Paintings from SC 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.

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

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Blocking In Landscapes – my new paintings

Oh, how I love to start a new painting. Favorite thing to do. I have a million ideas. How many will I have time for? Only one way to find out. I am blocking in new landscapes this week. I have heard that you like to see the process. It’s not always pretty, but it is always fun! So, here ya go.

My new paintings are just getting started – The images are from time I spent at Huntington Beach State Park.

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While The Paint Dries

Time to clean up. The paintings have been completed and they are drying on the easel as I write to you. Now, I see what else has been surrounding me. Palettes for each painting brimming with color, rags, tissues, brushes, cats, boxes. Creative chaos. When I have a painting going, I don’t see that stuff. In the end, I get the paintings and the mess.

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Flower Season is Over

"Pink Roses in a Turquoise Glass Vase," oil, 11x14

Charlie kept checking in; “are you finished yet?” This one took a little time. I never know when a painting will be finished. It just takes the time it takes. Not very 21st century… Ah well, it was enjoyable – there is that. I started with a oil sketch and went to a larger canvas for the final painting. Love this vase. Will definitely paint it again. Flower Season is over in my studio – at least for now. Let me show you the last of the series. Hope you enjoy looking at this process.

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The Fruits of Her Labor

This beautiful bouquet came from our new pollinator garden at Stormwater Studios.  Karen Murphy is our designer, and these flowers are the fruits of her labor.  In addition to being a master naturalist, she is also my student and my friend.  The bouquet was so varied and vibrant.  It was the first bouquet from this beautiful new garden.  All this made it very fun to paint.  #pollinatorgarden #karenmurphy #paintflorals #stormwaterstudios

This beautiful bouquet came from our new pollinator garden at Stormwater Studios.  Karen Murphy is our designer, and these flowers are the fruits of her labor.  In addition to being a master naturalist, she is also my student and my friend.  The bouquet was so varied and vibrant.  It was the first bouquet from this beautiful new garden.  All this made it very fun to paint. 

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Roses ready to share

"Homegrown Roses," 11x14, oil, $450, original painting of pink roses grown by the painter's husband. Michel McNInch, artist.

Mama always said I’d be an artist, but she didn’t tell me there were gonna be days like this. Self-imposed deadlines are the worst, but they get the job done. I wanted to be able to share one of the rose bouquet paintings with you today. They are all almost completed; here is the first in the series. Robert grew these roses, and they were spectacular. So glad I took the opportunity to paint them. I love this classic color combination.

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Plein Air Pleasure

Painting “en plein air” is such a pleasure. I carry a studio bag with me at all times. At anytime and anywhere painting can commence! My current sketchbook has just been completed. Time to put a new sketchbook in the bag and share some of my favorites with you.

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I Missed You Last Week

As this applies to my painting practice, it has changed my direction. I have been working (albeit slowly) on my flower paintings. I’m going to turn them to the wall for now and start something new. I don’t want to tell you about it yet, because I am preserving my energy and thoughts about it. As soon as it is underway, I will share it with you.

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Painting Time is a Pleasure

Why draw the roses in with purple? It blends well with rose.

This week I got down to the basics of painting. Fresh paint and clean brushes have done their work. Getting close to finished on the Lake Wateree painting and continuing the floral paintings by adding the florals! : ) Here are the next steps in the process of creating the paintings.

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For Generations to Come

I have been working on portraits of a family that loves one another. Mother and Daughter adore each other. Four generations of men smile as they play with the newest generation among them. These paintings exude their happiness to be in each other’s company. It was a pleasure to paint them. The generations to come will have their own art, but this generation can teach by example to enjoy, create, love, and collect the art that connects with us. Thank you for being here to witness my contribution this week.

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