The Dock Street Theater is a beautiful building with quite a bit of history! Did you know that this was “America’s First Theater”? Wow… It’s one of my favorites to photograph… check it out next time you’re in town! They have a wonderful lineup of shows, we’re very fortunate to have them in our city!
Here’s a blip from their website (click the link to read more!):
America’s First Theatre
On February 12, 1736 the Dock Street Theatre opened with a performance of The Recruiting Officer. Built on the corner of Church Street and Dock Street (now known as Queen Street), the Historic Dock Street Theatre was the first building in America built exclusively to be used for theatrical performances. Flora, the first opera performance in America, took place at the Historic Dock Street Theatre.
Philadelphia Alley (nicknamed “Dueling Alley”)… located between Cumberland and Queen Street in the French Quarter of Charleston, SC, this is one historic alley. Read more about it HERE. Fascinating, isn’t it??
This is also Charlie’s favorite little walk downtown… gotta keep the puppy happy, right? If you get a chance, check it out… too cool for words!
A friend of ours came to town for a visit… I made lasagna… we were starving… *DING*ahhhh, time to take it out of the oven, woohoo!! It smelled wonderful… I reached into the drawer and grabbed a few hot pads, opened the oven door, reached in and grabbed each handle with a hot pad and WHOOSH! What??!!!!!! The handle from the lasagna pan broke and it spilled down the front of the door of the oven (inside)… Immediately Ken DeWaard (what a guy) said, IT’S FINE, JUST SCOOP IT BACK IN THE PAN… Fred was wonderful… If it were anyone but those two I probably would have had at least a brief, ahhhh, “moment”, but Ken’s next words were… POUR HER A GLASS OF WINE… that was funny to me. Really, I don’t get that worked up. But, I WAS hungry… I scooped it back in and we ate out of the side that didn’t break… then tossed the rest. I should probably always have a pizza in the freezer or something… what else would I say? Can I offer you a bowl of Raisin Bran? ha… If you own a Giada lasagna pan from Target – there is a RECALL! Take it back…. No one got hurt or burned, the stove is just a disaster…
This is why you always fill out a registration card (if there is one… there wasn’t for this):
Broken handle… pan used three times…
The result… (this is after a few cleanings, yes, really!)… this looks better than real life… believe me!
Ahhh, I get a little homesick for Maine each year. No, it’s not my home, but it feels like it should be. It’s a wonderful place, with people who are so genuine. I absolutely love that. They are hard working and honest (honor system to buy flowers, vegetables along roadside stands… and it WORKS!). I’m happy when I’m in Maine… no worries… of course I am on vacation, ha ha… which is so much different than real life!
For such a small island there is something to be seen no matter where you are! This photo is of White Head on Monhegan. To get to it, you can walk down through town, turn at the Monhegan House, walk past the Novelty (if you can keep walking past the best pizza and ice cream on earth), up to Horn’s Hill, past Don Stone’s studio, and follow the path to this gorgeous setting!
To sit on the ledge and listen to the ocean, watch for whales and just be… in silence… it’s a treat beyond measure. Sometimes the best gifts are the most simple. Quiet. Peace. Beauty.
For the next week, I’m going to keep the posts short… I’ll be back to regular posting the following week! Hang in there with me! I appreciate you visiting, stop by and see what tomorrow brings! Ooooh, I like that, might change my “catch you back here tomorrow”… ha ha…
This is the fourth year that Randy Higbee is hosting a Six Inch Squared show at the Randy Higbee Gallery in Costa Mesa, CA. The opening reception is tomorrow, December 7th, from 6-9PM. Not in Costa Mesa? It’s OK! You can still see the show as well as purchase online! And… you don’t even have to wait until tomorrow! See/Shop the 6 Inch Squared show today! There are thousand artists submit their paintings to be accepted into this show each year. There are many great paintings… at great prices… in beautiful frames (for those of you who aren’t familiar with Randy Higbee, he owns KING OF FRAME. Great frames, great prices! If you’re looking for a frame, check them out!
I look forward to checking out Randy’s gallery on year… 23,000 square feet of art, framing and just jaw dropping beauty!
You see how much work goes into hanging a show like this? There are over 600 paintings in this show! The show runs through DECEMBER 23, 2013. Hey, makes good Christmas gifts!
Here is a photo right before the show was hung… Whew, can you imaging? You see the end result above. What an exciting show! Check out the work…
Fruitcake gets poo poo’d, I’m not sure why… I’m pretty sure this one will change your mind! This is a recipe that my Grandma Fidler used to make, and I still remember the wonderful smell of it! Then the recipe magically appeared in a Christmas card from my aunt. What a cool idea to share my grandma’s famous fruitcake recipe with us all! I made it and it was so delicious I cannot tell you! She brushed on brandy (several times) after baking, and wrapped in brown paper. That part isn’t on the recipe, so wing it if you like, or don’t do it at all… it’s good either way! First the recipe… and then the images to show you how easy it really is! Click HERE to print the recipe minus the photos…
Grandma’s Fruit Cake
Ingredients – (Yield: Makes 2- 9” loaves)
1 ½ cups Raisins
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 ½ cups Chopped Dates
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
2 Cups Sugar
1 teaspoon Ground Cloves
2 cups Boiling Water
1 teaspoon Salt
5 Tablespoons Shortening
1 cup Chopped Nuts
3 cups All Purpose Flour
1 cup Candied Fruit
2 Eggs
Directions
In a large saucepan add the boiling water and stir in the raisins, chopped dates, sugar and shortening. Bring contents to boil and then let simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place cooked mixture in cool place until thoroughly cooled.
After the boil…
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl add Flour, Baking Soda, Cinnamon, Ground Cloves and Salt.
Mix together dry ingredients…
Blend together then add eggs.
Add eggs…
Stir in the cooled mixture adding the chopped nuts and candied fruit last.
Divide into 2 well-greased and floured large loaf pans (9”x3”x3” deep) and bake for approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. Use toothpick near end of baking time to check center of loaf. Cooking times vary. (My grandma also had a note on her recipe to put water in a pie dish and place in the oven, this keeps the fruitcake moist by keeping the air moist!)
Ready for the oven!
Do you smell that yummy goodness filling your house? Ahhhh, this is wonderful!
Ta da!
Note: Cooking time varies with size of loaf pan, a medium (8×3”) bakes approximately 1 hour and mini loaf pans (5 ½ x 3”) bake approximately 45 minutes.
Just look at those colors! So very nice, you can just feel that wonderful warm light… this is a pastel done by artist Barbara Jaenicke, this painting is already sold, but I did want to show it to you because it’s amazing! This was the award winner in the 2010 Pastel Society of America Exhibit in NY, New York.
Shadows on the Shed by Barbara Jaenicke
This is an oil painting by Barbara… nice shadows… they make a painting, don’t they? They add life. Very nice! Barbara is represented by several galleries, be sure to check her out!
Born in 1964 and raised in New Jersey, Barbara Courtney Jaenicke loved to draw and paint as a child and decided at an early age to pursue a career in art in one form or another. As an art major in college, Barbara took as many fine art courses as she could, while also taking painting classes outside of her college studies, but in order to have a steady income right after college, she geared her education toward the commercial side and spent a little over a decade of her early career in advertising as an art director, then later worked in marketing communications in the corporate world. In 2002, she was able to turn her focus to her fine art career. Currently residing in Roswell, GA with her husband and son, Barbara paints landscapes and still life in pastel and oil. When creating her paintings, she rarely copies her subject matter exactly as it appears, but instead adapts the colors and composition into her own interpretation. Barbara is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America, a member of the IAPS Master Circle, a Member of Excellence in the Southeastern Pastel Society, and a member of Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society. She teaches weekly pastel classes locally in the metro Atlanta area and also teaches workshops throughout the US.
I love running across an intriguing recipe and giving it a whirl! I had received an email from Martha Stewart – Everyday Food – with this fabulous “recipe” in it for a Rustic Apple Tart. I say “recipe” because it was a video link, which is great, but there was no recipe… and to remember each step when you haven’t worked with puff pastry much in the past seemed to be a little dangerous to me, ha ha… So here is the “recipe” as well as the link to their video (which is amazing, be sure to watch it first, Sarah Carey did a great job with the quick demo!). There are only a few ingredients, it’s fairly quick to make and it comes out absolutely gorgeous! Tasty, beautiful and very professional looking, thanks to the glaze that goes on top (which doesn’t really add to the taste, just the beauty). Click HERE to print the recipe only.
RUSTIC APPLE TART
Puff Pastry (1 sheet)
3 Granny Smith Apples
1/3 cup sugar (or a little less)
1 large egg yolk
1 tsp water
Defrost puff pastry in refrigerator.
Once defrosted, leave folded and roll out to 8×14 on a lightly floured surface.
TRIM EDGES – need a clean edge, otherwise it won’t puff up, she used a pizza cutter
Place on baking sheet and PUT IN FREEZER 10-15 minutes (this is very important)!
Filling:
Peel and core 3 Granny Smith Apples, cut into 1/4″ slices
Add 1/3 cup sugar (or less) and mix.
In separate bowl, mix 1 large egg YOLK (discard white) and 1 tsp water, set aside.
Dough out of freezer.
Brush on egg wash (don’t let drip down the sides, it could inhibit it from rising)
Create border 3/4″ from edge, cut halfway through dough with a knife.
Arrange apples within border.
Dot the top of the tart with 2 Tablespoons of butter.
Bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes.
While tart is still warm mix up this glaze…
Glaze
2 Tablespoons of apricot jam or apple jelly
1 Tablespoon water
Mix and heat until warm.
Brush this mixture on the tart while it’s still warm.
Painting from the Silver Light Collection by Alice Mumford
Alice Mumford, an artist living and teaching in Cornwall, UK. Alice’s paintings have depth and character. She has a keen eye for color and light. Her work is divided into categories (on her website) First Light, Silver Light, and Colour Blast. The image above is from the Silver Light collection. It’s a wonderful painting… love the layers, and the colors… fabulous! Alice describes each of her collections, here are her words for the Silver Light Collection:
Sometimes when the sun is at a certain angle or there are particular clouds the sea acts like a giant silver platter up-lighting the coastal area where we live in Cornwall. This light effect has a sort of liquid feel reminding me of silver when it has been melted. Anne Redpath painted some wonderful pictures using different greys, some warm, some cool but they always have a vitality unexpected with greys. Maybe is the stronger colours which she has under-painted with.
My mother, also a painter, suggested to me when I was quite young that Bonnard made silver shadows and that that is what you see when in the South of France. I’m not sure I understood but it has intrigued me ever since. Maybe it’s the way Bonnard places splodges of a lighter tone on top of a darker area, then another splodge of darker tone on top of that, which gives a shimmer to the shadows.
Perhaps up-lighting intensifies the colours in shadows whether in sunshine in the bay of Nice where Bonnard lived and worked, or on a grey day in Cornwall by the coast, and this is what appeals. Winifred Nicholson writes so well about how light and colours bounce around. “Thus all the most brilliant things of nature are composed of tiny facets or mirrors which reflect – and reflect each other: kingfisher’s breast, jay’s feather, butterfly’s wing, fish’s scales, flower petals in all their transparency. Each may appear one hue, but in reality under the microscope are made up of many varied hues in true harmony, heightening each other’s true brilliance.”
Painting by Alice Mumford (Archived)
I love the dark colors in this painting, it really makes the rest of it stand out… The brush work… wild and wonderful!
Read a blip about Alice from her website, to read more, click HERE…
‘Sometimes I ask myself what would I lose or miss if I didn’t paint directly from life? I am excited by and wonder at what is revealed by the simple act of looking. The shapes between things and beats of tone seem to affect me. Painting is a way of thinking through what you are looking at. Then the looking becomes more than a naming of objects. It gives you a chance to look at the world without words through interacting shapes, subtle tonal differences and rhythms, warm darks, cool lights. It can involve the abstract, your senses, memory.
‘Different combinations of colour for the palette or a new pigment can help express that perception and give it form. In particular, Gamboge Yellow Lake, which has a golden quality of warmth and light. It is quite translucent, unlike Naples or yellow ochre, and not as acid as cadmium or lemon. It has edginess and energy.”
I thought this looked like quite a festive painting… no holiday decorations of any kind, but the cool blue of the sky, all the “twinkling” lights from the cars and St. Michael’s fabulous steeple…
As I write this it is chilly outside. Freezing cold chilly… OK, not freezing cold, because I am in Charleston, SC, but 48 degrees F, “feels like 42” and windy feels like -10F… I guess its because I’ve been here so long? There is nothing like a toasty fire to warm your bones (and your feet!)… I’m looking so forward to one this evening!
A stunning painting, right? Dee Beard Dean is well know nationwide and has quite a following. Dee’s work is nothing short of amazing, she paints both plein air (outdoors) and does studio paintings. I thought I would feature a few of her winter scenes. I love snow scenes (especially in the heat of the summer!), there is something that feels like home about them. Perhaps it’s because I grew up in Michigan? Dee’s paintings make you feel as if you are there! She has quite a way with light and shadow, wouldn’t you say? I love that little splash of red in this painting…
After the Snowfall by Dee Beard Dean
Yet another fabulous winter scene, where you can feel the cold from the snow but also the warmth from the sun. Again, amazing light and shadows. I love the dark branches with the highlights of white… She’s got great color and brushstrokes in the snow and it’s nice how you can feel perspective in this painting – simply fabulous!
The holiday season officially kicks off and is in full swing. Many of you are out and about today on “Black Friday” trying to find just the right gift… Have you considered the gift of art? It’s the gift that keeps on giving, year after year!
These paintings are available (as I write this a few days ahead) at Galerie on Broad – located at 29 Broad Street, Charleston, SC – you can contact them at 843.410.6332 or email them at galerieonbroad@me.com. Better yet, if you’re in the area stop in and say hello!
In case you aren’t familiar with Dee…
Dee Beard Dean has been painting all her life. She was raised in the Amish countryside of rural Indiana and studied at Grand Rapids College, Kendall College of Art, and the New York Academy of Art. After marriage, she moved to the Florida Keys where she became a professional painter and passed the gift of painting to her two children, Terry Sargent and John Beard, both of whom are now successful artists. Before gaining recognition as a portrait and landscape painter, Dee pursued a career in fashion, designing and manufacturing her own clothing line with a national label.
Dee is a passionate and prolific artist who has studied with many renowned artists and is nationally recognized for her painterly landscapes and her expertise in many media including pastels, watercolors, and oils. Her greatest inspirations have come from painting en plein air where her eye for color and composition, and her elevated senses guide her hand in creating paintings filled with evocative light and dramatic shadows.
Dee founded the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast (PAP-SE), a professional organization of acclaimed plein air artists living and working in the southeastern US. Her workshops are in great demand, offering instruction in this country and in beautiful locales around the world. She is also well known for her portraits and has done many noteworthy commissions. Dee has received many awards at juried art competitions and has been published in regional and national journals. Her artworks can currently be seen at fine art galleries around the country. Dee resides in Charleston, SC with her husband, Dr. Nicolai Chalfa. Her first book, A Painter by Providence, is in publication.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! This is a photo I took last year while visiting my parents… I was up and out early taking photos of a beautiful sunrise (something to be thankful for all in itself!)… I was walking back to the house and saw that my dad plugged in the Christmas tree and the lights in the window… When you look at it you can see the reflection of the sunrise…
I am so thankful for my wonderful husband, my awesome family, for our little beastie wonder, Charlie, for the sunrises and sunsets, good health, good friends and of course, for you!
Dan Gerhartz. Whoa. Just look at this painting Wrapped in Winter… how can someone create something so beautiful? The winter scene in the background is stunning, but when you place a beautiful girl and a horse it is just stunning… you can feel the cold from the snow and the warmth from the girl and horse… Gorgeous!
Dan has a fabulous website, be sure to check out his paintings, they are simply incredible! He also writes one heck of a blog, so be sure to give that a peek if you’re an art lover!
Evening on the Riverwalk is another striking painting (when you look at them all you’ll see they are all striking!) – I love nocturnes, especially with that great warm light, the beautiful color of the snow that looks so real you could actually walk right into this scene. Lovely!
Born in 1965 in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, where he now lives with his wife Jennifer, and their young children, Dan’s interest in art emerged as a teenager. Studies at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Illinois and his voracious appetite for museums and the modern masters such as John Singer Sargent, Alphonse Mucha, Nicolai Fechin, Joaquin Sorolla, Carl von Marr as well as a host of other French and American impressionists have inspired him.
Dan has a particular interest and appreciation for modern Russian art and the sumptuous canvases of the painters Nicolai Fechin, Isaac Levitan and Ilya Repin. As Dan says, their paintings are “completely loose yet deliberate and faithful, not at all flashy.”
Indeed, the powerful and evocative beauty of Gerhartz’s paintings are also due in large measure to looseness, honesty and faithfulness of his style. Dan’s paintings embrace a range of subjects, most prominently the female figure in either a pastoral setting or an intimate interior. He is at his best with subjects from everyday life, genre subjects, sacred-idyllic landscapes or figures in quiet repose, meditation or contemplative isolation.
His mastery of the female figure, the clothed figure especially, is brilliant. He has drawn inspiration from the very old tradition of romanticism and symbolism. His absolutely lavish surfaces, color and lighting are in harmony with his expressionistic brushstroke, application and modeling of light and shade.
His paintings are sensitive yet evocative creations, which dramatize his bold and ambitious technique. He is at his very best when he allows himself to explore the surface in a free and painterly manner, while retaining his sense of other worldliness.
His subjects evoke a timelessness and idealism, yet for the most part Dan has drawn upon his home and community in Wisconsin, including family and friends. His sense of intimacy and honesty with regard to his subjests are a direct result of his closeness and proximity to them. A projection of tranquillity, repose and rich introspection result from his knowledge of the content of his art.
In Gerhartz’s pictures the ordinary or commonplace is transformed into a higher reality and consequently a sense of greater importance. Emotions are a vital part of his express design, while his mastery of anatomy, the human form and complex surfaces combine to make his canvases very powerful visual experiences.
About his work Dan has said, “My desire as an artist is that the images I paint would point to the Creator, and not to me, the conveyor. J.S. Bach said it well as he signed his work, ‘Soli DeoGloria,’ To God alone be the glory.”
earPlanes… these discreet little ear plugs that relieves that horrible air pressure pain that many of us feel when we travel. Have you heard the babies and young children screaming in pain during descent when flying on an airplane? The pain is excruciating. I have the same pain. Every. Time. I. Fly. I seriously dreaded it until I ran across these earplugs years ago… they carry them all over, Walgreen, Walmart, etc. They’re usually in the aisle of the store that contains eye drops/ear drops… They’re good for one round trip flight. I would not get on a plane without them… They come in adult and child sizes. If you know of anyone who suffers from this pain – tell them about these!
Relieves air pressure discomfort with the exclusive CeramX filter. Reduces harsh noise. Made of soft hypoallergenic, latex free silicone.
Noise reduction rating: 20 decibels, when used as directed
Drug free
Safe, comfortable, disposable
Good for one round trip flight. Also great for mountain driving
Tested by U.S. Navy pilots and approved by flight attendants
Good Housekeeping guarantee:
Limited warranty to consumers
Replacement or refund if defective
Before inserting, pinch nose and blow to clear your ears. For best results, always insert EarPlanes one hour before landing. Remove after landing and when the cabin door is opened.
Chronic sufferers may also insert EarPlanes just before takeoff. EarPlanes may be removed when the airplane reaches maximum altitude and reinserted one hour before landing.
For maximum results, use your opposite hand to pull the top of your ear upward. Insert the ribbed end and turn like a corkscrew until snug.
Recommendation: Do not reuse after two flights since pollen, dust, and moisture will reduce effectiveness.
ARTFOODHOME.COM 