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The Little Guys
       These are two of the five Canadian Goose chicks that grew up on the pond behind our house one spring. When I first saw them, they were little balls of fluff, no bigger than my hand. Soon they were swimming, diving and preening just like their parents. Before the end of summer, they learned to fly. At first, they flew short distances across the pond. Then one day the whole family left. They still return occasionally to visit.   It was a blessing to watch them grow and observe the care given by their  parents.   Although some people might consider Canadian Geese a nuisance, they are wonderful examples of dedication to each other (they mate for life) and their offspring.

Snowy in the Shallows
       This Snowy Egret was wading through a shallow tidal stream early one morning. Snowy Egrets differ from the Great White because they have black bills and large golden feet that almost resemble golden slippers. They are also smaller than the Great Whites. The detailed realism of the bird contrasts with the abstraction of the water. I enjoy using this technique because it focuses the attention to the bird.

Curley
       On several occasions, I noticed this Snowy Egret feeding in a tidal pool on Seabrook Island. He was very recognizable because unlilke the other Snowys, his tail feathers were curled upward. That’s why I called him, Curley.

Amazing Grace
       When I photographed this Great White Egret, he was just landing in the water.  I planned to title the painting, "Graceful Landing".  But upon finishing the scene, I realized that there was a grace in the trees, the moss and everything else in nature as well as in the bird.  So "Amazing Grace" seemed to say it all.

Yellow Roses
       Yellow roses are my favorites. I have three rose bushes outside my bedroom window. These roses were in full bloom.

Resting in the Rookery
       This is part of my "rookery series".  Many of the photos were taken on Seabrook Island.  Others at the Audubon Swamp.  I loved to watch the birds settling in their favorite tree at sunset.   They preen and watch each other so that no one trespasses  on their territory. 

Feathering Her Nest
      During the mating season, egrets develop long, sensuous feathers that flare out when they become excited or want to attract attention.  This young egret appeared to be very excited about the eggs in her nest.  Both male and female Great White Egrets care for the young.

SuperFluff
       This was a whimsical piece based on a photo of a Great White Egret who frequently visited our pond.  One hot day he immersed himself in the water, then walked up on shore and did a little "shake your feathers" dance.  Moments later, he became the elegant, statuesque figure we normally see strutting along the water's edge.    "Fine Feathered Friend"  is another painting of the same egret.

Queen Street
   I lived on Queen Street not far from this scene.  To me, it portrayed the essence of Charleston:  the piazzas, the courtyards, the fine restaurants and quaint shops.  It includes the flower boxes, ironwork and radiant light  that are so much a part of this beautiful city.

Morning on Queen Street
   Our apartment was on the second floor with a large piazza.  At certain times of the day, the sunlight would flood the rooms while on the outside, it would wash the grey buildings with wonderfully warm colors. 

Anniversary Bouquet
   I am blessed to have a very thoughtful husband who frequently brings home fresh flowers.   This was just one of many elaborate bouquets that celebrated our anniversary.

Palmetto Dawn
   Some of my landscapes are made up from several different scenes.  This is one of them. There's a distant cluster of trees in the marsh along Folly Road.  I've painted it often at different times of the day.  Frequently, I'll do a small plein air study and use it as a color guide when working on a larger, studio painting.  In this work, I combined the cluster of trees with a marsh view from  along the Ashley River.  

The Lantern Gate
   The historic Edmondston-Alston House on East Battery was the inspiration for this painting.  It  was completed late in 2003. To my surprise, the poster for the 2004 garden tour included  a photograph that was taken from the very same angle.  The wonderful thing about art is that several people can interpret the same scene and yet each varies according to the personality of the artist.

In the Silence of the Morning
   I saw these two mute swans one morning at Middleton Place.  They almost seemed unreal as they glided across the water.  I hid behind some shrubs so I wouldn't disturb them.  But the male swan knew I was there and put on a show for me.  He seemed to be saying, "You can look, but don't come any closer."   It was like watching a ballet.

Blessed
   I originally photographed this scene because of the way the light was beaming through the trees. I tried to create a universal image of the quiet relationship between a person and a horse in a world of their own.  This painting is one of my personal favorites, however,  because of the meaning behind the scene.  The black thoroughbred is a former racehorse who had been rescued from a trip to the slaughterhouse.  He was being retrained for dressage and pleasure riding by a young lady who had lost a black thoroughbred in her teens.  There seemed to be a special bond between them, as there is with a lot of girls and horses.  It was the TLC that changed an unmanageable beast into a willing and trusting spirit.  The girl eventually bought the horse instead of having him sent to another auction. It was a case where both of them were truly blessed. 
 

Pelicans
   I saw these pelicans swimming around the shrimp boat docks on the Folly River.  Since the pelican is my husband's favorite seabird, I wanted to do a series of paintings of them.
 

In Search of My Shepherd
   The first in a series based on the 23rd Psalm. The whole composition and character of the individual sheep have special meaning in this work.
   I positioned the sheep "in the light", but moving away from it.  In a spiritual sense, they are wandering . . . not exactly lost, but looking for direction.  Each has a  different focus. One is totally oblivious as he merely consumes what is before him.  Yet the smallest  (the youngest) looks back toward "the light".  He sees the Shepherd and begins to turn toward Him. 
   The group of sheep symbolize the faithful who struggle to stay in God's light, yet become preoccupied with everyday obstacles and philosophies.  We need to constantly seek our Shepherd for guidance.
 

Green Pastures
   This is the second in a series of paintings based on the 23rd Psalm.  The first, "In Search of My Shepherd", will soon be available as a canvas giclee.  Like many people, I always loved the 23rd Psalm.  About a year ago, I read "Traveling Light" by Max Lucado.  It was all about the implications and lessons to be learned from Psalm 23.  Shortly afterward, I saw an original painting of some sheep and immediately, it reminded me of the psalm.   So, I bought it.  Today, whenever I look at that painting, it still reminds me of Psalm 23.  I'm not sure whether it was the book, the painting, or the psalm that inspired me to create the series, but I've been taking photos of sheep every time I see them. 
   These sheep were photographed at Middleton Place. Some of them had just been sheared and their undercoats glistened in the sunlight.  The landscape for the work was based on the pasture at Magnolia Gardens. In the morning, it is bathed with a misty light that seems almost spiritual.