Author: Barbara Stroud

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!

What to do if you get a blowout AND Cellphone Highway Emergency Assistance Phone Numbers!

On By Barbara StroudIn TRAVELLeave a comment

Image: Ou.edu

This information may come just in time for a road trip you may be taking… good to have this info handy! The other night Fred, Charlie and I were taking our after dinner walk around the neighborhood… we stopped and spoke to a couple who had just pulled in from a trip they had made. Their car had a blow out. They were on the Interstate. Thankfully he handled things well and they were OK, but the tire was blown out. Boo… interstate and a bad tire is a horrible combination, especially with the text-instead-of-look-where-you’re-going-era we’re in… As luck would have it the Highway Patrol pulled up right behind them, they had the tire changed and the couple was on their way within 15 minutes! The Highway Patrol told them any time you break down (or see someone who has) to call them *HP (*47) for South Carolina. Every state is different, so here is a handy dandy chart that I got from the University of Oklahoma Police Department website (click the link to read, they also have an expanded chart state by state for all details). Here’s a blip from their site:

Talking on your cellphone while you drive can certainly lead to distraction and accidents — but having a cellphone in your car can be very useful in an emergency situation. 

In almost any state, you may dial 911 for emergencies, but due to the high volume of calls that 911 operators receive, in some cases it might be better to use the phone numbers listed below, particularly to report highway-safety related “non-emergencies.” If you have difficulty reaching these numbers, you can always dial “0” to request help.

Some states have special cellphone-only numbers such as *SP (star 77)for State Police or *HP (star 47) for Highway Patrol, to report highway/vehicle related problems. You should use the numbers, below, only to report vehicle breakdowns/problems, accidents, hazardous material spills, or other highway hazards/problems, as well as impaired or aggressive/reckless drivers and other criminal behavior.

Use cellphones safely — be aware of laws which prohibit using cellphones while driving.

While we work to keep this list current, at any point in time, some of the listings (below) may be out of date. Before you travel, as part of your travel/itinerary planning, we’d urge you to check with the state public safety departments (or their websites) on your planned route for updated/current cellphone contact listings.

If you’re wondering to yourself “what do I do if I get a blowout”?? I found  HOW TO HANDLE A TIRE BLOWOUT from Howcast. Click the link to see the video… I hope you never need this, but if a blowout is ever in your future, at least you’ll know how to react… Here’s the information from their link (above):

  1. Stay cool

    Ignore your natural instinct to hit the brakes or jerk the steering wheel when you have a blowout.

  2. Step 2

    Accelerate slightly

    Accelerate slightly to maintain control of the vehicle. Keep going straight.

  3. Tip

    Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands at 10 o’clock and two o’clock on the wheel to avoid losing control.

  4. Step 3

    Decelerate

    Ease off the accelerator slowly.

  5. Step 4

    Coast

    Maintain your course while the vehicle slows.

  6. Step 5

    Apply brakes

    Apply the brakes gently when your car slows to 30 miles per hour.

  7. Step 6

    Turn on right turn signal

    Turn on your right turn signal.

  8. Tip

    Never stop on the left side of the road, if possible. This is the most dangerous place to be.

Drive safely… pay attention… be prepared for the unimaginable, stay calm and call the cell highway emergency number if you or someone you see needs assistance! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Calvin Liang!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“The Golden Gate Bridge” by Calvin Liang

Image from TheEnglishmanUSA.com

If you Google Calvin Liang, you will see some pretty fantastic paintings. You will read some pretty interesting stories about his life, his accomplishments and best of all his great attitude! This man has worked so hard to be where he’s at and it shows. The featured painting “The Golden Gate Bridge” is breathtaking. THOSE. CLOUDS. I love them, they just seem to go on forever! The warm color of the bridge with the sunlight, ahhh, makes me want to be there, actually it makes me feel as if I AM there! This is a fantastic painting and I found it at “The Englishman”. If you get a chance check out his work!

Here’s a blip about Calvin from his website… there is a fascinating story about him on the Waterhouse Gallery website… click HERE to read it in its entirety!

Calvin Liang was born in Canton, China. He began painting in high school and completed his art education at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, recognized as one of China’s most prestigious and competitive art academies. In China, his skills as a fine artist were applied to the theatrical industry where he designed and created sets for operas and musical dramas for the Canton Opera Institute. Liang moved to the United States in 1987 and continued his profession as a full-time artist. He had a long and successful career creating visual art for the entertainment industry in animation, which included the Walt Disney Studios and Nickelodeon Studio where he worked for the Little Mermaid and Spongebob Squarepants. However he decided to quit working for the studios to pursue a full-time career as a fine artist, painting themes of his choosing. Since leaving his animation career in early 2002, Liang has definitely been noticed. His accomplishments include winning several top awards in important exhibitions including Juror’s Best of Show-38th Annual C.M. Russell 2006, “Art-Talk Award of Excellence” Oil Painters of America Juried Exhibition 2005, “People’s Choice Award” 6th  Annual Laguna Plein Air Painting Event in Bowers Museum 2002, “Best of the Show” American Impressionist Society’s 4th Annual Juried Exhibition 2002. Thus assuring his position as one of the nation’s leading artist. National art magazines also took notice. In 2004, Liang’s work graced the cover of Art of the West’s special 16th Anniversary Edition; and in 2006, 2007, and 2008 three years he had a full feature article in American Art Collector Magazine. Also he received a full feature article in Southwest Magazine in 2005, American Artist Magazine in 2005 and American Artist Workshop Magazine in 2007.
Calvin Liang is a Master Member of Oil Painters of America and American Impressionist Society, and a Signature Member of California Art Club and Laguna Plein Air Painters Association.   

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston, SC Photo: From a different perspective…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME4 Comments

I love a different angle on things. This photo was taken looking up at the gorgeous windows of a beautiful home in Charleston, SC. When you walk around the streets of Charleston there is SO MUCH to look at. If you’re anything like me you can’t help but snap away! I’m so thankful for my digital camera! Remember taking photos in the “old days”?  In addition to buying a battery, you had to buy film, then you had to take the film in to be processed and have prints made. It always seemed like the ones you were really looking forward to turning out were the ones that weren’t quite right… eyes closed, mouths open, etc. So woot woot for the inventor of the digital camera! Now I can snap away, come home and load them on my computer and delete the ones that aren’t stunning!

Speaking of cameras… if you’ve got a good camera, tell me about it… I currently have  a Kodak Z something or other, what do you have? Why do you like it so much? What are its limitations? How have you adapted to no view finder? (I don’t think I could, I really like a view finder)… Is it worth getting one that you can set manually to manipulate how you like or is point and shoot the way to go? Is it a pain to have a camera where you have to switch lenses? I would think so? What’s the thinnest, sharpest, camera with a viewfinder with at least a 10x zoom? If you get a chance please let me know… if you’d rather email, my email is bstroud1@comcast.net !

Have a great day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo: Hop on and take a spin…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment

Charleston, SC… a great place to live. We do move a lot around this area. You always see people out walking, running, biking, skateboarding or in their cars with surfboards or kayaks strapped to the roof. It’s a great thing to get out and move. My nephew who was here for one day visiting from MI noticed that people are out and moving a lot! It’s what we do… if you can walk, run, bike to the store, do it!

Then come home and either jump in the pool, the sprinkler or the shower, at least for the next few months, it’s going to get a tad warmish… look at it this way…

F R E E   S A U N A !

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Peter Justl!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“School’s Out” by Peter Justl – Image: PeterJustl.com

Today I visited the 2012 OPA National Exhibition Associate / Signature Division page on Facebook. I felt like I hit thejackpot! The most magnificent art, you must check it out! Facebook is a fantastic tool for finding artists that you haven’t heard of before. With each and every find I am amazed. This time I am blown away. I love the composition of “School’s Out”. The dark background and the light sunlit mane make for one heck of a combination. Breathtaking! I went to Peter’s website and I’m telling you this man can paint anything. I highly encourage you to check it out. The way he portrays horses is especially appealing to me. I love horses, yet I am not a true “horse person”… that’s my husband. He showed horses on a National level for quite some time. I saw the amount of work it took to get to the top. He didn’t drop his horse off with a trainer, he WAS the trainer. You don’t typically see any of the riders at a national level be the owner and the trainer. It’s a different world. Remember the TV show Dynasty? Being at those horse shows is like being on the set of Dynasty. Everything is over the top. I can’t remember all the different stars that had horses that either they showed or a member of their family, one was Patrick Swayze, I remember him because I didn’t actually see him, but kept my eye out for him… and another I ran smack into. I saw this rather tall man in front of me, and I whispered to Fred that he looked like Elvis… while I was whispering in Fred’s ear, the man stopped… of course I plowed right into him full speed and thought I was going to be taken down by his body guards. Too funny. Apparently I looked rather harmless… it was Wayne Newton (HOW did I get off on such a long schpeal?), very nice man. My long winded point is that I saw the hard work, the number of hours of riding and the careful way Fred trained that horse. I so admired the beauty of those horses. It was just breathtaking. And to see someone capture it in a way that Peter did makes you step back and say WHOA! Brilliant. Not much more to say…!

“Running with the Wind” by Peter Justl – Image: PeterJustl.com

You must check out Peter’s website. “Running with the Wind” is in the section entitled “Spirit Therapies Paintings” and they are unbelievable. The story of Honey Bear will leave a lump in your throat. Here is the description of “Running in the Wind” from Peter’s website… check his site for more!

I did and donated this painting for Spirit Therapies, a non-profit therapeutic riding center in Las Vegas that positively impacts the lives of physically and mentally challenged individuals through connecting with trained therapy horses, certified instructors, and compassionate volunteers.

Oliver seemed to be one with the wind as he moved proudly around the riding ring.  Do horses know how beautiful they are?  I am confident that Oliver was well aware of his own fluid grace and gorgeous good looks as he put on quite a show for me.  Breathtaking!

YES, Peter! Breathtaking indeed! I can’t imagine the number of people who have benefitted from your kindness…

Here’s a blip about the artist from his website!

Peter Justl - Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Peter Justl was born in Karlsruhe, Germany, immigrated when he was a young boy with his parents to Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, and ten years later once again immigrated to Harlingen, Texas, United States.

After attending college in Houston, Texas, Peter began a distinguished career in architecture during which time he was involved in the design, development, and management of numerous high-end, high-profile projects.

Drawing upon his years of experience as a gifted architectural illustrator, Peter began to paint commissioned works for private clients in the 1990s.  Although Peter’s work reflects his knowledge and appreciation of architecture which often serves as the subject or setting of his paintings, it is his understanding of the complementary qualities of composition, balance, and light that stimulate and energize his paintings in a variety of subject matters and themes.

Peter’s painting “Behind the Scenes” was selected as Best of Show for the 2010 Las Vegas Art Competition.  He is a member of Oil Painters of America to which his painting “We’d become Old and Fragile, Irrelevant, Still Beautiful” was selected to the 2011, Twentieth Annual Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and the following year his painting “Beauty” was selected to the 2012, Twenty-first Annual Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils in Evergreen, Colorado.

Peter currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with his wife Barbara, greyhound dogs Tiffany and Toulouse, and cats Gigi and Maurice.

He has two sons, Christopher and Nicholas. Christopher and his wife Catherine reside in Seattle, Washington. Nicholas resides in Houston, Texas.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT

After a rewarding career as an architect and illustrator for the design, presentation, and management of numerous high-profile projects throughout the world, I decided to pursue my life-long dream of a career as a full-time artist.

Beginning in the 1990s, I began to paint commissioned works for private clients, first in watercolor and then later moving to oils. I felt more comfortable initially painting landscapes and cityscapes because I was able to draw upon my many years of experience as an architectural illustrator. But my interests soon expanded to include urban scenes, seascapes, still life, portraits, and animals. I enjoy painting each and have found that all paintings share the common components and elements of light, color, composition, technique, and emotion in order to be considered, at least by myself, to be interesting and successful. I believe that realistic painting, done well, can satisfy both the modernist and the traditionalist, but I detest the saccharine qualities so often found in the genre. I’m interested in creating art that provokes profound feelings, thought and endless joy.

 Endless joy indeed! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Its going to be a long day… do you know why?

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS2 Comments

Charlie at Folly Beach…

Last night at 7:09PM the sun reached the farthest point north of the equator… “Really” you say… ok, in English… IT’S OFFICIALLY SUMMER! 

I grew up in Michigan… so after a long winter and a wet spring IT’S OFFICIALLY SUMMER would have gotten a WOOT WOOT out of me… however, after moving to Charleston, SC in 1989 (just in time for hurricane Hugo, yay (omg, a future post for sure!) and trying to “get used” to the most hot humid air imaginable I no longer say WOOT WOOT… Many of us here dread summer as northern folks dread a long winter. We know we’ll be closed up in our houses for months at a time, unless we can escape to a beach, pool or anywhere with A/C! I’m not complaining, you can’t have it nice all the time or you wouldn’t be able to afford to live there… so we take the good with the bad… as I write this (6/19) look what I see…

Do you realize what that is? It’s an OPEN window in Charleston, SC MID JUNE! To that I say WOOT WOOT!

Today is the longest day of the year… To read some interesting facts about Summer, check out the Almanac’s website… then head out to the pool or the beach…! Enjoy your summer! Hey, speaking of summer and beaches, what good beach books are you reading this summer? Let me know!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Scott Christensen!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments

“Life” by Scott Christensen

Image: M Gallery of Fine Art, Charleston, SC

LIFE. What a great title for this painting! It’s an impressive 70 x 70 ( 80 x 80 with the gorgeous frame included) let me tell you, it makes a statement.  Scott Christensen is an amazing artist. That goes without saying. Fred and I popped in M Gallery in Charleston, SC last weekend and saw the latest arrival entitled “Life”. I’m not kidding you when I say we walked into the room and stopped in our tracks. This painting is a stunner. If there is a chance that you can find your way downtown Charleston, SC you must stop in and check it out… there are so many great artists in one gallery it will blow your mind, including (but not limited to)… Frank Gardner, Tom Balderas, Robert Spooner, Gene Costanza, and the list goes on…

There is great video of this painting you must check it out! This was on the M Gallery blog… click HERE…

Here’s a blip about Scott from an article in Artist Daily website. Click on the bolded Q+A link to read in it’s entirety!

Idaho artist Scott Christensen is one of the most well-respected landscape painters in the country, and his understanding of light, ability to achieve pure color, and reverence for nature also make him a highly sought-after instructor. In this Q+A section, we list Christensen’s responses to 10 questions on landscape painting to give readers a glimpse into the artist’s mind, process, and teaching style.

Then… what I’m always interested in… (from the same link in Artist Daily):

AA: Who are some of your heroes in the landscape-painting genre, both past and present?

SC: Past: Isaac Levitan, Emil Carlsen, Alphonse Mucha, Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, Nicolai Fechin, Anders Zorn, Arthur Mathews, Edward Steichen, and Ilya Repin. Present: Clyde Aspevig, Carolyn Anderson, Tim Lawson, Susan Lyon, Scott Burdick, Dan Gerhartz, and Sherrie McGraw.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

How to brighten up the front of your house for only $29.98!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS4 Comments

American Flag Kit from LOWE’S.… ($29.98)

I’m always talking about how I love an American flag in a painting… makes it pop. Makes it, uh… as American as apple pie… So as I peruse art websites via my computer I am always delighted to find a painting that I love that includes a flag… then I thought… WHY DON’T WE HAVE A FLAG? That same flag that makes the houses “pop” in paintings could do the same for ours… so we headed to Lowe’s (why Lowe’s? Because LOWE’S KNOWS VALUE… hee, couldn’t resist that)! We headed to the flag display, and picked out one that is sewn and not just printed. Nothing wrong with printed, I just like the look of the sewn ones better and they seem to be a little thicker, therefore they should hold up a little longer.

This is the house before the flag…

Recently I mentioned that we installed a gas lantern, well to put the lantern where we wanted it we had to move the enamel house numbers to a different spot… Now that we want to hang a flag, guess where I really wanted it…? Where the numbers were… SO… the numbers got moved yet again so that the flag had it’s own spot. Whew! That was fun!

And this is the TA-DA… house after the flag…

So if you want to brighten up the front of your house and have a few bucks to spare, head to your neighborhood hardware store and pick up an American flag!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Jamie Wyeth, Rockwell Kent and Monhegan – at the Farnsworth Museum through December 30, 2012!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist4 Comments

“Jenny Whibley Sings” by Jamie Wyeth

Let me start by saying. Ahhhhmaaazzzzzing! I love how dramatic this piece is! The glow of the house against the deep dark surroundings, and of course, Jenny Whibley singing… The tumultuous sky with the few brightly lit stars. Love it!

I sure didn’t want anyone to miss hearing about this exhibit! I am looking so forward to seeing this collection of fine paintings! If you’re in the Rockland, ME area, don’t miss it! Afterwards pop across the street to the bakery for a chocolate croissant or to Rustica for some heavenly pasta!

“Late Afternoon” by Rockwell Kent – Image: Farnsworth Museum

On to the details… from the Farnsworth Museum:

JAMIE WYETH, ROCKWELL KENT AND MONHEGAN

May 12, 2012 – December 30, 2012
Wyeth Center

Jamie Wyeth’s connection to Monhegan dates to the late 1950s, when he first went there with his father, and he has continued to paint there ever since. His connection to fellow artist Rockwell Kent goes back nearly as far. Early in his career Wyeth bought several pen and ink drawings by Kent used as the sources for his illustrations to Moby Dick, one of Kent’s most renowned book illustration projects. Subsequently, Wyeth acquired what was Kent’s last home and studio on Monehgan, and then bought several of Kent’s paintings from his first period on the island around 1907. This exhibition will focus on works by the two artists done on Monhegan, and how the scenic island has inspired their work.

This exhibition is made possible in part thanks to the generous support of: Anonymous, The Crosby Kemper Foundations, Mr. Richard Gilder and Ms. Lois Chiles, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pyne, John and Anne Surovek, and Mr. and Mrs. George Twigg III.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Happy thoughts to all!

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Barbara and her dad, Joe Fidler – sailing on Fiddle Faddle…

Fred and his dad, Carlisle Stroud at Rock’s Pond Campground, Eutawville, SC

Charlie and his dad… Fred!

H A P P Y  F A T H E R S  D A Y to my dad, Fred’s dad, Fred for being Charlie’s dad and to all the other dads in the world.

Good memories of the dads that are no longer with us as well as happy thoughts for those of you about to be dads.

And major gratitude to those of you who act as dads, helping other people’s kids out. You’re a blessing too!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charlie’s BFF! A sweet lady with Southern hospitality!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, TRAVELLeave a comment

Charlie had such an adventure on second Sunday last week (Second Sunday is an event downtown where they close off part of King Street to car traffic on the second Sunday of each month. You see people walking in the streets, vendors are set up, some of the stores expand a little outdoors, some of the restaurants offer outdoor dining, it’s a great time to be downtown Charleston, SC) , I just had to share! Here he is on his way… he’s having the time of his life, make no mistake! There is nothing this dog loves more than riding in the car! And there’s nothing like feeling the wind in your hair fur, right Charlie?

I happen to get this shot on a quieter part of the street. Even though it had rained briefly and the humidity rose to approximately 999% we headed out on an adventure with Charlie… headed downtown window shopping! We had the best time, went in Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Ω (I think was the name of it, a cool new yoga clothing store), and a few others… then we entered… heaven in his eyes… Charleston Place Hotel. For those of you who haven’t stayed it’s a treat. They treat you like royalty. The food… DIVINE. The people that work there… AWESOME! Even if you live here, it’s a nice place for a special occasion… it’s more than a hotel, there are lots of shops as well, Gucci, etc. etc. well we walked Charlie through it without going in any stores, then grabbed a bench where he was beyond delighted to see other people as well as a few dogs! Then to his surprise he met his new BFF (Best Friend Forever)… she offered him water. She put down a white napkin and set out a cup of water. This dog was so thirsty, bless her for that. It was very warm and humid outside and we were attempting to recover. Charlie is shy around people. He’ll usually run behind me and hide until he gets to know you OR unless you have a piece or two of bacon… I’m telling you it was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT! Bonita is her name, and she is the nicest person. We truly enjoyed talking with her! We’ll go back to the Palmetto Cafe one day for breakfast, just so we can thank her and tell her hello! A bright light in a day that truly felt like one of the warmest saunas ever!

It wasn’t easy to snap a shot, this dog was EXCITED! He’s never had bacon before… and let me tell you HE LOVED IT! Now if you say the word “bacon” or “Bonita” he goes crazy! I’m quite sure he will remember her all the days of his life!

That’s the cool thing about Charleston, SC. The hospitality. Where else in the world could you go and have a stranger offer you water for your dog as well as a treat? Just the nicest kindest woman ever. Truly a person that likes people and it shows. I wonder if Charleston Place/Palmetto Grill knows what an asset they’ve got in an employee like that?! Someone who can make a difference in someones life with a simple gesture. Bless you Bonita, you’re too cool!

Hey, go make a difference in someone’s life and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Peter Poskas!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist3 Comments

“Evening, Rockwell Kent House” by Peter Poskas – Image: Haynes Gallery

This certainly is a nice little painting of the Rockwell Kent House, at Lobster Cove on Monhegan Island, Maine…. Lovely rendition for sure. The warm light, the water and sky how they so closely come together… Peter has some wonderful paintings, many of Monhegan for those of you for an affinity for the island… hard to choose just one! Take a peek!

Stay tuned for a future post about Jamie Wyeth, Rockwell Kent and Monhegan… Jamie Wyeth was an admirer of Rockwell Kent’s paintings, he purchased his house at Lobster Cove as well as a few paintings. Can you imagine? The house is a beauty!

Here’s a blip about the artist from the Haynes Gallery website:

Peter Poskas

American, Born 1939

Prominent 21th Century American landscape artist Peter Poskas has been painting New England farms for more than three decades. While his earliest pieces were reminiscent of Edward Hopper’s style, inspiration for his current work evolved when he move to Washington, Connecticut, where he began painting the farm of his elderly neighbor, Emily Uranus. While the farms depicted in his paintings have changed over the years, his thoughtful studies of light and perspective that reflect the subtle nuances of seasonal change remain a constant subject of his work.

Poskas has enjoyed a successful career as an artist and continues to exhibit his work throughout the United States. His much sought-after paintings have been collected both privately and publicly, including such important institutions as the Frye Art Museum in Seattle, the Mattatuck Museum in Connecticut, the Mint Museum in North Carolina, and the Rahr West Museum in Wisconsin.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Wonderful art… great cause… this is the perfect time to buy!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Update 4.18.2014:  (from the YouCaring.com website) Please keep Leigh and their daughter Ellen (and all of Seph’s family and friends) in your thoughts and prayers:

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Seph Limehouse Memorial Fund*, an education fund for Seph’s daughter Ellen. The Limehouse family is deeply grateful for your love and support during Seph’s long battle with cancer. *All donations made through this site will go directly to the Seph Limehouse Memorial Fund.

ORIGINAL POST…

I wanted to share with you an email that I received from the owners of Smith Killian Gallery in Charleston, SC. This is a fundraiser for a good cause. If you love art as much as I do maybe you’ll consider bidding on one of these pieces? I will let the email speak for itself… think about it…

In support of our gallery director Leigh Limehouse and her husband, Seph, we have put together a fundraiser featuring artwork by each of our Smith Killian artists.

Leigh and Seph, who is 36, recently found out that his cancer has returned and metastasized to his abdominal lymph nodes.  Seph was first diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer in the fall of 2009, while Leigh was pregnant with their daughter, Ellen.  After extensive surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments at MUSC Seph was declared cancer free in 2011.The return of this cancer is devastating news for all of us, and we want to try and help with medical, travel, childcare and other expenses.

 

At the recommendation of his doctors at MUSC and MD Anderson in Houston, they will begin chemotherapy at Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston and will then return to Texas for surgery to remove the affected nodes.

Each gallery artist has generously donated a piece of their artwork for a Sealed Bid Auction.  Bids may be placed by email or by filling out a form and placing it in the sealed box in the gallery. Minimum bid is $300 and each bid will be kept secret until July 31st when the bids will be read. The highest bidder will receive the artwork.

100% of the proceeds will help Leigh and Seph.
We thank you for your continued support and your kind thoughts and prayers.

To keep updated on Seph’s progress you can click on the link below.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/SephLimehouse/guestbook

Many thanks,

Betty and Hume

To place a bid via email (note: email the gallery at info@smithkillian.com ) please include

Title, artist, name, phone and bid.

Donated pieces:

Betty Anglin Smith
Island Lagoon
30 x 30
$5700
Kim English
Taos
15 x 17 framed
$2500
Shannon Smith
Pink Boat on Folly
29 x 35 framed
$4600
Darrell David
Three Deep
Bronze
13″ tall
$1100
Jennifer Smith Rogers
Out on Folly
31 x 37 framed
$5100
Carl Plansky
Donated by Larry Elder of Elder Gallery
Ira Sitting
30 x 22
$4300
Felice Killian
Fire Bead Tulip Necklace
$196
Minimum bid ($50)
Hope a piece of this art “speaks” to you! Remember, it’s for a great cause! Catch you back here tomorrow!
All images via Smith Killian Gallery

Featured Artist… Louis Escobedo!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

“Alley Way” by Louis Escobedo

This is the sweetest painting… I love it when the underpainting shows through. The times I’ve tried it I’ve completely painted over, ugh. I really like the character it adds to a painting! Don’t you just love the pop of that red roof? And the hints of purple off to the left? As well as the sun and shadows on the porch of the house on the right… This is done by an artist who knows how to paint. Get the paint down and move on…

Here’s a blip about the artist from his website:

ABOUT

Louis Escobedo uses high-intensity colors to energize all of his subjects, landscape, still life and figurative.

” COLOR is a person’s signature, a personal form of expressionism. It is another sense in life we communicate with.”   –  Louis Escobedo

As a master colorist, Louis’ oil paintings excel with their dramatic lighting effects and tremendous depth. He looks beyond the usual physical make-up of the painting subject, to the relationships of its forms and colors, creating a compelling visual map in each painting.

“I’ve never seen anybody else with my colors. I’ve seen people who are colorful, but in a different way.” – Louis Escobedo

Influenced by many 19th century European artists, Louis is most influenced by Spanish artist Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida. It is the famous artist’s bravado and use of color that most impresses Louis. Texas-born, Louis Escobedo has been painting since he was six. He won a small art award in school, and has been pursuing his life¹s calling ever since. With a BFA from Sam Houston University, now many years later, the role of painting in his life has not diminished.

“The most important thing for me, is to paint and observe life .” – Louis Escobedo

His pursuit has not been without numerous successes. Louis’ paintings have received numerous awards, including “Best of Show” and the “Landscape Award” from The Oil Painters of America, a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators in New York and the Top 100 in the National Arts for the Parks. His works have been exhibited at the Hermitage Museum in Norfolk, Virginia, the Colorado History Museum, the Denver Art Museum, and the Phippen Museum among others.

Louis Escobedo’s work has been published in Best of Portrait Painting, North Light Books – 1988, The Artist’s Magazine, Art Talk, and “Honoring The Inner Voice” in Southwest Art Magazine.

Catch you back here tomorrow!


House renovation – Charleston, SC… this one’s going to be a winner!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment

There has been a house in our neighborhood that has been sold “as is”, it needed quite a bit of work. Recently a developer purchased it and he and his team are renovating it. It’s a cool house and we had all hoped that he wouldn’t tear it down and build a new house, however… once they started to gut the house they found issue after issue (it had to be gutted, no way around it, the house needed maintenance in the worst possible way and lets just say either there are some ginormous termites running around Charleston or there was dry rot or something, but it seems like every wood surface was eaten or rotten (yep, my professional opinion since I know so much about it… ok, so that’s what it looked like to me anyway). These people are fixing this house the right way. I think each time they start another project on this house they find more problem which results in higher costs to tear out and fix, but in the end this house is going to be a beauty! Riverland Builders also built a cottage on an empty lot on this same street and it’s lovely. Has a front porch that is so inviting, a side porch that is screened with a gas fireplace, perfect for reading the paper with your cup of coffee on nice days. The house is sweet as can be. They built a larger home in the next subdivision over where the homes are larger. Another beauty with meticulous details. I am looking so forward to seeing the end result of this house. I saw the before and it was horrible… beyond horrible. So kudos to those who work hard to save what’s there. It really is such a cool house with a fabulous porch, and will be a dream come true for some lucky family once they finish!

The horrible fence is now gone, whoa did that ever help the appearance! They’re adding on a laundry room and a porch (rumor has it)… will keep y’all posted on the progress. It’s going to be very cool! I hear they’ve added a bit more upstairs, you can see by the brick how much has been added… new roof which looks very nice… This project is being taken on by Riverland Builders – website is coming soon!

Catch you back here tomorrow!