Riverwalk, Rock Hill, SC

8x8, oil on canvas panel, Daily Paintworks

I painted this river scene about two week ago and forgot to post it.  This is one of those Tuesday morning paintings I do with my plein air group.  Lately it's been too cold or raining, or both, and we don't plan to get together until after the holidays.

I'm sure everyone is busy, and since I am expecting company, I won't be posting regularly untill January.  However, I will still be painting some--just may not get things finished.

Happy Holidays Everyone--Hope it's the best one yet!

Wire, Gastonia, NC

5x7, oil on canvas panel, 70.00, Daily Paintworks

I finished this one up last night from a photo I took in sort of a gritty part of town.  Too much blue?

Rae House, Charlotte, NC

8x10, oil on canvas panel, 100.00, Daily Paintworks  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/rae-house-charlotte-nc/106167

This is an example of enhancing a scene.  I painted a side view of the porch with two shrubs along the bottom.  I got it home and wondered What Was I Thinking???--the worst composition in the universe, very little of interest, and a large rectangle on the right of nothing other than a nice shadow pattern.  I briefly thought about parking a bicycle there, but decided that would just add to the problem of too much "stuff" on the bottom one forth.  In a brief shinning moment, I let the shrubbery grow, added some blossoms, and let something (roses?) grow up the boring rectangle.  I think it worked.

The Rae House was moved to the corner of Providence and Alexander several years ago.  It is now for sale--would make a great bed and breakfast or an event place.  I assume it was the home of the original family for whom Rae Road was named.

The Advancing Cloud

9x11, oil, canvas panel, Daily Paintworks, http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/the-advancing-cloud/105790

I just returned from keeping the grandchildren for a week while the parents went out of town.  I had much fun, but am glad to be home and painting again

This scene is in Florida and from a photo I took several years ago.  The photo was bland and unbalanced, so I did the cloud trick, making it moody and giving a dark to the right side of the
composition.

If you live in Charlotte, my work will be displayed at Earth Fare in January.

Bend in the Creek (sold)

oil on canvas panel, 14x11, 200.00, Daily Paintworks,  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/bend-in-the-creek/103889

Another painting of Little Sugar Creek, a fantastic place for plein air painting.  For anyone who lives in Charlotte, this scene is the part of the creek that runs along Freedom Park.  My painting friend, Carol, took me there and it was love at first sight

Kezar Lake, Maine

5x7, oil on canvas panel, 50.00, Daily Paintworks, http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/kezar-lake-maine/102999

Several years ago I spent some time in Maine.  This is another palette knife painting from a photo I took of Kezar.

Hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving.  I'll be busy with TG and then will be keeping the grandchilren.  Don't expect too many posts!!!

Monday Morning (sold)

5x7, oil on canvas panel, 50.00, Daily Paintworks,  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/monday-morning/102772


I have been working on larger commission pieces lately and have neglected smaller paintings.  I decided to do a small, entirely by palette knife, painting at the beginning of each session to loosen up
and increase my knife painting skills.   So-o-o-o satisfying!

Little Sugar Creek, Charlotte, NC

9x11, oil on canvas panel, 200.00, Daily Paintworks, http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/little-sugar-creek-charlotte-nc/102299

My painting friends and I took our gear down an incline covered with a carpet of leaves, trying not to slip or slide, to get to this marvelous view of Little Sugar Creek.  We weren't actually in the water but close.  It was one of those perfect temperature fall days.

Barn, Union County, NC

8x8, oil on canvas panel, 90.00, http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/barn-union-county-nc/101214

All the paint on this canvas was applied by brush, but it is loaded in some places and looks a little
like palette knife work.

I think it has more contrast than pictured, but I was unable to make the camera obey me.

Trees and Reflections

8x10, oil on raymar panel, Daily Paintworks, 100.00, http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/trees-and-reflections/100463

This is Pearson Pond which I have painted many times.  I love the different views, and I love it in the different seasons.  At one time it was full of fish.  We could fish in the morning and have fish for lunch--talk about fresh!!  But the ecology or the pond has changed and all the things done have not helped.  Anyway, it's still beautiful and the grandchildren go tubing in it.

The Last Week of October

8x10, oil on canvas panel, Daily Paintworks, 100.00

Well, it's Fall, y'all! This was painted on site on a lovely, delightful, wonderful, temperature-perfect day last week!  The Plein Air Buds gathered at a lake (forgotten name) in South Carolina.  The trees were beginning to turn, so I helped them along with their gorgeous color.

Manor House Beyond the Wall

8x8, oil on canvas panel, 95.00, Daily Paintworks

Well, I cheated quite a bit when I named this painting.  There are some houses close to me that have imposing roofs, large and steep with angles.  If you're from Charlotte, I was at the Rae House on the corner of Rae and Alexander, looking across Providence Road.  I took quite a few liberties with this scene and had fun painting it.

Afternoon at the Lake (sold)

8x10, oil on canvas panel, 120.00, Daily Paintworks

I thought this was a close to perfect composition as seen, and I did not make many changes.  It has a sense of space and depth with the receding areas of trees, yet the branch in front is quite close.

On the Road Again

6x8, oil on canvas panel, 80.00, dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/on-the-road-again-union-county-nc/97292

Be sure to sing On the Road Again while looking at this painting!  This is a rural scene in Union
County, North Carolina.

Asian Boat

11x14, oil on canvas panel, Daily Paintworks,  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/asian-boat/96256

My sister and brother-in-law took a six week trip to Asia this past year. They planned everything themselves, no tour, and took cooking classes, fed the lion cubs, rode elephants, and other exciting, exotic things.  They showed me all the photos they had taken, and I felt that I did get a glimpse of the  scenes and culture of the different countries.  Here's a painting influenced by one of my favorite photos.  As usual, I made quite a few changes, but I think it has that serene look of the original photo..

Afternoon Cottage (sold)

5x7, oil on canvas panel

When I was in Virginia this summer I did an exercise involving painting with the palette knife and only using 50 strokes.  I found I was quite quick and decisive with this, and finished 3 before some
others were still working on their first.  It was great fun!!!

Once Busy

6x8, oil on canvas panel, Daily Paintworks

 

If you have followed my blog for any time, you know that I love to paint

"eyesores".  Although they are not pleasing to gaze upon, I find them

just wonderful to paint!  All that junk lying around becomes interesting

brush marks.  The buildings, themselves, are worn and sometimes a

little skewed--to me it all makes for a better painting.

linked to:   http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2012/10/wow-us-wednesdays-87.html

No Boats, Lake Wylie, South Carolina

8x10, oil on canvas panel,  100.00, Daily Paintworks

I drove to Lake Wylie in South Carolina hopping to paint some boats by the dock.  But no-o-o--the boats were elsewhere.  I "settled" on some water, a building with a Boats sign, and a beautiful tree. 

linked to:   http://www.lizmarieblog.com/2012/10/link-up-with-me-liz-marie-21/http://www.lizmarieblog.com/2012/10/link-up-with-me-liz-marie-21/

http://www.thegirlcreative.com/2012/10/just-something-i-whipped-up.html


http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2012/10/wow-us-wednesdays-86.html

Ann's Garden, Charlotte, NC (sold)

 

16x20, oil on canvas panel, commissioned work

Isn't this a charming garden?  The owner, Ann, did all the gardening work herself.  Those beautiful ivy swags are on the front of the wall and also on the back.  The ones on the front have the roots in the back and the ones in the back are grown on the front--that keeps them steady as they trail over the walls.  The pond has koi and the whole area is shaded by trees.  It's just a perfect spot!

Ann saw my work at an art show at Charlotte Country Day School and commissioned me to paint the garden.  With all the shade, I had a difficult time getting a good photo with enough lights and darks.  Finally I got one with a hint of shadow and just made up most of it.  It was a fun painting project.

Linked to http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/2012/09/tweak-it-tuesday-8/

                http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2012/09/wow-us-wednesdays-85.html

River Rocks, Cowpasture River, Virginia (sold)

9x12, oil on canvas panel, 150,   http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/river-rocks-cowpasture-river-virginia/91376

Another painting from my trip to Virginia this past summer.  It was almost finished on the spot, but just needed a little tweaking.  Somehow I managed to neglect the poor thing and just got around to finishing it up yesterday. 

I painted Cowpasture River about 3 or 4 times, always in a different location.  A beautiful river--said to be one of the cleanest, clearest in the nation.

Duck Pond, Freedom Park, Charlotte, NC (sold)

9x11, oil on canvas panel

I painted this last Tuesday with the Plein Air Buds, the wonderful group I paint with each week.  It looked rather picturesque when I got it home, and I was not happy with it as I don't really love "postcard pretty" paintings.  I worked on it some more and hope that it now captures attention for paint application and not the subject matter.

 

A close up just to show some of the paint texture.

 

 

It was a cloudy day, and the sun did not even peek out until we had packed up and gone for lunch!  Here's a photo of what we saw.

 

 

Linkedto:  http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2012/09/wow-us-wednesdays-84.html 

All Alone (sold)

6x8, oil on canvas panel

Several times a year I enter art shows, and two weeks ago I entered All Alone and another painting in the Matthews Alive Show.  I received 2nd place (a very nice  prize of 400.00) and it was  bought by one of the judges (another very nice check!)   So strange, it languished on the Daily Paintworks site for many months and at a much lower price.  Not that I'm complaining, it's just that selling art is sometimes such a mystery--you just never know what will sell or won't sell.  I just continue to paint what I am passionate about.

If you would like to view some of my work on Daily Paintworks, please click on the icon on the right after scrolling down a little.

                              Linked to http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2012/09/wow-us-wednesdays-83.html

Window Shopping, Mooresville, NC (sold)

5x5, oil on canvas panel, Daily Paintworks, 45.00

I was attracted to this scene mainly because of the black and white awnings.  I do love black and white--wear it much of the time and have plenty in my house.

Backyard Garden, Charlotte, NC

8x10, oil on canvas panel, Daily Paintworks, 95.00

For several years I participated in Painting in the Garden, a little extra added to spring garden tours sponsored by the Mint Museum Garden club.  The houses were stately and the gardens extensive.  Most of the owners just loved gardening and had done most of the work.  Since I was right in my
element, also loving gardening, I really enjoyed painting in various places.  Almost all my paintings sold, which was also fantastic.

This painting is from a photo I took from one of the houses and gardens.  The porch umbrella was black, but I changed it to a more vibrant color.

Red, White, and Blue, Virginia

8x8, oil on canvas panel, 80.00, Daily Paintworks
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/red-white-and-blue-virginia/88397


This old home at Nimrod Hall in Virginia was just begging to be painted.  White house, front porch, old discolored chimney, trees, fence, mountains, and the flag!  I really did not change a thing, which is quite unusual for me.  Even the colors are true.

Linked to   http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2012/09/wow-us-wednesdays-82.html

Cottage Dresser, Nimrod Hall, Virginia (sold)

 

 10x8, oil on canvas panel, 100.00, Daily Paintworks  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/cottage-dresser-nimrod-hall-virginia/86962

 

 

When I had my first (and only) semester of painting in college, we used a brush.  I loved it.  I loved that feeling of picking up paint and depositing it on the stretched canvas with a springy brush.  To me, it just didn't get any better!

 

Fast forward a bunch of years, and I still love painting with a brush.

 

But the last 2 or 3 years I have been experimenting with the palette knife as I

delve into a slightly more contemporary look.

This painting was painted completely with a palette knife except for a simple block in.  I love how the colors sing!


Linked to Wow us Wednesday   http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
Linked to   http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/

Back!!

I'm back in town after a few weeks of visiting family and friends.  I will be posting a new
painting tomorrow.  Connie

Antioxidants in a Small Package (sold)

6x6, oil on Raymar panel, 50.00, on eBay

I didn't want to just name this painting Onion, and since I've recently read an article on antioxidants, I succumbed to the above title.  So eat your onions and you will have a long and happy life!

Red Barn

4x12, oil on stretched canvas

I had trouble getting the photo to show the colors correctly.  The roofs are more blue gray and not green.

When I taught elementary school art, I could always get a delighted look or sound when I gave out paper cut to different size than the standard.  High schoolers, who are not nearly so transparent, also liked it.  How did I know?  I taught high school for about 20 years, so I suppose it was intuition.

This was my chance to use a different format for a change.  There was a big sale on canvas several months ago and I bought, not exactly with abandon,  quite a few different sizes.

Deep Water, Number 3 (sold)

12x12, oil on canvas panel, 120.00, Daily Paintworks

The third one of the series..I'm trying to push myself to present the same scene in unique ways.  This one has quite a bit of palette knife work.  If you click on the Daily Paintwork site--see right hand column--you can run the mouse over the painting and see it magnified.  I think the next one will an experiment in pushing the color and using arbitrary color.   Or I may paint the entire canvas a dark transparent wash and then "pull" the images out of the darkness.  Stay tuned!

Bridge over Cowpasture River (sold)

11x14, oil on canvas panel, 140., Daily Paintworks

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/bridge-over-cowpasture-river/79389

This weekend I kept my daughter and son-in-law's dog, Olive.  Olive quickly became a studio
dog and kept me company while I painted.  I finished this one up this evening--another one of Cowpaster River in Virginia.

Linked to Wow us Wednesday at  http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Summer Haybales, Virginia (sold)

12x12, oil on canvas panel, Daily Paintworks

Haybales are a little tricky to paint.  We know they are light and warm on top because of the sun.  And we know they are dark and cool at the bottom when they turn away from the light.  But what about the inbetween space?  I use orange to make the transition and add warmth.  I also use blue which is reflected from the sky.  Soft edges keep the bale from looking like a cut out which is pasted on the landscape.

This post is linked to   http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Cottage, Nimrod Hall, Virginia

8x8, oil on canvas panel, 85.00, Daily Paintworks

This is one of the cottages that houses workshop participants at Nimrod Hall in Virginia.  The first building was build in the 1700's,  but others like this one were added later.  They all have porches--which is splendid since there is no air conditioning.  The rooms are sparse, but comfortable.  It's good to get away from our decorated, air conditioned, automated houses for a change.  These rooms with the boards instead of sheetrock reminded me of my grandparents' homes.

Oh, and the cottage is not pink--just the roof which is a pinkish red tin-I used artist's license on this one.  Just seemed more attractive in the painting to me.

Cowpasture River, Virginia (sold)

9x11, oil on canvas panel, Daily Paintworks, 125. 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/cowpasture-river-virginia/75968

This part of the river was close to Nimrod Hall, and I drove down there one morning to paint.  I was
told that Cowpasture (don't you love that name--conjures up quite an image!) is one of the cleanest and clearest river in Virginia.  You can see a few of the underwater rocks in the painting.

This post is linked to   http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2012/07/wow-us-wednesdays-73.html Savvy Southern Style Wow us Wednesday

Coastal Marsh

8x8, oil on canvas panel, 85.00,

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/coastal-marsh/76245

Kathy Collins named this painting for me!  We were actually at Squirrel Park in Matthews, NC with out Tuesday Plein Air group.  Squirrel Park has a little pond with trees in the back and hanging over the sides.  I set up and started painting, the sun moved, and I was no longer in the shade.  (Painting with the sun on your canvas makes for a "loser" painting every time.)  I moved to the shade and then had to make up the painting.  The colors and shapes changed some and Kathy thought it looked coastal, so we just relocated the location of the painting!  Moral of this little story:Paintings have a life of their own!

Linked to Wow us Wednesday at    http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Three Trees, Nimrod Hall, Virginia (sold)

10x10, oil on canvas panel

I returned home Friday night from a week at Nimrod Hall.  I found Nimrod Hall because I wanted to take a workshop from Sara Linda Poly and this location was drivable for me.  Little did I know, it is practically an institution and most certainly a tradition for many people.  Some have been coming for 25 years or more, and most have come at least several times.  I was a "newbie',  but was fortunate to be adopted by Ginger, who had been many times.  The first night she drove me around to all the great painting spots, and we painted together most mornings.

I've never been to a place so loaded with good painting sites.  Everywhere I turned, I wanted to paint the scene.  I took over 400 photos for future paintings

I"ve been to quite a few workshops and I must say, that this group was the easiest, most fun, and pleasant group I've encountered. 

On the minus side, it was unbearably hot with wasps, bees, and most hateful of all to me--gnats that flew around my face.  I used copious amounts of Off and sunscreen.  Other than that, it was a blissful adventure.

The above painting was sold to someone at the workshop.

After the Storm (sold)

8x10, oil on canvas panel, Daily Paintworks

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/after-the-storm/74348

Have you ever noticed that right before or after a storm, the colors on the ground seem so much lighter and brighter?  I tried to capture that when painting After the Storm.

Flag Day, June 14

oil on canvas panel, 8x8

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/flag-day/74160

 

Well, I was almost a day late and a dollar short with this painting-a favorite saying of my mother's.  I love Flag Day and wanted to get this one on last night, but, like many things I plan, it didn't happen. 

Vacation House, Isle of Palms

6x8, oil on canvas panel, Daily Paintworks

My family rented a house for us last December as a birthday get-to-gether.  This was the house next door to ours.  We had a great time and beautiful weather.
.

At the End of the Road

8x10, oil on canvas panel, on auction at Daily Paintworks

This is another little street from one of my favorite towns in the world, Bay St. Louis, MS, where my sister lives.  Bay St. Louis was hit really hit hard by Katrina, and some of the beautiful old houses by the ocean were destroyed.   Otherwise that small town has built itself back up, and it is charming.

I believe the building at the end of the road was at one time a service station.

Still Water (sold)

9x12, oil on canvas panel, http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/still-water/72527

I saw this photo while cleaning the studio and wondered why I hadn't painted it.  I have no idea when I took it or the location.  I really should start labeling!

The Creek at Belmont Abbey (sold)

11x14, oil on canvas panel, 125.00, Daily Paintworks


On a cool, clear morning last Tuesday, I painted this scene with the Plein Air Buds.  The campus was almost deserted, so we pretty much had the run of the place.  School was out, so no college students, but I did see a few monks in their "habits"--did not know what to call there garb.  Does anyone know?

The White Farm House

10x10, oil on canvas panel, 85.00, auction on Daily Paintworks

White farm houses were the norm for so many years.  They were ubiquitous in rural areas, but I have noticed that I don't see as many, and if I do they are often in a state of decline.  I always think of American Gothic as the perfect farm house--plain except for a little gingerbread.  I regret that so many are gone and resolve to paint all that I see.

June 5--This was chosen as one of the picks of the day at Daily Paintworks Facebook.

On the Lake

8x8, oil on canvas panel, 85.00, Daily Paintworks 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/on-the-lake/70935

This is a location not too far from me, and I have painted it before.  I changed so many things that the owner would probably not recognize it. 

Tomorrow I painting in Belmont at the college there.  Can't wait to see what it offers.

French Village

12x12, oil on canvas panel, damar varnish,  on auction at Daily Paintworks, Mary 6

Once in while I paint a picture that I like, but am not quite satisfied with.  Oh, and sometimes I paint a picture that I am definitely not satisfied with and will never be.  But, back to the subject.  I loved the subject and composition of this painting, but I felt the colors were too "sweet".  So I whipped out my trusty non-sweet colors and made some changes.  Ah, much better.

This is obviously painted from a photo, since I have not lately journeyed to France.  However, I was there about 15 years ago and have saved this photo, among many others from that trip.