In Progress

This is only step one of a new piece, but I like the drawing so much that I wanted to go ahead and share it. I drew the scene on a sheet of brown paper, which I have now mounted on a canvas and sealed. (That being the reason for the wrinkles and the slight sheen.) Next I am going to add layers of paint to the figures, leaving some areas of the paper and the graphite as is.

"At the Counter"

8 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Paper
$95

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

I intended to post this piece yesterday, but somehow had the camera but not the computer cord. So here it is, a day late. While researching images for another project, I came across a few photos that were described as Furman students in the 50's relaxing at "The Canteen". While I am not familiar with The Canteen, being a former Furman student myself, I couldn't resist them. Not to mention the iconic image of young people hanging out at the soda fountain.

I've been working on a couple of commissions this week, so I thought I would share one that I finished recently. This is my best friend from elementary school's two kids. This, as well as many other commissioned pieces can be seen in my website's commission gallery.

"Around the Corner"

8"x 12"
Oil on Mat board
$110

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

My phone rang very early this morning (wrong number), and I wasn't able to go back to sleep. So, after a couple hours of reading and a leisurely breakfast, I bundled up in my warmest clothes and ventured into downtown Greenville to find a few new subjects to paint. Greenville is a very beautiful city, and has quite a few scenic and familiar landmarks. But I was not in search of the familiar sites. I was looking for the faded, broken, and well used, but still beautiful spots. I found quite a few of these faded signs painted on the sides of brick buildings, some I knew were there and some that I just discovered this morning. I am extremely grateful to that wrong number for giving me a great start to my day and allowing me to discover new things about my city.

30 1/2"x 17 1/2"
Oil on Canvas

This is a new commission piece I finished recently. I love the depth I was able to achieve in this one, as well as the little details like the cans of coke on the table, the old TV, and the vase of flowers on top.

Anniversary Show Opens Tomorrow

The paintings are all hung, the gallery is ready, now I just need you to be there!

Two: Another Year of Painting
Friday, February 20, 2009, 6-9pm
Art & Light gallery
1211 Pendleton St., West Greenville

Dessert reception
Music provided by the very talented Stephanie Fagan
Reproductions starting at $5
Sales on paintings of all sizes
PLUS, the chance to win one of my original paintings.

Hope to see you there!

Congratulations Mel and Brannon!

I know they haven't seen this yet, but Mel and Brannon, I hope you had a wonderful wedding. Congrats!

Plus, my anniversary show, Two:Another Year of Painting, opens this Friday, February 20, from 6-9pm at the Art & Light Gallery in West Greenville. The show is going to be a lot of fun, with music provided by singer/songwriter Stephanie Fagan, a dessert reception, plus lots of great deals on art. And, if that's not enough I will be raffling off an original piece at the end of the night, and giving you a sneak peek at my newest series of paintings. Just email me for more details. Hope to see you there!

"Shadows Cast"

6"x6"
Oil on Mat board
$80

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

All the sunshine and great weather we have been having inspired this piece. I like shadows because they make me wonder what the people that cast them looked like.

Congratulations Rusty and Charlotte!

I spent part of this weekend celebrating these friends' wedding. This was such a fun portrait to do. Congratulations guys, and I hope you are having a great time in California!

"To Be Like Her"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

I did this piece a few days ago from one of my favorite pictures of my mother.

"Keepsake"

4 1/4"x 5"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

I have used this photograph in a painting before, and mentioned previously that it is my favorite photo ever! It is an old Polaroid of me and my sister on Christmas in 1981. This time, I wanted to capture not only the image, but the look of the Polaroid as well.

"Cutting Through"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

This is a pair of sewing scissors from my grandmother's sewing basket. They are a bit of an unusual shape, and I loved painting the light playing off of the different surfaces.

"A Random Cluster"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

A cold kept me home much of last week, but I was able to get in a bit of painting time. I have loved revisiting these shells again.

"At the End"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

"In a Pile"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

I did this piece very quickly, and didn't really like it at the time, but there is something about the color combination and the hasty application of the paint that is growing on me.

"Blue on Red"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

I decided to revisit this shell from a different angle. I really love how the red shadow pushes the blue of the shell forward.

"Back to the Beginning"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

Exactly two years ago today, I created my first daily painting of this same shell, which I happened to pull out of a shoe box a few days ago. Since that first painting, I have created some 380 paintings, had close to 20 shows, moved my studio out of my home and into my downtown space, launched my website, and quit my full time job to focus all my time on painting. I have to say it has been a heck of a couple of years!

Be sure to mark your calenders for my anniversary show, Two:Another Year of Painting, on Feb. 20 at the Art & Light Gallery in West Greenville. Music will be provided by Travelers Rest resident, Stephanie Fagan, and you will have the chance to win your very own Emily Clarke original! It promises to be a great night.

Thanks again to everyone who has supported me over the past two years. And now, on to year three!

"Looking You in the Face"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

It is interesting how, from some angles these twisted paint tubes become almost abstract. Were it not for the cap on top, I don't think this item would be recognizable. It does make studying and painting them that much more interesting and challenging.

"A Different View"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

"Totally Spent"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

Apple, In Progress

I was eating an apple during lunch today, and every so often, I would pause in my eating to sketch out what the apple looked like. I so loved the page in my sketchbook, that I had to post it.



Also, my first painting from this page of sketches. Expect to see several more of these.
"Just Beginning"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

"Key to Nothing"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Paper
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

This is an old key on my mom's key chain. As I currently have her car, I also have her keys. So, this key made it into one of my paintings!

"Long Shadows"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Paper
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

It might have been cold today, but the sun was also very bright. It made for some very intense brights and shadows around everything on the easel.

"Controlled by Time"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

My day is measured out in two hour increments. That is partially because I can paint for that long before my mind starts to wander and I need a break. But, it is mainly because two hours is the longest I can leave my car in one parking spot downtown without getting a ticket! So, I spend much of the day checking my watch, which inspired me to do this piece.

"Turned Inward"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

Apparently I squeezed and folded this little paint tube so much, in order to get every drop of paint out of it, that all that remains is a tiny crumpled shell and some green paint stains.

"Waiting to Steep"

6"x6"
Oil on Masonite
$80

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This is my favorite mug, which a friend of mine made. Several evenings ago, while waiting for my nightly cup of tea to steep, I drew a picture of it sitting there steaming.

"Alone, Not Lonely"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

"Turning My Back on You"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Oil on Paper
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

As I was painting this piece, I realized that I give these little paint tubes personalities in my mind. Odd, I admit, but it made for a fun composition.

"One of Many"

4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Oil on Paper
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

I don't know why I keep coming back to these paint tubes, but they are just so much fun to paint. Expect to see several more!