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.

Peaches with Silver

9x12, oil on stretched canvas, 95.00,

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/peaches-on-silver/70179

 

This is an older still life that I neglected to ever post--who knows what's lurking in my studio???

Red Clay Path, Beatty Park, Charlotte,NC

9x11, oil on canvas panel, 100.00, http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/connie-snipes-1841

On Tuesday mornings I paint with a group we call Plein Air Buds.  One person plans the

location, and anywhere from 8 to 14 of us meet.  We paint until around 12:30 and then go to

lunch, our reward for our rigorous hours of painting!

This painting was chosen to appear on Daily Paintworks Facebook page.

This meeting was at Beatty Park here in Charlotte.  You can see my easel set up

here in the shade.  Getting in the shade is usually more comfortable, but it is most important

for painting.  If a painting is done in the sun, the colors will look beautiful and

brilliant--then when out of the sun, the colors just die.

Been there and done that one!

Garlic for Cooking (sold)

5x5, oil on canvas panel

I just got back from a week's visit with two girlfriends.  We all went to elementary school, jr. high, and high school together.  I took lots of photos for painting, and although I had a most wonderful time, I am also glad to be at the easel again.

I painted this before I left, but didn't get it posted.  I WILL do better with posting this week.

Displaying Small Paintings

Susan M. has been buying my paintings for several years now. She began with eBay and moved on to dailypaintworks. We have exchanged emails, and I consider her a friend. She graciously allowed me to share some of her display ideas.

Recently she sent me some photos of how she displays the paintings, and I fell in love with her style.  Since they are small, I think they look better as a group rather than all by their lonesome.  The overlapping of the paintings provides unity--they are all landscapes and they all have a similar color palettes.  Some are framed and some are not, and that's OK!  It all adds up to a unified display with enough differences to keep it interesting.

This second photo shows only one painting, along with other collectibles.  (This is a beach house.)  Now why does this work so well when I just said to display small paintings in groups?  OK--this works because it is a small painting in a small space.  It's all about scale.  Never put a small painting on a large wall, large table, etc....it will make you unhappy every time you look at it!

Thank you, Susan.  I know my readers will like these display ideas.

linking with      http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/



Farm Buildings, Union County, NC (sold)

9x11, oil on canvas panel, dailypaintworks.com

This is a site I have painted before. This time I made quite a few changes and made copious use of the palette knife.

Afternoon Shadows

8x10. oil on canvas panel, 70.00, dailypaintworks.com

Deep Water, Number 2

12x12, oil on canvas panel, 95.00, on dailypaintworks.com

As you have probably surmised, I love painting water!  I am beginning a series of this scene, seeing how far I can push it in shape, hue, and composition.

Ebay has not done well for me in several years, so I am giving it one last chance with an experiment in pricing.  I shall be listing a small one for 99 cents and see if it gets bids.

If you want to check it out,  my eBay id is conniesnipes2007.

Clouds Over the Beach (sold)

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

It's been a trifle chilly here in Charlotte, just when I thought it was Spring. I've even turned on the heat several times.   Makes one dream of a day at the beach.  I'm thinking this painting must have been a subconscious ploy to make me feel warmer.

On the Wire (sold)

8x8, oil on canvas panel, 60.00, Daily Paintworks

I have always wanted to do a birds on wires series. Perhaps this one will get me started.

If you look closely you will see that I used a palette knife almost as much

as the brush in this painting.

If you look at it on Daily Paintworks, there is a mouse

over that will enlarge small parts of the

painting.

Addendum:  I thought I had published this painting, but my blogger dashboard begs to disagree..

Trees in the Pond (sold)

8x8, oil on canvas panel, 50.00, Daily  Paintworks

This pond, in Union County, NC, goes from low water to high and back again.    In this painting the water was high and the spring house is surrounded.

 I once asked the owner why the building was called the spring house.  The previous owners called it that--perhaps it goes way back, and the spring house kept food cool before refrigeration.

Yvette's French House (sold)

6x8, oil on canvas panel, 45.00, Daily Paintworks

All my life I've dreamed of painting with a French painter in a French setting, and last Tuesday I finally got my wish.   Yvette, our hostess, is really French.   The French blue shutters were a portent to the French flavor inside...a really lovely house.

 Since I knew the light would not last, I decided just to do a small painting of a corner of the house.  Of course I took photos for future studio paintings

Ocean View (sold)

12x12, oil on canvas panel, 85.00, Daily Paintworks

I have painted this scene before, but like this one better.  I had the most fun getting all those colors on the cliff.  Of course, the cliff was not that colorful, but that's why we paint--to make everything more interesting than it is.  Otherwise, a photograph would do.

Calm (sold)

8x8. oil on canvas panel, 90.00, on Daily Paintworks this Saturday


http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/622160d8-b3be-4b1f-88fd-3992c1d4c951


A small study in preparation for a larger (20x20) painting.  I have always wanted  to paint larger paintings, but have spent most of my time on smaller ones for the blog.  I have blocked in the larger one and will show it when it is finished.  Below is a photo of the block in.

20x20, oil on stretched canvas

Sometimes I like the block ins better than the completed painting--they have more energy.  I will probably only clarify some of the shapes on this and zone in a little on the center of interest.