"Still Life with Flowers and Fruit" SOLD

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

"Cool Waters" (revised)

 "Cool Waters" framed  available at Mountain Mist Gallery

"Cool Waters" 11"x14" Oil on Canvas. I "warmed up" the foreground pools of water.  This makes for a more natural lead-into the image and balances the coolness of the shadows everywhere.  

"Boulevard Palmettos"

6"x8" Oil on Linen Panel painted en plein air, alla prima on location at the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park.  This is just a little study I did after painting the York Town. . . I didn't want to leave yet (such a pretty place).  Even the driveway into the parking areas is a pretty sight!

"View of the York Town WWII Memorial"

12"x12" Oil on Canvas painted en plein air alla prima on location just under the Ravenel Bridge where the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park is located.  This is a must see for any tourist or local alike!

Some Studio Work

 "Cooling Waters" 11"x14" Oil on Canvas, Painted from a photo I took while in Cashiers, NC on my way to Highlands.  I stopped by the roadside dam and snapped this shot (with the dam behind me) because I loved the way the sunlight trickled through the trees and glinted off the moving water.

 Here it is framedd.  I think I might go back into the foreground just a bit to "warm it up" juxtaposed to the cool shadows of the rocks and background trees.

 "Betty's Flag & Garden" (Studio) 11"x14" Oil on Canvas, painted after the Plein Air Study below:

"Betty's Flag" 12"x12" Oil on Canvas  SOLD - painted en plein air on location in the Old Village of Mount Pleasant, SC

"Emaleigh"

18"x24" Black PrismaColor Pencil on 80lb Strathmore Paper

"Ode To Mother Emanuel AME Church & the spirit of Forgiveness"

 This blog entry serves to share, from my own personal experience, what awaited us Plein Air Painters when we planned to honor the Mother Emanuel AME Church with our paintings.

Please know that I am truly humbled by this experience and I only hope to bring honor to those who call Mother Emanuel AME Church their home church and to those who lost their lives because of their love and devotion to their fellow man according to what was taught to them by God through Emanuel's late Pastor, Reverend Clementa Pinckney. 

 It was Wednesday July 1st when I arrived downtown, early, to set up and paint with our Plein Air Painting group that I first saw the church since Dylann Roof opened fire after spending an hour with prayers at their Wednesday night Prayer Meeting June 16th.

"A lot of people expected us to do something 

strange and to break out in a riot," 

said Goff, the church's interim pastor 

until a successor for Pinckney is chosen. 

"Well, they just don't know us. We are people of faith."

I arrived early enough that no one was around at the time.  

I eagerly looked for a place to set up to paint.  

The only people who were around were two men talking right in front of the church as if to be close friends, discussing the matter at the site. 

One man was black and the other man was white.  What a poignant image!  

I couldn't get to my camera fast enough and only caught them as they walked down the block, continuing their conversation.

Abruptly, like a flash of lightening, reality struck me! 

An enormous, overwhelming sense flooded my being.  I was caught suddenly by the kindness and loving gestures evident in what was before me. Large bouquets of flowers, prayer candles, signs, notes, American Flags, and stuffed toys left at the foot of this historic church for those 9 men and women who were taken from us that fateful night.

 Somebody's hands placed these here. Somebody walked and prayed here. Somebody shed tears here.

 It was plain to see how Charlestonians offered their best in the best way they could as they themselves coped with what happened the best way they could cope.  And you could feel their hearts saying, "If I could bring back your loved ones, I would.  But I can't so I will offer my heart instead."

I saw that the wind had knocked down some of the bouquets and crashed some of the glass.  I did my best to place upright some of what had fallen and clean up some of the broken glass.  

That reality which hit me earlier punched me again and the tears burned.

. 

As I investigated the scene closer, 
I noticed beautiful 

Crepe Myrtle trees out in front.

From the ground up to the leaves, 

they were covered with 

permanent marker-messages of 

hope, faith and love,
written by those who came to pray and support 

Emanuel AME congregants.

    Then, I noticed the fire hydrant 

was also covered in prayers and love messages and even had three permanent markers there 

for anyone else to write. Someone was thoughtful enough to think of those coming after them,
that they might want to write a message too.
Who thinks of that?

And it hit me.  

My throat grew sore and tears filled my eyes as I looked around in AWE at all of the Love, Respect and Honor on display.

Instantly my mind replayed what I saw, live, on TV during Roof's arraignment; the voices off camera belonging to those family members and friends of the fallen 9 at Roof's hand: "I am not happy at what you have done but because my God forgives me, I forgive you, I am praying for you [Roof], May God have mercy on you [Roof]." 

Wow.  Who does that?

"Tribute - Ode to Mother Emanuel AME Church"

Me as I paint the Plein Air Painting below:

12"x12" Oil on Canvas Painted Alla Prima En Plein Air

Mother Emanuel AME Church has been in the National news much lately.  At the time of this painting, it had been just two weeks when a young 21-year old man, deranged with hate and evil, was welcomed into this historic, Downtown church by her Parishioners gathered for a Prayer Meeting. After sitting for an hour with them he then stood up and shot to death 9 innocent lives including their beloved Pastor.
This blog post requires more than just posting a painting.  There is a long story that goes along with this image that I am unable to go into just yet.  I will "finish" this painting up a bit more; it needs a little refining.  There is just too much yet to say.  I will follow up with another post.

"Betty's American Flag" SOLD

12"x12" Oil on Canvas painted alla prima en plein air  SOLD

One of my favorite places to paint is in the Old Village on Bennett Street.  Betty always has a spectacular garden waiting for us and her cottage home is so picturesque!

"Standing Watch"

8"x6" Oil on Linen Panel  painted alla prima en plein air

Standing under that big oak between Stella Maris and Fort Moultrie I took this vantage and painted.  Just in time for Independence Day.

"View From The Fort"

8"x10" Oil on Linen Panel  Painted alla prima, en plein air.

On that cold, Spring day looking out over the span of yard from the top of the Fort (at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island, SC) was this view.  In the far distance one can make out the hint of our other historic site, Fort Sumter.

"Sullivan's Oak Tree Study"

6"x8" Oil on Linen Panel painted alla prima en plein air

There is a big, beautiful Oak Tree near the Stella Maris Church and the historic Fort Moultrie that gracefully "dances."  I love attempting these studies. They challenge me.

"Fort Moultrie Canon"

6"x8" Oil on Linen Panel  painted alla prima en plein air

This was painted back in March/April when the weather was unseasonably cold.  This has been quite a busy spring time for me and I have neglected keeping up with my blog.  My apologies.

This is basically a study of the structures at the historic Fort Moultrie interior - Trying out composition and value. The canon as well as the the sloping yard and brick wall created wonderful value shapes from which to work.  Then my hands got too cold to hold the brush and I called it a day!

"Discovery II - Beach Baby in Blue Series"

30"x40" Oil on Linen Canvas

It is summer time!  I love watching how the little ones marvel at their first trip to the beach.  It's a glorious place and continues to cause wonder to all those who visit.

Available at Hagan Fine Art & Studio  www.haganfineart.com

Today's Unfinished Plein Air Painting: "Shrimp House"

11"x14" Oil on Canvas

Today we painted at Shem Creek where many shrimpers dock their boats and process their catch.

The day was gorgeous and sunny and very warm!  Our unusual, cool (cold) spring has ended.  The Low-country weather is back on its sweltering track!  By noon it was knocking on 98 degrees!  This will explain why I was unable to finish this painting.
I will work into it more but wanted to post proof that I was out there today.
I'll re-post when this painting is complete.

"Morning Misty Homestead" SOLD

22"x28" Oil on Canvas   sold

The Virginia mountains are majestic in the early Autumn.  This is a commission and it's a surprise. . . Shhhhhh!!! ;)

Guest Speaker & Portrait Demo for the Trenholm Artist Guild of Columbia, SC

What a time we had last night in Columbia!

I was invited to be the Guest Speaker and do a Portrait Demonstration for the Trenholm Artist Guild of Columbia, SC.  This meeting was the last of their monthly meetings before the summer break. When we all arrived at the Government facility where they gather, we found a note on the door which said, "Closed for Monday May 11th, 2015 in observance of the Confederate Memorial Day"

Gasp!  (honestly, I never knew there was a Confederate Memorial Day)

I had just driven about an hour and a half from home to participate (and hadn't visited a bathroom yet HA!) and now it looked as though the meeting would not go on.  There were scattered and isolated thunderstorms and wind gusts in the area which cancelled out any prospects of holding the meeting outside.

As we waited for the President to arrive the ever increasing group stood under the shelter of the drive through entrance as the members whose turn it was to bring the food offered person by person bite-sized cheese & cracker yumminess to those who waived dinner plans in anticipation of homemade nibbles.  We stood munching and brain-storming about what to do.  It was suggested that we
re-convene the following Monday (ironically that was the only day I had NO "to do" item listed on my phone's calendar!), and this sounded like a good idea.

Then it was suggested we try to find another location.

Any other Government facility would be closed, so someone yelled out, "Let's call to see if the Lizard's Thicket has a banquet room available!"

Sure enough the local chain of Southern Cooking meat-and-three-sides was ready and willing to have 45-50 artists invade their back room, and have an oil painting demo, with no guarantee any food would be ordered. This is Southern Hospitality at its best!

The few images above may tell the remaining story, but to put it simply, we all had a blast!  I especially appreciated the resilience and good humor of this group of artists who will take a blow and make it better.  At the end, everyone chipped in some cash to pay the hard-working folks at the Two Notch Road Lizard's Thicket as a hearty "thank you" for being so gracious and for hosting us at a moment's notice.

The night's experience energized me and reminded me of the goodness of people.  There was never a grumble or a complaint, only problem-solving and genuine smiles.  I really like the group at the Trenholm Artist Guild!

Thanks, y'all, for having me!!  I hope we get together again soon! XO!

Oh, and yes, thanks to Lizard's Thicket for having a clean rest room too.  (smile)

SOLD!

Thanks to Allison Hull of the Hagan Fine Art and Gallery on State Street in downtown Charleston, SC, "North, South, East and West" was SOLD today!!

Thanks Hagan Fine Art & Gallery!!  More work is on its way to you!!

www.haganfineart.com

Exciting Exhibiting and Plein Air Painting News!!

Join me as I have been invited to participate as one of this year's Plein Air Painters for the Joy Garden Tour in Cashiers, NC happening in July.

The Village Green

Ticket order information went in the mail last week for Joy Garden Tour 2015. Have you received yours? This year features five stunning gardens and several fabulous special events for patrons. Be sure to order soon…quantities are limited and this popular event is always a sell out!

OPENING RECEPTION | April - May 2015 - Exhibitions

Join me as I participate as one of the exhibiting artists for "Taste Of Charleston"

OPENING RECEPTION | April - May 2015 - Exhibitions





Duration of Exhibits: April 11th - May 30th, 2015

Main Gallery: "Taste of Charleston: South Carolina Series"
Taste of Charleston, a premiere exhibition from a new South Carolina series, will showcase works that highlight traditional Charleston scenes.

Special Exhibits Gallery: Barbara van Gelderen
A stunning selection of oil-based portraits by local artist, Barbara van Gelderen.

Opening Reception: Saturday, April 11th @ 5-7 pm
Wine & hor d'oeuvres with a Charleston flair!

SPONSORED BY: Josephine B. Abney