SAG Meeting 1' 15

Steven Bleicher Lecturing

The Seacoast Artists Guild Started of the new year with a lecture by well known color theorist, Steven Bleicher.  Mr. Bleicher gave an  fascinating talk on Color Psychology that kept his audience both engaged and entertained. Perhaps the most interesting thing I learned is how serious businesses and governments are about applying the knowledge of Color Psychology. For some insight into how deeply one can get involved in this topic check out Mr. Bleicher's resume at:

 http://www.coastal.edu/marketing/expertise/expert.html?id=49

Paintings to be critiqued.. mine is the abstract on the far left.

As a Senior Professor of Visual Arts at our local Coastal Carolina University, and a national and internationally known artist in his own right,we were thrilled when Professor Bleicher offered to critique some of our paintings at the end of the meeting.  There's nothing more valuable than having someone with Steve's level of expertise give you a different perspective on your work. 

  

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

'Buy Local' series now on exhibit at CAG 6 '14

Here's a peek at some of my new " Buy Local" Series Paintings

"Creekside Beauties" 14" x 11" Oil

June 1st was the designated day for all the exhibitors at the Charleston Artists Gallery to refresh their  exhibit areas with new artwork.

"Got the Blues"  14" x 11 " Oil

I  had all the art work ready to go up, but was scheduled to be in California that day.

"Seeing Double" 14" x 11" Oil

My friend, Steve Jacobs offered to hang my new paintings for me.

"Take Home Sushi" 7" x 5" Oil

Thanks for the help hand,  Steve.

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.

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.

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.

Plein Air Painters of the South East Paint Shem Creek 11'13

Usually, I am the one in control of  a paintings progress, but at last Saturday's  paint out in Washington Square  I got a taste of what it is like to be on the other side of the easel watching someone  else develop the subject.  I have to admit I was  feeling very frustrated by  having to leave before I could  see the artwork through to completion.

I was delighted to learn that the fine artists of Plein Air Painters of the South East  were planning on painting  painting together again at Shem Creek.  

My friend Annette Goings and I left very early so we could insure getting to the Shem Creek Shrimp Docks  while the light was ideal and the artists were still in the early stages of the composition .  Even so, there were still  several early birds who  had nearly finished  one painting  before we arrived , and were about to begin another.

Frank May

Frank May and Diane Cruickshanks May were bundled up against the cold
 on an exposed boardwalk

Diane Cruickshanks May

  painting the "Sea Horse" upstream from where they were set up.

"The Seahorse"

Jim Richards

James Richards and Lori Putnam had set up inside a sheltered gazebo to paint the

 "His and Hers" and the "Capt. Tang"

Lori Putnam

 This is how the shrimp boats " looked from  their field of vision.  They had nearly finished their paintings and were about to begin another when I arrived 

His and Hers and Capt Tang

Jim and Lori  and had nearly finished their paintings, 

Frank May  and Diane Cruickshanks May( Foreground)

when Frank May and Diane  Cruickshanks May showed up to begin working on their  second paintings of the morning .

Mrs Judy Too and Winds of Fortune

 Within a half hour of our arrival, a dozen or more painters  had arrived and set up along the boardwalk.

Dee Beard Dean and Annette Goings

Dee Beard Dean  was one of the first to arrive.

Hodges Soileau and Dee Beard Dean

Hodges Soileau set up next to her 

Sea Horse from Hodges and Dee's viewpoint

Both artists had a similar line of sight of the  "Sea Horse", but each painting was unique

Sea Horse from Shannon's vantage

Shannon Smith had slightly different angle of view 

And an entirely different approach to the subject

One thing all of the painters had in common was that they each elected  to paint the shrimp boats as opposed to the marsh.   I am not sure if that is beacause it was a unique opportunity to do so for the many landlocked artists in the group, or if it is just because they felt that boats well better.  But it was interesting to not that almost everyone painted a shrimp boat as opposed to a marsh scene.

For More about the Plein Air Painters of the South East

Check out their website at: http://pap-se.com/

 or their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/papsoutheast

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. 

New art at Seacoast Artists Gallery 11'1

3032 Nevers Street, Myrtle Beach, SC

New month, all new art. Drop by the Seacoast Artists Gallery in the Market Common  between 11 am and 7 pm today to be amongst the first to see all the new art that went on exhibit today.  Artist June Groft will be happy to answer any of your questions

Creating your own sanded surfaces for pastel paintings. 10 '13

  I spent my scraps free time today creating my own home made pastel surfaces using  recycled 300 lb watercolor paper and Liquitex  Clear Gesso... and I love the results.

I had some partially painted water color paper practice sheets that had been sitting around for years.  I cut them into smaller pastel sizes (9x12, 8x10, 5x7 and aceo).  I used a 4" wide  foam brush to  put one coat of the gesso on  unpainted side of the paper, let it dry  ( about 10 minutes) then came back and added a second coat of gesso atop the first. The gesso stiffened the paper making it even stronger for pastel application, and the grit in the gesso gave just the right amount of  tooth to the surface for the way I apply pastel. I was so please with the results that I repeated the process over the colored side of some acrylic beach washed watercolor scraps.  Again.  It worked beautifully, allowing me to see through the grit to the colored paper.

I can't imagine why I didn't try this sooner

Liquitex Clear Gesso over unpainted watercolor paper

Well actually,  I do know why.  I love working on textured surfaces. ..  the more texture the better,  and have tried applying grounds etc. to make my own.   I usually find it all too messy and time consuming, so I wind up opting for more the convenient, albeit smoother, manufactures brands of sanded papers .  This is a classic example of what I meant when I confessed, in yesterdays post, that I tend to put off  all but the painting until later. I read first read about the Liquitex process over a year ago in Karen Margulis 9/12/12 blog post.  And I  heard about it again this summer  from another pastel artist in the Charleston art Guild.  Both said that it was a fast, easy, and inexpensive way to create one's own textured surfaces.  Even with those voices to recommend the process, I  took no action beyond purchasing the Clear Gesso .  I have been on a roll with my painting this year, and I wasn't about to let anything like the possibility of a better surface get in the way of expressing  my vision.

Liquitex Clear Gesso over recycled  beach wash watercolor paper

 Fortunately the universe has intervened with a mandate that I put off painting  for a short while... just long enough to force me to think through what supplies I will  need for my painting a day project I will begin next month.  In less than the time that it took me to write this post,  I was able to create all the  pastel paper I will need for  next month, and saved a lot of money in the process.   Sometimes you don't know what you're missing until it arrives on your door step.

Art Party on Pawleys 10 '13

 

From left to right: Ann McLaurin, Annette, Karen

Spent an inspiring afternoon visiting with artist  friends Karen Margulis, Annette Going and Anne McLaurin  on the Pawleys Island Creek.
 

Anne, CC, Karen

 Sometimes hanging out on-site with other artists can be as motivating  (or more so)  than the scene we are looking at . All three  of these artists are incredibly giving generous when it comes to sharing their expertise.  

Karen discussing first strokes with Annette

 Karen  showed us her new travel equipment and volunteered to give us a painting demo

The cool thing about committed artists is that they can find inspiration even on a moody,   rainy day. Look at how much color, Karen is finding in the scene above.. I was impressed.

You can see more of Karen's beautiful work on her blog at   Painting My World