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!
There is a cool community garden that I wrote about not to long ago that is at risk of being reverted back to its original condition. This garden is manned by several people who live in a neighborhood called Byrnes Down, in Charleston, SC… the community garden has been planted out of the goodness of their hearts, all veggies are free. They plant, they water, and you are welcome to pick. Read more on the petition…
Below is the link… I promise it only takes a few seconds. Your “signature” could mean the difference between the farm staying… or being plowed down (how could you sleep at night, hee hee?)… If you can, spread the word to your friends (it allows you to post to Facebook, email, etc. if you like)…
Here is the description from the Change.org website:
Sothel Farms is a community garden started by 4 neighbors in Byrnes Down neighborhood. These guys have cleaned up the West Ashley Greenway, planted , cared for and created the most beautiful garden for everyone to enjoy FREE OF CHARGE … there are no barriers, no conditions , they’ve never asked for a penny or even help …. they are nothing but good honest hardworking folks trying to do good & pay it forward. It has created a place for neighbors to find friends, children to learn about health and food, dogs to play, and in general beautification of an otherwise mundane piece of unused land. These do-gooders have received a citation from the City of Charleston to remove the garden as it encroaches the easement. PLEASE sign this petition to support saving Sothel Farms. To see more visit the blog at Sothelfarm.tumblr.com or better yet … stop by, smell the flowers and enjoy a fresh vine ripe tomato !
The support that this garden is receiving is mind blowing. BUT… We need you to sign the petition. Please. I urge you toread their post that includes some of those comments! I have faith that after the City see’s how many people are behind this act of goodwill, they will support the cause. Or just let it be. See the garden below? Way on the other side of all that green space. No barriers to keep anyone out, only signs welcoming everyone and inviting them to pick a veggie!
Sothel Farm as seen from West Ashley Greenway (in the distance where the pretty yellow flowers are thriving)!
If you are anywhere near Easton, MD you might want to take the time to check out Plein Air Easton. This is an event filled with some of the best artists… all busily painting away… Just to name a few… Ken DeWaard, Tim Bell, Eric Bowman, Cindy Baron, the list is long, check out the LIST OF ARTISTS PARTICIPATING this year (and read a little blip about each one)!
Also find out the details, times, locations of where artists are painting by clicking HERE…
Watch as nearly 200 artists, competition painters, professionals, amateurs, and simply the adventurous compete and have fun as they paint out for 2 hours in Downtown, Easton.
The Quick Draw Competition is a plein air painting competition, exhibit and sale that is open to any one registered who wishes to participate. More than 160 artists, competition painters, professionals, amateurs and the simply adventurous compete and have fun. These artists have only six blocks and two hours to complete their works. During this short time, all registered Quick Draw participants will set up their supplies and paint or draw en plein air in downtown Easton.
This is one of the most compelling experiences of the week. Together, artists and spectators are immersed in the creative process. See the scenes and how the artists interpret them. Smell the wet paint and get caught up in the excitement of watching 100’s of painting come to life before your eyes!
After the paint out, an exhibit is held on Harrison Street and paintings are exhibited on the easels on which they were created. The paintings will be judeged by Plein Air-Easton! Competition Judge, Don Demers, and awards will be presented at 1:30pm. The exhibit and all of its paintings will be removed at 2pm. Winning Quick Draw paintings will be on display at the Academy Art Museum until 4pm on Sunday. Everything about the Quick Draw is quick…so do not miss out!
Click HERE for the calendar to find out what’s going on each day…
Recently we had a situation with our refrigerator that required us to unload everything into coolers for 48 hours. We had the best time ever. Hmmmm. The first day we ran to the gas station nearby and bought a few bags of ice… it costs over $7 for 3 fairly small bags of ice… the next day I remembered this vending machine. Ha! ICE HOUSE AMERICA is the name of it… click HERE to find a location near you, they’re all over the USA. In Charleston, SC it was $1.50 for 16 pounds OR you could drag your cooler over to the side and get #20 pounds for $1.50. Quite the deal! We only needed two bags. So if you need ice, check out one of these vending machines… This one is located on St. Andrew’s Blvd…
Isn’t this an incredible painting? I urge you to take a look at this artist’s website. His work is amazing. Warning… much of it is sold. I can see why! I love the warm palette. The texture is amazing in these paintings, as is the light, the shadows… wow. Venetian Facade is sold, but I had to share it with you anyway!
Charles Thomas Cox developed a passionate interest in art while in high school in Chattanooga, Tennessee. During this time he was very active in the school’s art club and won a number of local and regional art awards.
Determining on a career in art, he pursued his education at David Lipscomb, Ringling School of Art, Watkins Institute, and U. T. Nashville Extension, acquiring a B. A. in art from Lipscomb. He taught painting at Lipscomb and had among his students, Dawn Whitelaw, a well known painter and portraitist. Also during this time he had two one man shows at the Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee, which received high praise from local critic, Clara Hieronymous, and was well-received by the public.
Cox then embarked on a long career as an llustrator, working for ad agencies and publishing houses in Nashville, Minneapolis, and St. Louis, and winning awards given by judges such as Bernie Fuchs and Bob Peak. Illustrations he did during these years are in the
permanent collection of The Baptist Board.
Fifteen years ago Cox retired from illustrating in order to paint fulltime, and has since sold virtually everything he has painted.
Although he has not emphasized entering contests he has won a Best of Show in the 2008 Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional, an “Award of Excellence” in the 2012 OPA Eastern Regional, First in Oil and a Best of Show at the Central South Show, and a First in Oil at The Tennessee Art League, along with awards at the Motorola Regional and Tennessee State Fair. He was also accepted into the 2009 Oil Painters of America National and Eastern Regional, the 2011 OPA National and Eastern Regionals, the 2012 Eastern Regional, and was awarded a Finalist prize in the May 2010 Fineartviews Painting Competition. He has a juried painting traveling with the “2010 Paint the Parks Contest,” and has won a 3rd place in the January 2011 Boldbrush competition
He counts among colleagues and friends acclaimed portraitist and painter Michael Shane Neal, and New York illustrator and painter Neal McPheeters.
His favorite artists are John Singer Sargent, Velasquez, Degas, and Corot, among others, and his painting style is painterly-realistic, with an emphasis on accurate drawing and tones, entertaining brushwork, good surface quality, enjoyable details, careful choice of subject, and rich color.
With his wife, Joyce, he travels in Europe, especially in France and Italy, searching for subjects. His paintings have been in collections at Vanderbilt University, David Lipscomb University, Cheekwood, and several bank headquarters, as well as in private and corporate collections around the country. His youngest son, Bryan, is an animation artist for Blue Sky Animation Studios, producers of such successful animated films as “Rio” and “Ice Age.”
Cox has appeared in the December 2008 issue of “American Art Collector,” was featured in the January 2011 issue of “Nashville Arts Magazine,” and in the April 2013 “American Art Collector.” In 2012, he was made a Signature Member of Oil Painter’s of America in recognition of his achievements in the field of painting.
The Artist Studio Cottage… This is a great one floor plan with 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, a fireplace and 760 square feet – perfect for an artist’s studio! It really is a neat plan, even if you aren’t an artist! Oh to plop this on a sweet little lot somewhere… what a dream, huh?! Along with it, you could even have a little garage with an upstairs studio/guest room. That way other artists could come and visit and have their own space. John Tee (architect) has a nice website and so many different plans. This one is a favorite (if you super downsize, or live alone), this is plenty. So whatcha think??! Storage is my only concern… I guess you just learn to live with less OR you bump out that closet wall and make it much bigger. We’re pretty good about cleaning out closets and donating items… but this would take a lot more donating… a sweet happy place nonetheless!
Check them out, they have some great plans! Click on the link to the plan to see the different roof options… love them all! Catch you back here tomorrow!
I think Mark did a great job capturing that big city feel, don’t you? This is an impressive 60 x 60. Mark has a fabulous loose style that has a uniqueness to it… I love how the light is hitting the taxi and the fabulous colors in the road, especially where the sun hits. Whoa. This one really keeps your eye in the painting doesn’t it? I don’t know about you, but mine starts on the taxi, then travels up to the large TV on the building, to the top of the building on the right where the light is hitting… over to the oh-so-very-cool green traffic light, following the arm of the light down to the red on the building to the white parked car and back to the taxi. Where does your eye go? Paintings have so many aspects that are just so interesting… like this ‘keeping your eye in the painting’ deal… but it’s so true! Check out Mark’s website, it’s a nice one… He also has images from Plein Air Richmond 2013!
Mark has developed an international reputation and has won numerous awards, both in his native Canada and in the United States. A dedicated painter, Mark Lague was born in Lachine Quebec in 1964 and he has had a fascination with drawing since childhood, a skill he practices constantly, even to this day. Upon graduation from Montreal’s Concordia University in Design, Mark embarked on a 13-year career in the animation industry, working primarily as a background designer and art director. During this time, despite working full time, he began recieving international acclaim for his watercolour paintings through competitions, juried shows, and solo exhibitions. In 2000, Mark switched to oil as his primary medium, and in 2002 made the jump to full time painter. As an artist he is a realist, who is open to virtually all subject matter. What keeps him excited about painting is his endless quest to simplify and get to the essence of whatever he paints. Mark has been featured in numerous national art magazines, and continues to recieve international recognition for his distinctive style of painting.
TIS THE SEASON! It’s officially SMOOTHIE weather! When it turns hot and humid, relief is needed. This fabulous smoothie tastes great and cools you off quickly. After we walk, we usually come in and make a smoothie. This is my all time favorite, and when Fred is home he makes one each morning (in the summer). Here’s what he does… See updated (2025) version below…
The All Star Ingredients… (See end for updated notes!)
What is it about paintings of an Airstream? The neat reflections that bounce off it? The happy memories they might bring back? Whatever it is, it seems that everyone is enchanted by an Airstream painting… This is a nice one by Christina Body… love the flamingos!
I think it is so interesting when artists show what they’re painting along with the actual painting. It’s neat to see what they see and how they can transform the canvas and make it so much more interesting than real life! See what I mean?
Christina Body calls this “Painting a Silver Twinkie” – sense of humor, I like it!
This painting has already sold, but I just had to show you! Christina paints a wide variety of subjects. If you aren’t familiar with her work, check it out!
“There is nothing more exciting in my life than ‘seeing’ something to paint” – stopping dead in my tracks and saying “I’ve got to paint that! City life, boats in a harbor or my son in my arms my heart pounds with inspiration and excitement from the onset of the idea until the final stroke on canvas. I paint what I know, what I love and new people and places that strike my heart… “
Christina has been making art since childhood. Strongly influenced by her Great Uncle and First Uncle she became familiar and comfortable with many forms of art. Charcoal and Sumi ink drawings, watercolor, acrylic and oil painting, woodcarving and sculpture. She experienced first hand the passion to make art and the excitement in experimenting in multi-medias. It was the beginning of how she would forever see the world.
Christina’s formal training began with an art scholarship under the mentorship of professor emeritus Robert Paulson at Southern Illinois University. It was in Carbondale, IL that she had her first plein air (outdoor) painting classes. It was Robert Paulson that taught his students how to capture fleeting light, compare values and temperature, and see the big shapes. And uniquely he also inspired his students to not always paint exactly what you see but to paint how you feel about your subject and environment.
After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in painting and minors in Photography and Theatre from SIU she continued her studies at the American Academy of Art and the acclaimed Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts in Chicago and under the tutelage of renowned artists David Leffell, Ken Auster and Henry Yan. Inspiration also came from her extended stays plein air painting in Key West, Jamaica and travels abroad. Christina’s inspirations consist of notable artists Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Joaquin Sorolla, and the early twentieth century artists of the Ashcan School. She paints in oils both ‘en plein air’ and in her studio from models, sketches, oil studies and photographs.
“My passion to make paintings has only grown stronger after having my children. The love I feel mothering my children and making a painting are parallel; I can’t see myself any other way. I feel an urgency to paint and a directness that I didn’t feel before I had my kids. My time is precious as well as my aspirations. When I paint I wear my ‘mental suit’ armed with confidence, clarity, excitement and spirituality. When I connect with my subject everything else around me becomes a blur. Raising and caring for my children has enlightened me and the way I see and opens up new doors everyday. Children and painting together is a stream of rewarding moments. I am truly grateful.”
Christina’s award winning paintings have earned her participation in juried shows and national plein air painting competitions and invitational’s, including ‘2008 Plein Air Festival, Door County, WI and ‘2007 Plein Air Easton’, in Easton, Maryland. Most recent awards include “Best of Show” at the 65th Annual Salon Show, at Bachman Gallery, in Munster, IN and two “Honorable Mentions” at the Cedarburg Plein Air Painting Festival, in Cedarburg WI. In May 2008 Body’s solo exhibition “Chicago in a Blink” at The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts was reviewed by Chicago Art Critic Alan Artner in the Chicago Tribune – a first for The Palette and Chisel Academy in 100 years. Her work has been published in American Art magazine and is included in Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s corporate art collection in Chicago.
Christina is a founding member of the Plein Air Painters of Chicago, a member of Oil Painters of America, International Plein Air Painters and an Artist Member of The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, in Chicago. She exhibits her work in galleries and juried exhibitions nationally and her paintings hang in corporate, public and private collections worldwide. Christina resides in Chicago with her husband Jake and sons Emil and Walter.
Another colorful creative photo taken on Monhegan Island, Maine. Those of you who have been there know… your heart will always be there, long after you’re gone…
I know there are some of you who get there and think it’s horrible that there is no television, no phones in the rooms, or hair dryers… Electricity is so expensive on Monhegan… For example, (as of late 2012) the price per Kilowatt-hour on Monhegan was $.70 (seventy cents). Doesn’t sound like much? To help put it into perspective… The national average (price per kilowatt-hour) is $09. Nine cents. Yep. There is a reason there aren’t hair dryers in the rooms… Monhegan is either a place you love, or you’re ready to hop on the next ferry once you hear there isn’t a mall, golf course or tennis court. There is also no fast food and very little cell coverage (YAY!). Like I said… Heaven!
This is a photo I took of the Laura B. back in 2008… Isn’t she one classy boat? She underwent a transformation this past winter. If you like Monhegan Boat Line on Facebook you can then see images of the Laura B Project. Tough work! The Laura B. is owned by Monhegan Boat Line in Port Clyde, ME. Here is a blip about Monhegan Boat Line from their website:
. . . transporting you through the waters of beautiful Muscongus Bay to enchanting Monhegan Island. You’ll embark in the charming village of Port Clyde, at the tip of the St. George peninsula. Once passengers and freight are loaded on board, we steam out of the harbor past Marshall Point lighthouse. As we follow our protected route among pine-clad islands, we see birds of many varieties. Sometimes, porpoises and small whales rise from the water just beyond our bow. Our course usually takes us by lobstermen hauling their traps, schooners gliding before the wind, and pleasure craft of every description. On the return trip, we pass close to Seal Rock, where we often spot entire families of seals frolicking in the water and basking in the sun.
Sounds like Heaven, doesn’t it? It. Is. And also from their website, about the Laura B.
The world-famous Laura B makes the early-morning trip to Monhegan every day during the summer season, and delivers all the freight to the island year ’round. She has both indoor and outdoor seating. She is also available for private charters and for hauling freight to any of the islands.
Built in 1943, the 65-foot Laura B is rigged as a heavy-duty work boat. Originally designated a U.S. Army T-57, she spent World War II in the Pacific, where she served as a patrol boat and carried troops and supplies. She came under fire during those days, and carried two 50-caliber machine guns on deck. This rugged vessel was brought to Maine in 1946, and spent the next few years transporting lobsters from Vinalhaven to Boston and New York City.
For the past half century, the beloved Laura B has been ferrying passengers, freight, and mail between Port Clyde and Monhegan Island. A prominent marine surveyor has described her as the best-maintained wooden vessel on the Eastern Seaboard.
What a great place to visit! If you’re headed to Monhegan, check out Monhegan Boat Line, you’ll be glad you did! Catch you back here tomorrow!
“Anarchist” by Mia Bergeron Image: RobertLangeStudios.com
S P E E C H L E S S. I. Am. Speechless. It doesn’t happen often… It was difficult to come up with words to start this post. The detail in this face is amazing. The background is genius. The more abstract background makes this beautiful face pop. Mia Bergeron is the artist, and she is fabulous! Mia’s show opens July 5, 2013 at RLS (Robert Lange Studios) in Charleston, SC. This is Mia’s first solo show. Mia, I wish you much success, you certainly deserve it!
Here is information about the show as well as a question and answer interview from RLS… If you haven’t been to Robert Lange Studios I highly recommend it. It is cutting edge and so unique! Catch you back here tomorrow!
In her first solo show, Gradual Thaw, Mia Bergeron has created a series of paintings that will take viewers on a visual journey of what drives, motivates and inspires her creative process.
Gradual Thaw Questions with the Artist:
1. What inspires you?
A lot of things inspire me. I’m drawn to everyday abstractions I see in nature… subtle variances in shades of lights and colors, big, unusual compositions. People are a huge source of inspiration for me, both strangers and close friends.
2.What are three words that describe both you and your work?
Introspective, Experimental, Inquisitive. (And some would say moody! Ha!)
3.When you look around your studio, what do you see?
A lot of paintings I have worked on and destroyed, and worked on again. I probably painted double the paintings I have in this exhibit, but destroyed half of them over the course of time. And books. I’m addicted to art books. I have books that range in subjects from John Singer Sargent to the Alexander McQueen retrospective at the Metropolitan. I have little pieces of paper in all of these to remind me of ideas for paintings. I also have a huge amount of printed images in my studio…paintings of other peoples’ work, photos that inspire me, even scraps of textiles that remind me about a particular color harmony.
4.What project are you currently working on?
Mostly I’ve been working on paintings for my solo show at Robert Lange Studios, and a few paintings for a Women Painting Women show I will be involved with in September.
5.What was the impelling force for the current subject matter and show?
I think I’m in a natural evolution with my work. Mostly, I have been focused on two ideas for this show. One is to really dive into my fears as a painter, and my strengths. When I was in school in Italy, I was constantly told I was better at getting an effect than achieving details. This was said to me as a weakness I had in my painting skills. I was also told I was a temperamental painter. For years, I thought these two “defects” would hurt my work. In the past year, I’ve really dug into making my vulnerabilities my strengths. I think it’s sort of creative problem solving and simply being curious. Instead of denying that I am a erratic painter and that I like big, overall effects in a painting (like mood, for instance), I decided to accept those parts of me and even play them up in these paintings. I think the work looks like it could change at any moment, and the moods are very purposeful. The other idea I have been exploring with in my work is loss of information. The paintings in this show are the results of a bunch of questions I had with paint. I will paint a model for days and days, then slowly start to erase parts of my painting, wiping out entire passages I have worked hard on, making transitions that don’t exist. I will purposefully look to lose areas of a painting that I want to grow into something more.
6.What do you hope people walk away from the show talking about?
I hope they ask questions. I’m not offering any real answers in my work, mostly just posing questions to the viewer.
7. What do you think both visual and conceptually your strengths are as an artist?
Visually, I think I am strong in depicting light and mood. Conceptually, I think I am strong at looking at broader topics that relate to inner feelings.
8. Can you talk about the title of your show, “Gradual Thaw”?
I picked this name because it represents both what happens in spring time, just before plant life blooms, but also as it relates to a mental state. I had all these rules for being a person, a painter, etc. I think I’m in a transitional stage of my life, as many people are, and some of those previous rules and ideas about myself, my work, and my world are melting away to make room for new growth. A lot of the titles of paintings in this show refer to this evolution.
9. How do you choose your models?
Most of the women I paint are artists. There’s this sense of understanding I find with them about poses and intentions. It’s a bit of an unsaid symbiosis. I’m also a huge advocate of women artist visibility, so I think it is a natural choice for me to be drawn to creative females to paint.
10. When do you call a piece finished?
When it no longer seems to have any obvious needs.
Isn’t this the sweetest painting by Ken DeWaard? Perfect for the 4th of July…! If you aren’t familiar with his work. OH. MY. GOSH! Check out Ken’s website and his blog!
* Beep * Beep * Beep * I would like to announce that House Plan Thursday will be today instead of tomorrow due to the 4th of July holiday… Didn’t want you to miss out on this sweet little house plan! It boasts a nice front porch to sit, drink iced tea and catch up on a good book… Ahhh, the possibilities are endless! Here’s a description of it from the Southern Living House Plan website:
These days you need every square foot in your house to count, just like each dollar of your paycheck. Our Holly Grove plan offers a modest 1,269 square feet, and this design is as straightforward as it is charming. Based on a shotgun house (so named because you can see clear from the front door to the back), Holly Grove boasts a combined living, dining, and kitchen area that’s suited to today’s casual lifestyles Two bedrooms and baths round out the other half of the house.
For great looks and space-savvy rooms, Architect John Tee designed this plan to give you the biggest bang for your buck!
So, if you’re looking to downsize, or if you need a small getaway… this could be the plan for you!
I really like that there is a separate utility room, as well as a back porch. Wouldn’t it be great with bead board and lots of hooks for hanging coats, etc.? As well as a place for shoes? Perhaps a dog wash station?!
As you all know, I’m a fan of an open plan, this way if you’re cooking you can still be a part of whatever might be going on! Perfect that the sink looks out a window… I do a lot of dreaming while I’m washing dishes looking down the street from my kitchen window… Hey, don’t laugh… DREAMING. IS. FREE. ha…
This isn’t as much of a “recipe” as it is an idea… This is my all time favorite when the cucumbers are local and oh so good… summer is when we like a lot of cold salads, boiled shrimp… keeps the house (and us!) cooler! I used to make this with low fat sour cream… then it hit me… USE GREEK YOGURT! We always have it, might as well use it! That way you feel GOOD about eating it! There are no feelings of guilt with this recipe…
Start off by chopping up a green onion (if you like them), or chive, minced onion, whatever makes you say WOOHOO! Then peel and cut the seeds out of a cucumber (this is for two people, for more, just double, triple, etc.).
Next… Put a spoonful of Greek yogurt into a serving dish… I scoop one big tablespoon (not measuring spoon)… and slice the cucumbers…
Then… add some cider vinegar (I use unfiltered, it’s supposed to be healthier). If you like vinegar add a big gulp, if you aren’t big on it, put a little gulp, if you can’t stand it then use lemon juice!
Now… stir together the green onion, greek yogurt and apple cider vinegar… lovely!
Toss in the slices of cucumber, and stir it gently, coating the cucumber pieces…
Then sprinkle with dill, and pepper if you like. One thing to mention… don’t make this too far ahead of time, it can get watery… I will make it and put it right back in the fridge while I finish dinner so that it stays cold. Take it out of the fridge, stir again and voila…
ARTFOODHOME.COM 