Another perfect day at CAG 5 '15

Spent a perfect afternoon in hanging out in the Charleston Artists Gallery talking to the crowds of art lovers who are in town for the Spoletto Festival.  I also hung  some of my new paintings from my "Buy Local" series .Here's a preview of one of them:

House of Blues 11" x 14" Oil

Opening Day at Spoletto 5 "14

With a shower of confetti and church bells all over the city ringing, the Spoleto USA festival was officially opened today in front of the historic US Customs House in  Charleston

The Spoleto festival is an almost three week event offering a dynamic and eclectic mix of "all things art". or 17 days and nights each spring, Spoleto Festival USA fills Charleston, South Carolina’s historic theaters,

 churches 

and outdoor spaces 

with performances by renowned artists as well as emerging performers in opera, theater, dance,

 and chamber, symphonic, choral and jazz music. 

Now approaching its 36th season, Spoleto Festival USA is internationally recognized as America’s premier performing arts festival. and definitely a reason for visiting to Charleston.

Preparing the ' Buy Local' Series for Display 5 "14

Test layout using tiles to measure

My new 'Buy Local Series' paintings are signed, sealed, and ready to deliver to the Charleston Artists Gallery on Saturday.  Now I need to find the best  way to arrange them together before they get hung on the gallery walls..  The best way, I have found,  to do that is to measure off  areas. on my floor  that are the same dimensions as my wall-space(s).  (If you are unfamiliar with where you are going to be hanging, it is a good idea to visit or at least call the gallery ahead to verify the dimensions of where you will be and ask about any potential obstacles within that space  e.g. I once found myself working  around some light switches) Sometimes I use  blue painters tape, and sometimes I use the tiles themselves to mark the edges).  I  then start arranging the paintings  within that space until I come up with a pleasing combination.  Once I am satisfied with the layout, I take a quick reference photo, and mark down on a piece of paper the number of inches between each painting, and the number of inches the top and bottom paintings are  from the ceiling and floor.  Together the photo and layout measurements give me a quick way to start hanging once I arrive at the gallery.  If I have multiple columns of paintings I start hanging from the lower right and work up.  If I am only hanging a single column, I work from the top down. 

It may seem like a lot of extra work, but taking the time to do this one extra step is worth it. It's amazing how much smoother the art goes up with a little advance planning.

OMG! I AM NOT Plein Air painting near any of these

OMG!   I AM NOT Plein Air painting near any of these 'scenic ponds" anymore

Check out the size of this alligator.. It's absolutely Jurassic!

http://www.wltx.com/story/news/2014/05/05/huge-gator-seen-crossing-road-near-coast/8732793/

Gallery Hosting at Seacoast Artists Gallery 5 '14

My oil painting Golden Glory is in the gallery's front window

I had a great time today hosting at the Seacoast Artists Gallery in the Market Commons. Some people view gallery sitting as a chore.  Not me!  I loved seeing all the new artwork that went up May first.  And interacting with all of the guests who came is was a real pleasure.  I always come back from a day at the gallery recharged with creative energy.