Morning on Fire

This is what I saw this morning, from the front porch, coffee in hand.....

Morning on fire....another photo to add to the "to be painted" file.

Thank you, sun.
Thank you, fate, for putting me right here, right now.

Hope you make yourself a great day!
Cindy

Something Missing....????

When I looked at the painting I posted yesterday, something seemed off...I could not figure out what was wrong.  The far bank of the river was just sort of hanging up there "at the top"....I didn't perceive distance...just a top and bottom.  I walked outside (yes, in my pjs, no one was around to see me), I squinted and there it was, a faint reflection that didn't show up in my photo......A few brushstrokes later, and NOW, there is no longer a top and bottom, but a back and front.  Voila!!

Drama Queen flattened!

 

Hope you have a great day...

 

Cindy

 

 

 

Drama Queen

This time of year, the rice field starts showing off, with all the grasses fighting for attention, turning various shades of green and gold.  Add a low horizon sun, and the drama is downright additive.  I haven't had time to rehang all our pictures from the great wall redo, but I did find time to capture this morning's drama in watercolor!

 

Drama Queen

 

Hope you are having a great day,

Cindy



The Great Fall Freshen-Up!

I am disappointed to still not have a new painting to post.  The only painting going on around my house this week is on the walls!

Our company left Sunday, and bright Monday morning, the painters showed up to paint every ceiling, wall, door, and bit of trim in our house.  It was exciting (I love this color), hard work (geez, look at that DUST), exhausting (geez, look at that DUST), scary (Do I really love that color?), all that.  We chose typical white for ceilings and trim, and very, very light neutrals for all the walls.  Every picture, knick-knack and light fixture came down, the painters moved all the furniture to the center of each room, and hubby and I had to stay out of the way....the painters did a great job painting and putting everything back, except the pictures.  It's going to be hard to put a nail in any of those now pristine walls....I have to think about it for a while.

Tuesday, we went to the M Gallery in downtown Charleston.  The American Impressionist Society is having it's annual juried exhibit, and it was fantastic.  Such beautiful art, beautifully displayed, we stayed for hours.  Then on to the Gibbs Museum of Art to enjoy some Charleston history, art, and a photographic exhibit on the Civil War.  Jestine's is a restaurant that has been in Charleston for decades, and if you had a southern grandmamma who cooked Sunday dinners for the family, then this is the place for you.  We tried lunch there, and although it was a nice throwback to those days, I don't think it's a good idea to eat fried chicken and mac and cheese too often.

Regressing further, we did have a wonderful weekend with family, but almost no shrimp, and no crabs.  I don't know what's going on with the shrimping this year, they just are not out there to be caught.  In years past, we would catch the legal limit, and after a few trips, have shrimp in the freezer for the winter.  It is sad to me. 

Enough, I still have china to put back in the hutch, one more closet to reorganize, and packing to do for a fun weekend in the beautiful Smokey Mountains of  North Carolina ......

Have a great day,

Cindy 

Waiting

A few brushes, a jar of watercolor tubes, miscellany, pencils and pens, all waiting patiently for me in my very small studio.  The cup with the red heart was made for me by my granddaughter, the spice rack is full of tiny treasures, pressed pennies from around the U.S., pretty little rocks, color mixes of polymer clay.  Oh, and the left most object is a glass tray full of oyster shells smoothed by the ocean.  They were found at Edisto Beach last year.  That beach is still the best for shell collecting.  We use to boat over to Caper's Island for conch shells, but there are hordes of people going there now, and not a shell to be found!

This weekend will be spent shrimping with family.  There should be plenty of opportunities for inspiration photos - not to mention lots of good eating!

Hope you have a wonderful day,

Cindy

Wild and wonderful, West Virginia

We took a weekend trip to WV to visit my husband's family.  The trees are just starting to turn, and we took full advantage, spending hours driving to various overlooks.  From stunning, far reaching vistas,

to up close, petite perfection,

 

beauty was everywhere.  (by the way, please feel free to use these photos as inspiration for your next painting, I'd love to see the results too).  I especially love the ferns, and will eventually try painting them myself, probably in acrylics. 

 

Between this trip, and lots of company coming to our house, I haven't had time to focus on painting. No complaints though, it's nice to be so busy with our far flung and blended family - and I do still find time to read all my favorite artists' blogs.  I am envious of all the beautiful paintings being posted online.  

 

Have a great day,

Cindy  

A Collage - And a Thank You

Even though I did not participate in the 30 day challenge hosted by artist Leslie Saeta, I did follow along, enjoying all the artists' work each day. I especially enjoyed the collages they each created on the last day of the challenge, and decided to try one with my work. I hope you enjoy the results, it was really fun.

 

Thank you to Ms. Saeta, and all the artists who participated.  You each gave all the rest of us so much inspiration.

 

Have a great day,

Cindy