Tropical Light

A Commissioned Painting

2012-01-13T11:45:00.000-08:00

This is a sketch for a commissioned painting. As part of the process I usually do a preparatory sketch, this time in gouache & pastel, of the family engaging in their favorite sport. It's always fun watching people's reactions to the sketch. This man is giving it to his wife for her birthday and the smile on his face said it all. He said, "...and this is just the sketch?". That was cool. And so was painting this because it allowed me time to work in different media than what I am used to. Keeps me sharp. I think.

Glimmer

2011-12-17T06:48:00.000-08:00

One of my new paintings for my upcoming show at The Greenville County Museum of Art. This is an old factory and while I saw it only in the day, I turned it into a night painting with moonlight raking the scene. I titled it Glimmer because in the mountains in the background you can see all the lights from the houses flickering. The vehicle and the light on in the doorway I added as an element of surprise.

Edgewater Sunrise

2011-12-07T04:03:00.000-08:00

I have been working on this painting for a while using glazes to achieve the final effect. The American expatriate artist James McNeill Whistler once said that a painting should be like "a breath on glass", the final effect seeming effortless and without evidence of a human touch although the actual painting may have taken years to finish. More on that in later posts.

2011-11-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

Carolyn & I spent a week at a friend's house out on Wadmalaw Island this summer. Good food, fishing, boating, & friends. This was really one of the singular most beautiful sights I saw the whole week, the simple house in the moonlight with the oak trees and the wind rustling the Spanish Moss.

Rain on the Waterway

2011-06-02T13:10:00.000-07:00

Storms were moving across the marsh in front of my house the other day. The light, as you can see, was wild.

Watercolor Monday

2011-05-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

This is what I do when I don't take a day off. I was struck by the contrast of the birds in the upper left corner against the deep blue of the cloud and the yellow sky. The title is Blue Cloud.

My Palette

2011-04-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

Might as well put this up too...taking a break from working on two different large pieces. One for the museum show, one for the gallery.

My Studio

2011-04-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

Small corner of my studio showing an 18 x 38 oil in progress and several smaller completed paintings in the table behind. Not quite as grandiose as Chase's but what the heck, I work with what I got like they say down here in de ole South.

Corner of Poinsett & Shaw, Greenville

2011-04-28T06:05:00.000-07:00

This painting is the culmination of months of work. It was done from the three little 9 x 12 oil sketches (painted on site) that appear earlier in this blog. The size is 20 x 60 inches. In addition to the light poles that symbolize crosses, I added a turn signal on the roadway that points directly at the viewer - you. It is in the permanent collection of the Greenville County Museum of Art.

View from Headquarters

2011-04-28T05:54:00.000-07:00

Here is a little pastel titled View from Headquarters. It is a sunrise looking across the Intracoastal Waterway from John's Island.

Dusk on the Marsh Near Folly

2010-09-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

This is one of my nocturnes again. A little more of the tonalist side of me that keeps progressing. This landscape is 7 x 19 1/4 inches.

Clouds, Lemon Island

2010-08-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

Another cloud study, this time south of Charleston on Lemon Island. The light was perfect especially where it reflected from behind the clouds onto the far line of the marsh grass.

City View Restaurant, Greenville, SC

2010-07-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

Now this is another of my Greenville series, this time combining a nocturne with a street scene. As I said in an earlier post, you almost have to make these up because it is impossible to paint outside at night. I think it turned out well. The name of the other little building is Amazing Arms Faith Church and down the street is a Mexican auto repair joint. A melting pot.

Black Clouds

2010-07-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

This little painting is on of my Martin Johnson Heade, Sanford Robinson Gifford, attempts. It is just a little study but has a little power to it. Probably because of the feeling of an impending storm. I have fun doing these little cloud studies - I can see the river from my studio window.

Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC

2010-05-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is. Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC. Each panel is 9 x 12 inches. As this is a study, the final painting, which I am working on now, is going to be 20 x 60 inches.

Painting in Greenville, SC

2010-04-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

Julyan Davis and I spent last Thursday and Friday in Greenville, SC. We each completed a painting sketch while we were there ; he did a 12 x 20 oil and I did three 9 x 12 oils depicting one particular location. I chose the scene because it had religious connotations believe it or not. Behind the building there were three telephone poles
( the three crosses at Christ's crucifixion ) and directly underneath, attached to the building were two steel rods in the shape of a V. It was symbolic to me, and you're talking to someone who goes to Church at Christmas & Easter, of Jesus's victory over death. Pretty unbelievable. We had just gone to this little place for lunch and I turned around and I saw it. Look for the sketches to be posted soon, and the finalized painting as well.

Late Evening in February

2010-03-05T09:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a new one. I have been painting like crazy and these days there have been some pretty intense evenings which I am trying to capture. This was about 5 pm with the sun behind my back throwing shadows on the marsh. I have heard it said that waterpeople ( crabbers, oystermen, and such ) can tell what time of year it is by the color of the marsh grass. I believe it.

Evening Fog

2010-01-23T08:40:00.000-08:00

This is another one of my recent paintings. The actual pencil sketch was done in the daytime and everything was blue & green on a bright sunny day. Pretty to me but sort of boring - anyone can paint a blue sky. So I improvised and painted it this way. This condition often happens when the weather unexpectedly turns from cold to warm and the fog rolls onto the beach from the sea. I have seen it many times and painted the colors from memory.

Three Sisters

2010-01-23T08:33:00.000-08:00

This painting was inspired by Alfred Hutty, an artist who was active in Charleston from 1919 to 1954. He often did the backs of buildings and the little alleyways of Charleston. I sold it while down at Palmetto Bluff doing a show last weekend.

College Corner

2010-01-23T07:44:00.000-08:00

This little painting is another one of my night scenes, or nocturnes as they're known in the artsy world. You look at Nighthawks by Edward Hopper and you wonder how he ever pulled it off. It is so incredibly difficult to do because you have to go look at the scene at night over and over. I have been studying and using Frederick Remington's palette for my night paintings. It's not as easy as you think. The subject matter is another story. Charleston has many of these corner stores in various locations all over town. I love them.

Article on my Gallery in Charleston Style & Design mag

2010-01-12T07:17:00.001-08:00

Check out the article on Carolina Galleries in Charleston Style & Design Magazine. It is really good...

Horse Island on the Stono

2010-01-12T06:56:00.000-08:00

Well, here is the final painting. Best part about it is I sold it and it is going to a home on Kiawah Island.

A Painting in Progress, Part 3

2009-10-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

After a couple of weeks hiatus dealing with my favorite stuff - bank paperwork, accounting, and finishing my 2008 taxes - I am back at it. Now you can see a little more definition in the sky, the treelines, and the marsh in the foreground. More to come - stay tuned.

A Painting in Progress, part 2

2009-09-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

Here you go. I spent four hours working on the second coat on the sky and the water, mostly the sky. Notice that the sky is considerably lighter than the water. Light comes from the sun, which is in the sky, so naturally the sky in real life will always be the lightest part of any landscape painting, even at night. I am not talking about artificial light. This afternoon I'll spend working up some smaller paintings. I will be in the gallery tomorrow, Saturday, and Monday so the next post on this painting will be either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. I will be working on the treeline and marsh so, look out!

A Painting in Progress

2009-09-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

This is the first image of a painting I am currently working on. I don't know what the title will be until it is finished. I am always asked how long did it take you to paint that, how did you paint it, what inspired you to paint that particular scene, & etc. All valid questions. So what I am going to do is post this painting as I make progress on it all the way until it's finished. What you see here is the initial underpainting.I spent about 5 hours on this painting today to get it where it is. The size is 22 x 30 inches. I have established my darks and lights, as well as my medium tones. These will be refined as the painting progresses. Keep looking!

City at Night

2009-09-05T07:40:00.000-07:00

This painting is one of my latest nocturnes. The view is looking up Nassau Street where it used to cross under the old Cooper River Bridge which has since been torn down. I think the little shotgun houses and other buildings are so cool. That was my inspiration.

Waterfront Park, Charleston

2009-07-31T12:46:00.000-07:00

Here is another Waterfront Park scene, this time in oil. It is late afternoon and I am on the steps of the City of Charleston's Gallery. A Hapaag-Lloyd container ship is leaving the harbor for points unknown to me. Several groups of people enjoy the park. A lot of work went into this one to get it right.

Morris Island Lighthouse

2009-06-03T17:37:00.000-07:00

Here's an oldie but goodie. I recently came across this pastel that I did in February of 1997. It belongs to a good client & friend. I was not the best record keeper in the past and it feels good to be able to document this piece. When it was done, where, who owns it, & etc.

Charley's

2009-05-22T07:15:00.000-07:00

This little corner grocery store is located on Radcliffe Street. My son told me last night that his girlfriend, who lives right around the corner, goes there all the time, and that the name of the store is Charley's. I tried to capture the early Sunday Morning light. The two figures from the conte study in my previous post are standing right on the corner.

Figure Study for Radcliffe Street

2009-05-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

A couple of Gentlemen early on a Sunday morning. Probably before or after church. In looking at the work of Alfred Hutty for the past 20 years, it is always amazing to me how simply he made his work, especially the figures, yet by doing so they become so elegant. This is what I was trying to do here. They will also be in an oil painting of a landscape of Radcliffe Street.

Rooftops, Charleston

2009-04-29T16:23:00.000-07:00

This is one of those little back alleys that you will never see on a postcard. The brickwork was as much a bitch as having to lay it probably. The really cool part was the Confederate and Yellow Jessamine growing all over the same back wall.

Bachmann Seafood in Moonlight

2009-04-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

Again one of my little moonlight scenes that you have to recall the color and light, and that's after a few days.

The Hipp Family

2009-04-18T08:32:00.000-07:00

This painting took me a while to finish but in the end it was worth it. I had painted these four children when they were just little babies on the beach. Well, they were typical teenagers when I was commissioned to do this piece. They are the children of Scott & Neel Hipp.

Bachman's Seafood from Folly Road with Herons

2009-04-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

This great painting shows another lowcountry thunderstorm rolling in over the marsh. The with herons part refers to a small flock of little herons flying away from the storm - you can barely see them in the real painting.

Sunrise on the River at Folly Beach

2009-04-03T11:47:00.000-07:00

You know how sometimes you just think about things that happened in the past as if they're right now or if they may just be impending. Did Yogi Berra say "it's Deja Vu all over again"? Well, everytime I see a cloud formation I know I will never see the same exact thing, ever. Here, in this climate though everything's possible. Maybe one day...

2009-03-25T06:13:00.000-07:00

This is a little sketch, from memory, of a storm out on the ocean. I have done a few of these down in the Bahamas although from life. I looked at other artist's work, including Winslow Homer, as reference. I could probably do quite a few of these because the key is to work fast and keep it random. The title is Approaching Storm.

Fire, Edisto

2009-03-05T12:38:00.000-08:00

This little watercolor was inspired by a small painting by William DeHartburn Washington titled Marion's Camp. It's on my website - check it out. Anyway, I was out at Rabbit Point on Edisto with my family at the home of some very good friends for Thanksgiving. That evening, as they often do, they lit a big bonfire which we all gathered around. All the kids, the adults with adult beverages, a little nip in the air. Well, those images & memories all stay with me for a long time. Fire, Edisto is the result.

St. Phillip's & St. Michael's

2009-02-20T10:59:00.000-08:00

Well, they don't call it the Holy City for nuthin'. Just in time for Lent. This rooftop view is something that I have been wanting to do for a long time - just to say I can. It is early morning on a fall day in Charleston with the light coming from the east. In all fairness, Circular Congregational Church is also visible on the right. My favorite part is the light, and shadows from the steeple of St. Phillip's, on the building to the right.

Castle Pinckney from Waterfront Park

2009-02-14T07:27:00.000-08:00

This is a recurring theme for me. I am fascinated by this little island and the structure on it. In the summer and fall when this painting was done, the bluefish come in to tear up the bait. You can catch them on a small pink jig with a couple of treble hooks and about a 10" wire leader. Lots of fun. On this day, the clouds are breaking up after a typical summer storm on the harbor. Castle Pinckney from Waterfront Park was bought by my good friend Tuck Morse.

St. Michael's Alley

2009-02-03T06:49:00.000-08:00

This is a (successful, I believe) attempt on my part to re-create a period scene of downtown Charleston. Alice Ravenel Huger Smith was able to impart a dreamy ethereal quality to her watercolors because she was able to work from memory. Once I established my lights and darks, I also completed this watercolor from memory. Its small size, 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches, complicated things a little bit but the end result was worth it. I was particularly please that St. Michael's Alley sold within a day of taking it to the gallery!

Moon Light

2008-06-19T07:10:00.000-07:00

Moon Light was a difficult painting to create. It is my neighbor's house across the street and was painted in my studio. I did the initial drawing with some umber paint diluted with turpentine and then established my lights and darks with the same. The difficult part was having to look at the scene at night in my studio with the lights off, and then painting from memory the first thing in the morning. It took me several weeks to complete. I was inspired to paint it because I love the work of Charles Rollo Peters, 1862-1928, an important California painter.

Evening, Edisto

2008-06-19T06:48:00.000-07:00

I initially sketched this out on Edisto Island. It was actually about midday when I was there but later in the evening I saw one of those incredible winter sunsets with the low lying clouds and a hint of red on the horizon. Working from memory in my studio allowed me to change the time of day so that I could create what I wanted. That is what it's all about.
This painting was also the cover of Carolina Arts magazine's February 2008 edition. Carolina Arts is published by my friends Tom & Linda Starland.

Spring Moon

2008-06-18T13:17:00.000-07:00

This painting was finished in June of 2008. The setting is off of Wappoo Road, West of the Ashley. Most people who travel on the concrete dragstrip that is Highway 17 south do not have any idea that a view like this is available within blocks. The evening I saw this, the sun was setting to the west casting a pale crimson light on the clouds and the moon was rising out of the east. It all cast a beautiful light on the marsh.