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!
Take this quick poll… Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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:
Featured Artist… Lisa Noonis!
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:
artist’s statement
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.
biography
Medium: Oil
Subjects: Still Life, Figures, Interiors, Landscapes
Style: Contemporary impressionism
Subjects: Still Life, Figures, Interiors, Landscapes
Style: Contemporary impressionism
Lisa Noonis was born on September 28, 1963 in York, Maine, the fifth child in a family of seven children—five boys and two girls. Lisa found art early in life. At age 10, in 1973, she won first place in the Strawbery Banke Children’s Art Festival in neighboring Portsmouth, NH. Later, in high school, she showed so much talent that her art teacher, Marcia Ryder, insisted that she go on to art school and pursue a career in the fine arts.Instead, Lisa’s father pushed her toward… [Click HERE to continue…]
Images via NoonisFineArt.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
House Plan: Tideland Haven Garage Plan!!
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!
Radek’s Radicchio Salad – To. Die. For.
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!
Featured Artist: Kate Mullin! New paintings available today!
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!
Featured Artist: Ann Marie Coolick!
30×30″ Acrylic on Canvas
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!
Downtown Photo – Green shutters…
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!
Charleston Photo – Downtown Gate…
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!
TEN… the show – Robert Lange Studios!
10×10″ Oil on Panel
Robert Lange Studios celebrates 10 years with a fabulous show… TEN! Opening reception this evening 5-8PM.
This gallery has been on the cutting edge since the doors opened. Always interesting, fabulous art!
FREE Shipping through opening weekend!
Read a bit about the show.. T E N from the gallery website:
Ten-Inch Paintings to Celebrate 10 Years
February 6 – 26 2015
Opening Reception: February 6, 5:00-8:00 PM (free to the public)
This February Robert Lange Studios (RLS) in Charleston, SC will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a group show featuring 24 RLS artists of past and present. Each artist will create multiple 10-by-10 inch works exemplifying their specific style, genre and subject matter. The exhibition will hang through February 2015 with ten-percent of the proceeds going to the John C. Doyle scholarship fund. A reception, featuring music, wine, and hors d’oeuvres will take place on February 6 from 5-8PM and is open to the public.
When considering how to celebrate the milestone of being open for a decade, RLS decided that an exhibition highlighting the wide diversity of work that has been shown over the years would be best. This show will be the 92nd exhibit for the gallery.
“In looking back over the past ten years, the only word that comes to mind is blessed,” says Robert Lange. “In ten years we have witnessed many of our artists’ lives transform. Some had just graduated college when we picked them up, most never having exhibited their work, and now they grace the covers of national magazines, receive awards and accolades and have exhibited in museums across the country.”
Veteran RLS artist Ali Cavanaugh, who recently painted the cover for TIME Magazine’s person of the year finalist, has created a new painting for the show. Karen Ann Myers’ who currently has a traveling museum show will be creating at least one new work. Another veteran to RLS, who has been voted best visual artist in Charleston for four years, Nathan Durfee has shown at the gallery since his beginning as an artist. For the show he’s created a series of three introspective dogs in cardinal costumes. “This show was a great opportunity to revisit one of most beloved characters: Bartholomeux, the dog-in-disguise. By focusing on his face and mask he becomes a vehicle for me to explore color and pattern in his costume. His closed eyes and quiet expression complete the narrative: dreams of what his costume could be and could have been.”
Lange when looking back said, “When we were 22-years old we decided to open a gallery. We actually sold our DVD collection to help cover the first month’s rent. Our goal was to promote emerging and mid-career artists with a focus on artistic and personal integrity. We could have never imagined this is where we would be today.”
Image via RobertLangeStudios.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
House Plan: Martin Houseplan by Bill Ingram!
Martin House plan (SL-1863) by architect Bill Ingram for Southern Living House Plans. This plan is 2,990 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. I really like that the garage doesn’t look like a garage! Also note the wonderful porches on front and back! This plan is more traditional than the open plans I have been featuring. There are so many different styles to love, and this is surely one!
Can the exterior be any classier? I don’t think so… I love it!
As I mentioned, instead of the open living, dining, kitchen space, you have more individual rooms, which is also quite nice. I like how the master is tucked away, and the library not far from the master… love it!
The upstairs has two bedrooms with a shared bath and private dressing rooms. How decadent!
Images via Houseplans.southernliving.com
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Featured Artist… Peggi Kroll Roberts!
Peggi Kroll Roberts. Peggi is known for her bright colors and loose style. She can make just a few strokes turn into a painting full of life! Ahhh, look at this painting. The color, the movement, the FEELING… I would like to be there with them right now! They look like a fun group!
Peggi also paints with watercolor. Just look how colors placed in just the right way gives the object a sense of space. Peggi is well known for her workshops, check out that link! She also has many DVD’s for sale – all fabulous!
Read a bit about Peggi, from her website:
Award winning artist, Peggi Kroll-Roberts, was trained at Arizona State University and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. Peggi worked as a fashion and advertising illustrator before making the transition into fine art. Using intense color and value to accentuate her subject, she moved into fine art with a bold palette, a love for small paintings and a very loose style that achieves a lot with a few very energetic brush strokes. She prefers to suggest reality than render it.
Inspired by her children she paints beach scenes and other aspects of their lives. She also breaks away from the conventional still life by painting scenes of cosmetics and the occasional coffee cup or slab of butter. Peggi’s work gives us a new appreciation of our own daily life.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
How to make Turkey Burgers…
I would say its been close to a year now that we stopped grilling hamburgers and started grilling turkey burgers. We can buy them already made up in the warmer months at Whole Foods and EarthFare (healthy grocery stores), but in the off months we just make them ourselves and eat them twice in a week (not sure how freezing them would be)? That alongside the fresh vinegar coleslaw, wow! It tickles your senses, and is an utterly fabulous meal!
I’m a little freaky about big hamburger buns. Growing up, my mom always used only a portion of the bun. Now I do the same thing, which results in a scary looking burger. REMEDY? Ahhh yeah! SLIDER BUNS! I buy wheat slider buns and keep them in the freezer. When it’s time to grill I pull them out and stick them in the microwave for about 15 seconds and they’re nicely steamed. I top my turkey burger like I do my hamburger, pickles and mustard. That’s it. I love the crunch of the pickles :)
If you’re making your own turkey burgers, take 1 pound of ground turkey (white or mix), and some crumbled feta (however much you like) and a handful or two of torn baby spinach. Make into patties and grill until done! You will not believe how good they are! The feta makes them super special!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Featured Artist… Debra Huse!
Best of Show Award!
Debra Huse. I love this woman’s work! It’s different. Fabulous colors and her style is one I absolutely adore. To try to figure out WHICH painting could be your biggest problem (and what a problem to have!) – each and every one is stunning! Take Yosemite Renaissance XXIV for example… How wonderful is that? I love the body expressions! The background lends itself to making the people stand out wonderfully but gives you a sense of where they are. Love it!
24×30″ Oil
Debra has some beautiful paintings of sailboats, just lovely. Check them out on her website… Debra also owns her own gallery, and a top notch one it is! Visit the Debra Huse Gallery!
Read a bit about Debra from her website, and check out all the WORKSHOPS for 2015! :
Name: Debra Huse (Ressel)
Studio; A Marina in Newport Beach, CA
Gallery: Debra Huse Gallery, 229 Marine Ave.
Balboa Island, CA 92662 www.debrahusegallery.com
Born & Raised: Indianapolis, IN
Favorite Book; Two Years Before the Mast
Family: Husband Randy Ressel
Transportation: 43’ Santa Barbara Sportfishing Boat.
Artist’s Statement
I’ve been blessed with the talent of seeing and the passion for painting. Oil is such a luscious medium. Applying lots of paint – moving it around and carving out areas is fascinating. As a contemporary plein air colorist, I strive to capture the beauty of the moment, the poetry of the atmosphere, and the notes of colorful light with the spontaneity and energy of a painter intrigued. Not painting is not an option.
Images via DebraHuse.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Do you think you’re free from the boot?
Ahhh, the dreaded boot! I’ve never been “booted”, but don’t think you are exempt if you drive something other than a car and park it in the wrong spot and/or for the wrong length of time. On the way home the other day, we saw this golf cart with a boot. Bummer… I’ve heard stories about people trying to drive off (in a car) with a boot attached… it doesn’t work. At all.
Charleston, SC keeps up with parking, so be sure to put money in those meters, and don’t park in the residential areas longer than the signs stipulate. You are almost guaranteed a ticket. To be safe from parking fines, head to a parking garage!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
