Fly Away Home

"Fly Away Home"
Oil on Canvas, 24x36
click to englarge

Here's a painting I did a while back but have not posted. I am doing inventories, handouts, and packing for all the upcoming Fall Shows. That keeps me from painting for a few days. This image is from a place I paint often: Station 26 in the Back on Sullivan's Island. One of my favorite places in the world. Will let you know how the shows go. I have a private reception this weekend, then Vista Lights November 15. I will be showing in two places during that gallery crawl: Nonnah's and Vista Studios.

What's in your Pear Tree?

"In a Pear Tree"
Oil on Board, 11x14

This a new painting - still wet actually. Signed it today. I wonder if I am finished? An artist signs the painting when they want it to be finished - not necessarily when it is. I'll give it a couple of days to see.

Alikreukel

"Alikreukel"

Oil on Board, 5x7

This is a shell I picked up on the beach in Africa. I was there visiting my father in 1980.

Here's a little more info on the shell: Alikreukel, also known as the giant periwinkle, common name for a large marine snail that inhabits shallow waters around the coast of southern Africa. The alikreukel is a large, rounded snail with a predominantly black shell. Old shells left in the sun lose their black outer layer to expose the beautiful mother-of-pearl underneath.

Painting Lake Murray

"Rolling In"

Oil on Canvas

click to enlarge

"Clear as a Bell"
Oil on Canvas
click to enlarge

Hi All. I am getting ready for a really nice show on November 3. One of my patrons is hosting a show for me at her lake home - and she's a gourmet. Should be fun!! Here are a couple that I have recently completed in preparation for that show.

Saluda Sunday

"Falling for the Saluda"

Oil on Canvas, 12x16
click to enlarge




Here I am at Saluda Shoals Park this past Sunday.
The weather is perfect for painting "en plein air."
I hope to do more of it in my spare time! Ha!
It feels so good to paint outside.

White on White

"White on White" demo

Oil on Canvas, 8x8

Collection of Laura Schoonover

My students challenged me to teach them about painting white objects. I enjoyed doing this little painting for them. To see more about what we do at Corley Mill Art Studio, check out the website. The link is to the right.

Fair Weather Paintings

"A Slice of the Saluda"

Oil on Canvas, 25x8, Gallery Wrap

$350

"Riverbank"

Oil on Canvas, 21x8.5, Gallery Wrap

$250

What a gift from the Saluda Shoals Foundation. Artists were invited last Sunday to come to Saluda Shoals Park to create art for the public. There were many artists participating and many folks came out to watch. It was a great day for painting. I had so much fun that I went back on Monday and painted "Riverbank." Look for me out there again on Sunday too. I will be somewhere on Rawls Creek. Catch me if you can!

Oh, I have been painting too.

Two Pear

Oil on Board

5x7

Back from Atalaya Art Festival

Atalaya Art Festival

http://www.scprt.com/state-park-service/atalayafestivalartists.aspx









Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park
built by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington

founders of Brookgreen Gardens

They put artists in each of the rooms

and throughout the courtyard.

Here's our booth.

It was a great trip. Each morning I walked through the marsh.

and the beach. Got LOTS of good subject matter to paint.

We look forward to going back again next year.

Plum and a Half

"Plum and a Half"

5x7 oil on board

Starting to work on the next show now. Can't wait to see what I paint this time! I have a plan...but I never really know.

Beach Buddies - the last two - for now

"Beach Lessons"

Oil on Gessoed Board, 6x8

"Look Daddy", 6x8

Oil on gessoed board

****

Okay, I'm tired now. Have been painting non stop for a month. All paintings for the Atalaya Show are completed, and most are already framed. Will take a short break, then begin painting for my November show. Good thing I love to paint!!

The second painting posted here is "untitled." Can you help? I cannot put my finger on it. Something about her yearning to be in the sea - and the father keeping her safe from it. Who kept you safe at the sea when you were small? For me it was "Papa." We had so much fun in the waves. They would be bearing down on us, and just has they got there he would lift me "high in the sky" to avoid the crash. Exhilerating. I love how this simple little picture can take me there.

Thanks for all the suggestions! Lots of good ones. Then...which one to choose. "Look Daddy" seemed to fit.

More of the Beach Buddies

"You Gotta Be Kidding Me"

click image for a better view of the painting

Oil on Gessoed Panel, 6x8

"Sandcastle Days"

click image to enlarge

Oil on Gessoed Panel, 6x8

***

Here are some more of my beach people paintings. I love to think of the dialog between these people when I am painting them. "You Gotta Be Kidding Me," evokes all kinds of ideas for dialog. What do you think they are saying to one another??

The painting is slowing down a bit now, getting ready for the show now. Framing, packing, checking the list, etc. I'm very proud of this work, so I am excited to go to the show!

Fall Exhibition

"Fall Exhibition," Oil on Canvas, 16x20

I love this painting! It turned out just as I had hoped. (That doesn't always happen!) The colors and atmosphere are a nice diversion from the Summer heat. Come on Fall!

Beach Buddies

"Beach Buddies," oil on gessoed panel, 6x8

I have a whole series of beach people going. More on the way.

Here is Some More New Work

"Billy Dreher Beacons," 24x36, Oil on Canvas

Click for a better look

"Up Near Brevard," 18x36, Oil on Canvas

Click to enlarge

Working, working.....getting ready for the Atalaya show. More to come.

http://www.michelmcninch.com/Studio%20News/Calendar%20of%20Events.htm













Here's the latest.

Here's the New Work

Click on the painting to get a better look

"Two Old Birds" 30x40, oil on Canvas

"Surf Study," 12x6, Oil on Canvas

Click to enlarge

Click image to get a better look.

"Winter Surf," 12x36, Oil on Canvas

Hi Everyone. Thanks for all the new folks signed up to the email subscription. My list is growing. It's all very exciting. Here are 3 of my latest paintings. I have more, but will post them tomorrow, so that I don't overwhelm anyone's email. Please let me know if that happens, so that I can correct it. The top one - "Two Old Birds" was an image I have been saving a long time and finally decided to tackle it. I used a heavy impasto feeling to it that doesn't come across in cyberspace : ( . It was fun, though. I changed it at least ten times before I was satisfied. The water being on the top was a unique aspect. I took the photo from a balcony. I sure wish I knew who the woman was, but she reminds me of my Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary goes to the beach everyday to eat her lunch. She has lived on Sullivan's Island her whole life. I thought about naming the painting "Winter Walk," but a friend came over and noticed the similarity between the bird's legs and the woman's cane and the name "Two Old Birds" just seemed right.

The bottom two surf studies were done as demonstrations in my classes at Corley Mill Art Studio. Fast and furious painting to get it done for them in 2 hours. I liked the way they turned out, so I thought I would post them here for you to see. Winter Surf really looks much better when you enlarge it. If you would like to know more about Corley Mill Art Studio, just follow the link on the right.

Well, that's all for now, thanks for visiting. I will post about 3 or 4 more tomorrow. Stay tuned. Please feel free to leave comments and let me know which are your favorites.

You Gotta See This

Click on photo to get a better look.

Look what is happening in my backyard! Wow. This is a plant a good friend gave to me, and it has flourished. Terrific. Who wants a sprig? I think it is called "sweet autumn." Thanks Donna.

p.s. I have been painting huge amounts - will get them photographed and posted soon. Stay tuned.

Traditional Gesso

I enjoy painting on traditional gesso. It is rabbit skin glue (I know- Yuk!) and marble dust warmed together and layered onto wood to create a panel to paint on. When I go to the trouble to get this done, I make sure I do enough for a long time. The crock pot my sister gave for Christmas was perfect for the warming and rewarming process. I sand the wood, paint on the gesso, let it dry, sand it again - 5 coats is typical. Labor of love. The smooth and absorbent surface cannot be had any other way. Rabbit skin glue is also a terrific way to adhere canvas to a panel of wood. Then gesso tops the canvas to seal it against the oils in the paint. Made a dozen of those too. Now, for the paintings!

From the New Studio

Here's my first painting from the new studio. It is such a great place to paint. Anybody want to name this one for me??

"Annie's Way"

The painting I have been showing you step-by-step is now completed. I finalized the biggest shapes and then to finish it off, I put a glaze of lavendar over the entire painting to give it a hazy look of early morning. It has also told me it's title, "Annie's Way." I hope she will like it; this place is really special to her. I'll find out Thursday when I deliver it.