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!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
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!
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…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
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!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
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!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Carol Tarzier has 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!
Read a blip about Carol from her website:
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.
All images via Tarzier.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
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!
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.
The upstairs is nice with the two bedrooms with closets, a shared bath and a linen closet.
All images via AllisonRamseyArchitect.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
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!
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…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
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.
I would also like to take this opportunity to mention that now is your chance to preorder the new cookbook by Food52 called Genius Recipes. It looks like a beautiful book, and it will be jam-packed with fabulous recipes!
Note: I used Hershey’s Cocoa – Special Dark. I’m not sure if that’s why it’s so dark, but it’s fabulous!
Click HERE to print the recipe by itself without all my blah, blah, blah…
Catch you back here tomorrow, after your cake ;)
Scott Gellatly. This man has a nice palette. Paintings with fabulous light, which is so important! This is a great vineyard painting!
There isn’t a lot of light peaking through at sunrise, yet those little dabs of strategically placed bright colors give this painting a WOW factor! The dark colors in the foreground and in the tree make the lights pop and stand out, and those bits of lavender with those wonderful horizontal strokes are just stunning! Great composition keeps your eye in the painting… mine goes from the foreground, to the tree, to the top of the mast and down to the boat, then the water and back up the tree again. How about you? Look how much is left to your imagination… not easy to do! Love it!
Read a bit about Scott from his website:
I’ve always been driven to make things. No matter the medium, I find excitement and wonder in creating something that didn’t exist the day before. Whether that creation succeeds or fails, it drives my creative process forward – eager to begin the next piece.
Landscape painting is the perfect vehicle for my creative pursuits. It marries my love of nature with an immediate, responsive approach to painting. It can, at times, be a welcome solitary act – and at other times, an opportunity for camaraderie with fellow painters.
I’m a proud Oregon native and currently live in Portland with my wife and two young sons.
Images via ScottGellatly.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
The large, grand, historic homes in Charleston, SC are stunning. Breathtaking even. Besides the cost of the home, taxes, insurance, utilities, etc. can you imagine the maintenance? I’m not sure where I was when I snapped this photo, but it appears that this home may be receiving a makeover? Look at the intricate detail. Just beautiful! You have to be able to look beyond what is there to be able to see what it could truly be. A diamond in the rough…
This home will be stunning! Catch you back here tomorrow!
There is nothing like sunlit trees against a dark sky. So dramatic. The blue in that sky is very “Marc Hanson” to me. We have one of his paintings that has that identical color and that’s what drew me in to the painting. Those two colors together are wow!
See what I mean! That dark sky and the streak of light, wow!
Speaking of Dark Skies, did you know there is an app called DARK SKY. It lets you know when it’s going to begin raining (or let you know a few minutes before), its fairly accurate, although I cannot believe I paid for it, ha ha…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Well, if you haven’t already realized, it’s Friday the 13th. I try to remain a positive person, so I’m thinking this will be a good luck day, and while I’m not normally a superstitious person, I felt like I should take caution and not spread any bad luck to any artist or architect today, so I’m just going to throw a question out there… I could use some recommendations for some good music!
I listen to Pandora quite a bit (and psssst a good gift idea would be a no ad upgrade for anyone you know who listens!) – and I tend to get in a rut. I listen to the same few stations. Mainly, it’s George Winston. I like George, but Charlie (woof) LOVES George. He will actually sleep if George is playing (YAY!) So the beast usually wins. Also if I’m trying to write or read I need to concentrate, so I listen to George. When I need to switch it up I listen to Masako.
When I’m cooking, I listen to Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera (something with a beat!) or Happy Radio (Pherrell Williams song “Happy”). Other favorites are Koop (lounge type cool music), Eklipse radio (more happening)…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
231 Easton Way by Our Town Plans. Quite an impressive house plan. I adore the three windows upstairs. Can you imagine the wonderful light would spill into your space? 231 Easton Way is 1,455 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. It boasts exposed rafters and an expansive front porch, perfect for entertaining!
The best thing about this site (other than their fabulous house plans) is the ability to see images of real homes… GORGEOUS and stunning (click the 231 Easton Way link at the beginning) – WOW is all I can say!
How wonderful to have such a nice wide porch for entertaining! The porch is 7’10” x 18′ – nice, huh? Once you enter the home, you see the open plan with the Kitchen/Dining and the Living spaces. There isn’t a separate dining room per-sea which is perfect! There is a wonderful space for a kitchen table which is absolutely what we would use more than a dining room.
What a fabulous loft room! A private sanctuary! Great to use as a studio or a very private guest room!
Images via OurTownPlans.com, used with permission…
Lisa Daria Kennedy. Unique! Taking an everyday space and making it WOW! I love the kitchen sink and window… the counters, the dish soap… fabulous! The abstract qualities bring it to life! There is a method to her madness, truly… Her story below is inspirational!
Another fabulous painting! So many wonderful layers! Lisa also has a daily painting blog, which you’ve just got to check out!
Read a bit about Lisa from her website:
In my Fainting Party series women are shown in vulnerable poses. The edges of the figures break apart and there’s an uncertainty between where the interior body ends and the exterior space begins. Cancer disintegrates a sense of stability and the potential for further catastrophe is incessant. So, there is a constant negotiation between one’s self and their surroundings.
I portray this negotiation by pulling from art history. I appropriate the reclining nude in my work, however I repurpose her as fainting. The fainting pose symbolizes vulnerability, because the fainting body represents loss of control.
Fainting therefore signifies abject embodiment.
In my paintings, boundaries are blurred and skin and bones no longer act as protective shields. An impending collision between interior and exterior is forever present.
In my research doctors Waskul and Van der Riet state that,
“A person does not inhabit a static object body but is subjectively embodied in a fluid, emergent and negotiated process of being. In this process, body, self, and social interaction are interrelated to such an extent that distinctions between them are not only permeable and shifting, but also actively manipulated and configured. The body is embodied.”
The body is a vessel – a cultural product that is easily assaulted and penetrated, so the figure in my work is gestural. The loose lines imply bodily boundaries and the searching characteristic of my line work represents uncertainty. These gestural lines create gaps and openings in the frame work of the figure so, what is inside can come out and what is outside can come in.
In abject embodiment, the body repeatedly defies it’s own boundaries.
In my work I simulate a feeling of disorientation by including hints of a recognizable world that are tangled up with abstraction. The collision between realism and non-representation creates a disconnect between self and one’s surroundings.
The thing is that those who have never experienced abject embodiment should understand, is that it is we who have experienced it, cannot just let it go.
We deal with our bodies and negotiate our surroundings every day.
I paint to tell this story of a fluid, permeable and negotiated process of being.
Don’t you just love when you have a recipe that can be a favorite week in/week out? This is one of those recipes! Out of this world good comes to mind! This recipe was in Roper Hospital’s HOUSE CALLS magazine back in the Fall of 2013. I made it the other day and let me tell you… IT’S A KEEPER! All their recipes are fabulous, and this is one more! It comes together quickly, so be sure to have everything measured and ready!
I used Trader Joe’s frozen organic brown rice, which is fabulous, just defrost it! You want the rice cold for this recipe. I used the frozen peas and carrots from Whole Foods, they were fabulous! The carrots were shredded, which I like better than cubed.
Note, I personally don’t care for Sesame Oil, so I used olive oil, I also didn’t use Fish Sauce or a lime wedge… but that’s me ;) – I also don’t eat soy, so I skipped the soy sauce and replaced it with coconut aminos (Trader Joe’s) – my husband then uses soy and I don’t… this is delish!
Click HERE to print the recipe!
SHRIMP FRIED RICE
Via House Calls Magazine – Roper Saint Francis Hospital, Charleston, SC – Fall 2013
Serves 4
1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
3 cups cooked, cold Brown Rice (defrost if frozen)*
12 oz. Shrimp, shelled
1 Tablespoon Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
2 Teaspoons Fish Sauce (optional)
2 Green Onions, sliced thinly
2 eggs, beaten
¾ cup frozen Peas and Carrot mix, defrosted
Fresh Lime Wedge
*Chef’s Note: Rice should be cold when you sauté it. Try a frozen cooked brown rice, defrosted, such as Trader Joe’s brand, with this, there is no need to cook it according to package directions in advance. (This worked perfectly!!)
HEAT the sesame oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add the shrimp (original recipe called for raw baby shrimp, I used regular large shrimp and they were wonderful). Add the shrimp and cook for three minutes, turning once, until just opaque in center. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
REDUCE heat to medium and add the canola oil. Once oil is hot add the defrosted pea/carrot mix and green onions. Fry stirring frequently, for one to two minutes. Transfer to the same plate with the shrimp. Increase the heat to medium-high. Once pan is hot again, spread the rice in an even layer on the surface of the pan.
DRIZZLE with soy sauce (and fish sauce if using, I didn’t). Let the rice fry, untouched for 30 to 60 seconds before stirring to allow browning. Toss the rice and cook until crisp and browned, about 2 minutes. Push rice to one side of skillet; add eggs to the other side and quickly stir to scramble the eggs, then work into the rice mixture, about two minutes.
FOLD in cooked veggies and shrimp. Continue stirring until all ingredients are heated through (won’t take long). Serve immediately with a lime wedge for squeezing (we didn’t do this either).
Catch you back here tomorrow!
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