Merry Christmas!

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I hope that your heart will rejoice in Jesus, not just this day but every day!

Christmas Day Paintings

"Golden Memories" 8"x8"x2"

"Golden Moments" 6"x6"x3"

"On Christmas Day in the Morning" 8"x8"x2"

I am finally working in the studio again after several weeks of not painting. I finished the above paintings this morning after starting them late last night. Both of my brother's kids got married this Fall, and I wanted to give them a painting as a wedding gift. As I plan to see them tonight, I figured I better get busy. I will let them select from the three. You will notice these have gold in them....I thought it was appropriate since they are wedding gifts. I hope they will like them.

Christmas Eve

Last night was spent with my dear friends, the Beckwiths. We attended a service at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church that the children, Margaret Riley and Evan, loved. We then had lasagna for dinner...you can see it all over Evan's face in the photo. As you can see, the Beckwith's have my work hanging in their living room. "Safe Within the Night Falling" http://323art.blogspot.com/2007/11/safe-within-night-falling.html is also hanging in this room. It was a great night of fellowhip!

O'Connor Design Firm Show

Last night's black tie event was a success. The showroom looked great and there was a large turnout. I appreciate everyone that came and the many kind words complimenting the talent the Lord has blessed me with. One painting sold last night, and I think God will place many others in the near future. The last photo shows the display for fellow artist Nola Burnette.

State House Grounds

These are a few photos I took at the State House yesterday. The last one is a reflection in one of the ornaments hanging on the Christmas tree. I haven't been painting...guess I needed a break. I am looking forward to the show this Thursday night at O'Connor Design Firm. I hope to see many of you there!

Reflections for the Christmas Season

These photos are cropped images of large shiny gold ornaments hanging in the Horseshoe of the University of South Carolina campus. They were taken on November 30 while I was enjoying a day off from work. Part of the day was spent hanging the paintings for the show at O'Connor Design Firm on December 13....see previous post. I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season so far....and remember, art makes a great gift!

Show Invitation

"Riverside Solitude"

36" x 48" acrylic on canvas

"Saluda River Abstract"

8" x 8" acrylic on canvas board palette knife painting

"Growing Green by the River Congaree"

12"x 24" acrylic on canvas

"Nature's Way"

8" x 8" acrylic on canvas board palette knife painting

"Simple Reflections"

8" x 8" acrylic on canvas board palette knife painting

"Haven's Sky" 30" x 30"

Acrylic on Canvas SOLD

"Flow and Circumstance" 30" x 30"

Acrylic on Canvas

New Paintings for Thanksgiving Day

These were completed last weekend and one is being purchased by a friend. I plan to be in the studio much of the long weekend, so we will see what develops. Happy Thanksgiving!

"Awakening" 16" x 20" acrylic on smooth clayboard SOLD

"Silent Conversation" 12" x 16" acrylic on canvas

TODAY AT RIVERFRONT PARK

Christopher Columbus Statue

One of my favorite Bible verses on the statue.

As Time Slips Away

16" x 16" palette knife painting on canvas

Art News

The Lord has provided an invitation to participate in the South Carolina Philharmonic's 3rd annual Painted Violins fundraiser. Some of you will remember that I participated in 2006 - the first year the fundraiser was held. That violin was inspired by Psalm 8, verses 3-4: "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which you have ordained; What is man that you take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?"....the violin featured a landscape and had pinholes for stars and a frosted marble for the moon and had a light source to make them shine. I hope to pick up my violin within the next few days....it must be completed by February 1. The violins will then be displayed at various locations around the Vista during the month of March 2008. The actual fundraiser will be held on April 5, 2008. I believe there were 30 local artists invited this year, which is a greater number than in the first year. This year I am hoping to do an assemblage piece (using found or collected objects) so we will see what turns out.

A New Place of Interest

Check out this site if you want to improve at Bible Verse Memory....something that I have not done well with because I honestly haven't made much of an effort with my aging brain.

www.BibleMemory.us

Also, some new art news will be posted soon.

"All That Remains"

8" x 8" palette knife painting on canvas board

"Deep Within the Evergreen Forest"

15" x 30" mixed media SOLD

Post Gesso, Pre Paint

30" x 30"

This is what the canvas looks like after I have applied the gesso primer and before I start painting. I will start by applying a thin wash of color (with a paper towell)...probably pthalo blue green shade...that is when I will be able to tell what direction to take the painting....sometimes if I am fortunate, the painting will almost paint itself if the texture is good. We'll see...stay tuned. I will try to post updates as I work on this one so you can see the progression of the painting.

"Safe Within the Night Falling"

24" x 30" SOLD

Completed November 5, 2007. Photographed just before nightfall on November 6, 2007.

"By the River Baptized"

24" x 24"

I finally photographed the abstract that I finished last week. This was palette knife work on top of a piece of heavy grooved fiberous paper mounted on canvas. There is a little red in with the white and a little yellow ochre showing through the blue in places. It is very simple and very complex at the same time....probably hard to tell from the photograph. I wasn't sure if people would like this one, but most people that have seen it have really responded to it with positive comments. I see a lot of figures by the river who have assembled to be batized. Well, it is Friday night and I have gessoed and textured a 24" x 30" and a 30" x 30"....I am excited about how the texture looks so I am looking forward to seeing how the painting will go once the gesso is dry. I have also picked up some old canvases and painted over them and like the results. For some reason, Friday nights are really good for creating art in my studio!

Show Opening

The Bus Stop reception was well attended, and there is a lot of good art in the show. I am sure a lot of people will be returning to look when they can actually stand back and view the art. I was blessed with a purchase of "The Other Side of Childhood" (36" x 48") on the day before the show...it was actually one the gallery owner did not have room to display in the show, so I am glad the buyer stopped by a day early and happened to see it. The show runs through November 11.

My Better Half?

Another photo from yesterday's trip to the Saluda River. I am actually using this photo, and the one to the upper right of my blog page, on the front of two different 4x6 bio cards for the show tomorrow night.

Great Scenery

This photo was taken yesterday at a great spot on the Saluda River near Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens. It was high noon and very bright, but a great time to be on the river. I especially like the tree line and large boulders and how they photographed. I might use this one for inspiration for a large painting. Photo taken by Robert F. Hodges, friend and fellow manager in the SCDHEC UST Program.

Two Nights Until

The show opens this Thursday at 5:00 P.M. This is a photo of the front of the small house that houses the gallery. It is located at the bus stop near Millwood and Monroe (hence the name). It will be packed with art. I hope to see a lot of familar faces and friends during the reception. Please pray that my artwork be pleasing to God, that I give Him all the glory and that I will be a good witness for Christ.

Snapshot

Taken today on the banks of the Saluda River...I like the composition and the light.

Favorite Hymn - Psalter Selection No. 63:1-8

To my delight, this was the first hymn at tonight's Vesper Service.

God, Thee, my God, I'll early seek;
My soul's athirst for Thee.
On dry land, weary, waterless,
My flesh has longed for Thee.

Thus have I looked for Thee before
Within Thy holy place
That there I might behold Thy strength
And glory of Thy face.

Because Thy grace is more than life
My lips Thee praise shall give;
I in Thy name will lift my hands
And bless Thee while I live.

My soul with rich, abundant food
Shall be well satisfied;
With shouts of joy upon my lips
My mouth shall praise provide.

And when I turn my thought to Thee
Upon my bed at night,
As watches pass I meditate
On Thee with great delight.

Thou art my help; I sing for joy
In shadows of Thy wings.
For Thy right hand has held me fast;
To Thee my spirit clings.

What is a Palette Knife?

After the last post, someone asked this question. These are my palette knives. I really need to clean them up. I don't do a lot of palette knife paintings so the ones that I do are not the best examples of my work. But, using them provides a change of pace. The "Approaching Home" painting was more of an exercise...there are things about the painting that I like....mainly the colors....but, there are some problems with scale and perspective. I did another one last night that is very abstract, but I haven't been able to photograph it yet. Speaking of photographs, it is really hard to get accurate photos and they can look different depending on individual computer screens...so, keep that in mind when you are viewing them on this blog. The paintings always look better in person....hopefully that will encourage you to come to the Bus Stop show that opens next Thursday night. I am looking forward to the show because I want to get some feedback from people attending....I think I am holding off on getting back to serious painting a little until I see how the paintings at the show are received. Today I was encouraged by receiving one of many blessings from God....payment for a 30" x 40" painting that sold at Verve!

"Approaching Home" 16" x 20"

This is a new spontaneous palette knife painting that I just completed. It reminds me of the field behind my parents' home in Chapin, SC. I have been playing around with my collection of palette knives....I enjoy seeing what can appear from moving globs of paint around on the canvas.

Composition in White

Well, the studio is about 85% cleaned up so I will probably be back at the creative process soon. This morning I purchased my largest canvas ever...48" x 60" at Michael's...good thing I had a 40% off coupon a friend gave me as this canvas was $99.00. It is a little intimidating but it is time to move up since I have had success with the 36" x 48" size (middle canvas). The other canvas pictured is a 24" x 30"...I was able to purchase these two at Hobby Lobby during the last two weeks with their weekly 40% off coupon. The eucalyptus came from a branch put on the street by my next door neighbor's yard man...the house is up for rent so they have been sprucing up the yard which is good. The picture is taken in my "receiving" room...the dining room table is actually hiding behind the canvases. Anyway, time will reveal what happens with these canvases!

Silent Auction Result

"Passage" 24" x 30" SOLD

This morning I learned the results of the painting that I donated to the September 6, 2007, “An Evening in the Arts” fundraising event that was held in Charleston to raise money for a memorial to honor and recall the nine firefighters who lost their lives on June 18, 2007. As my first cousin’s husband, Mr. Rusty Thomas, is the Charleston Fire Chief, I was happy to donate this painting. It was purchased for $450 in a silent auction, and 100% of the money goes to the memorial. See www.eveninginthearts.org for more information about the event, including profiles for the artists who participated.

Saluda Shoals

Today was Land and Waste Management Bureau Day at Saluda Shoals. I snapped this photo during the lunch break. Perhaps it will inspire a new painting...that is, if I ever clean the studio!

Time for a Break

Preparing for a show always leads to a messy studio. Once I get motivated to clean it up, I will start painting again. But, it is always good to take a break and "recharge". So, that is the plan for now!

Show Invitation

Group Show featuring 40 artists from Columbia, Charleston, Hilton Head, Hendersonville, Charlotte, Asheville, Wilmington, Manassas, Ocala, Elberta, Boulder and New York. I delivered my new works to the gallery yesterday so I may have up to 11 paintings in the show including the new large paintings "Until the Time Comes" and "The Other Side of Childhood".

Getting Wired

Tonight will be busy getting new paintings wired, sealed, labeled, priced and ready to go to the Bus Stop Gallery on Thursday. The group show will open on November 1. Please see the link in "Places of Interest". I think this will be my seventh show with the Bus Stop, and God has blessed me greatly during each show with many purchases and name recognition. If you haven't been to an opening before and plan to come, be prepared for a HUGE crowd. I am hoping to finish my studio work tonight as I will have Bible Study, taught by Pastor Frank Legare, tomorrow for an hour after my day job. After study, I will be helping the Grice family arrange furniture in their new home....they are dear friends and Mrs. Grice runs the classrooms for all the children at Christ Church (yes, that is how I went from being a once-a-month helper in the 3-4 year old class to a weekly helper in the toddler class....but, many blessings have resulted from helping with the children). I guess I better get in the studio NOW.

"Days Like This"

24" x 30"

"From this Field Forward"

16" x 16"

"Return to the Pond of My Youth"

36" x 48" SOLD

"Until the Time Comes"

36" x 48" acrylic on canvas SOLD