Campbell's Covered Bridge 10" 12

 CC by Campbell's Covered Bridge

There are a lot of Campbell Landmarks in Upstate South Carolina. This one was named after the miller who paid to have the bridge built so that the local farmers could more easily bring their corn to his grist mill.  It will make a lovely painting for my State Park or Local Landmark series..

Campbell's Covered Bridge located In Greenville Co SC

Table Rock State Park, SC 10' 12

Third phto op adventure of the day Table Rock State Park, SC

Table Rock as seen from SC Hywy 11

The giant 3200' granite boulder known as Table Rock dominates the landscape of Pickens Co, SC. Cherokee Indian Folklore told of a enormous and powerful god who used the rock as his dining table, and the smaller peak in the foreground was the stool he used to sit on while eating at the table.  Settlers perpetuated the legend by naming the stone "Table Rock"

Table Rock as seen from State Park Road to Resort

The closer you get to the peak, the more impressive its mass. There are no roads to the top, but there are some hiking trails which will get your there ( if you are young and fit enough).

For my part, I was content enough to have a picnic by the lake at the base of the rock and think about how to capture the serenity and peacefulness of the moment.

Twin Falls in Pickens Co SC 10 ' 12

Twin Falls, Picken Co, SC

This is Twin Falls (aka Reedy Bottom Falls, Rocky Falls, Eastatoe Falls, ... it has more aliases than an escaped convict) and finding it was our second adventure of the day. Bruce nominated it as his favorite excursion of this trip. It involved navigating through the curvy backwoods country roads, past biker bars, and bear hunters (which are out in force this time of year), driving through private property, and finally hiking up a unmarked narrow trail along side a beautiful gurgling stream, to locate this lovely 200 foot Twin Waterfall. Definitely worth the effort.

Mt Sassafras, Pickens Co., SC 10 '12

 Mt Sassafras in Pickens County, SC at 3500+ feet is the highest mountain in South Carolina. Don't laugh, I've bagged peaks with the Desert Peak Division of the Sierra Club that weren't as high as this.

Of course it really wasn't much of a hike on the Foothills Trail ...It was more of a short uphill walk from the parking lot where the road crossed the trail about 200 feet below the peak. 

Mt Sassafras Overlook

Just off the parking lot there was a viewing platform that provided some spectacular vistas.  I loved the way the fall foliage contrast with the gray background

This view is across North-western South Carolina and beyond into Georgia

This is looking east across Pickens County toward the East Coast of South Carolina. The outer bands of Hurricane Sandy were blocking the view or we might have been able to see the coast.  

Long Shoals SC 11 Roadside Park

Great reflections

 Surprise surprise. This beautiful little river run is right next to SC Highway 11.   Only a  small road sign, "Long Shoals Roadside Park" and a  small pull off of gives any indication that there is anything special to see.

Great color

The water was low so I could stand on dry rocks in the middle of the stream and take photos

Endless composition opportunities

Can't wait to get started painting some of these scenes.

Caesar's Head SC State Park 10 '12

 This mountain top park has awesome views. 

Raven Cliff Falls Caesar Head SP, SC

I hiked 5+ miles along the flank of the upper peaks of this SC State Park to an overlook for Raven Cliff Falls. It is possible to hike  an additional 1.5 hours straight down through dismal gorge to the bottom of the falls, but the trail signs warned it would then  take an additional  3 hours  to  hike straight back up.  Alternatively I could have hiked an additional mile  to a suspension bridge that crosses the top of the falls, but then Icouldn't actually see the face of the falls.. I decided the overlook was the best choice for getting a good look at and some reference photos of the 400 foot plunging waterfall.

There's a potential painting everywhere you look

Raven Cliff Falls  in Caesars Head SP

I spent most of the day checking out the nearby SC State Parks for scenes that  I could use in my State Park series.

Caesar  Head SP  Hiking Train

It wasn't hard to find them.... the area is aflame with Fall color

Table Rock  SP Fall color

So whether I concentrated on a single nearby object

Caesar Head SP scenic highway

or a mid range view

Table Rock SP 

or a distant view of a classic landscape,  there was  a fall scene just waiting to be painted everywhere I looked.

In addition to the Fall color, I collected a lot of reference photos of the rivers and creeks in the area

Another small river in Jones Gap SP

There are even waterfalls to be found  right along the highway

Small waterfall along side of SC Highway 11

Gauley Falls at Table Rock Resort

Morning view from the deck

We took a short walk around the Table Rock Resort's golf course early this morning (before the golfers tee'd off)

Water hazard on the third fairway

The scenery is spectacular.

Sliding Rock aka Gauley Falls

 At the last minute, right behind out condo, we discovered this beautiful waterfall --right next to the Tee off area for the 8th green.  By that time, the course was getting too busy for us to have time to investigate the falls.  It's only a short jaunt from our condo, so we'll give it another try tomorrow.

BJ on tee off for 8th green looking at falls

Table Rock Resort

Table Rock Resort, Pickens, SC

We'll be using the Table Rock Resort as a base camp to explore the numerous State Parks in the North west corner of South Carolina.  We got here a too late in the day to do any extensive site seeing, but if the scenery here is any example I can't wait to see more.   Lots of fall color, and the weather is absolutely perfect for out of door activities.

Cantey Bay near the Santee State Park 10 '12

The Cantey Bay near the Santee State Park is off of the I 95 / SC 301 in South Carolina.  I've driven by this place dozens of times and barely given it a thought.. or if I did, it was to wonder why it had been set aside as a reserve.  I found out when I drove by it this time... when the daisies are in boom it is drop dead gorgeous.  I'm not kidding,  cars were slamming on their brakes to take a look.   I pulled off the highway and onto a secondary causeway that cuts across the preserve.  Got lots of reference photos.  You can bet one of them will wind  up being used as a reference for a painting for my  State Park Series.  Be forewarned if you attempt to do any photography or plein air painting there, there a the site has a lot of fire ant mounds along the road, so watch where your step.

Cotton's High

Large flatbed trucks with their trailers piled with rolled bales of cotton, fill the South Carolina's back roads. Waiting fields of  cotton in stand ready to harvest. The  bright white of the cotton  stands out sharply against the darker hues of the  harvested and dry crop fields around it. I've been trying to capture the scene in my latest oil painting..  Still needs some work, but I think it conveys the image I was carrying in my mind.

SAG 9th Annual Fall Show and Sale Oct '10

The  Seacoast Artist Guild  9th Annual Fall Show and Sale is underway and will run Oct 10 through Oct 20th at the Murrells Inlet  Square Mall. This year the Mall's management  has been generous enough to let the Guild  set the show up in an unoccupied retail space. This has given us an unprecedented amount of space to display our talent members works. Over 80 local artists participated in the show and sale.

We had long sweeping walls to display the artwork 

Hung this way both professional and novice painters work looked great

And there was well protected spaces for the fine-art crafts

Both Ceramics and Sculpture artists were well  represented in the show

As were fiber artists

And of course we had a large selection of photographic entries.

Congratulations to Show Director Sandi Blood and all of the hardworking members of the SAG Board of Directors for a job well done

Colleton South Carolina State Park 10 '12

Colleton is a South Carolina State Park situated Along the Edisto River. Ive been wanting to check it out The Edisto River is still and slow moving so there is good potential for beautiful reflection photos for my State Park series of paintings. Great Find!

Fort McAllister State Park, GA

It's that time of year.  Everywhere you look there is is a scene  just  begging to be painted.  This early morning tidal creek photo was taken at Fort McAllister State Park GA.

Seacoast Artist Guild Awards Ceremony Oct '10

The Seacoast Artists Guild of South Carolina, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing excellence in the visual arts, opened its judged 9th Annual Fall Art Show and Sale with an elegant awards ceremony held at the Inlet Square Mall in Murrells Inlet on Wednesday evening, October 10th.

Congratulations to Artists and Recent Winners 

of the Seacoast Artists Guild Fall 2012 Show and Sale

Professional Category 2 Dimensional Art

 2nd Place:  “Morning Mist” by Richard Nelson

3rd Place:  “Gentleman Wearing a Dark Hat" by Sharon Sorrels

Hon. Men: “This One’s For You” by Paula Robertson

Hon. Men: “ ’57 Chevy” by Barnie Slice

Hon. Men: “Why I Like Blue” by Nora Mackin

Hon. Men: “Flash of Green” by Denny Stevenson
  
Professional Category 2 Photography

2^nd Place:  “Tunnel Vision” by Pat Walsh
3^rd Place:  “Sunflowers at French Market” by Sandra Anderson

 Hon. Men: “Weathered” by Sandi Blood
Hon. Men:“Front Street Boardwalk” by Bill Barber 

Professional Category 2 Open

 2nd Place:  “Pinnacle” by Richard Cash 3rd Place:  “Autumn” by Marlene Askins Hon. Men. “Pack Mule” by Richard McGrath Hon. Men. “Killdeer” by Richard Cash

Non-Professional Category 2 Dimensional Art 

2^nd Place “Pondering” by Linda Aptt
3^rd Place:  “Diana” by Linda Aptt
Hon. Men: “Diamond in the Rough” by Joyce Lincoln
Hon. Men: “Far Eastern Impressions #5” by Ulrike Morollo 

Professional Category 2 Dimensional Photography

2^nd Place: “Baby Willy” by Christine Lizzul
Hon. Men: “Paris Architecture” by Nicholas Mariano 

 Click Here to See Photos of the Awards Ceremony

This season, fall in love with the Creative Spirit of your local artists. 
     Not only will you receive an original and inspiring work of art, your purchase will support 
     Training & Educational Art Programs at our local schools and help fund Scholarships to be awarded to 
     gifted art students.  For every $100 spent by customers in art 
     purchases, the Seacoast Artist Guild will donate $25 to its training and scholarship fund. 

For photos of all of the show entries click Here

Seacoast Artist Guild Fall Show Success is well earned 'Oct "10

Thanks to the Show Coordinator, Sandi Blood, and the SAG Board of Director who helped to make 

The Seacoast Artist Guild Fall show a Great Success

Most people never get to see the  hours and hard work that goes into  such an event.
Sandi started months ahead of time planning for the event and securing the facility.

Publicity Chair, June Groft and our webmaster, Mike Covington worked ours to get the advertising in place and word out on the internet

Eugenia Tibbet coordinated food donations, and organized the general members to serve it at the Awards Reception..

  Keeping track of the expenses and sales fell on on Treasurer Walter Cushman's shoulders

This show is the largest and most impressive collection of art and fine art craft the Guild has ever sponsored.   Over 80 artists signed up and participated.  Just organizing the entries and collecting and organizing the artwork was a labor of love. It took  all hands on board to set up the exhibits included paintings, photography, fiber arts,  jewelry, and  3 D crafts in this massive room..
Thanks again to our hard working Board of Directors, it all paid off .  The show was a great success.

You can learn more about this fine show and the Seacoast Artists Guild at

http://seacoastartistguild.com/

SAG Fall Show and Sale Oct '12

The  Seacoast Artist Guild  9th Annual Fall Show and Sale is underway and will run Oct 10 through Oct 20th at the Murrells Inlet  Square Mall. This year the Mall's management  has been kind enough to let the guild  set the show up in an unoccupied retail space. This has given us an unprecedented amount of space to display our talent members works. Over 80 local artists participated in the show and sale.

We had long sweeping walls to display the artwork 

Hung this way both professional and novice painters work looked great

And there was well protected spaces for the fine-art crafts

Both Ceramics and Sculpture artists were well  represented in the show

As were fiber artists

And of course we had a large selection of photographic entries.

Congratulations to Show Director Sandi Blood and all of the hardworking members of the SAG Board of Directors for a job well done

Seasonal Art

Every year I try to paint something seasonal  for my home.  This year, a trip to the pumpkin patch  proved to be the inspiration for this delightful 12 x 12 oil on gallery wrapped canvas

"Don't Fence Me In" SOLD

"Don't Fence Me In"

My  11" x 14"  pastel painting  " Don't Fence Me In" has a new home..I hope it continues to evoke a sense of how precious out coastal dunes  are in every one who sees it.

New Paintings at CAG Oct 1

Pastel Paintings from Dunes Series

Sunday, Sept 30th was change-out day at the Charleston Artist Guild Gallery.  Here's my new paintings. They show off well against the neutral green wall.