"Winter Light, Garden Path" A Plein Air Painting of Magnolia Gardens

" Winter Light, Garden Path"
Oil on birch panel
16"x 19" framed dimensions
Price: Sold

This alla prima, plein air oil painting is another entry I have in the Magnolia Gardens Gallery Show during the 2008 Winter Garden Festival. The painting is designed to direct the viewer's eye from the bright red pyracantha bush to the curving live oak tree down past a camellia bush to the garden path finally coming to rest on the garden bench. It's a visual trip through the painting (and garden) that I found inspiring and peaceful.

While I painted "Winter Light, Garden Path", I enjoyed talking with passing visitors to the gardens during a mild December afternoon. The path in the painting runs beside the Ashley River just a few yards from the spot where Lord Cornwallis and his forces landed at Magnolia Plantation on their way to lay siege to Charleston during the Revolutionary War.

History, interesting horticulture such as red pyracantha berries, camellia japonica blooms, an ancient live oak with Spanish moss, views of the garden and the Ashley River- this painting location had it all.

The original artwork of the winter gardens by Charleston Artist Guild members is remarkable. The show, in which all artwork is for sale, demonstrates the range of creative vision and technique of the many accomplished artists in the guild.

The Winter Garden Art Show and variety of winter blooming plants including one of the largest and oldest collection of camellias in the country at Magnolia will make an interesting visit if you're in the Charleston Area during the Festival January 19 - February 17, 2008.

"Garden Gate, Evening Shadows" A Plein Air Painting by Charleston Artist Katherine M Schneider

"Garden Gate, Evening Shadows"
Oil on Birch Panel
16"x 19" framed dimensions
Price $375.00

This is the location at the entrance to Magnolia Gardens where I painted the alla prima (all at one time) plein air painting pictured above. It's one of my entries in the art show at the Winter Garden Festival starting this Sat, January 19, 2008.

My inspiration for this painting was the striking effect of the contrast between the bright red pyracantha berries and the weathered garden gate column. I also liked the diagonal line the tops of the ivy covered fence posts made across the painting leading the viewer's eye to the center of interest at the gate column.

See another painting of a Colonial era garden gate and home in Charleston SC. Click here for "Morning Light on Church Street".

"Winter Garden Camellias I " A painting by Charleston Artist Katherine M Schneider

With the total number of named varieties of camellias as high as 20,000 (and still growing), it's often hard for even seasoned experts to identify individual blooms.

I was told by members of the Coastal Carolina Camellia Society that the larger pink flower in my painting is a Flossie Goodson camellia. The smaller bloom is either a heritage camellia or seedling bloom.

Whatever their names, they're a delight to admire and paint in a winter garden.

With over 200 years of cultivating camellias in the Lowcountry, we have an amazing display of these beautiful flowers in our yards and gardens.

"Winter Garden Camellias I"
oil on canvas
8"x10" image dimension
14.5"x 17.5" dimension with gold frame
Price: Sold

Charleston Artist Guild Holiday Juried Exhibition and Reception 2007

The 2007 Holiday Juried Art Exhibition and Reception was held tonight at the Charleston Visitors Center with over 80 artworks exhibited at the well attended event.

The Charleston Artist Guild (CAG), with more than 500 affiliates, is dedicated to serving the Arts Community of Charleston by providing workshops for the practicing artist, lectures for fine arts collectors, and community outreach to serve the needs of the greater society through art.



Pictured are Norma Morris Ballentine, President and Marcell Easter, Treasurer standing in front of the oil painting "Sweetgrass Market" by Ms. Ballentine.



Debbie Daniels, Director of Publications was seen enjoying the evening with friends and fellow artists. Debbie keeps CAG members informed of many artistic opportunities through her frequent email updates.

All the officers and board members of CAG deserve a big Thank You for the many hours of service they contribute to make this organization such an asset to the Charleston Arts Community.

Plein Air Painting in the Winter Garden at Magnolia Plantation Charleston SC

The unusually warm, sunny weather made my plein air painting today at historic Magnolia Plantation and Gardens a pleasure.


The main house porches are decorated with fresh pine garlands and red bows. I saw a staff member removing the garlands at the end of the day and spraying them with water to keep them fresh throughout the season. No plastic or artificial greens here. Only fresh, natural, decorations typical of the Colonial era.

I enjoy painting en plein air in the winter months when the sun is lower on the horizon. The long golden shadows in the late afternoon this time of year are very beautiful . It's always a challenge to paint fast enough to catch the quickly changing light effects at this time of day.


Today I painted studies of holly bushes with large red berries, sharp shinny leaves and the ever present Spanish moss.








The gardens also have many nandina bushes along the pathways with bright red berries and leaves that turn lovely shades of red and yellow.






Magnolia Gardens is known for it's beautiful reflecting ponds and distinctive bridges that have graced the gardens for decades.

Many visitors to the gardens have had their pictures taken on these bridges spanning the water darkened by the by the tannin from the nearby Cypress and Tupelo trees .

I'm making progress with my plein air paintings but will wait to post them until the opening of the Winter Garden Festival Art Exhibit January 19, 2008. In the mean time I'm posting photo's similar to the paintings I'm working on.

The show will offer creative works exploring the winter blooms, views and vistas of this large and diverse property.

For information about the Winter Gardens and Festival activities contact Magnolia Plantation and Gardens at http://www.magnoliaplantation.com.

For information about artist workshops and plein air painting during the festival, contact the Charleston Artist Guild at http://www.charlestonartistguild.com/calendarofevents.html.

"Camellia in the Rain" A painting by Charleston Artist Katherine M Schneider

"Camellia in the Rain"
5"x 7" mixed media on paper
Price: Sold

Today's painting is of a rain soaked, winter booming camellia. The semi tropical climate in the Lowcountry is great for gardening all year long. Winter gardens in Charleston SC are beautiful.

One of the oldest gardens in America, Magnolia Gardens is in the height of winter bloom now with over 7000 sasanqua bushes (a variety of early blooming camellia) in bloom.

The house and gardens have been decorated for the season with wreaths and red ribbons.

What a nice alternative for anyone trying to avoid the crowds and confusion at the malls. Fresh air, sunshine, endless garden paths under ancient moss covered oaks make an pleasant place to visit and paint.

I've had a great time painting surrounded by the fall colors and winter blooms. Tomorrow the temperature will be 80 and sunny as I head out to paint "en plein air" once again.

Stop by and say "Hi" if you see a painter (that would be me or a friend) up to our elbows in paint enjoying a sunlit garden path or a bright pond reflection.

Artists of the Charleston Artist Guild and the Charleston Outdoor Painters Association have been invited to create original paintings and artwork inspired by the winter gardens. Many of these paintings and fine art photography will be exhibited in the Magnolia Art Gallery during the Winter Garden Festival Jan 19 - Feb 10, 2008.

For more information about activities during the Winter Festival including an artists reception, painting workshops, plein air painting, and camellia walks, contact Magnolia Gardens at www.Magnoliaplantation.com.

"Autumn Pond Reflections " A Plein Air Painting by Charleston Artist Katherine M Schneider

The autumn colors are beautiful by the ponds, roadsides and marshes in the Lowcountry this week.

Today's painting "Autumn Pond Reflections" captures the bright reflections of a marsh pond as the afternoon sun adds a warm glow to the reds, yellows and orange of the season.

"Autumn Pond Reflections"
Mixed media on canvas panel
17"x 20"
Sold

"Marsh Sky" A hand carved woodcut painting by Katherine M. Schneider

Here's my interpretation of a Lowcountry marsh scene hand carved into a birch wood panel. Portraying the vaporous clouds with the sharp marks of the carving knives and chisels was an interesting challenge.

The effect of both the carved marks and the black and white painting on oriental rice paper gives a popular subject a fresh, contemporary look.

"Marsh Sky"
Hand rubbed woodcut painting on oriental rice paper

Image dimensions: 12"h x 18"w
Paper dimensions: 15" h x 25.5"w
Price: $275.00

"Lowcountry Field Cabin"- A woodcut printed painting

Here is woodcut image of a typical cabin used for many purposes on farms and plantations in the old South. This type of building may have been used for housing farm hands, as a kitchen building or for storing farming equipment.

I thought the image of the cabin sheltered by ancient live oak trees made a statement about things that endure through time and hardship.

"Lowcountry Cabin"
Hand printed woodcut painting on Hosho paper
Image size: 6" x 9"
Hosho paper dimensions: 8.5" x 11.5"
Price: $85.00

To see more of my woodcut artwork, Click "Woodcut painting" here or in the Art Categories list at the right of this page.

(This is an artist's proof of a small series of hand printed paintings of this image.)