New Work: "Clementine Reflections"

Okay, so this one's not exactly new. It's a few years old, but we just recently got it photographed.

I discovered a few more from this time period that inadvertently got skipped over and they'll be making their online debuts soon as well. I love finding happy surprises when I'm organizing!

"Clementine Reflections"   14 x 18   oil on canvas

Two Paintings Highlighted by BoldBrush

Well, we may not be part of the 1%, but this month at least we're part of the FAV 15%!

The online BoldBrush Art Competition just announced their September results and both of Charles' entries were included in their favorite top 15% of the submitted works.

"Lavender Lace" and "A Pause in the Revel" both caught the jury's attention. Way to go, girls!

"A Pause in the Revel"

"Lavender Lace"

BoldBrush Art Competition's website
BoldBrush September 2012 - FAV 15%
BoldBrush September 2012 - award winners

Painting Class Dates thru May 2013

Upcoming session dates for Charles' ongoing painting classes at Binders have been set through May 2013. These classes utilize still life, portrait and figure work. Hope we'll see you there!

Painting - Design and Technique
Tuesday afternoons (1-4 pm) or evenings (6-8:30 pm)
$140 for six weeks

next 4 session dates:
- October 30 - December 11, 2012 (no class on Nov. 20)
- January 8 - February 12, 2013
- February 26 - April 2, 2013
- April 16 - May 28, 2013 (no class on April 30)

Binders' Art School
Piedmont Peachtree Crossing
3330 Piedmont Road, Suite 18, Atlanta GA 30305
register online -- www.BindersArt.com
contact person: Jacob Gunter - 404-237-6331 ext 203

New Work: "A Pause in the Revel"

The lights are low. You can feel the late-night mist hanging in the air and smell a hint of incense . The music has slowed to a whisper and the dancers drift away. A single drumbeat sounds. She turns her head to listen.

"A Pause in the Revel"   24 x 18   oil on canvas

New Work: "Afternoon at the Monastery"

This beautiful plein air painting was created on the front lawn of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia. Charles and I spent an afternoon there a while back with another artist friend. They both painted the afternoon sun striking the sanctuary's bright white facade, I sat in the shade with a book. It was a lovely and relaxing day.

"Afternoon at the Monastery"   20 x 16   oil on canvas

The Monastery of the Holy Spirit is a community of cloistered Trappist monks established in 1944. The main buildings were built in the 1950s by the monks themselves. They even created the stained glass windows. In accordance with their religious orders, they support themselves by the work of their own hands, selling honey (from their own bees), baked goods, rosaries, books and other treasures in their gift shop. They have an extensive selection of bonsai and bonsai supplies. The monks also offer spiritual retreats for groups and individuals. You can visit the monastery's website for more information.

Atlanta Fine Arts League Members Exhibition

AFAL members 2012 (thanks the Kristine Havens for the photo)

The members of the Atlanta Fine Arts League came together once again to create a wonderful exhibition of paintings and drawings. Charles has 2 pieces included: "Duet Modena" an oil-on-canvas still life, and "Dreadlocks" a lovely charcoal figure study.

Some photos from the opening reception can be seen on Charles' Facebook page.

The exhibition is hosted by the Roswell Visual Arts Center in Roswell GA, and will hang until September 28, 2012.

Atlanta Fine Arts League
Atlanta Fine Arts League on Facebook

New Work: "The Flutist"

The subject of this painting is a voice actor and showman who used to do a lot of work with the Atlanta Radio Theater Company. Charles and I knew him well many, many years ago, but then lost touch. Jump ahead 15 years. We're in a Petsmart of all places, and over the store's din we hear this voice out of the past. We look at each other, stunned, not believing, since it's so completely out of context. I peek around the corner and sure enough, that's him!

This is the second painting Charles has done of Terry. Here he's with his flute, paused between pieces, listening as the music fades away.  (16 x 20, oil on mounted paper)

"The Flutist"   16 x 20   oil on mounted paper

New Work: "A Halo of Roses"

For a week this past April, Charles and I were in Gadsden AL participating in the Southeastern Plein Air Invitational. Fifteen artists were invited to paint the city of Gadsden and its environs for 5 days, with an exhibition at the Gadsden Museum of Art at the end of the week.

On Friday morning some of the gardens in the historic residential neighborhoods were opened to the artists, which was where Charles found this beautiful vignette.
(oil on canvas, 16 x 16)

"A Halo of Roses"   16 x 16   oil on canvas

A Former Student Says "Thank You"

Charles regularly gets emails and notes of appreciation from his students. I like to include some of them on the classes page of his website. As I was going through my file in preparation for an update, I came across this lovely thank you letter that I just had to share (with her permission, of course!).

It's from Heather Watson, who was a painting student of Charles' when he taught at the Johns Creek Arts Center in Johns Creek GA last year. Not long after Heather started in Charles' class, she and her husband were transferred to the Chicago area with their jobs. She sent this note shortly afterward:

"When I saw the class being offered at Johns Creek, I jumped on it... The opportunity to learn from someone that created the paintings I saw on your website was EXACTLY what I had been looking for.

"I feel like I learned my money's worth in the first class, and in each one after that. You are an exceptional teacher, and I am so happy and grateful that I got to learn as much as I did from you. I will continue to put what I have learned from you to use, and I will become better and better at painting because of it. I will cherish my notes from your class over all the books and painting references I own. They are far more valuable to me.

"Thank you so much for sharing and teaching the way you do. You share your knowledge in a way that really hit home with me, and I will always remember every minute of these classes with admiration and respect for your art. You are truly talented, brilliant, patient, and unselfish...a winning combination!

"I wish you so much continued success in everything you do! Thank you.

Thank you, Heather Watson, for your heartfelt comments about Charles and his classes. He told me how your positive attitude in class and willingness to try really made teaching wonderful. We hope you are blooming in Illinois!

Heather Watson is on Etsy. Check out her paintings and notecards.