What happens when you plan on having something for dinner, but it doesn’t work out for whatever reason?
You throw a chicken breast on the grill (rub the chicken with olive oil first). Cook some brown rice (YAY Trader Joe’s Organic Brown Rice in the freezer section – takes 3 MINUTES in the microwave)! Drain and heat some black beans, cut up tomato and onion (or we used Pico de gallo, so nice and fresh!), a few shreds of Pepper Jack cheese, some steamed spinach, a healthy dose of lime and a tortilla chip or two (or three) for a little crunch, and the grand finale… sliced avocado – which totally makes this heavenly… and BAM! Dinner. Is. Ready! Let me tell you… this is so good, you’ll want it the next day! We had it the day before with shrimp instead of chicken. That was great too!
Donna MacDonald is a fabulous artist from Canada. I had such a great time going through her paintings. How to choose just one? It wasn’t easy! The color in this painting is dynamic. Bold. The movement of his body is comfortable and confidant. Not easy to relay that information with the stroke of a brush!
Born in Windsor, Ontario and now living in Calgary, Alberta, Donna is best known for her bold brushwork and impressionistic style. She has traveled to the U.S. to study with master painters such as Kim English, Jeffrey Watts and Carolyn Anderson over the last several years striving to improve her technical knowledge and to grow as an artist.”Although my subject matter is varied, I am most captivated by a strong sense of light. I enjoy oil paint as my medium because of its slow drying quality which allows me to show movement.
My hope is that the viewer experiences my paintings, as not just a literal depiction of a scene, animal or person but feels the sun and atmosphere of the day.” Her paintings have won numerous awards and she has been featured in the American Art Collector and Canadian Brushstrokes magazines. Donna has exhibited in numerous juried exhibitions and her work can be found in the Calgary Flames Rotary House collection as well as private collections in Canada, United States and South America.
“Painting has become a passion and a wonderful necessity in my life. Since becoming a full time artist, I have unexpectedly discovered that painting provides me relief from almost daily migraines which I’ve had for over thirty years. I truly believe that I am doing what I was always mean to do and feel very blessed!” As a way of “paying it forward” she contributes 10% from the sale of her paintings to charity. This year HOPEthiopia, a Calgary based charity that works tirelessly for the betterment of the Ethiopian people has been chosen. Their projects include drilling water wells, building schools and providing dental and medical treatment.
Donna is currently represented by Different Strokes Gallery, Art Connection Calgary, Alberta, AyrSpace Gallery, Ontario, Leighton Art Centre, Alberta
Ben Silver. An icon in Charleston, SC. “Classic Style… has always been our business”. Ben Silver is a gorgeous building, with the classiest of clothing. It’s very “Charleston”! I love how the light hit when I took this shot, which must have been around Christmas time, judging by the wreath!
Next time you’re in the area, pop in and check it out!
Stanley Shipyard Remains by Kathi J Smith 24×36″ Oil Available at Greenhut Galleries – Portland, ME
Kathi J. Smith. Wonderful paintings, nice and loose. She leaves just enough to your imagination. I happen to love paintings that let you “fill in” the details. Just look at these brushstrokes. Also a nice sense of distance with the island and the dramatic clouds. Nice!
Read a bit about Kathi, from her website:
Statement
My work is reflective of places in which I find myself lost in the act of looking. Complicated spaces with an abundance of information intrigue me and I consider it my task as an artist to find order within them. I am currently interested in the role of landscapes in developing a sense of one’s self and, when conjured through sensations, how powerful the visual memory of a place can be. Recently, I have been painting places relevant to my personal history; memories of my family’s homestead in Nova Scotia, my hometown in Western Maine, and the White Mountains where I currently reside. Concurrently, I have been creating bodies of work on location at artist residencies, in Maine, Connecticut, Virginia, and Vermont. These intense month long periods of working have resulted in further explorations of my sense of place, and the landscapes I have found myself within. All of the works are records of locations that I have spent a significant amount of time. Some are made from direct observation, while others from memory, all provide my sense of any given space.
Bio
Born in Maine, Kathi Smith is a New England artist and educator. Smith’s work reflects her landscape, in which she invites close observation of familiar-seeming places and their narratives. Smith’s reputation and career are rapidly growing. In the past three years, she has participated in many regional and national exhibitions, and four prestigious residencies. She received a full fellowship supported by the Joan Mitchell Foundation to the Vermont Studio Center and has been a Fellow and Artist-in-Residence at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Weir Farm National Historic Site in Connecticut, and the Heliker-LaHotan Foundation in Maine. In July 2013 Artscope Magazine featured her in Kathi Smith’s New England. She maintains her studio practice in Ashland, New Hampshire and teaches at Plymouth State University. She holds a BFA in Painting & Drawing from the University of Southern Maine, and a MFA in Painting from the University of New Hampshire.
Image of Kathi Smith’s painting via Greenhut Galleries, used with permission from the artist…
263 Bohicket Street. Elegant. Stately. This is a gorgeous plan that is 3,623 square feet of heated space (and if you include the unheated space it jumps to 4,245′) with 3 bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms. Leave it to Our Town Plans… they have such stunning plans!
263 Bohicket St by Our Town Plans
There is a whole lot of living going on here, that’s for sure! A wonderful screen porch (look at the size of it!), that’s a dream come true all by itself! This plan is more formal in that it is somewhat open, yet it also gives you the separate spaces for a dining room and a living room or office. The kitchen includes a wonderful pantry and desk area which is nice for a laptop with recipes! The keeping room with the French doors and a fireplace, just looks like a wonderful place to be!
263 Bohicket St by Our Town Plans
The upstairs master has a wonderful terrace, wow, can you imagine! It’s nice that the master is one side of the upstairs and the two bedrooms are on the opposite side, separated by the staircase and the laundry room. Good planning, as always!
The JERRY WEISS EXHIBIT begins tomorrow! There will be an exhibition of Jerry’s paintings at Elizabeth Moss Galleries in Falmouth, Maine. This fabulous exhibit runs from March 26 to May 2, 2015. Included will be plein air landscapes painted in Maine and Connecticut, as well as figure work. If you’re anywhere near that area be sure to stop in and check it out. Jerry is well known for his magnificent paintings.
Queen Street Grocery in Charleston, SC. This photo looks like a painting to me. Great reflections and all kinds of things going on. You’ll be happy to know it was voted “Best Corner Store” – and from what I heard they serve some pretty tasty food… check out their menu!
Options… lots of different options and breakfast all day, woohoo!
Janet Broussard. Two things stand out right away in this painting. The wonderful light in the trees, especially against the gorgeous background color… wow!! Ooooh, that gorgeous clear water. Not easy!
Janet has some beautiful work, be sure to check out her many paintings!
Olives on the Side by Janet Broussard 9×12″
Love the olives and the background. Fabulous!
Read a bit about Janet, from her website:
Thank you for your interest in my work. I am happy to share with you my enthusiasm for painting; the joy of color, animating with texture, the chance to see a particular subject in a different way.
The painting surface is just as important as the rendering of the subject matter. You see thick strokes of paint, thin washes, and fine lines cutting through the layers of paint to the panel. Some edges are smeared, some are precise. All these techniques give the painting a sense of life and energy.
Janet’s artistic talent came to fruition at an early age, winning her first award in fourth grade, for a watercolor seascape of California’s Bug Sur. Constantly painting and drawing, with frequent milestones of recognition for her artistic talent, she followed her chosen path to the University of North Texas where she majored in Advertising Art.
While working in a gallery and commuting to school from Dallas, she became immersed in papermaking, sparked by the tactile challenge of working with her hands. Over the next sixteen years, Janet enjoyed success with her abstract collages, each one using a variety of materials including cotton fiber and found objects. Corporate and private patrons alike enjoy her work in Florida, Colorado, Texas, and Mexico.
Always emotionally inspired by nature, Janet admired the beautiful light captured by the California Impressionists, especially Edgar Payne and George Wendt; she also admired the fluid strokes and spontaneity of the painter Joaquin Sorolla. Maynard Dixon’s southwestern landscapes appealed to her graphic sense with saturated colors and simple shapes that conveyed vast skies and distant buttes. The paintings by these masters moved Janet to change mediums and genres. Leaving behind handmade paper and contemporary abstract ideas, she embraced representational concepts and began painting with oils.
After moving to Austin, she enthusiastically pursued landscape painting, and studied with such notable painters as Matt Smith, Scott Christensen, Skip Whitcomb, John Budicin, and Don Ward. She paints small field studies outdoors to capture the essence of the scene, and then later uses these with photographs and observations to create larger works in her studio.
Images via JanetBroussard.com, used with permission…
Ha ha. Talk to the hand. Another Broad Street shot with the colorful buildings, and colorful sign. Scaffolding while some buildings go through renovations. When they’re done, I’ll bet it’ll look just like long ago, yet much nicer! That’s one thing, buildings don’t lose their charm here, I think the Architectural Review Board (ARB) sees to that!
Just a little glimpse at the Carol Bass Exhibit being held at the main Charleston County Public Library. That is one beautiful library, and I love how they have this space for artists.
When you leave Carol’s exhibit you will have a smile on your face. No doubt! Her paintings and sculpture are happy and so creative! What a treat! They’ll be there through the end of the month, it’s worth the trip!
Silver, Garlic, and Limes by Carol Tarzier 12 x 14″ Oil on Canvas Panel
Carol Tarzierhas wonderful paintings, from landscapes to still lifes and portraits… they all have a unique quality about them. Silver, Garlic and Limes has wonderful light, I love how that green just stand right out and says LOOK AT ME!
Also check out Carol’s sculptures – wow, is there anything this woman can’t do? I’m impressed!
Interested in taking a WORKSHOP? She’s got those as well!
Carol Tarzier’s primary focus is figurative work in bronze and pastel drawings on paper, with ventures into oil painting and abstract sculpture in bronze. Her numerous solo exhibitions in California and Nevada date back a decade and have earned her numerous awards.
During 1998 and 1999 she turned to commissioned projects, with an eight-foot bronze memorial to C.L. Dellums, the Oakland-based civil rights leader, unveiled in December of 1999. Her abstract bronze, Obelisk 1, a 9′ bronze sculpture, graces a private garden setting in Portola. Tarzier created a memorial to Professor George Hasslein of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2004.
Carol divides her time working in her spacious Oakland studio and teaching art at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco and City College of San Francisco.
Southside Cottage (C0003) by Allison Ramsey Architects
Southside Cottage (C0003) by Allison Ramsey Architects. This plan is 1,641 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It’s got those nice lowcountry lines. What is it about dormers that add so much charm? What a wonderful porch – one for relaxing, ahhh! I love how they show real-life images of this home on the Allison Ramsey Architect website via SmugMug…. it’s a big help envisioning!
Southside Cottage Main Floor – Allison Ramsey Architects
I would be curious if it’s possible to tuck a tiny powder room underneath the staircase? It could be teeny tiny… or better yet, make the room off the back porch, (laundry room?) make that a powder room and have room for a stackable unit. Also, unless there is something spectacular in the backyard, I would opt for expanding the house to take up the space of the patio, use it as another closet, or something clever…? That gives you more space in the living room, when you don’t have a door opening into the space. There are plenty of doors on the front of the house that lead to the porch, which is nice. This plan gives you choices! Which is always nice! However, if you don’t need the extra space, I’m sure it would create a nice draft through the house!
What a great plan with the three sets of French door on leading to the front porch. That really adds to your living space during the nicer weather! The open Living, Dining, Kitchen allows everyone to be doing there own thing, yet still being in the vicinity of each other.
Southside Cottage C0003 by Allison Ramsey – Upstairs
The upstairs is nice with the two bedrooms with closets, a shared bath and a linen closet.
Carlos San Millan. STUNNING. I find more and more I am really drawn to paintings with some abstract qualities to them. I love normal everyday things, especially interiors. Kitchen sinks, a comfy chair, table and lamp, those kinds of things… and this bathroom mirror is quite stunning. I love the colors and the mixtures of paint. I am fascinated by this painting. I can scroll through images and just by the colors, the lights/darks, normally there will be painting that jumps out at me. This one jumped, did back flips and everything else. Whoa!
English Garden #19 by Carlos San Millan 30x45cm Oil
Another stunner. I love the wonderful brush strokes and lack of definition, leaving your imagination to do its job! Next time I attempt painting, I’m going to keep this in mind. LESS IS MORE. I’m going to use a huge brush and I’m going to PAINT WITH PAINT, ha ha… Stunning, Carlos!
A bit about Carlos from his profile on Saatchi Art:
Carlos San Millan (b. 1969 – Spain) engages with painting through a more conceptual view about the traditional subjects as figure or landscape. There is a subtile narration into their paintings, a presence that overlays on viewer’s perception and loads images with tarnished evocation . San Millan was graduated from University of Basque Country School with degrees in painting and design in 1995. He has been featured in solo and group exhibitions in Spain and Latin America.
Images are via csanmillan.jimdo.com, used with permission…
Let me start by saying, this is a hell of a photo, isn’t it? You may have gathered from my other posts, I’m so excited once I finish a recipe that we sit down and eat… bite one… then it hits me… P H O T O ! ! I wish I would have thought of taking a photo of the cake prior to cutting, but this is it… see how dark this cake is? Very moist and light. Not too chocolatey and not too sweet. I opted for some whipped cream instead of confectioner’s sugar or frosting. It was PERFECT! Just scroll down and look at the list of ingredients… you probably have all of them don’t you? Well then, why are you sitting there?!
I saw this recipe in an email from FOOD52.com. When I saw that it was a one layer chocolate cake, with no frosting, I was intrigued. You can make it and sprinkle powdered sugar, make frosting, or top with whipped cream.
Best of all you don’t need a mixer, you simply need two bowls and a 9″ cake pan.
Get. Out!
No butter or eggs…
Get. Outta. Here!
OK, I had to try it. I was skeptical, because… well, I never made a cake without essential ingredients. Turns out they aren’t essential at all! This cake was light, fluffy, and not too sweet. It came together quickly. Dry ingredients in one bowl, wet ingredients in the other. Mix then get the air bubbles out by tapping several times and BAM! Best cake ever!
Is there anything better than the smell of a chocolate cake wafting through your house? N. O. There truly is not.
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