Paintings from SC State Parks

Aug 26, 2023

Four paintings in the State Park series were completed this week. Hope you enjoy these new images. Do you have any favorite state parks?

At Santee State Park, there are cabins on the piers. This is the view just as the sun sinks into the water. The smell of the brackish water comes to mind and the squawks of the shorebirds settling in for the night. I wanted to paint the “end of day” drama. Paintings from SC Parks by Michel McNinch

“Blue Hour,” Santee State Park, oil, 6×8 – $295

At Santee State Park, there are cabins on the piers. This is the view just as the sun sinks into the water. The smell of the brackish water comes to mind and the squawks of the shorebirds settling in for the night. I wanted to paint the “end of day” drama. Visit Santee State Park.

“Wading for Breakfast,” 6×8, oil, $295

The birds have sanctuary in the estuary at Huntington Beach State Park. There are always many, many flocks of shore birds posing for park visitors. They wade around at feeding times in the morning and the evening. There seems to be more every year.

I can hear my friend, Kathy, saying “here she comes!” We watch the sunrise together at least a couple mornings a year. We also go to HBSP at least once a year too. That’s what I call treasure. Paintings from SC Parks by Michel McNinch

“Dawn Breaks,” 6×8, oil – $295

I can hear my friend, Kathy, saying “here she comes!” We watch the sunrise together at least a couple mornings a year. We also go to HBSP at least once a year too. That’s what I call treasure. These places, memories, and natural beauty.

Causeway Morning Memories, oil, 6x8 - $295 In the golden hour before everything stirs, there is color and light and quiet. Three of my favorite things. Huntington Beach SP has a beautiful causeway with a walk on each side. Watch for the alligators crossing. I’m not kidding! Paintings from SC Parks by Michel McNinch
Causeway Morning Memories, oil, 6×8 – $295

In the morning golden hour before everything stirs, there is color and light and quiet. Three of my favorite things. Huntington Beach SP has a beautiful causeway with a walk on each side. Watch for the alligators crossing. I’m not kidding!

Thank you for joining me this week as I reflect and paint the parks I love. My sincere thanks goes to all of the tireless workers who have ensured the conservation of these lands for us to enjoy. I am filled with gratitude.

See you next week,

Michel

P.S. These paintings will be part of a social media campaign in the next few weeks. When you see them in your feed, please share them. It would mean so much to me. Many thanks to those of you who already share my work. Thank you for supporting the arts on the individual artist level. We could not do it without your help.

“In addition to three miles of beach, much of the park is salt marshes, one of the world’s most productive eco-systems. Much of Huntington Beach’s marsh is now registered under the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program to help preserve its unusually pristine nature.”

https://southcarolinaparks.com/huntington-beach/unique-features#jump

More to come next week! Tell your friends? Thank you.

More to come next week. Original paintings by Michel McNinch of the SC State Parks

Posted in , , , ,

18 Comments

  1. Robert McNinch on August 27, 2023 at 8:36 am

    What lovely paintings! Wonderful series that makes me feel I’m there.



    • Michel McNinch on August 27, 2023 at 9:48 pm

      That’s cause you were there, silly! At almost every one of these paintings, Robert was my pilot.



  2. carole shelton on August 27, 2023 at 9:07 am

    These are gorgeous reminders of my beloved SC. I have many wonderful childhood memories of Table Rock State Park. It was where we went swimming and we always had a cookout for our birthdays.



    • Michel McNinch on August 27, 2023 at 9:47 pm

      Table Rock….such beauty. Did you have fall birthdays? I’ve only ever been there in the fall, and it was spectacular. Thank you for the kind words about the paintings, and than you for looking in each week. : )



  3. Liz Coleman-Socia on August 27, 2023 at 9:07 am

    you are so talented !



    • Michel McNinch on August 27, 2023 at 9:45 pm

      Fervent love of painting is all it takes! Thank you, cuz.



  4. Roxanne on August 27, 2023 at 9:09 am

    Makes me feel “in the mood” to visit the parks!



    • Michel McNinch on August 27, 2023 at 9:43 pm

      Thank you thank you thank you. In the mood! Great title to just the right painting.



  5. Renee on August 27, 2023 at 10:57 am

    Beautiful 😍 memories 🧡 great work 👍👏



    • Michel McNinch on August 27, 2023 at 9:43 pm

      YES! Thank you. I’ve got Santee under my skin.



  6. Dianne Meadow on August 27, 2023 at 11:44 am

    I love the colors in Blue Hour!!



    • Alice on August 27, 2023 at 4:23 pm

      Michel, I especially like Blue Hour & Causeway Morning. So evocative of time of day and place!

      xo



      • Michel McNinch on August 27, 2023 at 9:39 pm

        Hey Alice. Thank you. The sun gives divine drama!



    • Michel McNinch on August 27, 2023 at 9:40 pm

      I was hoping you would! That is the painting I started sitting beside you in the landscape workshop.



  7. Jimmy Lee on August 27, 2023 at 6:22 pm

    Beautiful as always. Love seeing all your work. Hope we can visit before house is finished



    • Michel McNinch on August 27, 2023 at 9:36 pm

      Yes! One more visit. Come this weekend. Robert going to Massachusetts soon!



  8. Jeannie Irvin on August 27, 2023 at 10:23 pm

    Michel, I LOVE ALL of these!!!!! You have been a busy lady! 🖼️💕🎨



    • Michel McNinch on August 27, 2023 at 10:30 pm

      OMG Jeannie – It seems forever! Thank you. I have been painting up a storm. lol…. I think I might – let’s paint. storm.



Share this post

Recent Posts

Consistent blog posting took a hit; missed 3 weeks! My sincere apologies. My painting had me under its spell. This painting is one that has long been on my mind and in my “to be painted” file. I kept thinking it would be finished for the week’s blog post, but it wasn’t. But it is ready for you now…. “The Stitches we Know,” oil, 24x30 - Collection of the Artist The subject of the painting is my niece, Bek (a/k/a Rebekah). She was taking down her childhood room and is transitioning to her adult life. I found it poignant that her elementary days are represented and the family’s ancestral home is there as well with the picture of the widow’s walk. There are hints to her siblings and even the family’s favorite meal her Mama makes. The photo was taken as a message to me. She is holding up a granny square I crocheted for her (my stitches) while wearing a t-shirt with her “Stitch” on it. We know and think different things, but we share them with each other. So, as you can see this painting brings up many things to my heart and mind. But now dear viewer, I leave it to you. Please enjoy it however you wish. There is a video on my YouTube page that shows the process used to completed the painting. Please take a moment to view it. I have reached my first goal of 25 subscribers (no snickering!). My new goal is 100! Please share if you know anyone who would be interested in seeing the work. Insert link to YouTube Thank you for following my painting practice. It is my hope you will enjoy learning about art from a working artist’s perspective. Next up on the easel is my beloved Robert! Stay tuned. Also, completing this painting for an upcoming show. (Insert Vista Lights link.). Hashtags #Stormwaterstudios #Vistalights #holidayseason #Stitch #stitches #childhood #adulthood #oilpainting #michelmcninch #paintwhoyoulove #artlovers #paintinglovers #theviewer #figurativepainting
"Helios," 48x24, oil on canvas. Minor revisions gave this painting a little more drama. Am I finished? I'll look at it this week and decide.
"Blue Mesa Memory," 24x48, oil on canvas. This is the final painting. It has been in my studio on and off the easel for a long time. It is finally ready to sing it's song.
Subscribe Now