Supporting Inspiration at Stormwater Studios

Dec 29, 2023

This week my studio practice was to help create a beautiful report to the Richland County Conservation Commission to show our progress on the Stormwater Studios Pollinator and Native Plant Garden.  Thanks to their grant and a private donor, we have really made progress.  Take a look.

Hope you will enjoy seeing the progress. 

Thank you, Michel

“Gardening is an art that uses flowers and plants as paint,
and the soil and sky as canvas.“ – Elizabeth Murray

Karen After the Native Plant Sale.
Karen Murphy After the Native Plant Sale
Our resident wildlife photographer, Stephen Chesley, has been documenting the birds, insects, and other wildlife that enjoy our new gardens.
Our resident artist and wildlife photographer, Stephen Chesley, has been documenting the birds, insects, and other wildlife that enjoy our new gardens.
Pollinator garden in early October
Pollinator garden in early October
Blue-eyed grass is thriving and reseeding itself.
Blue-eyed grass is thriving and reseeding itself.
Karen was delighted when the muhly grass began showing off its colors.
Karen was delighted when the muhly grass began showing off its colors.
Native asters on the Carolina Fence
Native asters on the Carolina Fence
We have had many gulf fritillaries visiting our flowers.
We have had many gulf fritillaries visiting our flowers.
Resident Artist, Pat Gilmartin has a series of Cyanotypes inspired by the pollinator and native plant garden.

CYANOTYPES (SUN PRINTS)

FROM KAREN’S GARDEN AT STORMWATER

Karen’s Garden at Stormwater is a pollinator and native plant garden being developed on our grounds by Karen Murphy Rhu. We envision it becoming a place of reflection on the beauties of nature and an educational site centered among the plants and creatures with which we share our world. All of the plants in these cyanotype prints come from our garden.

Cyanotype is a print-making technique that uses UV light from the sun to create images on paper which has been treated with a UV-sensitive coating. By placing an object on the coated surface and exposing it to sunlight, an image of that object is produced. The print is developed using plain water, turning the parts exposed to the sun a rich blue, while the unexposed sections remain white.

Michel demonstrated painting using a bouquet from the pollinator garden.
Michel McNinch, also a resident artist at Stormwater, demonstrated painting using a bouquet from the pollinator garden.
Here is the finished piece. "Fruits of Her Labor," oil, 9x12
Here is the finished piece. “Fruits of Her Labor,” oil, 9×12
The Fruits of Her Labor
It was a popular Blog Post on Michel’s site.
Our Kinsler Creek Observation Deck at Stormwater has been completed!
Our Kinsler Creek Observation Deck at Stormwater has been completed!
Our Deck is Handicapped Accessible and has nice seating.
Our Deck is Handicapped Accessible and has nice seating.
Our Donor, Pam Yeske, was thrilled with the results. She and Richland County Conservation Commission made this happen! Many Thanks!
Our Donor, Pam Yeske, was thrilled with the results. She and Richland County Conservation Commission made this happen! Many Thanks!

Stay tuned for more great things happening on the Stormwater Studios campus!

Posted in

10 Comments

  1. Roxanne on December 31, 2023 at 11:43 am

    Lovely to see all of the ways nature is being celebrated at Stormwater Studios!



    • Michel McNinch on January 1, 2024 at 3:23 pm

      It truly is an inspiration!



  2. Donna Rawls on December 31, 2023 at 1:32 pm

    What a beautiful display of natural “art” at StormWater Studios. Keep up the good work!



    • Michel McNinch on January 1, 2024 at 3:24 pm

      It is so fun to watch it grow. Karen has done an excellent job in selecting and placing the native plants.



  3. Robert McNinch on December 31, 2023 at 9:24 pm

    The grounds are really looking good. Great job everyone! Beautiful



    • Michel McNinch on January 1, 2024 at 3:24 pm

      Yes, we had a blank canvas. Nothing was being done when we got there. The Wisteria and Privet were taking over.



  4. Jeannie Irvin on January 1, 2024 at 12:10 pm

    BEAUTIFUL!!!! I know LOTS of hard work went into making this so incredibly beautiful!!!! Thanks to all who made it so!!!❤️💓🙏🏻💜💕🩷🙏🏻



    • Michel McNinch on January 1, 2024 at 3:25 pm

      Thank you, Jeannie – It has been alot of work, but mostly for Karen. She seems to enjoy it! : )



  5. Mike Ely on January 2, 2024 at 7:30 pm

    Lovely garden. Karen does great work!



    • Michel McNinch on January 4, 2024 at 12:13 pm

      She sure does! We are so fortunate she has designed our garden. : )



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
"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