Thanks to all the wonderful folks at Roper Hospital for a great show as a featured artist in their rotating artist exhibition.
Here are some of the show pieces that found new homes.
"Springtime in Charleston"
Oil on cradled panel
"Here Cones the Sun"
Oil on cradled panel
"Mossy Marsh Oak"
"Autumn Pond Reflections"
Oil on panel
"The Little Dancer"
A Charcoal of a Sculpture by Willard Hirsch at the Charleston Childrens' Fountain in White Point Gardens, Charleston SC.
The National Audubon Society is asking everyone to join this year's Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 12 - 15 to count birds in backyards, local parks, and wildlife refuges.
The results of this year's count will help researchers
at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society, and Bird Studies Canada learn how bird populations are doing - and how to help them.
While I've been out painting this week, I've seen brown pelicans like the one pictured here sunning on Jeremy Creek in McClellanville, cormorants, anhingas, mallard ducks, widgeons, and one of my all time favorites - the great white egret.
Click here for more information .
The first full moon of the New Year is called the "Wolf Moon". The name comes from Native American cultures that believed the added brightness of this full moon caused hungry wolves to be more active.
It's the brightest full moon of the year. Tonight it will be about 14 percent wider and 30 percent brighter than lesser full moons of the year, according to Spaceweather.com.
Here's my painting of this Winter Wolf Moon.. I used a painting knife to keep the painting's surface quality fresh and lively. The loose paint application gives the impression of wind whipped surf and clouds that I experienced on this moonlit night.
It was an evening of fine art and good company at the reception for the 55th annual CAG Members Show tonight at the Charleston City Gallery at Waterfront Park.
"Homeward Bound", a landscape of a Lowcountry creek by Katherine 
Schneider was one of over 90 artworks included in this year's show.
"Homeward Bound"
Oil on Canvas
Framed Dimensions: 32"x38"
With Charleston in the grip of freezing cold weather for the past week, the online site at http://www.jacksonpollock.org may be of interest as a way to be creative and warm at the same time.
Of course it may also be just another way to avoid getting your work done, but see how many colors and variations of plops, lines and squiggles you can make. To create a hard copy of your "painting", right click on the "canvas" and select Print.
Jackson Pollock's art is instantly recognizable by his unique creative process. Pollock developed complex effects on his canvas by robustly dripping, pouring, and spattering paint. It was his highly individual creative response to the modern world - as opposed to the "old forms of painting of the Renaissance or other past cultures."
Each painting was the product of a unique, spontaneous event - part choreography and part chance. To see more about Jackson Pollock's art visit… http://www.nga.gov/feature/pollock/
The full moon this New Years Eve is a "rare blue moon". 
About once every 20 years there are two full moons in in the month of December, thus the popular term - "Blue Moon".
For some strange reason lost in time, the term blue moon has nothing to do with the actual color of the moon, just it's timing in the night sky.
The next one won't appear until the year 2028.
On the event of this New Years 
Eve's Blue Moon, I'm posting a plein air painting I painted in the moonlight a while back to bring in the New Year 2010.
"Moonlight on Church St."
Dry media on paper
18" x 12"
Have you ever smelled the spicy fragrance of clove studded oranges? The wonderful fragrance of citrus and cloves filled the air as I worked on this painting of "Spicy Christmas Treats".
For my painting, I made orange pomanders by piercing fresh oranges with whole cloves. Click here for more about making pomanders.
Next, I positioned the orange pomanders on a plate so that the pattern of cloves made an intersecting line with a red bow and candy cane. This strengthened the painting's composition by using both line direction and color contrast in the center of interest also called the "focal point".
I used a cool greenish gray background to contrast with the warm red and orange colors of the fruit and candy. In art as in life, contrasting elements add impact and interest. The important thing is to keep it all in balance.
Clove studded fruit has been a favorite holiday tradition since the 15th century. England's Queen Elizabeth I was reported to have always worn a pomander. Read more about the history of pomanders at this link.
In the ancient customs of Europe and China, oranges have been given as New Years gifts to symbolize a wish for prosperity and good fortune.
With this painting of orange pomanders, I too wish you peace, prosperity and good fortune in the New Year.
Art Exhibition News Release:
Katherine Schneider is a featured artist in the Roper Hospital rotating gallery exhibit.
Kay's paintings are hanging in the new admitting hallway near the front entrance.
"Plantation Smoke House" is one of 18 works on exhibit November 11, 2009 - January 30, 1010 at Roper Hospital 316 Calhoun St. Charleston SC.
I've been asked to post information about the progress of the White Point Gardens bandstand restoration by a reader in England. This is what I saw when I visited the park last week (Nov. 09).
The bandstand foundation has been completed. It supports a lower floor with 5 steps on the east and west sides. Support footings are in place to install the restored original cast iron columns and cornice. Here's a link to a post on the cast iron restoration.
The roof remains suspended waiting to be lowered into place.
Restoration of the bandstand should be completed in January 2010.
Here's a link to earlier posts about the project and White Point Gardens.
It was a beautiful day under the majestic oaks of the Irvin House Vinyard for the annual "Blessing of the Vines" Festival.
The Reverend Gregg Snyder from St. Johns Episcopal Church led a progressive blessing of the winery buildings, the grape vines, the Irvin family and gathered guests.
It was a spirited event with participants following Father Snyder around the vineyard adding rousing acclamations to each of the blessings.
After the blessing ceremony, all returned to picnic under the trees, enjoying the beautiful weather, live music, food, wine and craftsman displays.
A "plein air" (drawn on location) charcoal and pastel drawing of the Irvin House "Blessing of the Vines" Festival 2009.
