"Her Daddy's Delight" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel   sold

I'm back!  My family and I have been in and out of town for our "last hurrah" of the summer before school starts.  I have, however, been painting.  I just need to get them uploaded.

This painting is from a couple of wednesdays ago with the Wednesday painters at Shem Creek.  As I always do I had this up on my mantle waiting for it to dry and "live" with it a day or so to see if it needed any adjusting.

A neighbor of mine came by and saw it.  She recently lost her father who was inlove with boating and some of her fondest memories of times with her Dad was out on the boat.  She had to have it. This painting is "Her Daddy's Delight."

"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.

"The WINNERS!"

Brett Weaver 1st Place, John Guernsey, Shannon Runquist, Richard Oversmith, Charles Dickenson:  Congrats to you all!!

Trey Finney Winner of the Quick Draw. . . I only wish I had a better image of the painting. . . it was stunning!

"Cashiers Plein Air Paint Out"

"The Pearly Gates" Waiting on its image

One of my most favorite paintings from the Cashiers Plein Air Paint Out is the one I painted during Saturday's "Quick Draw"  It's called "The Pearly Gates" and it is the entrance to Camp Merrie-Woode.  I am hoping to receive its image soon.  And as soon as I receive it, I'll share it with you on a new post.  Enjoy some of these images from the Cashiers Plein Air Paint Out event.

"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!

"Philadelphia Alley" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel   sold

I may work on this more after I've gotten my eyes off of it for a day.  It's HOT down here in the LowCountry today!  Heat indices up to 110 degrees!  But despite the heat, it's still good to get out to paint.  This little alley offers wonderful cool shade from the heat and it is so beautiful too.  While painting this I was able to meet a couple who lives next door to this house and a very nice young family originally from England who now reside in NYC.  Good to meet y'all!

"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.

"Lifestyle Personified" SOLD

6"x8" Oil on Linen Panel  sold

We went back to Camp Merriewoode to paint one more time and along the road leading into the camp was this precious little scene.  The Adirondack chairs looking out onto the lake personifies the laid-back lifestyle of Cashiers NC.

"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!

"Queen Street's Color" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Gessobord brand panel sold

This was a hot day!  I tried not to melt as I painted this. . . we plan to meet back out here this week, however, I may plan to arrive as the sun rises to beat the 110 degree heat!

I do, however, enjoy being out-of-doors painting; there's nothing like it!

"Cool in the Shade"

12"x9" Oil on linen panel

The last of the Hydrangea blooms in the morning sun. . . . the color of the blooming Crepe Myrtle Tree together compile a colorful pallette

"By the Garden Shed" SOLD

6"x8" Oil on Linen Panel   sold

I'm back!!  My computer crashed and after a week or so at the "Computer Hospital" it's all better!  So I've got quite a few images to upload,  this one was from about three weeks ago.  After I painted "Southern Charm" the owners of that house invited us into their back yard which was a gardener's haven.  This charming garden shed with the chairs caught my eye. 

"Bluest Eyes"

10"x8" Oil on GessoBord brand panel

Casadei once again modeled and I focused on her beautiful face.

"In Repose"

8"x10" Oil on GessoBord brand Panel

Thank you Beth for opening up your lovely home and allowing us to paint such a beautiful model in such a perfect setting! 

Cassie is one of my favorite models!  She is a natural.  She should do this for a living. . . any artist who needs a great model should consider this young lady.  My friend, Beth, opened her home to us.  She lives near the beach and had her windows open which allowed the ocean breezes in.  We listened to the birds sing, the music was sweet and low; the breeze cooled us as we painted the perfect sitting in the perfect setting.  (smile)

"Stretchin' Out in The Sun" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel   sold

This was our first painting of our Wednesday. . . I need help with a title. . . my daughter suggested "Flowering Fence," other suggestions were, "Dancing Sunshine," "Hydrangea Glow," thanks for your help!

"Southern Charm" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel   sold

Leslie and I painted in the Old Village in Mount Pleasant and found a gem of a house. . .
the owners are friends of Leslie and they came out to see what we were painting and to say hello.  They were both so charming, just like their home.  I may continue to work a little bit on this. .  we'll see.

"Up The Creek" sold

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

The colors of the buildings and boats on Shem Creek make for such a lovely color palette in a painting. 

The tide was low so I had a great view-point from the Water Taxi dock.

"Down The Creek" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

It was a little overcast on this day but it helped to keep me cool and made for beautiful colors and reflections in the water of Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, SC

"Betsy's Tuscany"

16"x20" Oil on Canvas   GIFTED

My sweet cousin, Betsy, and her family took 5 weeks off last year and spent their days enjoying the Tuscan countryside of Italy. . . for her birthday I painted one of her most memorable sites.  . . . "Happy Birthday, Cuz!! Love you!"

"Calm in the Midst of the Storm" SOLD

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel   SOLD

Yes, this was a quick study of a dock overlooking Charleston Harbor; it was sunny where I stood however that stormy sky that is depicted in the distance came up to shore quickly and chased me away!

"The Shrimp Dock"

9"x12" Oil on GessoBord brand panel

Just before I left the Wreck, I had to paint the sky reflections in the water here.  Funny, just as I decided to wrap it up, "Miss Eva" the big shrimp boat that usually docks in this space pulls in.  The Captain can maneuver and parallel park that big ol' boat like it were a little Volkswagen!!  To see him park it was a treat!

"Resting Shrimper"

9"x12" Oil on Linen Panel
Wow!  There was a ton of activity down at the Wreck on Shem Creek today!  I saw more dolphin swimming by than I've ever seen!  I saw momma dolphin with their babies.  There was even a couple of dolphin (or maybe the same dolphin trying twice) swimming by me in such a way that it looked as though it were trying to get a good look at me or at what I was doing.  The dolphin "surfed" the surface of the water with its eye checking me out.  The sea birds were everywhere!  Pelican, Egrets, Gulls were all out and about.  There were a couple of classes of squealing, giggling kids learning to kayak and sight-see.  Even in the distance near town was a Regatta of sail boats.  I was out in the middle of action today!

"McCrady's At Dusk"

20"x16" Oil on Linen Panel

A friend just notified me that she and her boyfriend are getting married at McCrady's!  Ssshhhh, it's a wedding gift for him.  Here's wishing them all the best in their new life together!

"The Spirit Of Courageous" Limited Edition Print

Due to an overwhelming response to the original oil painting, 

"The Spirit of Courageous," I am publishing limited edition prints of only 100 of this image.

The exceptional quality giclee prints of "The Spirit of Courageous" are printed on stretched canvas 

and the size will be as the original: 24"x20".

Despite the very limited edition number 

this high-quality print retails for only $350.00 US. 

Don't wait too long to order your print today!

Leave a comment or email me at mhoffman7@sc.rr.com and payment instructions will be sent to you.

Thanks!

My Woodlands Inn Demo Announcement

http://www.woodlandsinn.com/images/uploads/files/ArtistPalate_March%2020%20Mary%20Hoffman.pdf

"Ageless Beauty" SOLD

8"x10" Oil on GessoBord brand panel   sold

We painted at one of our favorite Sullivan's Island Creek spots: the Boat House.  Next to us sits this forgotten, dilapidated Boat house. 
I've seen it many times and yet never noticed it before (as a painting subject, at least). 
I am not sure how long it has been here, but it spoke to me through its silvered, weathered wood and crumbling deck created only by years of salty weather and unuse.  The character of its uncommon beauty can only occur as each day, season, year and decade passes.

We search each week to paint that which is aged, untouched and natural. . . because of the beautiful character of such things.  There seems to be little "beauty" in the "perfect." 
As each year of my life comes and goes and I am tempted to yearn for younger days, this gorgeous example teaches and reminds me that there is a deeper beauty found at every stage in life.