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.
Waiting Under the Crepe Myrtle by William R. Beebe, 12x12, Oil on board, $2200
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 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.
Detail shot of Waiting Under the Crepe Myrtle by William R. Beebe
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.
Detail shot of Waiting Under the Crepe Myrtle by William R. Beebe
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 show more brushwork. These techniques work well with capturing the effect of light on objects and helps give a Realistic painting an Impressionistic feel.
Waiting Under the Crepe Myrtle is oil on board, 12” by 12”, framed in a gold Larson-Juhl frame, and now available on our website.
I hope you like my latest painting. Thank you for following my art and for reading my journal! I appreciate it very much. Please check back soon to see what’s next on the easel!
“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion...”
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Drawing by William R. Beebe