Charleston County Public Library Features the Artwork of Isabel Forbes

The Charleston County Public Library in Charleston, SC, will present the exhibit, Make Your Life a Work of Art: Paintings by Isabel Forbes, on view in the Saul Alexander Foundation Gallery at its main branch, on view from July 1 - 31, 2010. Forbes, an artist from the Upstate, will offer oil paintings in this one-person exhibition. The title of Forbes’ exhibit, Make Your Life a Work of Art, is a reference to the artist's use of scenes from her life as she travels between the SC Upstate and the Lowcountry. An award winning artist, Forbes is a graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL. She worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for over 27 years before making the transition into fine art full time. Inspired by her surroundings, she paints the everyday scenes of her life. "After moving back home to Spartanburg, SC, having been away for over 30 years, I saw things with a new eye. Now when I travel back to the Lowcountry, I'm able to rediscover things I previously took for granted." Forbes' is a founding member of the Charleston Outdoor Painters Association (COPA), an exhibiting member of the Charleston Artist’s Guild, a board member of the Artists Guild of Spartanburg and is represented by Sandpiper Gallery in Sullivan’s Island, SC and Edward Dare Gallery in Charleston, SC. The Saul Alexander Foundation Gallery is located in the Charleston County Public Library’s main branch, 68 Calhoun Street. For further information about the exhibit call 843-805-6930. Further information about Isabel Forbes is available on her website at www.isabelforbes.com

Painting NC - Plein Air Invitational Event

Flower Girl - Plein-Air Painting 10"x8"

I participated again in the "Painting NC Plein -Air Invitational" hosted by Germanton Gallery in Germanton NC. The way this event works is artists from around the country come to NC and begin painting from April 3 - 8th. We deliver up to 4 of the paintings we painted that week, framed and ready to hang, to Germanton Gallery for a show and reception Friday, April 9th. The show hangs through the month of April.

This year I made day trips to Tryon, NC then traveled to Germanton, NC (near Winston Salem, NC) to paint until Sunday. This year I stayed with a wonderful art patron in Midway, NC with two other artists, Doug Martin from Colorada and Bernard Martin (no relation to Doug) from Florida. I really enjoyed getting to know them and talk art shop.

I was a tad rusty with my plein-air skills because I'm not much of a winter plein-air painter. The wonderful Spring weather was an inspiration and it felt great to get out and paint again. There is no substitute for painting from life. The "Flower Girl" painting was the last painting of the week for me. The model, Maya, is a pro at 14 years old!

Happy Spring and happy painting!

Corner- The Skillet

Here is another oil painting from my favorite diner here in Spartanburg, SC. Best grits in the world.

The inspiration for this painting came while I was waiting on someone to meet me for breakfast. The morning sun was coming through the window and I was struck by the sight. This is something I've probably seen many times but because I wasn't in a rush I noticed the simple beauty of light and venetian blinds!

I'm finally able to veralize what I'm after when I choose subjects to paint. My goal as a painter is to help people see the beauty of the mediocre and hopefully evoke a sense of wonder at something they have seen a million times - me included.

Happy drawing and painting!

Poe's Summer Night by Isabel Forbes

Hope you enjoy my first attempt at creating a video with a little narrative. Poe's is one of my favorite restaurants so I enjoy the process of painting it - I can almost taste their delicious hamburgers and blue cheese cole slaw as I paint this.

As I state in the video, I start out with a value block in then continue to define my shapes until the painting feels complete.

Happy drawing & painting!

Sullivan's Island Cottage - Ion Street

Thumbnail drawing

Block in

Refining the block in...

more refining...

The finished painting.

I love visiting Sullivan's Island, SC. The town has done a great job of keeping big development under control. If you walk or ride a bicycle around the neighborhoods you can see lots of quaint cottages/bungalows. I'm looking forward to the Spring so I can actually be there to paint some of the great scenes on the spot (en plain air).

Above you can see the process of this new painting, "Sullivan's Island Cottage. I start out with my "Thumbnail Drawing". This small sketch works like a road map. I've hear many an artist say, getting value right is more important that getting colors right. Colors are more of a personal decision - values are needed in order for a painting to "read".

This painting can be seen at the Sandpiper Gallery on Sullivan's Island.

Happy drawing & painting!

Shem Creek Shrimpboat

"Days End on Shem Creek", 9x12, oil on canvas panel

Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant, SC is a wealth of great painting subjects. Sort of feels like stepping back in time. More and more technology is taking over alot of handwork so it is really fascinating to see fishermen mend shrimp nets, separate the days catch, clean fish and weight out fresh catch to sell. I always like to stop by Wando Shrimp Co. to buy some shrimp and fish to bring back to Spartanburg.

This painting is currently available at Sandpiper Gallery on Sullivan's Island, SC.

This is a place I will return to paint over and over!

Happy drawing & painting.... & Happy Holidays.

Inside the Skillet Restaurant

One of my favorite subjects... the skillet!

This image shows my studio setup. You can see the monitor to the right of me and I use that as my reference for the painting. I've come to prefer painting from the monitor as opposed to using a photograph or print out because the light is better in the photo on the monitor. I can also use Photoshop to "look" into shadows that would normally just go black in a photograph.

Should have the painting complete by next week to post. Check back to see it!

Happy drawing & painting!