  This is how it looked downtown near the Battery on a Saturday morning after restaurants and other businesses closed in order to cut down on the spread of the Corona virus. Beaches and parks are also closed. So far Charleston does not seem to be hard hit but it is still early and the idea of the hospitals being overwhelmed and undersupplied is frightening. Unfortunately there will be no house and garden tours and a lot of tourist dollars will be lost. It's a good time for artists because the buildings look great without cars and other things obstructing their view and I am finding it pretty easy to paint without distraction.
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  It's hard to walk past a flower box and not take out your phone to snap a pic. It's spring house and garden tour time and the flower boxes are in bloom. Since I don't have a painting to post this week I thought I would post these East Bay St. boxes I passed on my way to the coffee shop. I am doing a mini painting of one.
This spectacular building finally has a business in it again, bakery/restaurant/coffee place. It is designed by the same architect, Francis D. Lee, as the Moorish building on East Bay not too far from here. It is the same color and years ago was a restaurant too, Morroccan I think. Also was a bank. Both will just stop you in your tracks. I recommend One Broad if you are visiting Charleston, also pizza place in the basement. The color is one I think about a lot.
 SOLD. (Painting not the house.)Thank you very much. This home at 26 S. Battery is a favorite of mine. I wish I could go beyond the driveway to explore. The fountain, walkways and arching bay windows in front make it special. It has undergone renovations recently. It used to be a light blue but is gray now, which I don't like as well. It's for sale, I hope someone buys it soon. I'm sure I'll paint it again because the shapes are so interesting and I'm never satisfied.
This block has undergone huge changes but my old photographs provide a lot of inspiration. I have done several paintings and a collage of this building with the blue awning.
 I can't say enough about the instruction in this outdoor painting class with Brian Rego and David Campbell. The knowledge and enthusiasm these guys bring is incredible. Great group too. We painted intensely for four days with wonderful and constant coaching, art history conversation, and technical knowledge of painting that made this experience a joy. Lucked out with weather too.
 Coming into the city at dawn can be quite beautiful. The Sargent Jasper on the left and the steeples of St. Michael's and (I think) St. Johns on the right. This is one of a series of photos I have taken from the James Island Connector. I have been trying to work them in to something. I want to post more pictures of Charleston. Although I wanted to blog about my paintings, there are just some things about living here that should be shared that may never make it to a painting. And this week I have been working on collage ideas.
 You know how hard it is to get a sunflower to hold its head up and look pretty. They really are pretty from any angle, but it it does remind me of other things in life that you just have to accept. Wabi sabi, embrace imperfection. This one is for Charleston Artist Collective. Still life is good to explore during the hot summer months. Thanks to everyone who attended the opening of "Beauty of the Ordinary." Go see the beauty of Wolf Kahns pastels at Ann Long Gallery.
 This is a before and after. The question is what level of finish is desired? It could go a couple of different ways. After looking at the map of acceptable painting areas I was kind of excited about this one. It forced me to do something different. There are a lot of possible subjects, colors and compositions out there. I planned to paint shadows but they change so fast, it can be challenging. 
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