Thinking of Holiday Traditions

Each year we do things that bring us together and remind us of traditions specific to ourselves, community and, family and friends. They remind us of who we are and who has come and gone. It is my hope for this year that each of us enjoy and treasure our time together.

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Painting Windows with a History

Welcome to the studio; painting was fun this week. I remembered who, what, when, where of the windows. Each window represents something to me. They hold images, sounds, smells, feelings for me. I lingered while painting them. The door is special also – in it’s odd little way.

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Redrawing is Necessary

Old wooden house sketch with outdoor porch and vintage furniture.

When I started to paint this week, I realized that my drawing had been smudged beyond usefulness. I could not put in the planks of the deck until I knew where the feet of the chairs would go, etc. So the sisters needed to be redrawn more specifically as to place. Redrawing is a necessary part of painting. After painting around and on the subjects, they have become fuzzy and a little pushed around. Creating a clear and concise drawing makes a path to a better painting.

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Painting is Life

Charming porch scene with vintage chair, blooming flowers, and classic architecture.

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. Blanchard Family Home on Sullivan’s Island.

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From Behind the Easel

Vintage house with red roof and white porch, surrounded by lush greenery and palm trees.

Blanchard Family Home on Sullivan’s Island. This porch has held all my people – while they nursed their sunburns, visited with one another, and told stories – old and new. This view is on the right side of the front door. The dining / party room. I wonder how many times “Happy Birthday” has been sung around that table?

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Springbank Retreat Center

I went straight to Springbank Retreat Center, in Kingstree, South Carolina.  My purpose in going was to deliver a gift from Pam. She had left the Center a world class collection of religious icons she had collected from all over the world. She had wanted to deliver them herself, but became too ill.

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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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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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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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