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

"The Other Side of Childhood"

This is a new 36" x 48" that I just completed...may still do a little detail work yet but it is pretty much done. Feedback anyone? If so, please leave a comment. SOLD

Painting the Edges

Tonight I am painting the edges on a couple of paintings....not my favorite part. Many artists do not paint the edges, but I like to finish my paintings so that they can be hung without framing....most of the time I paint the edges dark brown. Doing so also allows for a cohesive grouping when multiples hang together...in a home or in a show. Speaking of homes, I saw a collection of three of my 8" x 8" x 3" paintings hanging in the foyer of a lovely home here in town...I hope to return with my camera to photograph them in the near future. This family is also considering a 36" x 48" vertical painting titled "A Matter of THE Faith". The title came from a sermon at Christ Church of the Carolinas. The family members are also members of this church. The Head of the Household happens to be one of our Elders who is very much respected within the community and known as a very Godly man....a wonderful thing considering he is an Elder! It means a lot that the family asked me over to get my input on where to hang the painting, should they make the purchase. There is a perfect spot in their library, so I hope God will lead them to make the purchase. But, if He has another wall or family in mind, He will arrange that. Wherever it hangs, I just hope it brings Him all the glory!

"Within Moments"

24" x 30" created last night

One In, One Out

"Watching and Waiting" juried into the State Fair, while "The Heart of Granddaddy Long-Legs" juried out. The fair runs October 10-21.

Where's the Boat?

Childhood Photograph

For those of you who are familiar with my body of work, this is a photo- graph of me at the pond I grew up on. It is this pond that seems to continue to show up in my paintings. It is very much a part of me so I imagine it will continue to present itself when I am spontaneously painting. Over 30 years later, the boat is still in the same spot.