The color of clean

Sunporch at Judy and Steve’s, 9x6" watercolor

I couldn’t get less done this morning if I tried. Guess it’s Saturday morning. Going back to some vacation days when I was more productive, here’s Sunporch at Judy and Steve’s. I didn’t notice ’til later, there wasn’t a speck on the floor. Not on the sunporch, not in the house; probably not even on the deck. When Judy isn’t concocting some wonderful dish, she is picking up specks. It wasn’t until I painted this piece that I notice the little dots on the painted floor match the round balls that hold up the bookcase. Clever.

Minnesota excursion

Judy’s deck, 6x9" watercolor

It seems ages since I visited Minnesota. In reality, it was just over a month ago when I went to see former sister-in-law Judy and her husband Steve. What a wonderful time it was! Judy is one magnificent cook and they have a beautiful home on one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes. Above is the deck where we had supper my first night there. Sunfish and sweetcorn were the main course that beautiful evening.

The Big Oak

Shrimp Burger Heaven, 7 x 9½" watercolor

Another iconic food joint, this one in Salter Path, NC. I pitched my umbrella in the blazingly hot, sunlit parking lot that day. Luckily, I found a patch off the pavement, which by noon, was filled with cars. I learned I can quick paint the cars, then put in a wash and proceed with the remainder of the painting. Vehicles, animals and people move constantly, and so present a challenge to a plein air painter.

Another Krispy Kreme

Crepe Myrtle Time of Year, 7 x 9½" watercolor

Back from Krispy Kreme two days later. Picking up a medium coffee and a traditional cake doughnut has become a habit ever since my system would allow me to drink coffee again. I put away my coffeemaker last year after a bout of c diff colitis, something I would not wish on anyone. I lost a much needed nineteen pounds, five pounds of which I have regained. I think I would have gained more had I reverted to my daylong habit of nursing coffee with hazelnut Coffee-mate®. Seems everything on the market with low fat is high in sugar, and everything sugarless is high in fat.

Speaking of fat, here’s the Krispy Kreme at Peace and Person streets in Raleigh. I’m happy to say I have done and sold more paintings of this shop than I have eaten doughnuts there. Can’t say the same for the Krispy Kreme here in Goldsboro, NC.

Do not is another way I should spell donut

Flip Flop Donut Shop, 7 x 9½" watercolor

My watercolors of late are getting ahead of me. Not really. Facebook has a tendency to kill peoples’ blogs. All of us are suckers for immediate gratification, and the social media giant makes it so easy for followers to Like, Love, Laugh, and Cry at our our posts. 

Here’s a painting I did recently when I was a guest of friends at their mobile home in Emerald Isle, NC. Speaking of doughnuts, I haven’t yet made my daily run to my favorite local doughnut shop. Be back soon.

Vintage Business

Chester Laundry, 7 x 9½" watercolor

I remember the first time I was asked to paint a place of business. It was a commissioned painting that would become a gift to my customer’s husband. I drove out to take photos of the designated workplace, and I remember thinking I had never seen a more uninspiring subject matter. It was a one-story building, flat-roofed that appeared to stretch out forever. Without giving away where this was, I will stop here with the description.

Not so with the business that was suggested I paint earlier this month in Chester, South Carolina. If someone had set me loose to paint any building in Chester, this is the one I may likely have chosen. Chester Laundry & Dry Cleaners is said to be the oldest business in Chester. Originally constructed as Farthing Steam Laundry prior to 1908, the business has been in the Whitesides family for more than one generation.

Wedding in Chester, South Carolina

Lowrys Schoolhouse, 7 x 9½" watercolor

I just received my second booking to paint a wedding in 2018. How time flies! This will mark my tenth year to receive commissions to paint weddings.

Last weekend I painted my first rained-out wedding, this one in Chester, South Carolina. The show went on, of course, but under a tent, not as planned. Both me and my paintings were rained on at the Friday evening rehearsal. The rehearsal dinner following was inside, and although it was unseasonably cold out, at least we were under shelter for dinner. Here’s historic Lowrys Schoolhouse, converted to a community center, where dinner and toasts followed the rehearsal.