Lowcountry Sketchbook

Rainy Day at Brittlebank Park

2011-08-31T05:00:00.000-04:00

Palmetto at Waterfront Park

2011-08-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

Aviso

2011-08-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

At The Table

2011-08-14T11:21:00.000-04:00

Pochade Box Project

2011-07-05T19:00:00.000-04:00

I am fortunate enough to have a father who(among other things) is a skilled woodworker - so I got the notion that we could collaborate on a little pochade box project for plein aire oil painting. When I say collaborate, I mean that I showed him what I was shooting for and he pretty much made the whole thing. We started off with elaborate plans that I drew up and I quickly found out that it is a lot easier to draw something than build something. He took my plans and worked it into something that was build-able. All said and done, It fits 4 dry 9x12 panels, brushes, paints, a pull out palette, and a small box which can clip to the side as a brush-holder. The box is built so well I could probably drop it off my roof without it breaking.

Things I learned:
1. Fear the circular saw blade
2. Be flexible
3. Be patient if you want it built right

My wife was nice enough to bear 90 degree heat and go with me to take it for a test drive.

A look inside

From the left

My general set-up

From the right

A quick watercolor study to get the ball rolling

The inital underpainting

At the end of the first stage

After a couple of hours I figured that that was a good stopping point - It's far enough along that I could probably finish it at home, but I will probably bring it back out on location and wrap it up.

Staying Loose

2011-05-12T11:07:00.000-04:00

Never been one to labor much over a drawing - loosening up and trying to keep things fresh...

Marsh View

2011-03-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

Autumn Leaves

2011-03-13T17:03:00.006-04:00

Okay, a little late with this one - was going back through some old posts that I had as drafts but never scheduled for one reason or another...

Radio Tower

2011-03-13T17:03:00.005-04:00

Viewed from the Pitt Street Bridge in Mount Pleasant.

Portrait Study

2011-03-13T17:02:00.001-04:00

Riverfront Park

2011-03-13T16:58:00.001-04:00

Braved relentless gnats to do a little painting while the rest of the family sunned themselves.

Charlestowne Landing

2011-02-27T19:57:00.002-05:00

Spent a little time roaming around Charlestowne Landing with my wife. The weather is finally beautiful again - can't wait to get out and about.

Cooper River Storm

2010-10-12T08:00:00.001-04:00

Marsh Flight

2010-10-06T08:00:00.002-04:00

Storm Over Morris Island Lighthouse

2010-10-04T08:00:00.002-04:00

A couple of views of the Morris Island Lighthouse from last weeks' storm

Creekside Dock

2010-09-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

My Power Pole Obsession

2010-09-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

My ongoing obsession with powerpoles and overgrowth. This is from a desolate industrial area near the Ashley River. There is beauty even in ugly...

Evening Nap

2010-09-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Just before the end of summer vacation for the girls - looked over and found my daughter catching a nap after dinner...

Ashley River at Brittlebank park

2010-09-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

Ashley River Train Trestle

2010-09-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

Castle Pinkney from Hog Island

2010-09-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

A little pen & ink drawing from a sketch. I laid a brown toned wash first and then laid the line work with ye olde Speedball nibs.

The Citadel from Charlestowne Landing

2010-09-11T17:39:00.003-04:00

We took a little day trip to Charlestowne Landing last weekend - it was a tad hottish and overcast, but we had a great time anyways. I aimed to do a lot of drawing - I'm on a pen & ink kick, but the heat & sun got the best of me. The girls each brought a friend and had fun doing the goofy things that girls do. My talented photographer wife took some awesome photos of everyone perched in a huge oak tree.

On the Cooper River

2010-07-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

Marsh

2010-07-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

Power Lines

2010-06-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

Summer Sky

2010-06-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

Castle Pinkney

2010-06-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

Under the Ravenel Bridge

2010-06-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

This is from the Charleston side of the bridge looking north.

Girls

2010-06-16T21:30:00.004-04:00

I have been a sorry excuse for a blogger lately - too lazy to scan and upload, but tonight I mustered up the motivation and have a load of new things to post...

Meeting Street

2010-05-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

King Street Extenstion

2010-05-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Barge on the Ashley River

2010-05-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

I've somehow gotten terribly behind in posting - time just gets away from you sometimes, I guess.

Scrub Brush and Marsh

2010-05-10T08:00:00.004-04:00

Small plein aire watercolor (9"x5.5") done over a couple of days at Magnolia Cemetery.

Alhambra Hall

2010-05-05T08:00:00.001-04:00

From under a shady spot at Alhambra Hall in Mount Pleasant.

Cooper River

2010-05-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

This view is from the Mount Pleasant Visitor Center.

Hampton Park, View Of The Citadel

2010-03-31T08:00:00.001-04:00

Pitt Street, Mount Pleasant

2010-03-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

Small Building at Magnolia Cemetery

2010-03-24T08:00:00.002-04:00

Pen & Ink sketch from Magnolia Cemetery. This is what I jokingly refer to as the Guest Relations Office. I think it actually houses some historical info.

Marsh View at Magnolia Cemetery

2010-03-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Little lunchtime sketch sans the refinery tanks in the background - no time for details some days.

COPA Paint-Out at James Island County Park

2010-03-18T08:00:00.001-04:00

A little 9x12 watercolor from this past weekend. Attended a paint-out at James Island County Park with the nice folks of the Charleston Outdoor Painters Association. The weather was beautiful - a little windy. Found a nice spot near the fishing dock off the beaten path on the edge of the mushy marsh. Great way to kick off a Saturday!

Magnolia Gardens, Ashley River

2010-03-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

Took a trip out to Magnolia Gardens a couple of weeks ago with my photographer wife. The weather was beautiful - it was warmish but slightly chilly towards the end of the day. I felt a little rushed and wasn't really at my best - this little sketch ended up being the only one that was "post-worthy".

Charleston Harbor

2010-03-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Ventured out in the cold, windy weather to old Hog-Island at Patriot's point in Mount Pleasant. There is a small lookout there with a nice view of Charleston Harbor. A slight mess, but great fun painting...

Red Scarf

2010-03-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

Small portrait of my youngest daughter (with purple sticky-note thumbnail sketch).

The Citadel

2010-03-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

Another lunchtime sketch from the Citadel Military College. This is a view of the Padgett-Thomas Barracks across Summerall Field.

Charleston Harbor Marina, Mount Pleasant

2010-03-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

Looking across Charleston Harbor from near the marina.

Downtown Charleston, Across the Cooper River

2010-02-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

A view across the harbor from Patriot's Point in Mount Pleasant. Cloudy and cold - it snowed three days later, a rarity in this area.

Colonial Lake, Downtown Charleston

2010-02-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Sat in my car and captured this view across Colonial Lake.

Portrait of Anna

2010-02-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

A Watercolor portrait of my daughter.

Ashley River

2010-02-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

A view of the Ashley river taken from Brittlebank Park in Downtown Charleston.

Hampton Park Bandstand, Downtown Charleston

2010-02-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

The bandstand from the Charleston Exposition of 1902.

Martha Lou's Kitchen, Charleston

2010-02-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

This is a funky pink restaurant - Martha Lou's Kitchen on Morrison Drive in Charleston.

Evening Technology

2010-02-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

When homework is done and the house quiets down for the night, we get to have our turn at the computers...

Colonial Lake - Downtown Charleston

2010-02-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

A view across Colonial Lake (which is really just a detention pond, I think) - got a little messy with the watercolors, but I think I like the bolder colors.

Sangaree Water Tower

2010-01-29T08:30:00.000-05:00

A rainy day in Summerville and time to kill.

Downtown Charleston - Washington Street

2010-01-27T08:30:00.000-05:00

A little lunchtime sketching from Downtown Charleston on Washington Street.

The Citadel - Parade Grounds

2010-01-25T08:30:00.000-05:00

A quick sketch from the parade grounds at The Citadel Military College.

Cooper River Bridge

2010-01-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

This is a view of the Cooper River Bridge from Downtown Charleston on Morrisson Drive.

Refinery Tanks - Final

2010-01-20T20:37:00.006-05:00

In an effort to purge 2009's sketches here are the last Refinery tanks you will have to look at (at least for a while).

North Charleston Riverfront Park

2009-12-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

Some miscellaneous pencil sketches from the Riverfront park at the Naval Weapon Station in North Charleston.

Refinery Tanks, Part 3

2009-12-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Refinery Tanks, Part 2

2009-12-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

Refinery Tanks, Part 1

2009-12-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

I tend to get hung up on a single subject at times and these refinery tanks seem to have become a recurring theme for me. These are viewed from across the marsh at Magnolia Cemetery.

Marsh Pencil Sketch

2009-12-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

Clouds Over Sullivan's Island

2009-12-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Looking from Mount Pleasant across the marsh toward Sullivan's Island.

Spruill Avenue, North Charleston

2009-11-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

Recent preliminary sketches and an oil painting from photos, memory and video. I passed by this spot on the way to work quite often this past summer - when the sunrise and clouds were just right it was oddly breathtaking.

Magnolia Plantation, Ashley River View

2009-11-04T08:30:00.000-05:00

Quick sketch from a recent visit to Magnolia Plantation

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, SC

2009-11-03T08:30:00.000-05:00

This sketch is a view of the woods near the boat landing at Magnolia Plantation.

Magnolia Cemetery

2009-10-22T08:30:00.002-04:00

Sorry about the long spaces between posts - life has gotten a little hectic lately and I'm getting a little backlogged. Still getting some drawing and painting done, it's just hard to find the time to scan and post.

Washington Street, Charleston, SC

2009-09-30T08:30:00.000-04:00

Pencil and watercolor sketch of Washington Street in Charleston, SC. The house in the foreground is in pretty bad condition and is missing a good portion of its roof...

Reading

2009-09-29T08:30:00.001-04:00

My youngest at bedtime reading for school.

Animals at Middleton Plantation

2009-09-25T08:30:00.001-04:00

Sheep freely roam around and graze on the lawn.

A Cow and a chicken at Middleton Place. A couple of years ago we were visiting Middleton with our kids and they got the chance to milk this cow - our youngest stood a little too close to her head while my wife was getting them to pose next to the cow - apparently the cow didn't care for that much and knocked her down with her nuzzle...cue the barnyard drama...

My wife was in the right place at the right time - she was taking pictures in the butterfly garden when this hummingbird appeared - an incredible shot!

Middleton Plantation Rice Mill and Gators

2009-09-22T08:30:00.002-04:00

Watercolor sketch from up on the terraced hill at Middleton Plantation looking down at the Rice Mill. Same structure as here and here. I'm really fond of that little mill for some reason...

My wife snapping photos of gators at the rice fields at Middleton Place - Alligators were everywhere.

Here's my wife's shot.

Middleton Place Rice Fields

2009-09-21T08:30:00.001-04:00

Recently my wife and I took a day off from work and headed over to Middleton Plantation. We got the kids off to school and arrived at Middleton shortly after it opened - it was great because the weather was perfect and there was hardly anyone else there at all. While I spent the morning walking around sketching my dear wife shot photos (she wanted to try out a new lens). So this week I'll be posting a few of her photos along with some of my sketches from our little trip.

Walked around a bit and found a quiet spot

A couple of the groundskeepers quizzed me on what I was up to.

Watercolor sketch of the rice fields.

Parking Lot

2009-09-17T08:30:00.000-04:00

Took a break from the excitement of cemeteries to draw a parking lot.

Train Trestle

2009-09-16T08:30:00.000-04:00

Quick study of a train trestle.

Laptop

2009-09-15T08:30:00.001-04:00

One of my dear daughters using the laptop.

Two Cemeteries

2009-09-14T08:30:00.001-04:00

View towards Bethany Cemetery from Magnolia Cemetery.

Sullivan's Island Water Tower

2009-09-11T08:30:00.002-04:00

Pencil & watercolor wash looking towards Sullivan's Island from Mount Pleasant.

Marsh View, Mount Pleasant

2009-09-10T08:30:00.000-04:00

Pen & Ink with a little watercolor wash. This is near Shem Creek looking toward Downtown Charleston.

Pond View, Magnolia Cemetery

2009-09-09T08:30:00.000-04:00

Pen and ink of a pond view at Magnolia Cemetery.

Concord Street, Charleston, SC

2009-09-03T08:30:00.000-04:00

This is near the Waterfront Park downtown.

Boat and Dock

2009-08-26T08:30:00.000-04:00

At Remley's Point in Mount Pleasant on an overcast day.

Folly Beach Storm Clouds

2009-08-25T08:30:00.001-04:00

Sketchbook study of storm clouds rolling in to Folly Beach.

Harbor Path

2009-08-24T08:30:00.000-04:00

Path to Charleston Harbor on Hog Island (also known as Patriot's Point). If I ever get my butt in gear this will likely turn into a painting - still trying to work out the composition.

Boats on the Cooper River

2009-08-21T08:30:00.000-04:00

Not really much of a maritime artist (trying to render waves intimidates me), nevertheless here are some recent boats I viewed on the Cooper River.

Marsh Study

2009-08-20T08:30:00.001-04:00

A little marsh study from Mount Pleasant.

Summer Sketches

2009-08-19T08:30:00.002-04:00

I've taken a short break and now I'm starting to get back in the swing of things. I've got a slight backlog of stuff from this summer which I'll be posting. Here are some recent loose (meaning sloppy and smudged) pencil sketches from Remley's Point, which is a small boat landing in Mount Pleasant. A great place to view people in action, plus a nice view of the Cooper River.

The Rice Mill

2009-08-04T08:30:00.001-04:00

Haven't had much time lately to scan any sketches - nothing seems too terribly worthy of posting. This is a studio watercolor I finished last month and just haven't gotten around to posting (my wife has to help me photograph the larger items; she's the digital camera expert!). It is of the Rice Mill at Middleton Plantation here in Charleston, South Carolina. Taken from sketches and photographs from back in January of this year.

Readying The Boat

2009-07-02T08:30:00.001-04:00

A couple of guys getting their small sailboat ready to go out in the Cooper River from Remley's Point.

Flood Gate

2009-06-30T08:30:00.000-04:00

A view of a flood gate at Magnolia Cemetery - a lone egret hanging out next to it. We've had a heck of a heat-wave lately and I haven't had much desire to hang out in the humidity...

Cooper River Terminal

2009-06-24T08:30:00.000-04:00

The Kinder Morgan Terminal (I think) - viewed from across the Cooper River in Mount Pleasant.

Castle Pinckney

2009-06-23T08:30:00.000-04:00

Viewed from Waterfront Park in Downtown Charleston. Castle Pinckney was built in the early 1800's as a secondary harbor defense location. It was used briefly as a POW camp during the Civil War.

Abandoned Rail, Charleston, SC

2009-06-15T08:30:00.000-04:00

Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC

2009-06-12T08:30:00.001-04:00

Below Deck

2009-06-11T08:30:00.002-04:00

Another of AG below deck on the ferry back from Fort Sumter.

Charleston Harbor

2009-06-10T08:30:00.001-04:00

Middleton Place

2009-06-09T08:30:00.001-04:00

Char at Middleton Place in January.

Fort Sumter Ferry Ride

2009-06-08T08:30:00.000-04:00

AG below deck on the ferry back from Fort Sumter.

Tiny Sketch Friday, Charleston, SC

2009-06-05T08:30:00.000-04:00

Some quick sketches over a couple of days. The two above are around Magnolia Cemetery and Betheny Cemetery and the lower two are downtown Charleston.

Marsh View, Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC

2009-06-04T08:30:00.001-04:00

Another view across the marsh at Magnolia Cemetery.