Monday, June 1, 2009

Day 11 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibit

Yes, it's finally come to this.

There is a common malady that occurs to Piccolo Spoleto artists approximately 10-11 days into the show, brought on, in part, by high degrees of heat and humidty. This is known as "Second Week Piccolo Spoleto Art Show Syndrome" and is frequently exacerbated by negative economic conditions directly affecting the 100+ artists in Marion Square. The syndrome can occur anytime, anywhere during the second week, suddenly, with no warning, and tends to manifest in a variety of ways, such as the milk bottle marketing strategy pictured above. We happen to know the 2 fine artists pictured above, together with the fact that they are flying to Santa Fe, NM in July, renting a car and setting our for 8 days of plein air painting. It is our fervent hope that they will have recovered enough from the syndrome to effectively change planes, follow maps, directions in the desert (you get the drift)...In any event, the syndrome has brought them $2.00 so far, and they would be the first to tell you that, in their (syndrome-driven) opinion, the marketing strategy has already begun to pay off. In fact, some of the other artists in close proximity have been overheard planning their own strategies and launch dates on cardboard. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

The syndrome was manifesting in other areas of the park as well:
She just couldn't take it anymore.

This is a serious case.
Is he locking people out? or locking himself in?


Not Syndrome Driven - Just a Good Party.
Kathy Clark, Janice Waring, Scott Penninger, Anna Penninger, Dwain Ray

However, even in the second week, the show goes on. The free art demonstrations are excellent, and Rick Reinert worked big today, toning his canvas red yesterday, and thrilling his audience (of which there were a goodly number) with an oil demonstration of a downtown nocturne street scene - great perspective, this guy really knows what he's doing! One interesting note about our demonstrations - sometimes the teaching will be in response to a question from the audience, but this year I've really noticed how generous our artists are with sharing their knowledge of art, theory and technique. Here we see Rick about mid-way through his demo:

Rick Reinert Demonstration

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Day 10 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibit

First Place - Zernie Smith with "3 Times Zeta"

Second Place - Tyler Blanton with "Gabriel's Whisper"


Third Place - Scott Henderson with "Edge of America"

Above are the top three winners in the Art Show - Congratulations, Zernie, Tyler & Scott!


We had more free art demonstrations today at 11 am and 2:30 pm. Below is Hilarie Lambert at 11 am beginning her oil demo of 2 red peppers on a green napkin.

And below, we see it progressing:


At 2:30 p.m., we had an oil demo by James Christopher Hill:

Chris is known for his dramatic landscapes, and here you see him blocking in, then blending, these vibrant colors:

Great artists not only think alike, they sometimes dress alike-today was black and white...
Christie Crosby, Sabine Alavacade and Jane Jackson
-did they plan this or was it
serendipity?

About 4:30, after listening to the bluegrass band in Marion Square, 2 of my favorite newlyweds came to visit:

Marianne and Kent McAvoy


Finally it's time to pack up, close the tent and head home to Mr. Mullet, the cat who owns me and gets to sleep in air conditioning all day long...

mr. mullet

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Day 9 - Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibit

Mayor's Award - Best in Show - Top of the Line 2009
Will Heglar for "Always Green"

Pictured above is Will Heglar and his top award-winning artwork "Always Green" inspired by Jeremiah 17:7-8. Not only did Will win $2500, this piece becomes part of the City of Charleston's permanent collection and will hang in Mayor Riley's office for a year and then rotate to other public buildings owned by the City government. Congratulations, Will!

Today was not as humid as yesterday, in fact, it was quite pleasant with lots of activity in Marion Square, including the Farmers' Market. One of the best parts of being in the show is having old friends show up not just to visit but also to encourage us:

Charles and Gloria Rice - in town from vacation at their Edisto Beach house

Maureen Williams and family, Michele and Riley (with the pink bow) Kennealy

Ken and Debbie Johnson

Philip Clarke, Downtown Attorney, on his Saturday Lunch Break

3 Generations of Wilson Girls
Boo Wilson, Caroline and Callie Sanders

Then we had free art demonstrations again today, starting the morning off with Christy Crosby and her exquisite lowcountry oils:


Christy Crosby and beginning of "Sienna Sky"

Kevin LePrince also gave an demonstration in oil in the afternoon. He forgot to bring his tube of white paint, but I understand friend and artist Rick Reinert came to the rescue!

Kevin LePrince painting "Water Lily"

Later I had a great surprise when my friend Stephen Dauway showed up from Orangeburg with his brother Justin and sister Gabrielle. I moved next to his grandfather, Floyd Gordon, the year Stephen was one year old, and we've been great friends ever since. Spoleto isn't Spoleto unless Stephen and his family show up!

Stephen, Justin and Gabrielle Dauway

I've heard a lot from my dentist, Dale Finkbine, about his first grandchild and today I met Louisa who showed up at Marion Square with her mother, Amy, whom I've known for years. Louisa's good friend, Molly, is artist Jane Jackson's granddaughter. It seems the world keeps getting smaller:

Louisa and Molly, Best Friends



Friday, May 29, 2009

Day 8 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibit

DEMO DUEL

Karen Hewitt Hagan & Tate Nation had a captive audience for their "Demo Dual" today - above you see them busy painting the same image but not allowed to see the others. What fun - they each have distinctive and wonderful styles - Everyone enjoyed! The paintings below are close to being finished -here is Karen's:
and here is Tate's:

Today was by far the most hot and humid of our days here this year. But friends coming by made it more palatable:

Phyllis Nelson and Kathy Raymond


and then my friend the new doctor who just graduated from the Medical University of SC came by with friend to talk art, abstract and color:

Elizabeth Edwards, the new doctor, and Jeff Stine, NJ attorney

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Day 7 Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibit

Sisters Erin and Megan Skinner

Erin Skinner came by today and brought her sister, Megan. Erin graduates from Wando next Friday and is going to attend the College of Charleston this fall. She is a talented artist and we met several months ago when an art teacher at Wando suggested she show me her work and discuss her vision with me. She posted part of her portfolio on Facebook and emailed me to go see it, and it was exciting to see how she worked her vision out in various pieces, all stunning! Megan is studying science at and playing soccer for Presbyterian College, and she just returned from Scotland with the soccer team from PC. Lots of talent in this family!

Rick Reinert's Palette

Come by Marion Square between now and Saturday 6/4/09. 2 Art Demonstrations a day- a great way to get free art lessons. In addition, lots of artists paint out at the show, so you'll see lots of messy palettes and lots of fine art!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Day 6 - Piccolo Spoleto Art Show

Floyd Gordon with Merit Award for "The Bass"

Floyd is my art show neighbor, and a wonderful artist. He won last year, too. His palettes are works of art, and last year he gave me one that hangs in my studio:


A relatively quiet day - I was at work in the air conditioning, but the word was that the heat was tolerable, and Marion Square was quiet. Hopefully tomorrow there will still be good weather and the art show won't be too quiet!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Day 5, Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Show

Pat and Mr. Pippin are back!

Pat Creighton has sold my art for more than 17 years - she works for me 3 days a week at the outdoor art show each year and saves me a little vacation time at the law firm where I work 30 hours a week. Mr. Pippin comes with her each day, and he's a big hit with the other artists and customers alike. Flash those soulful big brown eyes and sell my art, Mr. Pippin!

When I got to the show around 4pm today, Sheryl Stalnaker was still working on her 2:30 demo:

and it looks like it's close to being finished.

Sabine Alvacade, one of the artists next door to me, is from Provence, so I spent the rest of the afternoon looking through one of her books on the area and daydreaming about going over to paint there someday. The feet for today are Sabine's:
french feet