Featured artist… Sandra Baggette!

Image: SandraBaggette.com
Sandra Baggette is a wonderful artist, friend and such an interesting person! Over the years we have collected many paintings, but Sandra’s was our very first “original”. I remember it like it was yesterday but it was over 20 years ago… it was an art show in Mt. Pleasant where channel 2 is located. The painting was a  fabulous watercolor of all these gorgeous flowers, it was AMAZING! We went on to collect several more of Sandra’s and during that time she became a good friend. Sandra truly is the neatest person. She has a fabulous studio located in Port Royal, SC. If you’re in the area you must check it out… info is on her website which is also very nice… Her use of color is stunning. No drab paintings from Sandra! The painting above is entitled SPARKLING SUNLIT BOUQUET
Here’s a blip about Sandra from her website:
A “painterly colorist” working in oils, Sandra blends what she sees and feels to share a lifelong enthusiasm for color and flowers Her passion for nature and vibrant colors is clearly demonstrated in her first book,
Sandra Baggette: Painting What I Love , a collection of recent works published in 2011.

 In 1988, Sandra established the Garden Studio Gallery in Port Royal, SC to pursue her passions for painting and gardening. This peaceful environment, rich with colorful patterns created by flowers and sunshine, is a constant source of inspiration for her paintings. 

Studies throughout the United States and abroad have played an important role in Sandra’s artistic development. Her travels in Italy and France, where she enjoyed the privilege of painting in Monet’s gardens and studied a variety of Impressionist masters, and the stirring sights of Hong Kong, Bermuda, Hawaii, and other locales have helped her grow as an artist and fueled her desire to move in new directions. Sandra continues to paint primarily in oils and to learn from nationally recognized instructors at the Scottsdale Artist School in Arizona and workshops throughout the United States. In 2010, she had the rare opportunity to take an oil painting class with acclaimed artist and instructor, Charles Reid. S. Burkett Kaiser, Ovanes Beberian, and Gay Faulkenberry, all students of Sergei Bongart, a Russian Impressionist whom Sandra admires, have also been some of her favorite instructors. 

Recent participation in the Clemson University Master Gardeners and Lowcountry Institute at Spring Island programs has deepened Sandra’s knowledge and appreciation of nature and gardening in ways that will enhance her work. Membership in the Lowcountry Plein Air Society affords her excellent opportunities to paint and learn with fellow artists in picturesque outdoor locations. She has also benefitted from participating in the Plein Air Painters of America Paint Outs in Bennington, VT and Old Lyme, CT. 

An award-winning artist, Sandra has exhibited in over 100 juried shows in the United States.Juan Logan awarded a Merit award to Sandra’s Seasonal Inspirations Series at Piccolo Spoleto Arts Festival 2011. .Zinnias and Melonswas accepted into the Hilton Head Art League 2009 National Juried Show, judged by Craig Srebnik. Among the Flowers won First Place in the Lowcountry Plein Air Society Competition judged by Jack Morris. Roses and Sweetgrass Baskets and The Arrangement were chosen for the 2009 South Carolina State Fair Fine Art Exhibit. In 2008, her oil paintings received two awards from Tom Lynch at the 48th Annual Beaufort Art Association’s Spring Exhibit and an Award of Merit from Jonathan Green at the Piccolo Spoleto Arts Festival.
Affiliations 
Lowcountry Plein Air Society; South Carolina Watermedia Society; Beaufort Art Association; Arts Council of Northern Beaufort County; and Oil Painters of America Associate. 

If you’re in Charleston, SC you will see Sandra at Marion Square each year during the Piccolo Spoleto Arts Festival! Catch you back here tomorrow!

You won’t believe your eyes… Charleston, SC sunset…

My sister was in town visiting from Michigan and we headed to the new Shem Creek Park in Mt. Pleasant, SC. We got some amazing photos, when it didn’t seem like anything else was going to happen we headed home… going over the bridges (Mt P and Ashley River) we saw the most stunning sunset. EVER. This photo was taken with my phone going over the Ashley River Bridge…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Stefan Pastuhov!

One Red One by Stefan Pastuhov / Image: BayviewGallery.com

Artist to watch… Featured Artist… hmmm… I originally called these posts ARTIST TO WATCH, but I don’t want you to think that they’re all up and coming artists since some are well (very well) established… so I’m changing ARTIST TO WATCH to FEATURED ARTIST… I enjoy featuring both types of artists, since some of the newer ones can be equally amazing! Now… on with the post…

Stefan Pastuhov is an artist who’s work i’ve admired for a long time now… it’s magic how he can simplify a scene and make it so wonderful. I am captivated by his subject matter, since it’s a place I hold dear to my heart. Maine. Say no more…

Stefan shows his work at Bayview Gallery (located in Camden and Brunswick, ME), here is a little blip from their website:

Descended from Russian grandparents who fled to America in 1917, Stefan Pastuhov is a devoted outdoor sportsman and a plein air artist whose paintings capture the landscape he loves.

He has more information on his website as well as some pretty fantastic paintings… check it out!

One more for your viewing pleasure… Catch you back here tomorrow!

Burnt Cove Lobster Shack by Stefan Pastuhov / Image: BayviewGallery.com

Have you been? Check out the Footlight Players in downtown Charleston, SC

The Footlight Players is the most delightful place to spend an evening! You can expect to sit back and be completely entertained. I haven’t been in a while but am looking forward to going soon! It’s located in an old cotton warehouse in downtown Charleston, SC.

Click to see the upcoming schedule… THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST by Oscar Wilde is the next production. They also have a LATE NIGHT series that is less expensive!

Here is a blip from the Footlight Players website regarding the history… interesting! Hope to see you there soon!

The Footlight Players were ceremoniously launched in 1931 with a series of one-act plays directed by Lieutenant Commander Charles Russell Price at the Charleston Navy yard. The series was such a success and drew such a following that The Footlight Players formally organized and incorporated in the fall of 1932.

In 1934, the Players purchased an old cotton warehouse (circa 1850) with the idea of eventually converting it into a finished playhouse. Yet until 1938, all productions were presented in a variety of spaces around the Holy City—the Academy of Music (corner of King and Market Streets), the Victory Theatre (85 Society Street), Hampton Park, The Citadel, and The Dock Street Theatre. During this time, the cotton warehouse was used for storage and scenery construction. In 1941 a shortage of performance space caused the Players to again turn to their warehouse.

Just a roof and four walls, sixty dedicated volunteers remodeled and renovated the old warehouse and converted it into an informal playhouse and workshop. For the following 45 years, the Footlight Players continued to annually produce a number of regular season productions, both at The Dock Street Theatre and at Footlight. In 1986, after another dramatic renovation, The Footlight Players moved into the old cotton warehouse at 20 Queen Street, where they have remained ever since. What began as a small group has become for Charleston a theatrical tradition, built and strengthened over many years by hundreds of willing hands, the priceless gifts of time and toil, and by faith, enthusiasm and talent.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Vintage image from Footlight Players website…

Artist to watch… Logan Hagege!

Drying the Net by Logan Hagege/Image: EgeliGallery.com

Logan Hagege is an artist with a style all his own. Each piece truly is a work of art. I love the way he captures scenes, the colors, the light, the shadows… whoa! Most of the work I’m familiar with is Southwestern. FABULOUS colors, intriguing subjects. This is a bit different, “Drying the Net” is at the Egeli Gallery located in Provincetown, MA. If you’re in the area check it out… otherwise check out their website! Logan was one of the uber talented artists that was in a cottage down from ours in Port Clyde, Maine several years ago. We were invited to the cottage the last night and the paintings that we saw were AMAZING! Every one of those guys painted their hearts out and it showed. Being art lovers we were in HEAVEN! If you’re interested in reading a bit about their Paintapalooza trip, Addison Art Gallery has a great little write up… click HERE to read…

Jerome Greene (sold) by Logan Hagege/ Image: LoganHagege.com

Another favorite of mine is a portrait Logan did of fellow artist Jerome Greene. I believe he captured him perfectly and I LOVE how he left the edges unpainted… Check out Logan’s website for gallery information and to see his paintings!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Man slippers so sharp you could wear them out! Spend that gift card now!

Image: UggAustralia.com

Aren’t these the sharpest men’s slippers you’ve ever seen? These are classy with a capital C! I bought them for my husband for Christmas and he LOVES THEM. I swear when he has khakis or jeans on I would swear he could wear them out. They’re warm, comfortable and the ultimate in style. I ordered them from Nordstrom (free shipping and free returns!)… If you have a gift card to spend and you don’t know what to do with it… here’s an idea! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Artist to watch… Alison Hill!

Rope Shed by Alison Hill/Fred and Barbara Stroud

Alison Hill is an extremely talented artist and the nicest person in the world. They just don’t come any nicer. Her house is her gallery, and a fabulous one it is. Paintings fill it from floor to ceiling. If you’re on Monhegan you will undoubtedly see Alison set up somewhere painting, and several hours later she’ll be in another location. She is amazing. This painting is entitled Rope Shed. It’s the little building that you pass on your way through town, where people hang things they’ve found, or you can read about what’s going on where… and we think she captured it beautifully. Check out Alison’s website, it’s a good one! Here’s a blip from her website, catch you back here tomorrow!

Painting has become my way of moving through this world, responding to and expressing what I see and feel. It is my interpretation, using color, stroke, and line, to evoke the mood I am receiving, whether it is a landscape, a person, or a still life, i want to recreate what i am receiving.
Through some fortunate circumstances, i am now living on Monhegan island, Maine. In the summer i run a studio  gallery, and off season I spend painting, traveling, doing portraits, and other art related endeavors. Monhegan offers endless inspiration, no matter what the season, and I feel very fortunate to call this home.

Image from http://marshallgallery.net/

Now is the time to make your reservations for the Island Inn on Monhegan Island, Maine!

Island Inn, Monhegan Island, Maine

Ahhhh, can’t wait to get here! The Island Inn on Monhegan Island, Maine… it is the best place to stay. A wonderful breakfast, coffee that makes your smile linger a little longer and I highly recommend making dinner reservations EVERY SINGLE NIGHT! We were thrilled to be in touch with some of our friends that stay on the island around the same time every year. They have become like family to us… can’t wait to see them all again!

If you’re looking for that perfect place on the island, look no further… catch you back here tomorrow!

Artist to watch… Brian Kliewer!

Morning Walk by Brian Kliewer/ Image: KliewerStudio.com

Brian Kliewer. A nice guy and a fabulous artist. You can just feel the chill in the air in this painting, can’t you? Brian was a Facebook friend several years ago, and I truly enjoyed his posts, besides the beautiful paintings that he posted he would talk about life in Maine, show photos of the big snow storms and other various subjects. Brian is no longer on Facebook and I do miss his posts, got tired of all the FB changes I guess, heavy sigh… We also ran into his work at Mars Hall Gallery in Port Clyde a few years ago… as fabulous in person as it was on the Internet. Brian has a great website, I urge you to check it out, he lists the galleries he’s in, so if you’re in the neighborhood, pop on in! Here’s a little blip about Brian from his website:

Completely self-taught in painting, Kliewer began showing his work at The Pine Tree Shop & Bayview Gallery in Camden, Maine, in the autumn of 1988.  The following year, artist Edward Hergelroth saw Kliewer’s work for the first time and said, “It’s hard to believe that anyone this young and with so little formal training could produce such an incredible sense of drama and atmosphere in his work.” Collectors were soon taken with his paintings and the gallery dedicated an entire show to his work at its Portland, Maine location early in 1991. His show of Maine landscapes was a near sellout. In 1995 the Camden gallery offered “Brian Kliewer-A Full Perspective” to its audience and the show nearly sold out on its first weekend! Another successful show followed in 1996. In 2001, Kliewer showed in “Two Views of New England,” a two-man show at Mast Cove Galleries in Kennebunkport, Maine.  In 2005 the artist was selected by curator, Margaret Bodell, to have his first show in New York City.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Healthy whole grain “snack” that is addictive it’s so good! That’s Popcorn Indiana!

Image: PopcornIndiana.com

Ok, so it’s not the cheapest popcorn you’ll ever find, but it is one of the very best out there. I grew up eating popcorn, so I’m somewhat of an expert on this subject. When you need a snack, that should be more healthy than not… what comes to mind? Carrot stick? Nope… POPCORN! Not from the movie theater but from your local store. It’s the popcorn in the red bag, it’s delicious, it’s PERFECT. If you haven’t tried it I highly suggest that you do, you won’t believe how good it is. Crunchy and perfectly salted, I like the “Touch of Sea Salt” but they have many varieties, that’s just my personal favorite! So if you’re craving something… give it a whirl!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Artist to watch… Daniela Astone!

Self Portrait in Studio by Daniela Astone/Image: AnnLongFineArt.com

I love paintings of artists painting, or of their studios. For some reason those kinds of paintings fascinate me. I love seeing into someones life. How they do things, are they organized or does the creativity flow without order? That seems to be the case for many artists. Maybe I spend too much time getting things the way I want them… then oops… time to make dinner… ha ha… I guess I need to lighten up, or maybe pick up a paintbrush. That’s on the list of things to do this year… didn’t really work out last year, but… Anyway, artist Daniela Astone painted a fantastic piece, a self portrait in her studio. Very nice Daniela!

Locally, Daniela has her work at Ann Long Fine Art in Charleston, SC. If you’re in the area, stop by and check it out, otherwise check it out online, they have a great website! Daniela has the most interesting blog, it’s like visiting Italy! She teaches near Florence, Italy and lives the the nearby countryside. Here is a blip about the artist from her website:

Daniela Astone was born in Pisa in 1980 and raised in the town of Porto S. Stefano in Maremma, Italy. She discovered her passion for drawing and painting at a very young age and thus began cultivating this desire. In 1997, after graduating from the Visual Arts High School of Maremma, her motivation for the arts initiated a move to Florence. The cultural city of Florence provided her with the opportunity to deepen her knowledge and love of the art by both challenging and motivating her. Daniela’s first experience in Florence was working in the illustration school. In 2001, she enrolled in the Florence Academy of Art, one of the most serious art schools of Florence. Upon graduating in 2004, she received the painting award, the highest honor of her class. Daniela’s accomplishments include participation in the exhibition “Realism Revisited” in the Panorama Museum, Bad Frankenhausen Germany in 2003 as well as two successful solo shows with Ann Long Fine Art in 2005 and 2007. Daniela currently teaches at the Florence Academy of Art in Florence and resides in the nearby countryside.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A Monthly/Weekly planner to die for… big squares to write in, all from Blue Sky!

Image from BlueSkyImg.com

It’s not easy finding the perfect monthly/weekly planner, you know, one you’ll stick with all year long. Last year my parents bought me the Barnes and Noble monthly/weekly planner which was VERY nice. I used every little bit of it for this blog, had notes scribbled all over. This year I read the reviews and saw how everyone mentioned that the monthly view that was always spread out on two pages was now squished onto one page, what?!! I went to the store to see for myself. They were right. Whew, crisis averted! Glad I read that review! So I headed to Target, and in 0.3 seconds found the planner of my dreams (ok, I like paper, I like to write AND I like to organize so I get excited about things like this…). It’s made by BLUE SKY IMAGES, and the one I purchased is called the EggPress Heartflower Monthly/Weekly Planner. It’s a great size 8.5″x11″, nice big squares to write in and a lined area in each monthly view for notes specific to that month. After the monthly view is the two page weekly view, which is fantastic. Also there are tabs for the monthly view which is AWESOME… I made tabs for mine last year. So if you’re looking for a fantastic planner it sells online for $16+, I bought it at Target for $9.99.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Artist to watch… Kyle Martin!

Spring Tree Study by artist Kyle Martin

We ran across Kyle Martin, a fabulous artist from Wisconsin, with such a nice loose style, while looking at Daniel Corey’s blog during the Boothbay Regional Art Foundation fundraiser that both artists were involved with back in December. Kyle has a nice blog that you should check out if you get a chance! Here is a short blip from Blue Heron, where you can see Kyle’s work if you’re out and about in Reedsburg, WI:

Kyle is interested in observing and painting the effect of light falling on the landscape. His work is created outdoors, painted en plein air, taking direct inspiration from the subject. By using color to show atmosphere, he will often return to the same location to capture different moods of the same scene. His luminous paintings are created with active brushwork and broken color. Click HERE to see the rest…

I love running across new (to me) artists! Catch you back here tomorrow!