Carolina Street Serenade

This street musician has appeared in many of my paintings from South Carolina. On my final day in town he was playing in the park across the street from my hotel. I put some money in his case and did a sketch of him and took a few photos. After I printed a photo of him I saw that his shirt had a "Crosby's Seafood" insignia on it. I was meant to paint him.

Basil's

Room With A View

This is a painting inspired by a trip to Charleston, South Carolina. I really fell in love with the buildings and the mixture of cultures. Anyone that knows my style, knows that perspective will always be off even when I don't try. I was attracted to the decorative metal on the building and the tree.

Berlin's

This image is from Charleston, South Carolina. I was there years ago and the trip and images taken there still inspire me. I walked around a lot with my camera and sketchbooks. As usual its a place that I really need to revisit. I like painting storefronts with mannequins. The photo was taken right at dusk.

Southern Fruit

This is another painting from Charleston, South Carolina. This was the view from my hotel room. When I first arrived, I did a small 5 by 7 watercolor sketch of this view. This paint was completed this year. The steeple is the church where the killings occured. The statute is probably a confederate soldier or "hero". I really need to visit this place again. Somuch subject matter.

Fulton Avenue Flag

This painting is part of my Charleston, South Carolina series. I really should go back to do more plein air work. Its a special place and it did leave a mark on my artistic eye. I want to focus on the people for my next art trip there.

Haunted History

I was drawn to the structure because of the mysterious upper porch in the shadows. This painting is part of my Charleston, South Carolina series of structures and people.

Sketchbook share.

Diners Needed

When I had to give this painting a name I immediately thought "no cows". Thus the title. Those of you who follow this blog know that I love hay bales. When I was home recently I actually stood out in the bot sun to sketch hay bales. I was drenched in sweat when I got back to my car. Yes I wore a hat. The scene is from Northeast Texas. I like how the copper peeps through the paint.

Sketchbook share.

Pink Window

A little plein air sketch on copper. I was attracted to the windows and light on the buildings. I used both a brush and palette knife because I liked how the paint looked directly from the knife on the copper. The morning and afternoon light in Pam's neighborhood is amazing.

Sketchbook page from one of my toned tan sketchbooks.

Outside Customers 2

I posted the study for this painting recently. This one just fell off my pen and brush. It was a joy to paint. I liked the body language of the figures. The young man on the corner was a fun catch. This restaurant was near my hotel.

Shadow Music (study)

This little painting is a study for a larger piece. I photographed and painted this musician while I was in South Carolina a few years ago. He had on a shirt that advertised Crosby's Seafood (or something similar). This was the first time I spotted him. Later on he was playing in the park in front of the hotel I stayed in.

These are sketches of people waiting in court.

Fulton Ave Flag

This painting is just another view of the alley way from the previous post. The first phase of this painting was an ink drawing. I then applied various layers of Daniel Smith watercolors. I tried to keep the shadows lively. Every corner of Charleston is a painting I must say. I need to visit again for some plein air work and sketching.

Southern Alleyway

This painting is an addition to my South Carolina series. Its on Fulton Ave in the downtown area. I was fascinated by the people and the buildings of the city of Charleston. A friend and I were walking back from a great dinner at the aquarium and I took the photo that inspired this picture. I used my Daniel Smith palette of watercolors. My goals were to keep the darks interesting and make the light bounce out.

Smoke Break SC

This is a small exploration study for a larger cityscape of Charleston, South Carolina. I'm exploring what I want to make the painting about so I'm playing with multiple sections of the photo. I'm naturally drawn to figures in a painting. However, when you have beautiful historic buildings added to the mix, its hard to decide what to focus on. I was drawn to the body language of these two guys in a store doorway.

Leisure Time

This is a Micron pen sketch that I covered with a watercolor wash. It depicts a scene from Charleston, South Carolina. I was attracted to the guys sitting on the bench and the people in the background. These guys were just hanging out during a workweek or maybe they were taking a break from work. I worked on this new handmade drawing paper from Spain called Garza Papel.

The Bridge Beyond

One of the views from my hotel room in Charleston, South Carolina. When I got there I set up and painted a small 5 by 7 from my hotel room. I used that and some photos to complete this larger piece.

A Bridge At Sunset

This painting is from South Carolina. I was there last year and was smart enough to sketch and photograph as much as I could. This painting was inspired by a photograph. I hope to visit again just to paint and sketch.

Tower In Sky

A view of the sky in Charleston, South Carolina.

Across The Tracks

We were walking back from dinner at dusk and I saw this image. I took some photos and now you have a painting.

A Stroll Through Town

A scene from Charleston, South Carolina. I liked the way the people were dressed and also the way that their shapes interacted. I started out with a gouache underpainting and laid in the pastels last using Terry Ludwig darks and a variety of other pastels.