Virtual studio visit

I am all unpacked and hard at work in my studio. Actually, I have only had limited hours since school is not in session but my daughter has participated in two fun kid's camps here at Redux.

If you follow me on Instagram this is nothing new but the blog allows a bit more narrative.

I had to wait for a few items to be shipped to me to really get organized.

The long wall in the video will mainly be hung gallery style with a finished series. 

This short wall, behind my easel, is my main work space.  The opposite wall has shelves from the previous occupant and my desk area, which is not especially visually interesting.

The series if work hung on the gallery wall is inspired by spring and summer flora. I am working on figure studies on linen and a new canvas series. It will be edgier, rougher and less feminine like the two below.

I've got a long way to go with this series though.

Also coming later this week are my neckties, clutches and change purses. It began with my desire to have a tie made from a Spoonflower printed fabric for my husband. I used Small Batch Boutique on Etsy and it turned into a larger project. I will be adding these to my website in the next few days.

Tons going on including another possible move (from our horrible rental, hence the lack of interior pictures) but I will let you know more in the future.

Hello again

View from the front door

Hello from my new, but temporary, digs in South Carolina.

This was a partial move involving very little furniture. It included one bed, three mattresses, an Ikea table and chairs from the 80s, a newer Ikea loveseat, one club chair and two end tables. If you are paying attention to the list you will see that we have more mattresses than beds. Call it the glamorous life -- I am sleeping on a queen mattress on the floor.

Part of the lush sub-tropical backyard

We rented a house in my friend's neighborhood without seeing it in person. I saw photos of the main spaces but that did not tell me what kind of closets were here and it definitely did not clue me in to how dirty the floor would be...yuck!

Transitions are always tough and this is no exception. I am missing my large and very clean house and my husband too. He went back to Virginia until the house sells.

Birthday mimosa at Hominy Grill in Charleston

It's not all dissappointing. We went to the Hominy Grill for breakfast on my birthday the day after we arrived. It was really wonderful and not crazy hot yet. Later we picked up my keys at Redux and walked around downtown until we melted. Then it was off to the beach for a while where my oldest daughter and I watched a storm roll in from the safety of a restaurant deck.

Storm rolling in on Isle of Palms

After a nap and a shower, my husband and I headed back downtown for a special birthday dinner at High Cotton. His birthday follows my by two days so we often share a celebration.

I love the palm trees and Crape Myrtle here. The heat beats snow in my book. The neighbors are a little crazy which is better than snobby. So I think once I adjust and get to work in my studio it will be smooth, sunny sailing.

Artist Dorothy Shain

We are on "Spring break" here which means, for me, working from home is extra hard. I think I will devote the blog posts this week entirely to art. So be sure to check back after getting to know the lovely, Dorothy Shain.

I visited Redux studios in Charleston just over a month ago and it was a late Saturday afternoon. Only a few artists were there working. Dorothy Shain stuck out in my mind because of her charming, welcoming demeanor. Did I mention her wonderful artwork?!?

I looked at her website as soon as I got back to my hotel and discovered a Virginia connection. The girl sailed around the world with UVA's sailing program! I emailed her as soon as I was back in Virginia and began to get to know her work a bit.

Photos courtesy of Brooke Kiernan  http://www.brooke-kiernan.com/

Get a load of that figure! It is one of the pieces that really moves me.

Photos courtesy of Brooke Kiernan  http://www.brooke-kiernan.com/

I asked Dorothy to tell me a bit more.

Here are a few of the things that Dorothy had to say in her own words:

"My current work is extremely explorative. My paintings aim to channel my inner William de Kooning with bright colors, mixed media, and gestural drawings. I often feel like my painting is not finished unless I leave the studio with paint in my hair, ears & on my phone. These works are my fun/ wild works. I get very lost in them, don't focus on detail, and let completely loose. 

 

My pen & ink drawings are opposite. They are very tightly wound & require a great deal of attention to detail."

"Inspiration: Talking to other creatives around town, collaborating & traveling. Meeting new people really fuels my process and causes my wheels to spin. Current artist/ designer obsession:  http://www.eloi.us  - She is fueling my play with paper cut outs. 

 

On the horizon: A collaboration with Tink + Tiger  http://www.tinkandtiger.com/

     An art show on  http://www.loveyoumeanitblog.com/

     An art + interior designer dinner with  http://furbishstudio.com/ &    http://thesogood.com/blog/ "

  

I encourage you to look at her website. I think it is a fresh take on an artist's website that is well executed.

Also, visit Redux studios in person, if you can, but certainly the artists that use the studio space warrant a web visit.

This is NOT a sponsored post. All opinions are my own and unsolicited.

When the cork hits the fan-or our trip to Charleston

The crap view on 17 in Mount Pleasant last weekend...

OK so the weekend was not total crap and I will explain the cork and fan part in a bit.

Charleston was nice although the weather took a serious bite out of our plans. I have no gorgeous photos of Rainbow row or the beach outside of our Isle of Palms hotel.
 The photo above is the best photo I have of downtown Charleston and its clearly through a rainy windshield. We only ended up in the historic district at night and it rained the whole time!
The first night I visited Redux studios while the family shopped. I felt wrong taking photos but I did go into the studios of Teil Duncan, Kate Long Stevenson, Raven Roxanne, Alex Waggoner and more. It was delightful!
Next we met up with a childhood friend who lives in the area at Rarebit. I have nothing nice to say about the food but I ordered a champagne cocktail that so lip-smackingly delicious that I had to try to make it at home. Receipe to follow.

 I should mention that our trip was a scouting trip to be sure we want to make a new home there. We do.

On Sunday we drove around West Ashley that is just across the Ashley river from the peninsula. I had read good things about Ms. Rose's and we stopped in for brunch. I ordered fried chicken that was seriously mediocre but my husband's shrimp and grits was so spectacular that we will go back.

If  you are in the area, I also highly recommend Coleman's Public Hose in Mount Pleasant. Don't let the non-descript exterior fool you. It was exceptional.

Now back to the cork.

I knew that delicious champagne cocktail had elderflower liqueur in it so I grabbed a bottle as soon as we returned and bottle of inexpensive sparkling wine. The bottle had a strange safety cork. Being unfamiliar with it my husband popped it like any other cork and it released with such violence that it hit a 10 ft. high ceiling fan blade and splattered a bit of the on the fan making a "tink"sound and shaking the fixture. Had it not hit the fan I am quite sure it would have hit the 18 foot ceiling. We laughed.

Here is the recipe should you wish to partake.
I used a vintage  8 oz. pilsner glass instead of a champagne flute.
1 oz. St. Germain liqueur
3 oz. Champagne or dry sparkling wine
3 oz. lemon lime soda
Twist of lemon zest (do not skip this)
Enjoy but watch out for the cork!