"The Old Boardwalk to the Creek" A Plein Air Painting by Artist Katherine Schneider

"Springtime in July" could have been the weather forecast today. The unseasonably cool and dry air here in Charleston made painting out by the creek a relaxing event - unusual in this subtropical climate in the summer.

The late afternoon sun casting interesting lights on an old boardwalk out to a fishing hummock on a tidal creek is the subject of my plein air painting. Over the years, I've watched this bluff on the creek grow smaller and smaller as it is being eroded by swift tidal currents. Today I decided it was time to make a painting of it before nature has it's way and the creek reclaims the old boardwalk and the little hummock.

"The Old Boardwalk to the Creek"

Oil on Cradled Panel

Unframed dimensions: 14" x 11"

Price: Sold

Making Canvas Panels for Painting

Many materials may be used for making painting panels. In this post I'm using birch plywood and fiber board as supports for canvas panels. I prefer 1/4 " or 1/2" birch plywood to fiber board (or white board) because of it's strength and resistance to warping in sizes up to 11" x 14".

First I cut the board to size and sand it with a medium grit paper or pad.

Glue is applied to the panel with a trowel. The canvas is cut to sizes 1/4" larger on each side to allow for shrinkage.

Glue is also applied to the back of the canvas with a trowel. Several different glues can be used on the panels. It's important that the adhesive used is acid free, archival (ph neutral), and water soluble. I'm using "YES!" brand paste to glue the canvas to these panels.

When the glue has been spread evenly on both the panel and the back of the cut canvas, a brayer (roller) is used to smooth out the glue and air pockets. Start in the middle of the panel and roll out to the edges.

A cover sheet of newspaper can be used when rolling the surface to catch excess glue that comes out at the edges of the canvas.

The panels can either be stacked between paper and dried under weights like books or air dried on a flat surface.

After the glue has dried, excess canvas is trimmed from the edges of the panels. The dried and trimmed canvas panels get another coat of gesso.

When the gesso has dried, the canvas panels are ready for use.

"After the Storm" A Study of a Lowcountry Sky

The summer weather patterns are creating beautiful skies here in the Lowcountry - towering thunderheads, cumulonimbus clouds, silvery patches of summer showers and rainbows! I've been out studying the rapidly changing effects in the summer skies recently.

"After the Storm" is a study of the atmospheric effects of passing rain clouds and an ephemeral double rainbow over a pine island in the marsh.

A Plein Air Painting of the Restored Bandstand in White Point Gardens by Katherine Schneider

White Point Gardens was a great place to paint today. The park was full of activity as children hunted for Easter eggs, blankets were spread for picnics, and everyone enjoyed the sunshine by the harbor.

The newly renovated Bandstand looked lovely with it's lowered platform and fresh paint.

"What's Old Is New Again"

The Bandstand at White Point Gardens

Oil on cradled birch panel

Plein air painting by Katherine Schneider

"View of a Charleston Alley" Painting on Location in Historic Charleston

Spring is finally here. Today was a beautiful day painting in this quaint alley in the historic French Quarter of Charleston. Our city is a great place to walk, especially in the spring when all the gardens start to bloom.

Little alleys like the one in my painting are hidden gems just waiting to be explored!

"View of a Charleston Alley"

Oil on canvas panel

8" x 10"
$325.00

"Marsh Creek Reflections" Plein Air Painting by a Lowcountry Creek

A bright blue sky with cumulus clouds reflecting in a tidal marsh creek was the subject of today's plein air painting.

Lots of sunshine and temperatures in the 70's made it a great day for painting on location near Edisto Island, SC.

As I painted, I noticed that young green grass has started to push up through the brown reeds of winter.

Soon the marsh will change from the winter brown into the fresh green of new growth for Spring.

"Marsh Creek Reflections"

Oil on canvas panel

8"x 10"

Plein Air Painting On Location at the Charleston Waterfront

Grey skies turned sunny during a morning of plein airr painting in Charleston.

For anyone who knows Charleston, can you guess where I'm painting today? Hint: It's in on the Cooper River right near the spot "where the Ashley and Cooper Rivers meet to form the Atlantic Ocean".

You're 100% correct if you guessed Waterfront Park between the Splashing and Pineapple Fountains.

"Lowcountry Oyster Boat" Plein Air Painting in a SC Fishing Village

Windy conditions on the creek made painting on location chilly this March afternoon.

Quick placement of values and color notes was important in the plein air painting of this boat because of the rapidly changing water level in the tidal creek.


This weathered oyster boat is a favorite subject of mine to paint.
I like to imagine all the time it's spent traveling the creeks and marshes in all kinds of weather harvesting Natures bounty.

"Lowcountry Oyster Boat"
Oil on panel
11" x 14"
 $425.00

Spring Fever Replaces Frost Bite for Plein Air Painting in Charleston March 2010

What a difference a couple of weeks makes. Just a short while ago, I was painting in the snow from the same spot that this afternoon brought out shorts and a case of spring fever.

Temperatures reached the 60's with warm and sunny skies and a light breeze off the lake. Perfect weather for plein air painting or ..... not.

Even a serious outdoor painter is susceptible to being seduced by Nature on a winter afternoon like this. So I gave it my best shot until a mockingbird started singing right above me adding more enticement to "do research for my art" by relaxing and absorbing all the sights and sounds of this unseasonable warm afternoon.




In the famous words of Scarlet O'Hara "...after all, tomorrow is another day...".