CC's pastels on Exhibit at SAG 5 "16

I decided to put some of my Pastel beach scenes on exhibit at

 Seacoast Artists Gallery this month.

Sedona Series now on Exhibit: 10 '15

Eight of my paintings from my Sedona Series went  into the Seacoast Artists Gallery today

 (at 3032 Nevers Street, Myrtle Beach, SC). 

 I  still have a couple more paintings from this series at home, as the oil is too wet to hang.

Sedona Series Layout: 10 '15

I have been working all week on getting the Sedona Series ready to be hung at the Seacoast Artists Gallery tomorrow.  As usual, the gallery notified me a couple of weeks ago, how much space I was allocated, and where that space would be.  It is now up to me to decide how many paintings I should put in that space , and  how to arrange that set within my  wall space.  

Of course the Gallery does have rules about the minimum amount of space they allow between paintings, and how close to the floor or ceiling one can hang art work,  but that still leaves a lot of room for arrangements.  I spent  most of the day today trying different layouts out on my living room floor to see which paintings looked  together by color and shape.  After a testing out a dozen different arrangements, I have finally settled upon this one.   It will allow me to hang  at least eight of the ten paintings from the Sedona Series, and still have enough flexibility in sizes that if one sells, I won't have to  rehang the entire wall just to replace it.  

A Nice reminder of 'Summertime' from FB" 10 '15

FaceBook just reminded me that I had posted this photo  two years ago today.  

These oil paintings were what remained from my featured artist exhibit, titled 'Summertime' which held at Charleston Artist Guild in 2013. Many of the paintings from that series sold at that exhibit. After the Charleston exhibit closed, I moved the remaining paintings to the Applewood Gallery.   This  was a pleasant reminder of how the series captured the sense of summertime playfulness of summer in the low country.

SAG Fall Show Reception 10 '15

The torrential rainfall South Carolina had at the beginning of October forced the Seacoast Artists Guild to reschedule their opening reception for their fall art show. We went to the reception this evening.

Our President, Woody Bowers announcing the Fine Art Craft Awards

Of course the highlight of the evening was the eagerly awaited announcements of awards for the categories of : 2 dimensional, 3 dimensional, fiber art, and photography. There was also an award given for the Best in Show. 

Waiting for the awards to be announced.

I didn't have anything in the show, but I must say it was really nice to get out just to socialize after being housebound for so long. 

We really enjoyed talking with the collectors, as well as the artists and their models.

Artist Rachael Jones  and the model for her award winning painting 'Unfinished Man'( seen to his right)

Then there was the art itself. Like my husband said, "It just keeps getting better and better in this gallery."

Charleston Series on Exhibition 8 '15

Charleston Series

Got my new Charleston Series hung in the SAG gallery today. I am pleased with how it looks.

Spring Open House at SAG: 5 '15

It was standing room only at the Seacoast Artists Gallery's Spring Open House 

The community showed up in droves to support the event

In return the exhibiting artists brought out their finest, abstract or representational paintings, and photograghs.

Artwork by Sharon Sorrell

SAG host the MB Chamber of Commerce 6 14

On Thursday, the Seacoast Artists Guild hosted  a reception for the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce. Nearly 150 people came to the reception  which was held  in our gallery at The Market Common.

Bruce and I had a great time,  There was lots of good music   food ,and friends

and ,of  course,  lots of good artwork.

My wall  displayed some of t my "Buy local " series

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

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.

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.

CAG sells another of my paintings 4 '14

Great White Hunter 8" x  12" Oil

Thank you ,  Charleston Artists Guild  Gallery for finding a good home for my painting of the

 "Great White Hunter"

CAG First Friday Artwalk 3 '14

The Charleston Artist Guild Gallery is all decked out with new artwork. If you haven't made it down there yet, don't forget,  today is Charleston's  Friday is the Art Walk from 5-8pm, so make the CAG Gallery your first stop.  I will be there to greet you..

Boats on Display at SAG Gallery 3 ' 14

 Like everyone else I know, I am tired of winter.  When I was offered some prime window space at the SAG gallery,  I decided to display some paintings of boats this month.  Hopefully  everyone who sees them will be reminded that warmer weather will soon be  here.

Oconee State Park just Sold 2 '14

Thank you Seacoast Artists Guild for selling my painting "Oconee State Park" to a good home. It was one of my favorites.

Another Perfect Day at CAG 2'14

Another Perfect Day in Charleston.

There were lots of happy people walking around in short sleeves.

Everyone who came in the gallery was in such a good mood.

Visit to Charleston 2'14

I needed to deliver some paintings to the Charleston Artists Gallery.  The sun is out, the skies clear, and the temperature is pleasant for the first time in weeks.  The quality of light was perfect for taking reference photos of the Charleston's beautiful architecture.  Pretty sure this one will wind up as a painting soon.

In support of Southeastern Wildlife Exposition 2 '14

The February 14 – 16, 2014 Southeastern Wildlife Exposition is a major event in the South Carolina and Charleston calendar.  I am helping to support the event by exhibiting  a wall of my paintings of South eastern birds at the Charleston Artist Guild.

PAP-SE Wet Paint Show Opening 11"13

And the PAP-SE paints Charleston Marathon continues:

All week long we've been watching the nationally, and internationally known artist members of PAP-SE painting in on the streets  and surrounding marshes of  Charleston.

 

   This evening we got to see three  of the paintings produced by each of the artists at  the

Wet Paint Show Opening - Nov. 8 

While I had enjoyed watching the  artist's work in progress,  it was even better to get to talk with them without fear of interrupting their  concentration,

 and to see their beautiful artwork finished and framed.

 Their work will continue to be on display  until Nov 16th 

  at three adjacent  Charleston galleries:

Coco Vivo - 25 Broad Street,

 Galerie on Broad - 29 Broad Street

and Edward Dare - 31 Broad Street

Sometimes its about the journey 11' 13

Charles Williams and Annette Goings

 Sometimes finding inspiration is more about taking advantage of the opportunities that arise along the journey than getting to the planned destination. I had blocked off Saturday to be spent  meeting and  greeting visitors at at the Charleston Artists Gallery, but  my friend Annette Gongs reminded me that  artists from the CFADA would be sponsoring and plein air paint out with signature artists of  the Plein Air Painters of the South East.  Gotta go with the flow.

Larry Moore painting Broad Street Architecture

Some of you may remember, that I had attended this event in xxxx  shortly after I first arrived in the South east, and was disappointed  in what I saw.  But I figure everything deserves a second chance, so I revised my schedule to spend the first part of the morning in  Washington Square Park meeting and greeting other
plein air painters.

.

Broad Street from Larry Moore's vantage point

 I certainly wasn't disappointed this time.  To be sure, there were a couple of painters painting from photographs, but their work was so superior,  and they were supporting such a good cause, I could  no find issue with their painting with plein air artists.

Simon Kenevan painting a seascape.

Right from the moment I got near Washington Square , I could see that the members of PAP SE had turned out in force.

 They spilled out onto the sidewalk s surrounding Washington  Square

Mary Erickson painted

a Charleston Courtyard Garden

and many others painted inside the Washington Square Park

Figurative artists, Rhett Thurman painted her niece en plein air

Craig Nelson focused upon  one of the massive heritage oaks in the park

As did Francis Sills

See below

Wes Frasier painted one of the park's statues

This  was one of the more inspiring  moments of the week,  Definitely worth the detour.  I only wish I had had more time to see the paintings through completion.

In conjunction with  watching the Painting in the Park, visitors could also meet the city’s next generation of artists and view a select group of paintings, created by some of the city’s most talented students  Paintings  completed during the  paint Washington Square out  paint out will be auctioned off  in participating Charleston Fine Art Dealers’ Association galleries to raise money for local student art programs and supporting art education in Charleston.