Camille Pissarro is an inspiration

Camille Pissarro is an inspiration. A French Impressionist who helped change painting forever. Camille Pissarro and Claude Monet organized the first Impressionist Exhibition (A complete history of the 8 Impressionist Exhibits). Pissarro was the only artist to be in all eight. In his work you can see change of seasons, change of atmosphere, and his life long love affair with how light affects color.

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Paintings from the Road

Mount Jackson on a Cloudy Day

Don’t you love a road trip? Everything was new to us; absolutely exciting. Connecting with a new landscape on the road. I carry a mobile studio and paint every chance I get – when I am not knitting socks.

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Painting the Beach

Headed to Litchfield Beach to paint with the Ladies of the Traveling Paints!  We immerse ourselves in the act of painting.  Outside during the day and round the table at night.  Fun, fun, fun!  Will make sure to show you what we did next week. For this week’s blog, I have posted some of my favorite beach paintings from over the years.  Hope you enjoy them.

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Going with the Flow

Plein Air painting is so much fun.  This week’s paintings were painted at Lake Sheila in Saluda, North Carolina.   On that weekend, I painted mountain and sky each morning.  It was fun to see the local residents enjoying the water.  When I got home, I knew a paddle boarder would give just the right amount of interest and scale.  

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Finding a Happy Ending

With my trip to the coast postponed, I needed to find a happy ending. I decided to work on some paintings that were started in the field but not quite finished. Sometimes they need a little, sometimes they need a lot. So, I look for a happy ending to the paintings.

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Back to the Lowcountry

Heading back to the Lowcountry. Never want to stay away too long. Time to get back home. I will be painting the southeastern coast for the next few weeks. Here is a little one. It is only 4×6 inches, but it holds a view of so much more.

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Lowcountry Lamentation

Featured Image

My first painting from a recent trip to Savannah is a moody one. The storm had just raged through and a few clouds were lagging behind. The ground was wet, and the fresh water smell on the salt marsh was distinct. The sun was still hiding behind the lingering clouds. “Lowcountry Lamentation, oil on canvas, 16×24, Michel McNinch

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Fort Pulaski National Monument

the chance to visit Fort Pulaski National Monument, it is well worth you time. The folks there were super nice and you can tell they are great caretakers. Lots of history and pristine landscape. Maybe I will see you there. Look for me; I’m the one with the easel! : )

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Questions for Mary

I have a list of questions for Mary that I never got to ask. A very important part of a painting practice is having a mentor you trust and will give you honest answers. Mary Gilkerson was that for me and countless others.

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