Breathtaking. The sun shining on the back of these dogwood blooms is just gorgeous. They look so delicate. They’re one of the later trees to bloom and when they do, beauty… everywhere!
Enjoy your Sunday!! I have company in town, so I will get back to normal posting next week! Enjoy your day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!
Crabs at Bowens Island Restaurant, off the dock… LOOK how colorful that one is!
My “people” are in town (woohoo!) so this starts a week of short posts… I will be back to regular posting next week… promise!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Oranges by John Murray
Spectacular painting! I love the rich texture, the deep colored background with the orange slices just popping right out at you! You can almost feel how juicy they are! The table… oh, is that a fabulous old table! This painting is sold, but check out John’s website for even more fabulous paintings!
Here’s a blip about John from his website:
John Murray is a contemporary artist who works primarily in oil. His subject matter includes figure, landscape, still-life and portraiture. Inspired by the classical masters as a boy, his traditional training and artistic development has lead to work of quality. His paintings carry an appealing sense of clarity and color. Murray was educated at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) in Philadelphia. In 1991 he studied at the John Michael Angel Studio in Florence, Italy. Upon graduation, he became one of four banknote designers at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, where he drew presidential portraits and worked on currency designs for 16 years. In 2005, he decided to leave the Bureau to pursue his art career full time. The same year, as a faculty member at the Corcoran School of Art, he won a grant from the Corcoran to do post-graduate work at the Repin Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia.
In 2001, his wife Lena, a Russian artist, founded the Bridgeview School of Fine Art in New York. John Murray is a co-founder and guest teacher at the Bridgeview School. Since 2005, John and Lena have been organizing summer master classes for American students in St. Petersburg, Russia at the famous Repin Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.
John has exhibited in many venues including the International Art Expo in New York City, the Strathmore Museum in Bethesda, Maryland, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where he won Best of Show Alumni Award in 2002. He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland and teaches drawing, painting and sculpture at the Corcoran School of Art while continuing to paint. He is represented by Nichols Gallery in Charlottesville, Virginia and Newman Gallery in Philadelphia.
Check him out if you get a chance! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Garden Cottage (SL-1830) – An Exclusive Design for Southern Living by Group 3 Design
Precious. Is it not? At 540 square feet, this plan is perfect to use as a guest cottage, or as a weekend getaway situated in a scenic spot somewhere nice and quiet. With one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen and a living room, this plan has all the essentials for a nice stay!
I would ditch the bathtub and make a nice size shower and maybe see if there was a way to fit a stackable washer and dryer in the bathroom! Oh, maybe I would add a cool little square window up above the door that can let more light in… I’m not sure what kind of ceilings this has, but I would also insulate from the rafters, then cover with wood. I love a vintage wood ceiling, whoa! Plus that would give you extra height and the little window would add a little more light. What would you do? It’s fun to dream… and see, I don’t always have lofty dreams! Ha ha…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Miki by Bill Sharp / Image: Bill Sharp
The eyes. Look at the eyes. You can get the feeling that Bill described about his rescue dog Miki… you can see it in his posturing and his eyes that he’s not thrilled about a photo shoot (unlike Charlie, who runs into the photo of whatever I take). I love the name they chose for Miki… read on… Miki really stands out against this beautiful red rug, doesn’t he? What a sweet dog! Great painting Bill!
From Bill Sharp’s blog, this particular post was called “On the Carpet”:
This is our little mutt Miki. He’s a rescue dog that we got from a shelter, where he was listed as an American Eskimo mix. I believe the mix part but I think he has more Chihuahua in him than Eskimo dog. However, we looked for inuit words when naming him and settled on miki, which, according to our internet source, means small ice floe.
Obviously, since he wouldn’t hold this pose, I painted this from a photo. He’s afraid of cameras, thus the defensive posture. I wasn’t threatening him, except with the camera.
All in all, he’s a pretty good dog.
One more photo… check out Bill’s blog, it truly is filled with fabulous work!
Lawn Chair by Bill Sharp
FABULOUS in every way! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Briar Extended Chicken Coop and Run / Image: Williams-Sonoma
Who knew that raising chickens would be the hot new thing? Well, it is. First you need to check to see if it’s OK to raise chickens where you live. If it is… they say before the chicken OR the egg is the COOP! You know raising chickens is the hot trend if Williams-Sonoma is now selling the coops! These are sweet. I would love this green one. Throw a chicken in it and it’s a deal breaker… the fear of having my hand pecked for reaching in to steal an egg is more than I would bargain for… (do you know a healthy chicken will lay one egg a day?) – I think I found us a retirement job! Fred wants chickens. I don’t… BUT, I want Fred to be happy ;) so we can get a cool coop, he can have his chickens (away from the house) and I will put them in pretty cartons and sell them!
This one is cool for whoever has to be the one to go get the eggs… you don’t even have to bend down!
And even Moser Design Group (who comes up with many of those awesome house plans I feature) has a chicken coop. HOT I’m telling ya!
{Image: from Moser Design Group Facebook, who received their image from Carlton Landing folks from Eufaula, OK}
I found a cool bit of info from Williams-Sonoma: Learn more about coops, chickens and the benefits of farm-fresh eggs!
Whew, I’m glad we found something to do when we retire. I’m pumped! Lots to think about, hee hee… Gotta run, I have big plans to make!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Laundry Day by Eric Bowman
How often do you see a painting that makes you FEEL something? This painting Laundry Day stands out to me in so many ways… the woman in the pink shirt looks so hot and exhausted… you can feel the heat from that iron. I just want to walk up to her, offer her a cold glass of water and tell her to have a seat… “and I’ll finish the ironing for you”! The light, the dark shadows on the wall, whoa… Eric is one talented artist, and from what I’ve heard through the grapevine… the nicest guy ever. I look forward to seeing his work in person one day!
One more fabulous painting… This painting entitled Valle De La Luna (sold) won the Artist Choice Award and Plein Air Magazine Award, Sonoma Plein Air 2012 – {Image EricBowman.com}
Read an interesting blip about Eric from his website:
Award winning painter Eric Bowman began his career as a commercial artist in southern California creating original oil paintings for such high profile clients as Coppertone, Nike, GTE, Hallmark, Kellogg’s, Nabisco, Southwest Airlines and the Kentucky Derby.
His work has also adorned the covers of TIME magazine and The Saturday Evening Post, along with numerous books, music CD’s and other popular periodicals. His original oil paintings reside in many private and corporate collections including the offices of Major League Baseball, the NBA and the United States Postal Service.
As a fine art painter, Eric has garnered many awards in juried competitions, showing in national & regional exhibitions in some of the country’s most prestigious galleries. His paintings are in collections around the world, including England, Australia, Canada and Mexico.
Eric Bowman is an artist member of the Oil Painters of America, a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society and artist member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. He lives with his wife and daughter in Tigard, Oregon.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
This photo was taken after a heavy rain, and the flowers held up beautifully! We’ve had a colder than normal spring which has extended our azalea blooming season quite nicely. Everywhere you look there is abundant color that you just wouldn’t believe!
Speaking of flowers… are you going to the Flowertown Festival in Summerville, SC today? There is always a large turnout (over 200,00 annually!). A busy week in Charleston, SC… Cooper River Bridge Run yesterday and Flowertown Festival this weekend… today is the last day, so get out and enjoy it! Click the above link for more information!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
You know how it is when you have something on your mind and it won’t go away? Like a song… or a commercial (even worse) or Sanders Hot Fudge Cream Puff… oh my gosh. How I wish I could get to a Sanders right now and make myself happy, ha ha… I remember Sanders when I was a kid growing up, what a treat! A few years ago my mom, sister and I went to Mackinac Island for a getaway… and Sanders was there! What a surprise! Is there something from your childhood that you remember that instantly makes you smile! Savor those memories!
For those of you who got out and ran the COOPER RIVER BRIDGE RUN, WOOHOO! I congratulate you! I think you deserve an ice cream… wish there was a Sanders here, but we have plenty of great ice cream shops… enjoy!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Light Dance by James Richards – Image: Galerie on Broad
I love the paintings by James Richards. Rarely do I have a problem selecting which painting to use in a post, but these are all so good! Charleston paintings with a different twist which I adore! This evening there is an art walk downtown (Charleston, SC), and James will have a show of his paintings at the Galerie on Broad (located on Broad Street) and (lucky us!) he will be doing a painting demo. Hope to see you there, I wouldn’t miss it! For those of you who aren’t in Charleston, you can check out his work via the gallery website or James Richards’ website!
One more… because I couldn’t resist…
Neighborhood Marsh by James Richards – Image: Galerie on Broad
Read a blip about James from the Galerie on Broad website:
James Richards is driven by a passionate
connection with nature and a deep sense of
obligation to relay his vision in the most truthful
manner possible. This ethic, manifested in his
work, is giving Richards paintings their own
place in the world of art today.
A self taught artist, James has spent years
studying the nuances of paint which has given
him a keen sense of understanding and control
over the medium. James is an advocate of
painting from life and spends his time traveling
the world in search of new inspiration.
He has won multiple national awards and is
regarded as one of the top landscape painting
instructors in the country. James Richards
paintings are internationally collected.
Here is some information about the art walk from CharlestonGalleryRow.com website, more info on their website… also other galleries in the area will be participating, so check it out!:
Located along Historic Broad Street, Gallery Row opens its doors for “First Fridays on Broad” and a variety of other events hosted by the 16 galleries, restaurants, and boutiques on the Row.
Description
Ellis-Nicholson Gallery, Hamlet Fine Art Gallery, Martin Gallery, COCO VIVO Fine Art |Design, UTOPIA, Edward Dare Gallery, Mary Martin Gallery, Bernie Horton Gallery, Spencer Galleries, Lambert Gray Gallery, Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art, Galerie on Broad, Robison Richards Gallery.
Immerse yourself in a rich tapestry of artistic vision created by local, emerging and nationally recognized artists… with a visit to Charleston’s Gallery Row on Historic Broad Street. Charleston was at one time the richest city in America. As such, Broad Street was the banking center of the busy port town, lined with grand old bank buildings from the 1800’s, Broad Street has been transformed into a street of the cities most diverse, fine art galleries, known as Gallery Row.
Charleston has been named one of the top art destinations in America, with Gallery Row being a destination within itself. Stroll Gallery to Gallery, on our broad, pedestrian friendly street, browsing award winning, oil, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, mixed media, photography, clay, stone, pottery, art glass, sculpture, bronzes, outdoor sculptures, and many works by exceptional artists you will not find in any other fine art destination. The charm of the Antebellum South surrounds Gallery Row with the famed Rainbow Row, the Battery with its stately mansions, and gorgeous views.
Gallery Row offers many culturally abundant events to include, first Friday art walks, the first Friday of every month, October’s Taste of The Arts, sponsored by Charleston’s famed Restaurant Association, February’s Blues On Broad, a yearly December brunch, customer appreciation dinners, “Meet the Artist” events, artist workshops, special event venues, gallery tours and much more.
A trip to Charleston by art lovers will not be complete without a stroll down this street, There is convenient parking located at both ends of “The Row.” Within walking distance of Gallery Row are some of Charleston’s most charming hotels, Inns , Bed And Breakfasts and award winning restaurants.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Lowcountry Cottage, Southern Living Plan SL-1121 by Moser Design Group
First of all, let me say THANK YOU TO FRED STROUD, for the endless resources he has provided for this post! I wanted {desperately} to show you photos of the interior and I wasn’t coming up with any {whine, whine} he overheard me {as I talk to myself, sigh} and said that you can RENT this house at Palmetto Bluff, so there ARE images for you to see, woohoo! Thanks Fred, you saved the day!
This is one of our favorite plans, the Lowcountry Cottage by Moser Design Group for Southern Living. We have dreamt many a dream about what furniture we would put where, how we would configure it to suit our needs, and of course to find a nice waterfront {this is a dream, so might as well dream big my friends!} lot to plop this house on!
This is another wonderfully open plan… another plan where the master is in the back of the house, making it more private. It’s not a small house as the image implies, it goes back rather far, square footage is a little over 2100 square feet. The images of the house plans are from houseplans.southernliving.com – this plan is called the LOWCOUNTRY COTTAGE.
You have the option of one or two bedrooms upstairs… I think I would go for the two bedroom (alternate version)… make one storage and one a guest room… We don’t need another large bathroom, I would make it a single sink vanity with maybe a linen closet built in next to it instead of a double sink…
Click HERE (then select the 2 bedroom Wilson Home to see photos) to go to the Palmetto Bluff website where you can rent this cottage… it shows a few interior photos which is nice… Here’s the kitchen, the one thing I love are the windows! No cabinets above… Let that sunshine in! There are a few things I would change for us personally, but the windows are ideal!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
In the Village by Robert Abele – Image: Addison Art Gallery
As my nephew would say, IKR (I know, right?)! This is stunning. Robert Abele is the artist and he is FABULOUS! His work reminds me a bit of Charles Sovek with a hint of Robert Movalli, both wonderfully talented artists whose work I admire so much! His work is fairly new at Addison Art Gallery (one of my favorites… I haven’t been there yet, but ONE DAY!), Helen Addison has some of the most fabulous artists ever! LOOK at the looseness of Robert’s work… the light, the shadows… stunning!
Beach Cottages by Robert Abele – Image: Addison Art Gallery
This is another fabulous painting, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the power lines, the road, the water, the houses, absolutely everything about this! Great work! Check out Addison Art Gallery’s website or better yet, stop in and say hello!!
Here’s a blip about Robert from his website:
Robert Abele was born in Bronxville, NY in 1969. He has spent his life making images of the New England landscape. Madison Connecticut, North Fork of Long Island and Provincetown are a few of the places close to Robert’s heart. His paintings are done from life, plein air, in the tradition of Corot and Monet. Responding to the changing effects of light and atmosphere, capturing quick nuances and shifts in line and color. Robert studied art in New York at the School of Visual Arts, graduating in 1993 with a B.F.A. in fine art. Marilyn Minter, Juan Gonzalez and James McMullan were only a few of the professors that affected Robert’s early development as an artist at SVA. Robert’s work has appeared in the New York Times and The Washington Post. Many of Robert’s works have won national awards, often regarded as a painter’s painter.
Robert is inspired to paint what he calls a vanishing history of America’s past. This on going life’s passion to preserve the gentle New England coast is his muse as his dialog with this subject matter will continue to challenge him visually.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
An image from Jessie Campbell’s blog “AN EXTRAORDINARY HIKE“
Jessie Campbell, this former Monhegan one-room school house teacher is currently hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT). WHAT??!! I know! Holy Cow!
We ran across Jessie’s blog and have been addicted to it ever since. Jessie is a gutsy girl who has done lots of research to determine exactly what to pack, how much weight to carry, etc. Her story is fascinating. Her blog has lots of photos and videos, she talks about the different people that she meets along the way. And let me tell you…. this has restored my faith in humanity. People ARE good. You wouldn’t believe it! I highly encourage you to check it out, I think you will quickly become as addicted to this blog as I am! This is a serious exercise in patience, strength and faith for sure! This is a six month adventure. Can you imagine??
Another photo from Jessie’s blog… these aren’t easy conditions that she’s hiking in… I mean LOOK AT HER HAIR… IT’S FROZEN! She has run into some cool people that are so wonderful! Check it out!
Hey, before Jessie left, she asked if people would send a JUJU… (this is so neat, JUJU is a gypsie or jungle word for LUCK or MAGIC) – If you could write Jessie an email (islandteach@gmail.com) filled with words of encouragement, support, jokes or a simple YOU CAN DO IT. She says to feel free to include photos, song files or anything that would lift her spirits in case of bad weather, blisters or whatever else may come up in this six month period. In the SUBJECT line of your email put AT JUJU (Appalachian Trail Juju).
Then simply type your words of encouragement and/or attach anything that you think may help. She’ll save these AT JUJU email’s for when she really needs them. Talk about words of encouragement! This is so cool and only takes you a minute. Also, if you include your address she’ll send you a postcard and let you know how she’s doing! (Read Jessie’s post about JUJU HERE)
Here’s a short blip about Jessie from her blog:
I am a former one-room school house teacher who spent the last five years living ona kick ass island off the coast to Maine. I love my life, my family, my friends… and most of all… my dog. I have been planning this AT hike for the last six years so this adventure will literally be a dream come true and I plan on making the most of it.
Personally, I’m looking forward to the book as well ;) Catch you back here tomorrow!
Painting by Charles Williams
Charles Williams is an immensely talented artist. I love how he blends his realistic paintings with a contemporary twist. Pizazz! His paintings are wildly realistic, and I swear you can FEEL the movement from them… especially the Ocean Works… After viewing a few I think that I came close to needing a Dramamine (in a good way!)! How cool to have something still show movement. Very talented!
Check out Robert Lange Studios Fine Art Gallery for more of Charles’ work!
Read a blip about Charles from 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 Bachelors 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 Artists Magazines 28th Annual Art Competition, honorable mention from Southwest Art Magazines 21 Emerging Under 31 competition, 2012 Winner of the Fine Art Category from Creative Quarterly, 2013 selected artist for 28th Positive Negative juried art exhibition at East Tennessee State University, juror/curated by Michael Ray Charles from PBS Ar21, one of 25 selected artists for 2012 Dave Bown Project in Chicago, juror/curated by Karl Hecksher, owner K5 Editions, New York, Andrea Karnes, curator at Modern Art Museum, Fort Worth, Mary Kate O’Hare, curator American Art, Newark Museum, 2nd place Bluecanvas Publication international competition “Environments,” and featured cover artist of Composite and Professional Artist Magazine. Williams’ works has been shown in American Art Collector, Empty Magazine, 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 southeastern states.
Statement of Purpose
I explore the relationship between human emotions and the natural environment. These parallel perspectives are the basis for my landscapes channeled onto canvas. Often, it’s my perception thatI feel compelled to paint a specific landscape. These feelings inspire me to capture honest moments, showing others a glimpse of what’s beneath the surface.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
HAPPY EASTER to you!
I thought this photo was fitting for today… it’s the dogwood tree in our front yard, here’s a little blip I found interesting (from a past post):
Many Christians consider the flowering dogwood’s showy cross-like inflorescences (“flowers”) to be religious symbols, due to their four white petal-like bracts bearing red dots on their tips; these trees are often in flower during the springtime Easter season in the Northern Hemisphere. Christian tradition claims the dogwood as the tree used to make the cross on which Jesus was crucified, and further, that dogwoods grew taller and broader until the 1st Century AD, making them suitable for use as crosses. In response to Jesus’s death on one, God permanently stunted the growth of the dogwood species to prevent them ever again being used for the same purpose. Today, very few dogwood specimens would provide sufficient wood to manufacture a cross by the primitive means of the 1st Century AD.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
ARTFOODHOME.COM 