I know, I know… how many more photos can I take of these gorgeous historic buildings? You would be amazed! Look at the detail in this building located on Broad Street, Charleston, SC – it’s stunning! Long elegant windows – and look how the gorgeous color of the roof stands out against the brilliant blue sky. Wow!!!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Mike Kowalski. This painting, Read All About It was selected for the American Watercolor Society (AWS) Show for 2015, and guess what?? Mike received the Silver Medal! Quite an honor indeed! The show is held this month at the Salmagundi Art Club in New York.
I love everything about this painting. It’s a cool place that I want to go visit and spend time reading through the different magazines or newspapers. I like that he leaves the details to your imagination, very nice! The areas of shade and light – I just think it’s stunning!
Mike’s watercolors are brilliant. They’re well thought out and brimming with life! I am so impressed by artists who can paint with watercolors! I highly encourage you to check out his website… Gorgeous paintings, you just have to see them to believe!
Read a bit about Mike, from his website – I love how he writes!:
A friend recently told me that a good indication of what would make you happy in life would be to look back at what you were doing at the age of four or five. I was happy outside, observing nature. No need of added stimuli, just the sight, sounds and smells of our natural world. I also drew a lot. After over twenty five years as a freelance illustrator I have started pursuing art that………….. makes me happy. I was recently on the coast of California painting early in the morning. The sun rising quickly, shadows changing, wind whipping up from the west. The colors of the surf were yellows, and ochres, olives and innumerable shades of blue. I had only about an hour to get it all down. Those hours painting are what I live for.
Here’s the boring stuff:
Graduated from Utah State University with a BFA in art/illustration. The instruction at that institution was stellar.
Moved to Southern California in the early eighties where I had the opportunity to paint with Dan McCaw ( who also just happened to be on my soccer team ). I learned an awful lot in that time.
I relocated to the San Francisco bay area where I met my wife leading bicycle trips. After the birth of our first child I got a bit more serious about illustration. We moved up to the Seattle area where I began to concentrate on architectural illustration.
I’ve been busy ever since.
About five years ago I began to take steps toward a career as a fine artist. With four children that transition is slow but steady. I have many years ahead of me.
Image via MikeKowalskiFineArt.com
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W1960GT offered by Architectural Designs – what a fabulous layout! It’s got such nice lines to it. This type plan will always be a winner! The front porch is wonderful and just adds to the living space albeit outdoors, but how nice is that? I really like the exterior shingled. The W1960GT plan is 1,442 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
LOVE THE VERANDA. Oh, maybe I already said that… but I do, that is such a big + in my book! It’s nice that this plan has a downstairs bedroom – that always comes in handy. I like the living/dining/kitchen setup and the wonderful screened porch off the dining room. Very nice! The only thing I would eliminate is the door in the bathroom near the toilet/tub area and maybe have a shower instead of a tub, but that’s personal preference. It’s nice that there are options!
The upstairs is great with two bedrooms separated by a bathroom. I think the sloped ceilings add so much character to a home!
All images via ArchitecturalDesigns.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Clear your calendar for Saturday, February 21, 2015! There is the most amazing artist-led docent tour that you will not want to miss. Charles Williams is a brilliant artist who’s latest show “SWIM: An Artists Journey” will have you absolutely amazed!
This show runs through April 23, 2015, so if you miss the opportunity to meet Charles, by all means make your way to the show anyway!
Here is a bit about the show (taken from an email)…
These paintings aren’t like any you’ve ever seen. Several are large, very large, 6×8′ – they are displayed in the evening room which makes them even more dramatic. There are eight large scale paintings and forty smaller scale studies.
These paintings are so dramatic and breathtaking – whoa!
More information…
Works on exhibit are available for purchase from the Artist, and catalogs are available from Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum in Myrtle Beach, SC. For more information on the works visit cewpaintings.com and the museum website. “Swim: An Artist’s Journey” is on exhibit from January 15, through April 23, 2015.
Read a bit about Charles… and be sure to check out his website!
Charles Williams is a professional contemporary realist painter from Georgetown, South Carolina and a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah, Georgia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art. From utilizing oils for the basis of landscapes, each painting captures his reflection of human emotions in response to and in sync with the natural environment. Recent achievements and awards include a Hudson River Landscape Fellowship, featured work in the Artist’s Magazine’s 28th Annual Art Competition, honorable mention from Southwest Art Magazine’s 21 Emerging Under 31 competition, 2012 Winner of the Fine Art Category from Creative Quarterly and featured cover artist of Composite and Professional Artist Magazine. Williams’ works has been shown in American Art Collector, Empty, Charleston Magazine, Grand Strand, Studio Visit, Bluecanvas and other national publications. He was recently interviewed and broadcast on ETV/NPR station, entitled: “Nature Through the Eyes of an Artist”. His contemporary landscapes have been exhibited in group and solo exhibitions in galleries in New York, Vermont, California, Georgia, South Carolina and several other southeaster states. Learn more…
All images and information via Charles Williams or CEWPaintings.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce. Is there anything better? I make a pot of spaghetti sauce and we have it for dinner one night and then I freeze it in containers that will hold the amount we use for one night. It makes dinner so quick and easy. I have even taken it straight from freezer to stove and cooking it on low, and breaking it up, it defrosts quickly.
I usually use chicken Italian sausage (sweet or hot), but have also used grass-fed beef – tasty either way! Easy prep (cut up onion/garlic) – sauté veggies and sausage or hamburger and then add tomatoes and cook on low. Couldn’t be easier!
Click HERE to print the recipe below!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Andrea Peters. I think her work is so amazing. She’s got a cool style that is quite different. Her trees are my favorites… the trees and the funky clouds, love them! I think Andrea’s paintings are so happy. One of Andrea’s paintings made the cover of LL Bean! Pretty cool, since it seems like a majority of the country receives that catalog, ha ha…
I hope to feature one of her spring/summer images in the coming months, they are amazing!
Read a bit about Andrea, from her website:
Whatever you call it, energy, spirit or soul, grasping that is my primary goal in painting, which then becomes a personal journey for my life.
…When I paint all else ceases to exist. I am caught in a space and time that has no measure or proof other than the visual painting result. My painting transcends the now of the physical and transports me to another plane. There is only pure joy. It is comfortable yet unpredictable, exciting yet peaceful, a place to lose myself and yet find myself. This experience doesn’t happen when I plan for it, but rather when I least expect it, I’m submerged in it.
…I like the element of unpredictability and let each painting be guided by itself and that particular period in time, to let it be whatever it will be, accepting it only for what it is..a moment in my life.
…The more personal struggles there are in my life the stronger my work becomes. This is both encouraging and satisfying, yet mystifying too. But I am not concerned with this or the picture result as I am with the satisfaction and peace that the experience of painting brings me. That is personal gratification!
Images via AndreaPetersArt.com, used with permission…
While I don’t normally feature jewelry, I have to say… Apparently creativity runs in the family! Andrea’s daughter Christine Peters creates some beautiful jewelry! Check it out!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
This reminds me of the Rapunzel story… hee hee. Love how that wonderful light is hitting the cupola!
Charleston, SC architecture is the best!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Spend the day with your special someone! No special someone in your life right now? Indulge in a treat for yourself, or better yet, surprise someone with a little something-something! There’s no better way to make someone’s day than to make someone happy – that happiness spreads… you will be happy, they will be happy… why don’t we do this all the time?
Good question! Speaking of questions… here’s a poll for you:
Lisa Noonis. Fabulous! Loose. Wonderful. Stand back from the painting and look again… How does she do it? Just look at those colors! Feel the movement? Hear the ocean? This painting is too cool!
These lemons are so luscious against the dark background – whoa! Brilliant choice of background in my opinion… This is stunning to me!
Not only is Lisa’s art spectacular, her bio is fabulous. I included her artist’s statement below…
Read a bit about Lisa from her website:
I strive to paint the way my mother cooks.
The process is absorbing, spiritual, sometimes transcendent—and complete only when artist and viewer, cook and eater, are invested in the outcome.
My goal is to initiate shared experiences that will be enjoyed again and again. For that reason, my paintings are never too finished; in fact, they succeed only when there are conceptual spaces for the viewer to fill. There’s no right or wrong way to accomplish this.
In contributing my half of the shared experience, I engage fully with my inspiration, nearly forgetting myself and reacting directly to what’s occurring on the canvas. I revel in bold colors, generous amounts of paint, applied with big brushes and palette knives. I look for the essence of the subject, its truth, more than its details. Rather than rein in this state, I work to sustain it.
If you stand close to one of my paintings, you should begin to feel the way I felt while painting it. If you step back, we can resolve the image together.
Images via NoonisFineArt.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Tideland Haven Garage Plan by Our Town Plans. This garage fits Tideland Haven house plan to a tee! With space for two vehicles, as well as a golf cart or similar and a small guest house. What more could you ask for?! I think the design of this is brilliant. And… it accompanies one of the most popular house plans ever!
There is plenty of room for two cars as well as storage. I love the spot for the golf cart! And the guest room… well, it’s just perfect! When you need guest space, this covers the basics… bathroom, bed, and storage space! I am happy to say you’ll see more plans by Our Town Plans! I just happen to love them all!
All images via OurTownPlans.com, used with permission!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
I have to tell you about this salad that a friend made a few weeks ago. It was amazing. Well, to be honest EVERYTHING was amazing, but this was so unexpected and delicious that I think I’m addicted to this salad… yep… addicted to SALAD!
Radicchio, by nature, is bitter – BUT there is a way to tame the beast and Radek did it! Soaking it in cold water takes away the bitterness… then when you toss it in a nice balsamic vinaigrette and toss in some parmesan… BAM! You have yourself one delicious salad! You’ve got to try it!
Click HERE to print just the recipe…
A special thank you to Radek (& Melissa!) Dudek for sharing this wonderful recipe!
Update: I’ve made this salad four times in the last week… Correction to the above “3 Tablespoons Vinegar to 9 Tablespoons Olive Oil” – since I made a smaller quantity I used less. Eyeball it and use 1 part vinegar to 3 parts olive oil and a drizzle of honey. You really don’t need much to coat the salad.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Kate Mullin. Owner of The Gallery on Broad located in Charleston, SC. Kate is a talented artist who’s wide range of styles never ceases to amaze those who see her work. Kate is the youngest gallery owner in Charleston – and she has done one heck of a job. She works tirelessly to make sure everything is just as she wants it to be. She is a go getter for sure, and her success is well deserved!
Many people stop in the gallery, while passing through Charleston, SC, to see Kate’s work in person. Many have seen her paintings via her online shop, or through One Kings Lane, where they sell her prints. Everyone who comes to see Kate’s work is so excited, and those that purchase are thrilled, it’s fun to be a part of it all! As you may know, I work at the gallery part time filling in on those days Kate needs extra time to paint, and Fred, my husband, joins me when he can.
Here is an example of one of the paintings that will be available today… look at the detail… it’s even better in real life!
This one is 30×40″ Oil.
Most of Kate’s painting have a thick, buttery texture to them, some with many layers that are just so interesting. She is well known for her barns, floral paintings, as well as seascapes, abstracts and pet portrait commissions, not to mention the cool cows. Kate paints cows from the family farm, and each one that she paints has such a presence. They get a lot of attention! Kate has been busy as can be lately getting ready for this latest bit of work to hit her online shop. Be sure to check it out!
A few more to get you in the mood to shop!
Read a bit about Kate, from her website:
Kate Mullin resides in Charleston, SC and has a studio in Redux Contemporary Art Center. She is the owner of The Gallery on Broad (Historic Gallery Row; French Quarter).
Kate, a Columbus, Georgia native, received her BFA in Studio Art from Auburn University in 2011. While attending Auburn University, she won the Department of Art Merit Award in 2010 and the Joyce & Roger Lethander Purchase Award in 2011.
Kate has a wide variety of painting styles seen in her realistic portraits, impressionistic environments, abstract landscapes, and stylized flowers. Mainly painting in oil, her style has evolved from realism to more of an abstract style.
Images via KateMullinArt.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Ann Marie Coolick. Fresh scenes, thick paint, a new perspective. Check her out! I happen to really like her Birch Trees (of which there are many, but the pink in this one was the that originally caught my eye).
She’s also got a great BLOG, be sure to check it out!
Read a bit about Ann Marie from her website:
Using only palette knives and paint straight from the tube, Ann Marie is an impasto painter focusing on contemporary expressionist landscapes. Relying primarily on memory, Ann Marie’s recent body of work references organic processes and natural elements, including visual enlargements of foliage from her neighborhood, the historic Aurora Highlands in Arlington, Virginia. She slathers frosting-like paint layer upon layer onto the canvas, with paint running off the edges resulting in a sculptural, three-dimensional appearance. Ann Marie has three young boys who demand a high level of energy, no doubt influencing her bold color palette and active painting style.
Ann Marie was a Resident Artist at the Arlington Arts Center from 2004 to 2009 where she regularly had solo exhibitions and volunteered. She graduated from Virginia Tech Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Studio Art (honors painting concentration) and a BS in Marketing Management. Ann Marie is represented by the Cooley Gallery in Leesburg and Covet in Arlington.
Image via AnnMarieCoolick.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
This was taken downtown Charleston, SC on a relatively cloudy day. Some sun would have been stunning against the shutters, but it’s kind of neat the way it is! I love the crooked sign in this photo, I almost positioned the camera to not include it, but when I moved the camera to take the sign out of the way, it was less interesting.
Hey, you never know what works until you try it! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Cloudy day, so I missed the cool shadows that could have been… maybe next time!
Charleston… full of beautiful architecture! You can walk around downtown for hours and still see amazing sights.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
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