"Spring, While We Chatted"

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel

A dear friend of over 25 years called me as I painted this.  We no longer live near each other and our lives are full and demanding, leaving us little time to "just chat."  Often, we experience extended gaps of time between phone calls or visits.  

The weather was glorious and everything was in bloom.  Just as our friendship continues to blossom in an array of springtime color, we always pick up where we left off; and it doesn't matter how long our "winter" keeps us apart, our friendship grows with each passing season.

"In Remembrance Of"

8"x6" Oil on Gessoed Clayboard

A friend of mine had two beautiful "sons" (the four-legged kind) and both just recently passed of natural causes.  In memory of them I painted these little "post card" sized paintings.

"Isabella's Quick Sketch"

Isabella  10"x8" Oil on Linen Panel

A quick study from life for the formalized portait

"Emma's Quick Sketch"

Emma 10"x8" Oil on Linen Panel.

 The preliminary quick sketch for the formalized portrait

Emma & Isabella

"Lowquat & Pear Blossoms on Hassell" SOLD

12"x9" Oil on Linen Panel   sold

What a lovely street!  Hassell (pronounced "Hazel") Street is in full bloom with Spring's new buds.  I was honored as well to have met a few of the neighborhood's friendly residents.  The day was sunny and gorgeous and included a plan to paint at least one more painting until the rain came and chased us away.

"Come Sit With Me" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

Today's gorgeous weather put us on Sullivan's Island.  I repainted a familiar scene but using the other set of chairs.

"Sullivan's Point" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

Last week's second painting. . . we were out at the Old Pitt Street Bridge and we set up at the very tip of the bridge looking out over the water.

"Marsh Grasses" SOLD

Last week's Wednesday painting. . . 9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel  SOLD

We  met last week at the Old Pitt Street Bridge and painted the vistas from the end of the bridge.  This is looking back toward The Old Village in Mount Pleasant.

"Lady in the Red Dress"

14"x11" Oil on GessoBord brand panel

This is the pose we worked on last Tuesday and today.  I have a couple of touch-ups to do, but mostly I am finished.  This model's luminous skin reflected so many beautiful colors that it made the task of painter her so gloriously fun!  This truly was a sweet time to get together with friends and paint a lovely young lady!

"Quick Portrait Sketch"

10"x8" Oil on Linen Panel

This was done toward the end of our painting time and I wanted to get in a last minute painting of the model (who was FABULOUS, by the way!)  I couldn't get enough of this beauty!  And she held herself in such a graceful way: didn't move an inch, either!
This is the stuff dreams are made of!! 
I plan to finish this further from a couple of photos that were taken of this pose. . . hoping to post the final painting for you soon.

"Three Steeples"

11"x14" Oil on Gesso Board

Great morning light for my first painting on Wednesday; I couldn't resist it.

"Charleston Roof Tops" SOLD

10"x8" Oil on Gesso Board   SOLD

Thanks to Anne Parker for suggesting this spot to paint! 

We had beautiful aerial views that offered lovely painting opportunities.

"Amanda's Beacon" sold

8"x10" Oil on Gesso Board Panel   SOLD

I've painted this several times from nearly the same vantage point each time with a few exceptions.  Each time I set up to paint the Sullivan's Island Lighthouse it has been around the same time of day.  However, despite painting around the same time of day, the coastal conditions are radically different creating a unique painting every time.

"A Walk Down The Aisle" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Panel SOLD

My camera captured a "cooler" version of this painting. . .

I may have to repost this one too!

"A Walk Down the Aisle" is a commission for someone whose wedding occurred on this path to the beach.

"Isabella's and Emma's Final Sitting"

20"x16" Oil on Linen

Just a few final touches to "clean" up and finalize the girls' dresses, hair and arms.  We enjoyed a Saturday morning together painting the final sitting for their portraits.

"College of Charleston Park" (Gloria Parkway)

14"x11" Oil on Linen Panel

Keeping in mind to "stay loose" with large notes of color and brush work, I painted this today with the Wednesday Painters downtown near a Campus Park off of George Street. . . one of our favorite spots.  "Abstract Impressions" was the focus of the day. . . "Details" were not allowed (smile).

"Charleston Tree Study"

8"x6" Oil on Linen Panel

I want to work on this a bit more. . . light was changing from morning light to afternoon light as I painted this and what originally grabbed my attention to want to paint this image changed a bit.  I want to contrast the value of the tree with the surrounding background values.  I'll re-post it when I do . . . until then, leave a comment and let me know what you think.  thanks!

"The Spirit Of Courageous - King-Sized!"

36"x36" Oil on Canvas

I repainted the same Lion painting but in a larger . . . it seemed deserving of a Grander format.

"Creek Shore" (Turquois Tin Roof)

12"x9" Oil on Linen Panel

Thanks, again, to the Shem Creek Bar & Grill which allowed the Wednesday painters to use their "Oar House" and dock to paint the lovely vistas surrounding.

"Between Friends"

20"x16" Oil on Linen Panel

This is the first of many "Abstract Impressions" paintings created for The Charleston Artist Collective's March Theme of the same name. 

Painting this image straight from my heart was a thrill as I recalled the countless times I have shared a cup of "love" and spent priceless time with my friends!

"Beach Rock Abstraction" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

This painting originated at Fort Moultrie Beach looking back toward Charleston.  My artist friend, Ann Keane, inspired this painting for me.  She paints plein air the initial landscape and then takes it back to her studio and furthers the image painting only with a palette knife.  This is how "Beach Rock Abstraction" developed.  Thanks, Ann!

"Before the Promenade" SOLD

24"x20" Oil on Gallery-Wrapped Linen SOLD

This is the largest of the submissions for March's "Abstract Impressions" for The Charleston Artist Collective.  This view is of Shem Creek prior to its new boardwalk park.

"Abstract InterCoastal" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD
This is the creek which takes you past Sullivan's Island and the Old Village out toward Charleston Harbor.  This is one of the works which will be submitted for March's Charleston Artist Collective "Abstract Impressions."

"Shem Creek's Roof Top View" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Gessobord (brand)  SOLD

I painted this en plein air prior to the new park which is now located near or on this site.  I re-worked this painting to be more "impressionistic" and used "abstract" strokes to coincide with next month's Collective "Abstract Impressions."

"Almost 9"

16"x12" Oil on Linen Panel

My daughter posed for this "quick sketch" but our busy schedules have this on hold until it can be completed.  I will re-post it when we resume the sitting.  She is almost 9 years old when she sat for me during her Christmas break. . . it's now February and she's enjoyed her 9th birthday.

"Rocks & Sand"

9"x12" Oil on Gesso Board

Once again I am drawn to the shapes of color and value that these randomly places rocks create in the bright sunshine.  This was my afternoon painting today.

"Rock On"

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel

The Wednesday Painters (Sullivan's Island Plein Air Painters) SIPP came out to Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Isl today.  Thank God for the bright sunshine and 70+ degree weather!  Feels like spring!

"Gia"

"Gia"  24"x20" Oil on Linen
A beautiful young lady came to sit in my studio and while she sat I painted a quick study of her. . .

"Lowcountry January Day" Charity

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel   Charity Donation

Two weeks ago the Lowcountry was experiencing a foggy, misty and very cold morning.  The Wednesday painters came out anyway to paint.  Thanks goodness we only get one of those days a year here!!  (grin)

"Sunbathers"

18"x20" Mixed Media (Soft Pastel & Charcoal on Canson Paper)  February's Theme for the Charleston Artist Collective is "mixed media" this is one of my submissions.

"Winter Marsh"

6"x8" Oil on Linen Panel

The Lowcountry Marshes in the winter season exhibit gorgeous, warm sunny colors.



"Roadside Tree"

6"x8" Oil on Linen Panel

The Wednesday Painters met up at the Causeway leading onto Sullivan's Island.

The day was beautiful and the sun was a welcomed sight!!

"Oak Tree Pathway" framed SOLD

SOLD

"Oak Tree Pathway" framed SOLD

SOLD

"Grapefruit Still Life"

8"x10" Oil on Archival quality GessoBord brand

The Wednesday painters put up a still life and shared it with me. 

Thanks, Leslie, Tammy & Anne! 

Donation

"The Spirit Of Courageous - The King is coming Quickly!"

24"x20" Oil on Canvas

While listening to Dr. Kevin Baird introduce a message meant to teach on relationships, I "saw" in my mind's eye this image and had to paint it.  If you'd like to hear the message which inspired this painting go to the "media" link at the following website:  www.legacychurchsc.org  listen to December 4th's Message.  Awesome!

"Break in the Storm" Sullivan's Island light house - SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel   sold

It rained all day Wednesday here in the Lowcountry; but I managed to capture a break from it all just as the sun was setting.

"Church Street Bend"

9"x12" Oil on Linen/Panel

One of my favorite walking streets in Downtown Charleston, this particular spot is most beautiful!  The usually straight Church Street has a section that bends drastically revealing a most quaint corner.

"East Bay Entrance"

10"x8" Oil on Linen/Panel

The corner of Water and East Bay Streets is one of many beautiful entryways.

"Shuckin' Shack" SOLD

Sold

"Just Gathered" Framed

13.5"x39.5" framed Oil on Canvas

Refreshed a still life of green, brown and white eggs

produced on a friend's Johns Island farm

This will be going to a show in the near future

"Autumn on East Bay & Eliott Streets" SOLD

10"x8" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

 

My inspiring painting friends picked out a wonderful corner of Downtown Charleston at which to paint.  It was lovely!

"Little Red Scooter (on Church & Broad Streets)"

10"x8" Oil on Linen Panel

Morning light sparkles on Church Street near the corner of Broad Street. 

 I saw that there was a special concession made for the owner of this little red scooter: it has it's own parking square!

"Entry to Little Red Cottage" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD
Another painting from the Charleston SC Plein Air Paintout. . . a fellow painter pointed out this lovely house and its driveway off of quaint Bedon's Alley.   So I just had to paint it!

"Ol' Glory" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

I recently participated in a Saturday Plein Air Paintout in Downtown Charleston, SC.  This was one of the three I painted that day. 
The Charleston Artist Collective's next theme is RED and my thought is to use this as one of my entries; the red stripes of the American Flag next to St. Michael's Church could be considered the focal point, or is it the Glory that the Church represents?

"Three Palms" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel   sold

Another exercise in painting the negative shapes.  My vantage point where I painted this was standing on the beach at low tide looking up at the hilltop dunes.  There is a sheen or shine on the image so I may retake the photo.  All in all it was a spectacular day to be outside painting!