Painting is Life
Nov 2, 2025
Painting is Life (Ted Lasso reference). Painting is my life… It’s good to be back. Here is an update on the painting “Comings and Goings,” oil 24×36, Collection of the artist. Here is the color palette. My students will be surprised at the look of it. I always say you must have an organized palette to have an organized painting process. This time, I was searching for colors, and I ended up with a messy palette.
This is where I left it last week. Sketch complete with just a bit of color.
During my childhood, my Great Aunts AG, Katy, and Keenan lived in this home. I loved to be there with them. I learned so much there. How to pick blackberries, cook red rice, and crochet – among many other things. These 3 chairs were there when they were living and represent them in the painting.
“Aunt Mary the Great,” pastel, 24×18
When I became an adult, my Aunt Mary lived there. Hugo almost took the house from us, but Aunt Mary spent months piecing it back together. Some thought it was futile, but she did it. The house gave her many good years. She resides at Bishop Gadsden currently. The house is rented now by my niece and the College of Charleston Rugby team!
This week I concentrated on getting a sense of depth on the porch by adding darkness under the eaves. Placing the windows is a big step forward. They need to dry now so that I can paint on them without losing their structure. Work on the clapboards and floor decking in the coming week.
Of South Carolina porches…..
“As a child in South Carolina, I spent summers like so many children – sitting on my grandparents’ back porch with my siblings, spitting watermelon seeds into the garden or, even worse, swallowing them and trembling as my older brother and sister spoke of the vine that was probably already growing in my belly.”
See you next week. Thank you so much for your interest in my painting practice.
Michel
Our Zinnias this year adorned our home with fresh, lively color. Here is the last of them for this year. The little goat creamer reminds me to take life with a smile and serve a purpose.
“A flower of strange beauty, growing in a desolate spot, and blossoming in the wind.”
Nathaniel Hawthorne on Zinnias
22 Comments
Leave a Comment
The chairs look welcoming and the porch invites the viewer to shelter and stay a while. Good memories.
Oh Roxanne! You will have to become my editor. That is a lovely sentiment. Thank you so much.
Love to hear the history and see process, Michel!
I love that you are back at your easel and sharing with us your thoughts, experiences and the beauty of your art!
I cherish your support Susan. It means the world to me. You always “get me.” Love and hugs.
Oh the time we had on that porch. Always love these!
LOTS OF GOOD TIMES. Please don’t ever forget and don’t let Bobby forget the time I tried to put him in a pumpkin when he was a baby. Nope, it didn’t happen. It is surely a good story though.
BEAUTIFUL MICHEL!!!!!!!! I’m so excited seeing what you’ve created each week!❤️
Thank you, Jeannie! You always make me feel like at STAR! : )
Oh how I would love to sitting on that porch with you laughing and sharing stories. Always love watching your works in progress.
Thank you so much, Janet. As the painting progresses, I get a sense of the place and memories flood back. My immigrant forefathers and foremothers from Ireland settled there so very many years ago. I studied them and found out their son was a solider in the Civil War. He was the bugler. I thought that sounded like a cushy job. Little did I know. (Gonna put that on my grave.). Bugler was very important in sending messages to other troops. I do know for certain though, being stationed at Fort Moultrie, he occasionally got to go home for lunch! There’s a story for you, and I have a bunch of hugs saved up for you too.
LOVE THIS Michel!!! Thanks for adding me to this list! It is so nice to see a glimpse of your work in progress, and to learn more about your related inspiration and experience!
Hey there Ruthann! So very glad you enjoyed it.
You will hear no judgement on that palette from me.
I have read to make a great painting, you have to feel it. No doubt you have feelings and memories of this.. Your paintings and story telling always do.
Lol! I know why too! : ). Thank you for the kind words. Miss you and look forward to seeing you in January.
Love this picture! Can’t wait to see the progress. Thanks for encluded me. Hope all is well with you.
Susan, I sure do miss you. We had a good time together. Hope you and your girls are warm and safe this winter.
I’m AMAZED MICHEL!! I feel like I have been in your magical beach house each week seeing what you’ve done to it. It’s beautiful!!!
Thank you so much for following the progress. It makes it so much more fun!
Can’t wait to see the finished product. So beautiful
So interesting how you process your vision
It has been a fun challenge. I love this old house. It holds my memories.
OK, OK my big sister! Not only is this a beautiful and heartfelt and emotional painting, all the other comments are as well! You are doing such a phenomenal job showing the world what the old Beach house looks like and feels like for those of us who were fortunate enough to spend many years in there! Gatherings of a few to 20 to 30+ have always been wonderful at that house! It holds so many memories and will forever be our families beach house #2 right behind the front beach house with Grandmama and Papa!! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜