Featured Artist: Elise Schweitzer!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Artist to WatchLeave a comment

Apple Tree by Elise Schweitzer 29x22

Apple Tree by Elise Schweitzer  29×22″ Oil

Elise Schweitzer. Wow. Elise paints with joie de vivre! Her paintings are fresh and lively. This apple tree painted against a strong blue sky is mesmerizing. Everything about her paintings from the composition to the fabulous colors just makes each and every painting STUNNING!

Skydiver Landing by Elise Schweitzer 108x72

Skydiver Landing by Elise Schweitzer 108×72″ Oil

Elise paints a story. Her skydiver series is remarkable. Different landings, each unique. Just look at how much is going on in this painting. I could look at it all day. Oh the stories I could come up with! Great movement from each and every person. I am blown away!

There was a fabulous interview done by Painting Perceptions with Elise in 2013. Click HERE to read it! Fabulous!

Read a bit about Elise, and by all means, check out her website:

Elise Schweitzer is an Assistant Professor of Art at Hollins University. She received her MFA in Painting at Indiana University Bloomington in 2009 and her BFA from University of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia in 2006. 

In her exuberantly large paintings people instigate or react to actual and metaphorical upheaval. “Parachute Suite,” her most recent complete body of work, depicts a moment of crisis when a skydiver crash-lands in a contemporary backyard. The action plays out through multiple canvases, showing the moments before, during and after the crash. A woman rushes to help, and a man searches the sky. Other characters bundle away the parachute or attempt to fill it with air. People react with frivolity, concern or irritation, and like a Jungian dream, all the characters are forms of self-reflection. 

Images and Bio via EASchweitzer.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A healthier version of a cheese toast – so wonderful!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Grilled Cheese & Arugula with Balsamic

I could eat this Every. Single. Day. I always keep baby arugula in the fridge, I love it in omelets, on sandwiches, pizza and all by itself!

This looks very decadent, but these pieces of bread are small (wonderful bread from a local bakery. Very rustic, bread with substance).

Cheese Toast

I lightly toast the bread first, then add some grated sharp cheddar, put it on a baking pan and put it under the broiler for just a minute or two (HAVE TO WATCH IT – Don’t walk away!) Once the cheese starts to bubble, pull it out, cut it in half and put a heaping bunch of arugula dressed in olive oil & balsamic (you can even add to the dressing a tiny bit of honey, but not much). Then eat the rest of the arugula on the side.

This is a FABULOUS LUNCH!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist: Paul Keysar!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist7 Comments

Light in the Woods by Paul Keysar 5x7

Light in the Woods by Paul Keysar  5×7″  Oil

Paul’s paintings go above and beyond. They have light that is incredible. I love his nocturnes, even in the dark his paintings have light! Paul’s sky shows those beautiful stars twinkling down upon us. THAT LIGHT in the distance… OH! Fabulous! A little touch of something unexpected!

In Hope of Spring by Paul Keysar 16x12

In Hope of Spring by Paul Keysar  16×12″  Oil

Paul can paint absolutely anything. This painting In Hope of Spring has won a few awards. Here is some information (from Paul’s website) regarding this painting:

“I saw Carolyn, an employee at a local arts council, wearing
the fur hat, scarf, and coat, with the vibrant, complementary colors.
I felt compelled to paint her. The scarf required about 24 colors
of paint. This painting is the first one I painted as a smaller
study for pose and background. I wanted something different
for the larger painting Winter Solstice. I liked this painting too,
so I went back and finished it.”

This painting has won:
First Place, TRAC2015 Online Art Competition, Fifth Round
The Representational Art Conference

Second Place Overall, Dec 2015 / Jan 2016
Plein Air Salon competition

Read a bit about Paul, from his website:

Paul Keysar is known for his classic, representational oil paintings and drawings of landscapes, still lifes, and portraits. He has received numerous awards for his work, including, a 2014 Certificate of Excellence and 2015 Honorable Mention from the Portrait Society of America, Best in Show in the Richeson75 Figure/Portrait 2014 Competition, First Place in The Representational Art Conference 2015 competition, Honorable Mention in the Artistic Excellence 2015 Competition from Southwest Art Magazine, 2nd Place Overall in the Dec 2015/Jan 2016 Plein Air Salon, and finalist in the figure/portrait category of The Artist’s Magazine‘s 2014 Annual Competition. His painting, Jacob in Winter, was featured as the cover of Southwest Art Magazine‘s December 2015 issue.

He has a passion for the land and is intrigued with the interaction of man and nature.  “As an artist, I am continually observing life around me. I am fascinated by the effects of light, atmosphere, and weather. The figures I am currently working on reflect a moment of stillness and thought—a reflection on the subject’s place in time and their hope for a better future.”

Keysar started his formal art training at the age of fourteen with lessons at The Art League in Alexandria, Virginia. In 2000, he completed four years of fine arts education at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. In addition, his training included a year of study from 1997–1998 under nationally-known portrait and landscape artist Carolyn Egeli of Valley Lee, Maryland. He has also studied the figure with Robert Liberace and Dan Thompson.

Keysar’s greatest artistic influences have been the art of Homer, Eakins, and the Barbizon School, along with the contemporary work of Randall Exon, David Graeme Baker, and many others. He has participated in numerous solo and group shows, and his work is owned by collectors throughout the country. He is available to give demonstrations and lectures and serve as judge/juror for art competitions. Keysar offers private art lessons, classes, and workshops for beginner through advanced students in drawing and painting. He accepts portrait, landscape, and still life drawing and painting commission requests. Keysar currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children, and maintains a studio at ClearWater Artist Studios, in Concord, NC.

All images via PaulKeysar.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A perfect way to enjoy the day!

On By Barbara StroudIn Photograph, SC1 Comment

Pretty as a picture!

Charlie and I headed out for a quick walk a few weeks ago and came upon this in a neighbor’s yard. So inviting, the two chairs posed for conversation by whoever happened upon them. The azaleas blooming wildly in the background and this wonderful morning sun. Just beautiful! The leaves are falling at an alarming rate (as you can see), but it all adds to the beauty of the scene.

Take some time to enjoy the day! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Guess the artist… (Answer given)

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Daily Blog4 Comments

ArtFoodHome.com

Woods by Betty Anglin Smith

Guess the artist…

Update: As promised, it’s Saturday and I’ve added the title of the painting and the name of the artist… that was fun!

Over the next several weeks I’m going to post some our paintings, let’s see who knows WHO the artist is!

Isn’t this a fabulous painting? We’ve loved it from the beginning of time. It makes a statement at 48×54″. (I have removed the artist’s signature on this image).

Comment on this blog with the answer or on the ART FOOD HOME Facebook page.

I will post the name of the artist the next day, underneath the image…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

 

House Plan: Distant Island House by Allison Ramsey Architects!

On By Barbara StroudIn Daily Blog, HOME, House Plans3 Comments

 

Distant Island House by Allison Ramsey Architects

This is the Distant Island House Plan by Allison Ramsey Architects. Wow! This design is unique and would fit in so many settings just beautifully!

There are four porches on this plan. Two unscreened porches (one in the front, inset between the two “wings”, what I call it, and one off the Laundry Room with easy access to Bedroom 3. Two more screened porches, one off the Master Bedroom and another off of the Living room. Nice!!

NOTE: AllisonRamseyArchitect.com has updated their website, it is WONDERFUL! Very user friendly – check it out! You will dream for days!

Distant Island House by Allison Ramsey Architects (First Floor)

Do you see what I see? A GALLERY! Can you imagine? What a fabulous house plan. This plan has an outdoor terrace separating the two “wings” of the home. I think this is fabulous. When I look at house plans I think about the way that we would use the house. For just Fred and I, we would probably use Bedroom 2 as a Study or Reading Room. We would use Bedroom 3 for guests (I think)… It’s got nice privacy and access to the porch.

I think it’s creative how the rooms are built around an outdoor terrace, offering beautiful views from every room, all in a private setting.

All images via AllisonRamseyArchitect.com, used with permission…

As with all house plans on this website, these images are not for construction or reproduction, they are property of the architectural firm.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist: Pam Padgett!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Daily Blog, Featured Artist4 Comments

Sevier Plantation House by Pam Padgett 9x12

Sevier Plantation House by Pam Padgett 9×12 Oil

Pam Padgett. Wonderful artist. She catches the light and the atmosphere of a location without a lot of unnecessary strokes. Pam clearly knows what she’s doing – there is a lot of skill in her paintings. I love the pops of white from the canvas. The color on the front of this house is FABULOUS, it shows that sun is hitting, and the porches on the side  are in the shade.

Meandering Creek by Pam Padgett 16x20

Meandering Creek by Pam Padgett 16×20 Oil

Another fabulous plein air piece. Great depth, you can feel the landscape. The bright light of the grass beside the foreground in the shade is perfection… and that little bit of red near her signature. LOVE IT!

If you’re interested in Workshops for 2016, click HERE to sign up to be notified!

Read a bit about Pam Padgett, from her website:

Biography: Originally from West Virginia, Pam eventually located to Tennessee working in advertising as an art director. She turned to the fine arts field and studied with numerous nationally known painters. She resides in Williamson County, a strong artistic community of both painters and songsmiths. Pam is married to John Padgett and they have two grown children.

Philosophy: Simple… like me. “Every painting is a new start and Every day is a new day to paint.” I love getting up each day and discovering what’s going to evolve on my white canvas. A rough day in the studio can be exhausting and discouraging. However, an inspired day of painting… that feeling that I survived the battle in my studio is simply amazing and exhilarating. Painting is hard! It is not a past time for the faint of heart.

Searching for inspiration is a big part of my artistic process. Nature, my fellow artist friends, museums and sometimes the music in my studio helps guide my way. I really love dancing around all subject matters. It is not my nature to paint a specific genre and stay there. But, I love the challenge and excitement of new discoveries. And every painting is a new start and every day is a new day to paint. The learning never ends! (Continue reading HERE)…

All images via PamPadgett.com , used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist Jeff Bye!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Artist to Watch5 Comments

The Office by Jeff Bye

The Office by Jeff Bye  20×32″  Oil

Jeff Bye. I could look at his paintings forever. Jeff has a unique ability to portray everyday scenes with a splash of the abstract! There is so much to look at in this painting and every bit of it is so well done. Stunning!

Pantry by Jeff Bye 17x20 Acrylic

The Pantry by Jeff Bye  17×20  Acrylic

Another favorite (and let me tell you, there were many – it was a dilemma trying to pick two!) is The Pantry. I love the angles, the strokes, colors, light, subject. Check. Check. Check. Another fabulous painting!

On Jeff’s website the paintings are separated into categories, here is a quick run down of some of the categories… be sure to check it out!

Urbanscapes: These paintings show the grittiness of city living, you can feel the flow of traffic, noise, and true living…

Airports: Jeff captures the hard-to-believe act of flying with perspectives on the ground and in the air, from in the plane and outside of it. Each is fabulous and makes you want to hop on the next flight!

Narrative: These paintings have depth and emotion.

Rail: Jeff captures one of the older and efficient forms of transportation depicting true authenticity of the surroundings.

Animals: These paintings show animals with a sense of their reality.

Read a bit about Jeff, from his website:

Jeff is originally from Long Meadow, Massachusetts. From an early age, he showed a talent for rendering still lives and landscapes. Because visual communication always interested him, he decided to pursue art after graduating high school.

Jeff entered the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) for his undergraduate studies, where he discovered his passion for the human figure. Jeff spent a year in Rome, Italy through RISD’s European Honors program where he studied classical art and architecture.

After RISD, Jeff continued with his graduate studies at the New York Academy of Figurative Art. His formal education exposed him further to the works of artists like Henri Matisse, Pierre Bonnard and Lucian Freud, whose styles influence his work to this day. Also while in New York, he was able to focus his attention further with the figure while taking advantage of New York’s vast cultural resources.

Jeff currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. He is part of galleries in NY, Boston, & Maine. His works have been exhibited nationally and internationally and is part of collections all over the world.

All images via JeffBye.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo – wish it had sound!

On By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, Daily Blog, Photograph2 Comments

Party in the tree!

I was taking Charlie for a walk around the block the other day and we heard a lot of wild noise. I looked up to the sky to see these birds. I wish this photo had sound because I thought there were many more of them, ha… very vocal.

The blue sky, with the bright green from the budding trees…Wow! What a beautiful Spring we have here in Charleston. It does start a little early, but hey, it’s beautiful, get out and take advantage of it!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo – One of My Favorite Entrances!

On By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, Photograph2 Comments

Charleston, SC

Since many of you are away visiting friends or family, I will be posting photos this week – enjoy!

Just look at these details. The ornate gate, the beautiful marble tiles, the intricate door, the wonderful textures of the house – that fantastic light fixture and the softness of the greenery.

Absolute perfection! Look above the door. Pretty cool, huh?

Catch you back here tomorrow!