Wonderful clouds, bright green marsh grass – a feeling of fall in the air despite the hot temps. I am thrilled to be getting closer each day to the cooler, less humid weather! Woohoo, cool temps make me so happy!
Isn’t this a beautiful setting? It’s located right here in Charleston, off Cosgrove, for those of you who are local. This is Northbridge Park… Spectacular views!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Kate Sammons. Her work will take your breath away. She paints beautiful Floral/Still Life’s, wonderful Watercolors and stunning Figurative works and more! Kate did a wonderful pastel, MY MOTHER, and it is just beautiful! All I can think is HOW? It’s a gift, for sure!
This painting, Self Portrait in Mirror is such an interesting composition. I love the key in her hand, there is a story there, and I love a story! An exquisite, interesting, “make-you-think” painting! I love that the door is open, so much interest!
Read a bit about Kate, from her website (and check out her fabulous paintings!). HINT: It’s very impressive! This lady has talent!:
“Kate Sammons was born in Seoul, Korea, naturalized as a US citizen one year later and raised in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. Early in life she exhibited a flair for arts and crafts that developed later into a passion for art.In 2002 she graduated from the University of Ilinois with a BFA in painting before continuing on to study and apprentice at several studios to focus on representational painting. Sammons started her professional career in 2007, going on to exhibit work in galleries and museums around the country including the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and the Butler Institute of American Art. Her paintings have been featured in magazines such as Fine Art Connoisseur, The Artist’s Magazine and American Art Collector, among others. With a blend of representation and imagination, her work is described as beautiful and refined with a lighthearted spirit that reflects her personality. Among the varied subjects she paints, she often returns to themes of humanity with nature that incorporate dreamlike imagery and personal emotion.
Sammons moved to Los Angeles in 2010, teaching art part time and creating studio work. Since then Kate appears locally at exhibitions like the annual California Art Club Gold Exhibition and the LA Art Show. In addition to seasonal shows, her art is available for purchase at several exclusive galleries in Palm Desert, Santa Fe, Denver and Orleans. From the beginning of her career, Kate has been dedicated to preserving the traditions of fine art, making originality and handcrafted quality the hallmarks of her brand. Her annual production is low as each painting is entirely unique in its identity and design. At the heart of Kate’s enterprise is a taste for art that is independent of popular conventions- timeless, distinctive and free in spirit.”
All images via KateSammons.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
We live in an area where live oak trees were planted in front of each house (back in the 1930’s) – they are so beautiful. Each and every one makes the street we live on something extra special. I love when the sun hits the Spanish moss, or when the resurrection fern that grows on the limbs goes from crispy and brown to lively and bright green – it’s amazing! Click that link to see the before and after (rain), it’s so cool!
These trees are like something in a fairytale! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Elegant, empowering, yet delicate with the shadow that is so full of character. The peaceful ocean waves can put you in the zone, and the sculptural beauty of these trees is hard to believe.
If you haven’t been to Botany Bay in Edisto, SC, I would add it to your bucket list!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Charleston, SC is full of beautiful locations, one being the Cistern at the College of Charleston – so historic, stunning with those grand oak trees. If you’re ever in the Charleston area, the College of Charleston is a beautiful campus to walk through – bring your camera!
What is a Cistern? Here’s some info from the College of Charleston’s website:
The large, grassy oval adjacent Randolph Hall is called the Cistern. Constructed in 1857 to help control flooding due to heavy rain, as well as to provide water for fighting fires, the Cistern was later covered and planted with grass. Today, it is a favorite studying spot for students and the site of commencement in the spring.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Can you believe it’s the first day of Autumn? Whew! Thank goodness! My favorite months are coming up, and I am looking very forward to them!
We all have favorite times of year, what is yours? I cherish the cooler, crisp weather – times when we can open windows and let fresh air in. I love the dramatic October skies, soon to come. Life goes by so quickly, you really do have to make a mental note to appreciate the present, but you can still have your favorite times of year ;)
This photo was taken at Bowens Island Restaurant (Charleston, SC) – which I highly recommend. It’s not fancy, but whew, the seafood is out of this world!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Nick Paciorek. An artist who isn’t afraid of color! I love his palette, his paintings are so interesting. I love the way he interprets a scene using bold color and great strokes. Nick paints pretty much everything – you’ve got to check out his website!
I love how these sunflowers are the star of the show, they are so uplifting!
Another fabulous painting (all are!) – I love the reflection of the woman in the window, there is so much going on in this painting, wonderful colors and shapes. Great light! This painting makes you feel as if you are among those out on those New York streets!
Read a bit about Nick, from his website:
“Chicago – the city, its colors, shapes and sounds – shaped young Nick Paciorek’s world and brought him where he is today: a renowned artist whose work is seen from coast to coast.
At age five when other kids were enthralled with the Major League baseball being played at Wrigley Field, Paciorek was awed by the colors and the brightness – in the field, the bleachers, the people.
As a teenager, Paciorek spent countless hours at art exhibits. He continually returned to his favorite, an Impressionism collection at a museum in downtown Chicago, impacted by the ability of an artist to control the world on canvas simply through color choice. It was then that Matisse became Paciorek’s central influence.
As an artist, Paciorek aligns himself with a new generation of Fauvists. He uses broad strokes of brilliant color for their emotional impact.
Each of his pieces is a celebration of light and color, a vivid interpretation of his subjects. For him, choosing the exact combination of hues for each painting is foremost.
Large cities with active skylines, busy streets and hard edges are one of Paciorek’s favorite subjects. He’s influenced by the relationship of one building to another and the immediacy of light hitting a building in a certain way. He finds that a particular street may represent the entire mood of a city.
Originally from Chicago, Paciorek’s education brought him to Baltimore and Washington, D.C. He now maintains a studio in Providence.” Continue reading HERE…
All images via Paciorek.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Charleston, SC window boxes are stunning. I read in Southern Living that they’re so popular on the homes in the downtown area because many homes are built right up to the sidewalk leaving no room for traditional planting. Well, this certainly does the trick!
Here’s a great article from Southern Living magazine, they also give ideas for what to plant in your window boxes for both warm and cool weather:
http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2011/04/21/charlestons-winderful-window-boxes/
Catch you back here tomorrow!
The first paintings I saw of Marie’s were of horses. I couldn’t believe it. Such emotion and life! The painting above is so dramatic with the light on the mane and whiskers against that dark background and horse. Almost like a photograph. A stunning rendition of a beautiful horse – she captured the moment perfectly! Marie has some stunning paintings, be sure to check out her website!
Read a bit about Marie, from her website:
Marie Channer resides near Nederland Colorado. Her love for horses and the west gives her inspiration for her horse paintings and landscapes. She also enjoys painting dancers and recently has completed some Flamenco pieces. When not in her studio, she enjoys studying Old Masters techniques, touring galleries and museums studying other artist’s work, or teaching a class about painting in oils.
All images via MarieChanner.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
I couldn’t pass by this sunflower without taking a photo – this flower comes complete with a bee. Good timing, thanks Bee!
Photo from the archives… Happy Sunday – Catch you back here tomorrow!
Can you imagine? This sunrise woke me up! I flew out of bed and was stunned! I ran outside (down 3 flights of stairs at the Island Inn to get outside in my PJ’s with my camera). The sunrise was bright red above the lighthouse, yet the water was the prettiest pink with a lone kayaker enjoying the show. I bet the sunrise was amazing to watch from the perspective of the kayaker!
Photo from the archives… Catch you back here tomorrow!
Homeward Bound by Brent Cotton caught my attention right away. A moody painting with a perfect title! Then I started looking through Brent’s available paintings and let me tell you… it wasn’t easy to choose one single painting. Brent has a wonderful style, he depicts the light so that it takes your breath away. Be sure to take a peek at his website – WOW! Beautiful paintings so full of life, and also be sure to read his bio (below) – this is a man who truly loves what he does and it shows!
I love paintings that tell a story, and this is one of those paintings. I can think of many different stories, which I just love!
The painting above is available at Trailside Galleries in Jackson Hole, WY – just one of the galleries where Brent shows his work. The “Capturing the Light” show runs from Sept. 1- 30, 2016 with an opening house on September 17, 2016 (tomorrow) from 5-7PM!
Read a bit about Brent, from his website:
“Raised on his family’s cattle ranch in Idaho, Brent’s first lessons in art were taught by his grandmother, a talented watercolorist. He grew up sketching the cowboys and horses he observed every day. His family moved to Lindsborg, Kansas when he was in the 5th grade. In this little town steeped in it’s Swedish heritage and love of the arts, Brent’s creativity flourished. In high school an influential instructor encouraged him to pursue a career in art. Upon graduation, he spent several seasons as a hunting and fishing guide in the vast wilderness of Idaho and Alaska, experiences that led to many painting ideas. He focused on wildlife art and taught himself woodcarving as a way to express himself. His specialty became gamefish and songbirds.
After several years of carving and sculpting, Brent decided to concentrate on painting. He began attending workshops, and over the years has studied with some of the best known names in wildlife and western art. He was part of a select group of artists to study with world-renowned western artist Howard Terpning at the Cowboy Artists of American workshop in 1997. He gives Oklahoma artist Christine Verner the most credit for putting him on the path he’s on now. She expanded his vision and under her direction his work turned from highly detailed to a more painterly and looser approach.
He moved to Maui in 1999 and it was there that his work took on a more moody and atmospheric feel. The foggy days he experienced on the slopes of Haleakala volcano combined with the forest fires in Montana where he continued to spend his summers, had a dramatic impact on the direction he would take as an artist. Today he prefers to paint in the Tonalist/Luminist style made popular in the late 1800’s, seeking to create works that are mood-evoking and have a timeless quality.
He also enjoys ‘Plein Air’ painting and strives to work outdoors as often as he can. “I became a better artist when I began painting from life, it forced me to really observe and train my eyes to filter out the unnecessary stuff and focus on the major elements.” He loves to strap on his hiking boots, grab his portable easel, and wander off in search of a moody scene to capture on canvas.
As an avid outdoorsman Brent can often be found in standing in one of the local rivers with a fly rod in his hand or on the oars of his driftboat. The close proximity to some amazing blue ribbon trout streams is one of the many reasons he and his family make their home in the Bitterroot valley of Montana. This passion has led Brent to focus on sporting art, particularly fly-fishing as a common theme in his work. His paintings of solitary fishermen in his signature moody style has garnered him many fans in the art and sporting world.
Brent’s work has garnered several national awards including the prestigious “Arts for the Parks top 100” in both 1997 and in 2003, where his painting “Evensong” won both the “People’s Choice” and “Region 3” awards. Brent was also the very first recipient of the “CM Russell Museum CEO Award” at the annual CM Russell Art Auction in Montana. He was recently invited to participate in the prestigious “Prix de West” Invitational show in Oklahoma City, a lifelong goal for him.
He is represented by several galleries throughout the country, with work in many private and corporate collections abroad. Some of his notable collectors include; Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brokaw, and Brent Musberger. His work has been the subject of several feature articles in major art and western lifestyle magazines.
He and his wife Jennifer and their two small children live in the beautiful Bitterroot valley of Montana, where the rural lifestyle and wild rivers provide constant inspiration.
“I’m inspired by mood and drama, the fleeting effects of light. I hope my paintings bring a sense of peace to the viewer, perhaps conjure up a memory. My goal is to show God’s glory in my work, he’s blessed me so richly and I’m so fortunate to be making a living doing what I love.”
All images via CottonFineArts.com, used with permission…
Guess the artist (normally a Friday feature) will return 9/28/16 – Catch you back here tomorrow!
Beware near the St. Clair River in Michigan – Old Fisherman Crossing, hee hee. Oh how I would like to be here right now with a good book! I love that river!
Back to normal posting next week – Catch you back here tomorrow!
5 East Battery is an amazing example of Charleston architecture.
Read a bit about this amazing example of Charleston architecture from the Charleston County Library:
5 East Bay Street – John Ravenel House c.1847
The three story stuccoed brick house was built between 1847 and 1849 by John Ravenel. Ravenel, who was completely of Huguenot descent and a member of the planting aristocracy, sold his patrimonial acres to become a merchant, and built up one of the city’s leading shipping houses. He was also president of the South Carolina Rail Road and was instrumental in developing the Northeastern Rail Road. This house was also the home of his son, Dr. St. Julien Ravenel, the noted scientist who designed and built the Civil War semi-submersible torpedo boat, the Lucy and was a leader in the development of the phosphate fertilizer after the Civil War. It was also the home of Dr. Ravenel’s wife Harriett Horry Rutledge, who, using the name Mrs. St. Julien Ravenel, authored the book Charleston: The Place and the People, and other works on local history. In 1886, the property was purchased by John Ravenel’s son-in-law, Elias Horry Fronst, president of E.H. Frost & Co., one of the city’s leading cotton brokerage houses. He was also head of the Stono Phosphate Company and president of the South Carolina Loan and Trust company. Frost was a noted art collector and owned one of the best libraries in the South. The house was built in the Italianate sty;e popular in Charleston in the antebellum period. After suffering severe damage in the 1866 earthquake, the house was extensively rebuilt by Frost, who kept the original plan and mass, including the prominent bay on the front, and added features in the Victorian Italianate style fashionable in the 1880’s. The property remained in the hands of John Ravenel’s descendants until 1953, when it was sold. (Stockton, unpin. M.S.; Stockton, DYKYC, December 13, 1975)
There is an interesting article from the Post & Courier HERE.
Back to normal posting next week – Catch you back here tomorrow!
A stunning house against a dashing blue sky with palm shadows dancing on the front. Beautiful balconies and a gorgeous old wooden door – Wow!
Another example of beautiful Charleston architecture!
Back to normal posting next week – Catch you back here tomorrow!
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