Staying on Course 5 '13

My Business Plan calls for me two enter a National Competition this year, so I submitted two of my new State Park Series paintings in the Ray Mar 7th Annual Art Competition. Only twelve artists out of hundreds are juried into the competition each month. Then only the "Best in show" those 12 selections make it into the competition for cash prizes . While a cash prize is nice, even being selected as a monthly finalist is a Big Deal. Galleries and collectors take notice and reputations sky-rocket, so the competition is really fierce. I'm just glad that my work has progressed to the level that I feel comfortable entering it into a national Competition.

Huntington Beach State Park Camp Out 5 '13

Bruce and I spent out weekend RV Camping in Huntington Beach State Park, SC.

For those of you who haven't visited this jewel, it boasts a five mile stretch of ocean facing beach.

  it boasts a five mile stretch of ocean facing beach, 

 Miles of Maritime forests

 with hiking and bicycle trail access

 

 A saltwater marsh

 with great bird watching opportunities

 

 Several fresh water Marshes

 

 With equally great  wildlife watching

And lots and lots  of choices for recreational activities for people of all ages and interests.

Pretty Place BUT Keep Your Eyes Open 5"13

I  was walking along this Bull Island road just after sunrise  taking photos of the fresh water pond on the west of the road,  when I saw this  9 foot +  alligator submerging into the pond.  The driver of our transport vehicle was  wandering  along the edge of the pond farther  off of  the east side of the road. Alligators don't normally come out of the middle of a  pond to chase you, so I wasn't worried.

  On the ride back to the boat, the whole group spotted another monstrous  alligator crossing the road from east to west. It was moving too fast for any of us to get a photo, but when it's snout reached the west side of the road , it's tail was still hanging over the eastern bank.  It's a wonder both the driver and I didn't wind up being a breakfast snack.

Trip to Bull ISland, SC 5 '13

 Wednesday saw Bruce and I getting up at 2 am to join a photo shoot on Bull Island, SC sponsored by the Seacoast Artists Guild.    Fifteen members of the Guild  met at Pawleys Island to car caravan to  Garris Landing.

 

 From there we picked up a ferry which would take us both ways

to  and from  the leeward  landing on Bulls Island .

 From there we all piled in an open air truck which transported across the island

 

From there we all piled in an open air truck which transported across the island  to Boneyard Beach on the Atlantic coast in time to see the sunrise

to Boneyard Beach on the Atlantic coast in time to see the sunrise.

 Ostensibly photographing the sunrise was the main purpose of the trip. 

 

 Not too surprisingly most of the participants, including my husband Bruce,  were photographers; only a couple of us were painters by avocation. I'm sure many of the images caught by the camera folk will be much better quality photographs than mine

but I am happy with my results. What my pictures may lack for in photographic skills, they more than made up for as reference material for future paintings

 Part of the 62,000-acre Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge,the secluded beaches of Bulls Island, South Carolina

 

 has something for everyone including photographers, a painters  

 history buffs, 

 

 nature lovers 

or those who just want to get away for a day of exploring.  All too soon we had to return to the mainland.

  Goodby Bull Island.  We'll miss you.

Happy Mother's Day 5"13

Met my first Rhododendrons this week.  What a beautiful flower... like a cross between a Martha Washington Geranium and an Azalea  on steroids

.  Happy Mother's Day, Everyone.

Touring the Sandhills Area of NC 5"13

One can only spend so much time on golf courses before the muscles and the wallet give out.  So a little time each day was spent exploring the area

We were a bit disappointed.  For an area of such wealth, there is a surprising lack of community interest in fine art and craft.  We located the small Southern Pines Artist League Gallery,  located in the historic Campbell House (above) , and visited the Exchange Street Gallery, home of the Artist League of the Sandhills, located in an old railway warehouse in Aberdeen.  But other than that, fine art painting  galleries were few and far between.  

A Seagrove pottery Studio

 Slightly further afield the story changes.  Seagrove NC,s located in the next county north west of Pinehurst, is a mecca for potters. There are so many pottery studios in the area that the State of North Carolina has designated one of the roads as the "Pottery Highway"  with signposts marking the way from the freeway for visitors to follow.  It's worth touring that road if just for the lovely scenery along the way.

Another Seagrove view

  We visited the NC Pottery Center  in Seagrove and were fortunate enough to catch the opening of the "Big Red: Chrome Red and Other Red Glazes of the North Carolina Piedmont" exhibit ( May 10- July 2, North Carolina Pottery Center,233 East Avenue PO Box 531, Seagrove, NC 27341). 

NC Pottery Center

 
On display was  an extraordinary and exhilarating collection of historical and contemporary red glazes from across North Carolina’s rich Piedmont. We spent a good two hours comparing and contrasting the old and the new in one of the most remarkable collections of beautiful chrome red glazes assembled in North Carolina.

Perhaps our favorite find of the week was the Pisgah Covered Bridge.  This interesting structure, one of North Carolina's two remaining historic covered bridges. Built in 1911 at a cost of $40, the bridge is 54 feet in length and crosses the West Fork Branch of the Little River within the Uwharrie National Forest.

 

 Had it not been raining it would have been a  great place for a picnic.  Rain or not, it will make a great addition to my collection of paintings of historic places.

Pinehurst Country Club and Golf Course 5'13

Pinehurst Country Club and Golf Course is one of the finest golf resorts in the country, offering eight championship golf courses, world class tennis and spa facilities, conference meeting facilities, dining rooms, and fabulous gift shops with a selection of golfing merchandise to die for.  

The stories of champions and the traditions of championship golf have been created at Pinehurst since 1898. As the site of more championships than any other golf course in the country. Pinehurst welcomes the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open Championships in 2014.   Walking down the hall to the pro shop you pass trophy's, memorabilia and photos of all of the Biggest Names of Golf who have played there over the past century.  It's more than a little intimidating.

You do not have to be a champion to play a championship golf course.  Pinehurst features 8 unique golf courses, making us the largest golf resort in America. Ross, Fazio, Maples, Jones and most recently, Coore & Crenshaw have made each course a unique test of golf. Pinehurst No. 2, No. 8 and No. 4 are consistently ranked among the world's best, while Nos. 1 & 3 reflect Donald Ross's most original Pinehurst works.

We chose to play the No 1 course which  is the most scenic and picturesque and the most true to its original turn of the century design. Don't let the short 6,089-yard par 70 fool you - it's more of a challenge than it first appears. The course was graded with mules which gives it a distinct character.   Wild drives or a sloppy short game  on this course can make for a long day. 

 Like the famous No. 2 course , there are crowned greens on No. 1 but they aren't quite as severe. That's good, because CC's only been playing for 6 months so it was nice to find that Pinehurst offers a course that was within her skill level and would still challenge Bruce. The 11th hole is one of the toughest par 3s we  have ever played. The hole plays up-hill and over water with a tiny green that is nearly impossible to hit in regulation. - 

As with any course bearing Ross's name,the  No 1 course is ultimately very playable without losing its challenge . Bruce wound up with a score of 97 and CC had 107.  Given the challenge, we were both elated with our results.

Golfing Foxfire Country Club 5 '13

BJ teeing off from Foxfire

The Sandhills District of North Carolina is home to about 40 high quality golf courses,  so it seemed a good destination for belatedly celebrating Bruce's Birthday with a golfing holiday.

 

Foxfire Country Cub and Golf Course offers two  18 hole courses

 It features lots of rolling hills, and challenging  links that are played around and across large water features.

The first nine holes of the Grey Fox course was our favorite because of all of the wildlife we saw.

The Canada Geese were everywhere

 

 And one could get up close and personal with the enormous pileated woodpeckers

In addition to being one of the prettiest course in the area, Foxfire is  also one of the most affordable.  We would definitely recommend your playing a round here if you are ever in the area. Foxfire is located about 6 miles due west from the village of Pinehurst

Grand Opening of Seacoast Artists Guild Gallery at the Market Common 5'13

This evening the Seacoast Artists Guild officially opened its new gallery at The Market Common. President Woody Bower kicked the event of with a ribbon cutting and a word of praise to all those who worked so hard to make this event possible.

 

Joining Woody in the Welcoming remarks was The Market Common Representative, Brooke.

 Both had especially high praise for our Publicity Chair, June Groft, who spear-headed the project from Day one.

The event was well attend by the artists, their families and friends, as well as the general public.

The live demonstrations put on by artists

Muralist, April Bensch (with Maria Delaney)

Sculpture Marlene Askin (with Margaret)

Painter, Sharon Sorrell

and Wood Carver, Richard Cash and Jeweler Doug Elder all drew special attention from the TV and local news media.

Of course, refreshments prepared by our hardworking behind the scene staff were a favorite with everyone

Congratulations, Seacoast Artists Guild members.  You did a great job.

Check out what the local press had to say about the event

http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=893565#.UYUgRUrhfpy