Adventures in an Asian Supermarket 2 '14

The icy roads have kept us housebound for nearly a week, and we have both been feeling a bit stir crazy.  CC had some errands to run in Charleston today, so  we decided to take advantage of the travel with a side trip to an Asian Super Market that has opened up in that area. This little market can't hold a candle to  the ones we had known in Southern California, but still provided us with a delightful time investigating all of their different sauces, spices, and specialty items.  (It took us a full half hour just to check out all their different kinds of soy sauce.)

We came home with a large bag filled with different kinds of dry exotic mushrooms and another full of fresh Asian veggies that aren't available in our local market.  Mmmmm Mmmm are we gonna have fun cooking this week.

Come on Down 7 '13

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (Charleston, SC) is a short detour off Highway 17 - so if you're a history buff, you should check out their History Fair scheduled for 6 July 2013. I'll be there with the Charleston Artist Guild. Look forward to seeing y'all. It looks wonderful! For more information: http://www.magnoliaplantation.com/history_fair.html

Brian Koury at CAG 4 '13

Charleston Artist Guild's Featured Artist for April is Brian Francis Koury.

Despite rainy weather, an art exhibition by the master of photography, Brian Koury,
 is drawing in hundreds of art lovers to the 'CAG' Gallery at 160 E. Bay St, Charleston SC

Brian's Photography is eye-catching and revealing.  It challenges the viewer to pause and explore beyond the realm of color into shades of gray from the deepest blacks to the brightest whites.  His bold use of black and white  with  an occasional highlight of  a single vivid color encourages us  to look deeper at the form and rhythm of the world around us.

You can see more of Brian's Beautiful work at:

http://www.briankouryphotography.com/

Easter Weekend at CAG 3 '13

 It was my turn to Gallery Sit at the Charleston Artists Guild Gallery.  So glad I had refreshed my wall with Spring flowers.  The gallery  was busy busy busy with tourists and locals who were  there to celebrate the start of Spring and Easter weekend.

Chaney Bay 3"13

Remember that photo I posted of Chaney Bay in full bloom on 12/12/13? ( see  photo above)

I finally got around to painting it this week. Yellow is a difficult color for me to work with, but I really wanted to capture the 'stop ya dead in your tracks' dazzle of the yellow marsh daisies.

 I think I nailed it.  The painting will go on exhibit at CAG tomorrow.

Mary Stuart Hay Reception a Huge Success 3'1

Mary and her musician

The Charleston Artists Guild Gallery's  Reception for their  Featured Artist , Mary Stuart Hay was a huge success last night both financially and socially.  The gallery was hopping with art lovers from the moment the doors opened.

Mr Hay with guests

I always used to scoff at  my mother's insistence that the accordion should be my instrument of choice.  Well guess what we had for entertainment at the CAG Friday Art Walk Reception last night?  That's right,  an accordionist  belting out  European cafe music. I am no longer scoffing. The guy was more popular than the pied piper. I kid you not.. he had them singing "Amore" at the top of their lungs. 

Friday was also the  opening night of the Wine and food festival, and the streets of Charleston were filled with tourists milling from one part of town to another. 

Whenever our gallery got a little empty, the musician would walk outside and stand on the street playing; then he'd come back in followed by throngs of people. 

 I don't know who was the bigger success -- the featured artist Mary Stuart Hay, or her wandering minstrel.   It was a lot of fun.

New paintings at CAG 2 "13

 

I went to Charleston today with some new paintings for my wall space. I almost drown getting there in the torrential downpour we were having, but it was worth it. My wall looks really nice with the wildlife paintings I did at Hobcaw Barony/Wynyah Bay, Huntington Beach SP, and Magnolia Gardens.



CAG President's Meeting 1 '13

Charleston Artists Guild Exhibitors packed the CAG Gallery this evening to hear our President, Ron Gibbs, present the latest details of our gallery' operation.

  After examining the analysis that Ron gave us on monthly sale and foot traffic pattern and the effects of advertising, the members engaged in a lively brainstorming session on how we could continue to build on the momentum we have going.

 It's so motivating to be part of a group that takes sincere interest in promoting success.

CAG Wall update 1 '13

It's  been too cold for out of door activities , so I decided to  drive to refresh my wall  at the Charleston Artist Guild Gallery with some bird paintings before the Wildlife convention opens next month.  Just being in the gallery gives me a morale boost.  It is so nice to hang out with people who like art.

CAG First Friday Reception 1 "13

We had the pleasure of attending the Charleston Artists Gallery Opening Reception for  Skip Runge .   Skip's photography exhibit "Mixed Images"  will continue through the  entire the Month of January  at the CAG Gallery at 160 East Bay Street.  It was well worth the trip to take a look at Skip's work  along with that of the  70 + other artists in gallery.

 Bruce admiring the art work of Brenda Orcutt  in the Charleston Artist Guild gallery.

My Wall at CAG Nov.'12

I have three of my pastels of the local dunes up in the Charleston Artist Guild

CAG Miniature Holiday Art Sale '12

This year CAG put up two Christmas trees in the gallery.  One tree was for CAG members who had been jurried into exhibiting status,  and the other was for exhibiting members who are in the CAG gallery

Exhibitors are  allowed to hang small affordable miniature artwork on their respective tree.  You may remember that last year I put two serious holiday still lifes on the tree, and a playful Surfing Santa. The still lifes sold almost instantly, but the Santa did not find a home. Honestly I was kinda glad that he didn't, as I really would have liked to have him in my own home.

This year caught me short on paintings and Bruce talked me into putting Santa back on the CAG Tree.
Wouldn't you know it.  He sold within two days.  Now I may have to  repaint one for myself.

Brookgreen Gardens Cool Summer Evenings '12

Once again, Brookgreen Gardens  has created the ultimate stage for Cool Summer Evenings 2012. This season, the curtain rises on a series of exciting and varied musical offerings.  Our favorite was the  Thistledown Tinkers, the powerful music duo featuring Trip Rogers and Tom Eure, weave traditional Scottish and Irish music with original creations that sets the stage on fire. With an impressive arsenal of instruments including guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, dulcimer, and concertina, their stage presence creates a rebel rousing party that not only draws fans in, but makes them feel like a part of the show.

CAG Reception for Mary Johnson Voss 5'12

Mary, Ernie, and Guest

 The Charleston Artist Gallery sponsored a wonderful French Quarter Art  Walk Reception  for their featured artist: Mary Johnson Voss, on Friday May 4.

The promise of great art, good food, cold drinks and live entertainment kept pulling in  art lovers  of all ages off of Charleston's bustling East Bay Street.

Robin Harris and Tommy Gill

Mary's husband, Ernie chatting with a future  art collector

Mark Kelvin Presents at Charleston Artist Guild 4'12

Mark Horton

Landscape artist Mark Kelvin gave a presentation on ways of finding inspiration at the Charleston Artist Guild’s General Meeting last night ( 4/10/12).  He emphasized:

The importance of sketching regularly

Mark and some small pencil sketches

  Regularly analyzing all your recent works together as a set to gain insight into what is working for you and what is not.

 And he gave tips on plein air painting while traveling.

Mark is the co-owner of the Horton Hayes Gallery in downtown Charleston  . You can learn more about Mark and his work at
http://www.hortonhayes.com/Artist-Detail.cfm?ArtistsID=284

CAG Miniature Art Sale '11

The Charleston artist Guild has put up a Christmas tree and is allowing its exhibitors to decorate it with miniature  art.  First I painted two serious holiday still lifes oil paintings

  But then the project brought out a playful side in me , and I painted a Surfing Santa  for the tree. It seemed appropriate since everywhere I have ever lived, there have been surfers at the beach on Christmas day.

Veteran's Day in Charleston Oct '11

I  was gallery sitting at the Charleston Artist Gallery today when I heard a loud roar of motorcycles.  

 Looking out the front door onto East Bay Street I saw a huge platoon of riders each carrying a flag representing the  branch and division of the military  they had served in.

 These were followed by several blocks of floats carrying  retired military personnel from each of the armed forces and their families

 

As did military support organizations

 Not to be outdone,  active service men and women paraded in formation,

 some with mascots. 

And, of course, there were several military schools represented, and lots of ROTC  units.

Interestingly there was not a single marching band; there was not even a loudspeaker broadcasting marching music..  Instead the different units too glee in trying to outshout one another with their lusty military marching chants.  All told the parade took nearly two hours to pass from first riders to the last motorcade.

But hey!  Waddja expect.  ITS (Its the South)  We love our Armed Forces here.

Painting sold 10 '11

BJ's Boat

Ta Dah! Charleston Artists Gallery called me last night to tell me they had just sold one of my paintings, and would I please bring a replacement ASAP. I'd only been hanging there for 2 weeks. I knew I would be worth the drive :))

Now Showing at Charleston Artist Guild Gallery 10 '11

You may remember from an earlier post this summer that I have been accepted into the Charleston Artist Guild Gallery  on East Bay Street.  October 1st was the  installation day. 



 In a lot of  galleries,  a new artist is often e relegated to spaces the back of gallery.  Imagine my surprise when I found my work was placed on the main corridor and clearly visible from the entrance. 



What a wonderful start!.

Combining Business and Pleasure in CA 12'10

 When CC learned she would be taking a business trip to California to check on her house rental,  She also arranged for some extra time to  visit with my family and friends  during the week of Dec 5 - 12 and promptly got busy lining up  appointments so that she didn't miss anyone  while she was there.

CC and Ellen Grun

First stop after my arrival  was a visit the rental house in California.  After meeting with the current tenant and  soliciting bids for service from several contractors, I was starving, and was delighted that my friend and former co-worker, Ellen Grun  could meet with me for dinner.  Ellen Joined HP the same year I did, so we have a long history together. It was so nice catching up on each others lives.

Next I went back to the rental and met again with the tenant and this time spoke with my gardener about  things I wanted done around the yard.

The next day, after meeting with  the  termite contractor again I went to spend the evening with  my Mom and her husband Ray

I also had a nice time playing with their two dogs

Filipe

and Roxy
After several more calls and discussions with contractors about minor repairs,  I finally was able to turn my attention a toward my daughter and her family in San Diego

Laura and I

 Laura and her husband David

 CC, Dylan, and Ryan

CC and Dylan

While my daughter was still working, Laura did  take a day off to spend some time with me

and show me the classroom where she teaches

She also let the boys stay home one day so we could bake Christmas cookies together

Dropping the dough onto  the sheet in small balls

Learning to break and egg

and Dylans favorite.... mixing in chocolate chips

 Scattering the white chocolate

In the evenings we went to see holiday displays

like the creche set 

at their beautiful Morman Temple

or this lovely display of Christmas Decorations, gingerbread houses and Christmas trees 

 The week went by all too quickly and much of it was spent on business,

 but I am glad I had a few moments to spend with the people I love.