I started the ArtFoodHome.com daily (now 4 times/week) blog 1/1/11 (easy to remember, right?) and have kept it going since then. Come back each day - I share with you:
ART: featured artists, art events, workshops, etc.
FOOD: recipes, restaurants, and good finds along the way
HOME: house plans, home design, places here in Charleston...
On year 14 of artfoodhome.com - share this site with anyone who you think might enjoy it!
Fall is fabulous… my absolute favorite time of year! The days are getting cooler now… soon the time changes and we get an extra hour of sleep, woohoo! Charlie especially loves it because in addition to walking in the morning, he can get a walk in after dinner. We always feel better if we move after we eat… can’t just sit!
Frederick Stroud. My other half… the sweetest man in the world… truly the love of my life! Yep, those statements all describe my husband! He’s the nicest guy with the biggest heart.
Love at first sight… and today is his birthday!
Happy Birthday to you!!
Happy Birthday to you!!
Happy birthday de-aaaar Fre-eeeeed!
Happy Birthday to you!!…
…and many more!
Oh, how I love those blue eyes and that gorgeous smile! Happy Birthday Fred! Wishing you the best birthday ever! xoxo, me
Look at this gorgeous sky reflected in the water… kind of Halloween’ish isn’t it? This photo was taken while out walking… nothing fancy, it was the reflections that really caught my eye!
We see some magnificent sunsets in Charleston, SC. This one was no exception. I wonder why the sunsets in October seem to be over the top? This particular sunset had people pulling over to snap photos… gorgeous!
Such bright vivid colors make Lynn’s work so happy to look at! These chickens have ATTITUDE! Lynn captured the light perfectly… this is a great painting!
This painting was accepted into the American Impressionist Society’s 2013 show held at M Gallery of Fine Art (soon to be named Principle Gallery). Fine work indeed! If you’re in the Charleston, SC area, you can still see this painting, the show runs through October 30, 2013!
Everything we do through out our day influences our moods and actions. Viewing art can set the tune for an entire day. I believe that people should surround themselves with art that makes them feel good and emits positive energy. A good piece of art can take us out of ourselves and transport us to a different season, place or time.
Landscapes and color are my passion. I travel the back roads looking for new places to paint. One of my favorite things to do is to hike in the woods. The forest surrounds me, holds me, and envelops me. Standing amidst the encompassing forest trees is an awe-inspiring experience, bringing me closer to my higher power. When I paint the landscape, I hope to create a scene that one can walk into and feel. Feel the light, feel the dimensionality and the universality of nature. The hues I see are intriguing, and it seems like the harder I look, the more colors I see.
Eventually the high wears off and I go back to my studio and paint.
After graduating from Purdue University, I was an advertising art director for many years before picking up a paintbrush. Painting has been therapeutic to me in dealing with the loss of my son to childhood cancer. I donate a portion of my proceeds from the sale of each painting to Childhood Cancer Research.
Over the past few years, I have been lucky enough to study with Wolf Kahn in Vermont, Skip Whitcomb in Colorado and Michael Carter in Kentucky. I was honored to be one of the featured artists in the book “Painting Indiana ll” published by Indiana University Press.
This is a fabulous cabin style house plan with a generous screened porch. I think it’s reminiscent of something you would see on Sullivan’s Island, back in the good old days… the cool, old cottage/cabin with character. This is the Porch Cabin house plan from Architectural House Plans and it is Plan ID Number DM-001, designed by Dale Mulfinger, FAIASALA Architects, Inc. I can just imagine how much time we would spend on this porch. Every waking moment… I would love to plop this on a nice piece of land where we would be on the water and see gorgeous sunsets. Heaven on earth!
This plan is roughly 1,879 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, as well as a host of fabulous details… Keep in mind with these photos, this is one person’s home, but the possibilities are endless… I happen to like it just the way it is! This home was originally designed as a vacation home near a lake in Minnesota. Nice, huh? It is a favorite among a lot of people and has been built all over the United States. It would fit in beautifully in Charleston, SC…!
Mudroom, pantry, fireplaces… ahhh, the “things I love” about this plan are getting mighty lengthy. It’s a perfect size to use as a house or a vacation home. The fact that there is a place to take off your shoes and coat, especially in colder climates is wonderful. A pantry off the kitchen… LOVE IT! That would be a dream! Fireplaces upstairs and down make this one cozy house in the winter. Here are a few images of the interior of one house that was built…
Can you imagine how wonderful this porch would be? Grab a book and a hot tea, sit and look out over the yard, or the water or wherever you may be situated… Gorgeous!
I KNOW! Gorgeous, right? Just look at that fireplace! So cozy. This plan has got so many wonderful details. It really helps to see an interior image… some of us aren’t so great at visualization!
Fabulous kitchen, great light, wonderful in every way! Remember… pantry is around the corner! I might extend the kitchen into the dining room, maybe put a larger island, and have a smaller table or eat at the island… I like my counter space, but that’s me…
A garret is another name for a loft or attic… I certainly wouldn’t call this an attic… When I showed my husband this plan, he said, he would probably leave the top floor off, having two bedrooms would be great… until I showed him the next photo! Then we decided it would be our bedroom as long as we could walk up and down the stairs!
Daniel Aldana has a fabulous style. I love his loose textured brush strokes as well as every subject matter he paints. This guy is good. I love his story, as told by Roger’s Gardens Fine Art Gallery. It shows how strong a passion for art can be. I think it’s great that he followed what he really felt in his heart… I think this is a good reminder to us all to be passionate about what we choose to do in life if at all possible!
That yellow light against the darkness of the house is stunning! It wasn’t easy to only pick a few, so be sure to check his website out for yourself!
The Morning Heat by Daniel Aldana
Another nice painting! Can’t you just feel the warmth from the sun? Lovely in every way! Be sure to check out Daniel’s blog, its wonderful!
Daniel Aldana is an early career artist living in Southern California. He has had a lifelong love of art and like many artists, spent his childhood drawing. After high school he attended a small liberal arts college and majored in art. His primary interest was art history and figure drawing. Unlike many artists, he then decided to go to medical school.
He attended Yale School of Medicine (1989-1993), which gave him ready access to a large Art school where he took classes between his medical studies, and to New York City with its art collections.
He began to paint during his internship, the first year of a three-year specialty training in pediatrics, and would paint when he had a chance (despite work weeks that sometimes stretched more than 100 hours).
After specializing in pediatrics at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital, he taught hospital management of children and evaluation and management of child abuse victims. His academic and patient-care activities left little time for painting, and when he married and had his first child, he found that the time with his family was also getting squeezed.
With the support of his wife he began a plan to leave his practice of medicine and become a full time artist. In the spring of 2005, he took a plein air painting class and became enamored with the challenges and opportunities of painting outside and realized that it afforded a setting to grow as a painter. That summer he began to paint full time.
Since that time Daniel has become a Signature Member of Laguna Plein Air Painters, received numerous awards and has become one of the leading plein air painters in the region. Daniel is one of the permanent artists on display throughout the year at Roger’s Gardens Fine Art Gallery.
Culture: 84.5 Friendliness: 84.3 Atmosphere: 86.4 Restaurants: 86 Lodging: 82.1 Shopping: 75.1With “sand, sun, history, good food, and friendly people,” Charleston is a consistent hit with the travelers who venture to this “gracious and beautiful” city (in fact, it’s taken first place our list of Top 10 Cities in the United States for three years now and been rated as the friendliest). Nearby beaches and impressive architecture draw visitors, but it’s the “insanely nice” locals who enhance “magnificent” bed and breakfasts and “amazing shopping.” “The charm of this city brings me back every year,” praised one devoted fan. “The food, history, architecture and people are wonderful,” said one reader. “A bucket list city!”
Robert (Bob) LaDuke has some of the coolest art… what an imagination! Fun, happy, wonderful work that truly makes you smile! Check out his website for more information…
Painting by Robert LaDuke
This is another fabulous painting… it just feels like a good old fashioned happy home to me, complete with a full moon, lights on inside the house, cool old car, fabulous tree… I love this painting… and did you notice Bob’s signature… way cool!
Painting by Robert LaDuke – Daily Paintworks…
Robert also paints some fabulous smaller paintings that can be purchased through Daily Paintworks – Robert LaDuke, these paintings have so much character and they are FABULOUS! Most are sold, so don’t hesitate if you really love a piece!
Robert LaDuke’s paintings are identifiable for their crisp, clean style and colorfull scenes. Painting professionally for over 20 years, he began his journey as an artist by attending the School of Art Institute in Chicago. He received the Presidential Scholarship to attend.
His first gallery show was in 1996 at Mendenhall Gallery in Pasadena, CA and he has been showing his work ever since.
Isn’t this the sweetest house ever? I like to refer to it as “my house” (it’s not!) on the West Bluff, Mackinac Island, MI… Many of the homes are very, very large… this one is just right! I love the screened porch, and the view… are you kidding me? Heaven! This is near the Pontiac Trail for those of you who are familiar… I love that little trail… breathtaking views!
Ahhh, beauty at its best! Several years ago, my mom, sister and I got together for a little weekend getaway on Mackinac Island in Michigan. We had the best time ever celebrating the end of my mom’s chemo treatments, woohoo mom! We stayed in a beautiful room at the Island House, ate in their dining room each evening which was such a treat… walked and rode bikes until we wore ourselves out! On this day, my sister and I rode bikes around the island after dinner… we really had to pedal fast to make it off the back side of the island (no lights) before it was completely dark… that was something! This isn’t the best photo, taken with my Blackberry, but you get the a feeling of how gorgeous that golden light is! If you ever get a chance to go to Mackinac Island, please do! Like I mentioned, the Island House is a treat… its also worth strolling through the Grand Hotel and all its shops (note: there is a fee). They have a great little bistro where you can eat, lunches are reasonable and so delicious!
Meet Gus… a sweetie, right? Just look at those soulful eyes… this little painting caught my eye… If you haven’t checked out Margaret’s work, you just may want to! I love how she has a little description about each painting. That makes it so interesting.
Little Chickadee by Margaret Sheldon
This little chickadee painting is sweet and looks like it could be made in to wallpaper. Wouldn’t it be pretty in a powder room? Margaret paints just about everything, which really makes it fun!
Born in NYC, I studied Fine Arts at St. John’s University. There I had the privilege of studying with the brilliant and talented Claude Ponsot, beret and all. After graduating with honors and a BFA in Painting, I continued my education studying Architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI. But after many years as an architect and designer, my love of oil painting resurfaced and has led me back to the easel. Where I intend to stay put.
New Vintage Lowcountry SL-1831New Vintage Lowcountry (SL-1831) is a 2,735 square foot home with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 2 fireplaces… this is an exclusive design for Southern Living by Group 3 Design. This plan is larger than most that I feature… it’s not too big, and the space is well used. This home looks like it could be in a quaint village where it has lived happily for many years… it takes tact to design a home that is new that doesn’t look so new. This home has charm and character… Lets take a peek…
Main Floor
This is a nice open plan. I like the way that the kitchen looks into the great room, and I love the office near the kitchen (with a separate entrance!). When I’m cooking I run back and forth from the computer (with my recipe) to the kitchen and its handy that way!
I have to say I really would enjoy the nice screened porch off of the great room. Wow, what nice air flow in the nice weather months… open all those doors and let the fresh air in! It would be dreamy to have a fireplace on the screened porch… get all comfy in your chair with a good book, a roaring fire and a cup of hot chocolate… ahhhh, life is good!
Upper Level
The upstairs is nice, but for just the two of us, I would probably make the study a bathroom, and make the two bathrooms into storage… and then have one bedroom with the treadmill for bad weather workouts and the other bedroom for guests! Either that or pick a bathroom and work around it…
John Burton’s work really catches your eye. It’s the way he captures the light. Most paintings seem to be the western part of the country, but look at this jewel that I ran across… I love it! I would guess this is Maine? But its purely a guess…
John has several pieces headed to the Mesa Verde Foundation… From John’s Facebook page… (Image and words):
Last spring a select group of artist were invited to paint the Mesa Verde National Park. We had incredible access to paint inside the Native American ruins. This October 22nd we will be exhibiting our paintings in Denver. Here is one of the peaceful early mornings I witnessed. To see more go to… http://www.mesaverdefoundation.org/News-Events.aspx
John Burton painting from Mesa Verde National Park
Just look at that light! Isn’t it remarkable? Such nice texture and distance, you get a feel for how big this park really is! I encourage you to take a peek at John’s website… wonderful!
John Burton is an American original. After years of being an accomplished figure painter he changed gears mid career to focus on the incredible landscapes of the American west. He has the ability to capture the essence of a landscape through the poetry of his brushwork. Mr. Burton says, “It has been an incredible opportunity to hike out to the Pacific Coast or deep in the Sonoran Desert with a canvas and paints and walk out with art.”
A Westerner at heart, art has always been in the soul of John Burton. Whether it’s a figurative work of Native Americans or a plein air oil of a desert or coastal landscape, John’s paintings are always filled with life, light, and color. Having lived his whole life in the West, John graduated from Arizona State University and continued his formal studies at the Academy of Art in San Francisco to study oil painting. John commented, “It was my Utopia, surrounded by people who loved art and had the same high level of dedication.” Upon graduation he realized that it was just the beginning and that “art is a lifelong study.” John considers himself fortunate to have studied with such noted artists as Scott Burdick, Morgan Wiestling, and Kim English. An avid traveler, John has painted worldwide, having been highly influenced by such movements as the Russian Impressionists specifically artists Nicolai Fechin and Dean Cornwell. Today, John is an artist of note in Arizona, as to see the West captured through the eyes of John Burton is a true privilege.
The depth of feeling he inspires with his brushes has won him many accolades. Just recently he placed third in the national Oil Painters of America show in Taos, NM and and second in the National Oil and Acrylics Painters Society’s annual competition. His work has been juried into the Arts for the Parks Mini Fifty show, the Howard Mandville Gallery miniature show in Kirkland, Washington. In 2003 he was invited both into the Tucson Plein Air Show and the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters where he painted side by side with other artists who also had a quest for painting western landscapes.
Artist’s Magazine sums up John’s passion for painting, “I can’t live without it. I paint all day long, even at night, and I just can’t imagine doing anything else.” Collectors and art critics from across the nation appreciate his work, Art Talk calling it “must see” and The Arizona Republic named him one of the 5 artists to watch in 2004! His work has been exhibited at over a dozen galleries and museums throughout the nation.
A much sought after teacher as well, John has taught workshops in San Francisco, and multiple locations in Hawaii and the Valley of the Sun.
Tuna Casserole! Creamy (above) bake with lid, or bake without the lid for less creamy…
Don’t laugh! This is the ultimate in comfort food and sometimes its just what you need! I remember this from when I was a kid and I still love it to this day! One weekend Fred and I were brainstorming what to make for the week for dinner… I said TUNA CASSEROLE… Ick, pew, nasty and a bunch of other words popped out of his mouth… What? That’s when I realized the entire world did not love this as much as I did. How could that be? I looked up recipes for tuna casserole and the majority do not have cheese. Well… ick, pew, nasty comes to mind! NOW I know why people don’t like it… trust me on this… this will make you smile, it is delicious beyond belief… you can add the peas (or not)… I prefer them on the side… Fred likes them all mixed in… so we make it both ways. Its quick, easy and very good… even better heated up the next day… have this and a salad and you will be happy camper!
6 oz. (½ package) Egg Noodles (I use Manischewitz or Publix brand)
1- 10 ¾ oz can Cream of Celery Soup
1 soup can of Milk (I use 2%)
8 oz Cheddar Cheese, shredded (I use Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp 2%)
1 Small Onion, chopped
1 – 7 oz can tuna, drained
Pepper
Baby Peas (optional) – a handful or two
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the egg noodles…
Boil the noodles…
While the water is getting hot…
In a large bowl, add the cream of celery soup, milk, chopped onion, tuna, pepper and peas (optional).
Stir or whisk ingredients together in large bowl…
Once the pasta finishes cooking, drain it in a colander, and then add the noodles to the large bowl with ingredients. Give it a stir.
Add hot noodles to soup/milk mixture…
Add the cheese and stir to mix, reserving a handful or two to sprinkle on top. Sprinkle with pepper and top with the remaining cheese.
Stir together, save a little cheese for the top!
Bake for 20-30 minutes or until bubbly. I usually keep the lid on because I like mine creamy. If you like a crunchy texture on top, you can bake it without the lid.
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