irene coming our way.  Thankfully she blew on past us but sadly had other plans for our northeast neighbors who have our prayers.

"Under The Boat House Eaves" SOLD

10"x8" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

The Charleston Artist Collective's Theme for September is "Water"  This is painted from the Boat house we frequent on Sullivan's Island.  We also encountered a Bull Manatee at this location. 

"View From The Oar House at Shem Creek Bar & Grill" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

The Shem Creek Bar and Grill graciously allowed us to paint from their oar house and dock.  This view is looking westward up the creek.

September's Charleston Artist Collective them is "Water."

"Two Cats in the Grass" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

Looking down the beach southward, the sun was getting low and the clouds were clearing. 
September's Charleston Artist Collective's theme is "Water."

"Storm Warning" at the Sullivan's Island Light House SOLD

8"x10" Oil on GessoBord                              SOLD

A very unique lighthouse indeed, but it was the clouds moving in fast that fascinated me.  Located on Sullivan's Island at Station 18 is this iconic lighthouse.  The wind was blowing so hard that it moved my hand as I painted!  It was tough to  make a "strong" and "deliberate" brush stroke.  But it was a glorious day to be at work!

"Eva" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen  SOLD
This is an updated or cleaned-up version of the earlier post by the same name.  Check out the Charleston Artist Collective for September.  The next theme is "Water."

"Charleston Shrimp Boat" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

Next month's Theme for the Collective: "Water"

Another view from one of our favorite spots in which to paint: Shem Creek at the Wreck Restaurant.  You can see the city of Charleston in the far distance.

"A View For Two II" SOLD

36"X32" Oil on Canvas  SOLD

This was painted out at a property next to Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island.  That is Fort Sumter out in the middle of the Charleston Harbour.  The distant land mass is James Island.

"Pink Gladiolus" CHARITABLE DONATION

12"x9" Oil on GessoBord  NFS- Charitable Donation

I have really enjoyed painting still-lifes this month.  It's a great excuse to have more flowers in the house!

"Garlic & Onions" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

This month's Collective Theme is "Still Life"

I'm BACK!  I had some technical difficulties the past few days with posting, but obviously it is all worked out.  My paintings were beginning to back up!  Glad to be up and running again.  Enjoy!

www.charlestonartistcollective.org

"Stargazer Lily Bouquet" SOLD

SOLD

10"x8" Oil on GessoBord

I love all white bouquets and this one adds a lovely fragrance to my home!!

"Silver Still Life" SOLD

10"x8" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

Using a Silver Set for next month's Theme: Still Life, I thought it challenging to capture all the reflections of shiney silver. The floral arrangement adds interest and color as well as texture.

Fun!

"Dusk Between Stations 21 & 22" SOLD

12"x16" Oil on Linen Panel SOLD

I finally did something I've wanted to do for a long time and that was to paint in the evening on the beach. This is Sullivan's Island's Beach looking back toward Station 21. The boardwalk at Station 22 is just about 50 yards behind me. The ocean breeze kept me cool as I painted. It was so relaxing. God's beautiful creation never ceases to bless me!

"View From The Old Pitt Street Bridge" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on GessoBord   SOLD

I found my new favorite spot at which to paint! Leslie introduced me to this lovely out-door paradise. Surrounding me were bikers, walkers, families with small children and their dogs enjoying the sights and a personal trainer giving exercise instruction to his client beside me.
This is the old Pitt Street Bridge where trolleys once trekked across the intercoastal linking the mainland of the Old Village with the island. The trolleys are long since gone and the bridge has collapsed. She informed me that this is a premier spot to view a highly concentrated variety of shore birds in the South East. While painting this I heard quite a ruckus of dolphin feeding right behind me in the water.
That object on the right side of the painting is the Sullivan's Island Lighthouse.

Still Life: "Still Life with Zinnias and Peaches"

12"x16" Oil on Linen

I got a lot of mileage out of these lovely Sunflowers. . . they still look fresh, too!

Check out The Charleston Artist Collective's site for more info on this piece.

Still Life: "Still Life with Pineapple, Lemons & Peaches"

8"x10" Oil on Gessobord  

I love the reflections of the fruit on the counter top

Next month's Charleston Artist Collective's Theme is "Still Life"

Donation

"Still Life of Sunflowers" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen   SOLD

August's Charleston Artist Collective's Theme will be "Still Life"

Check it out:
www.charlestonartistcollective.org

"Eva"

8"x10" Oil on Linen panel

It's Shrimping Season! This boat, Eva, came in early this particular morning to unload her catch while I set up to paint. Luckily, Eva remained docked long enough for me to paint her; because as I was breaking down, Eva fired up her engines and chugged back out to sea for more shrimp.

"Beach Dunes at Sullivan's" SOLD

12"x16" Oil on Linen   SOLD

It was painted en plein air on site at Station 21 and then I clarified some values back in my studio after it dried down a bit.

Check out the Charleston Artist Collective in the month of September when the theme will be "Water"

"Grace's Portrait - the next step"

16"x12" Oil on Linen Panel

I took it a little bit further here with thanks to my friend, Leslie, who gave me a critique. From here, I'll use the photographs I took of this sitting along with this portrait from life to start and formalize a portrait of precious Grace!

"Grace's Portrait - A Beginning"

16"x12" Oil on Linen Mounted Birch Board

Grace is the cutest little 6-year old and sat beautifully for this portrait! We plan to finish it up on Thursday.

"Kayaking The Creek" SOLD

6"x8" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

My eye was drawn to the cool, misty blues of the far back tree line, so I had to paint it. All the while kayakers were gliding by.

Painted en plein air at Shem Creek, Mount Pleasant SC.

"A Fine Lady Left Behind" SOLD

11"x14" Oil on Linen Panel SOLD

This past Wednesday was the first day of Shrimping Season in the Lowcountry. Our favorite Shrimping docks were empty this morning. "Fine Lady" was the only boat around.

"Elliott Street" SOLD

SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel

My friend Leslie's favorite street downtown. This is where we decided to paint today while braving near record temperatures! It was still hot in the shade! But ah, despite the heat, what a lovely city we have offering us such beautiful vignettes! The colorful buildings and flowers, the dappled light through the large oaks and palms, it's all so captivating!

"Oak Tree Pathway" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on linen panel

SOLD

"City Skies"

8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel





I stood in the parking lot behind George Street and looked toward the buildings on King Street. The clouds were moving fast.

"George Street - near the College of Charleston" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel   sold

I was standing in front of the College of Charleston's Cistern at the southeast corner. The colors and dappled light always get my attention. Interesting are the conversations I hear standing in one spot surrounded by the various people passing by.

"Creek Marina Waterway" SOLD

SOLD

6"x10" Oil on Linen Panel

Funny story: this was painted a few weeks ago on a very windy day. My vantage spot was a dock on a boat house. I laid this little painting down to dry and started another one. Just like a little kite taking off in flight, it got caught up by a strong gust of wind! It landed right in the very water it represents! My friends with whom I was painting, Anne, Leslie and Susie ran to its rescue and scooped it up with a large paddle out of the drink. Thank God it is an OIL painting! It's as good as new and can boast taking a little dip in the intercoastal waterway!

"Atop The Mound - Ben Sawyer Bridge"

9"x12" Oil on Canvas Panel

A newer, "touched-up" version of the original. This was a wonderful find in the middle of Sullivan's Island behind the Fire Department. At the top, one can see all around the island!

"Cypress Line" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Linen  SOLD

The first of three paintings today. I may go back into this one and "push" those Cypress trees a bit more.

In this vingette, I was drawn to the shapes of the tree line, the long picket fence at the edge of this yard and all the shadows created by these.

It was a perfect day to be out. And this neighborhood is one of the finest places to paint!

"Old Oaks" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen SOLD

I painted a similar one to this one a year or so ago but I was on another corner of this intersection. It was entitled "Center and Middle Streets" of the Old Village in Mount Pleasant. These oak trees are so massive! I love how they twist and tangle. The light was coming through their intertwining branches and leaves creating interesting shadows that laced clear across the street.