Framed oil painting

12 x 12 (image size) oil on board

Waiting Under the Crepe Myrtle ~ painting the French Quarter!

One of the best things about being an artist and living in Charleston is that there is so much to choose from as far as subject matter. In my latest painting, Waiting Under the Crepe Myrtle, I was drawn to these Church Street homes because of the way the light was filtering through the trees, casting shadows across the road and against the facades.

I was also drawn to the charming architectural elements. The closed gate with the cast shadow across it caught my eye. The wrought iron balconies add charm and dimension to the old and historic homes. The facades have patina similar to many of the homes in Europe, adding texture and interest. The flower boxes and potted plants, which are common on and in front of Charleston homes, add splashes of color and greenery.

The docile dog was enjoying the sunlight, waiting patiently under the crepe myrtle tree for his owner to take him for a walk. He appeared quite content.

When I see dappled light I think Impressionism. I decided to paint this scene with slightly looser brushwork than some of my more realistic paintings. I broke down hard edges, softened edges, eliminated some detail, and showed more brushwork. These techniques work well with capturing the effect of light on objects and helps give a Realistic painting an Impressionistic feel.

I hope you enjoy my painting!