Magnolia Swamp

Magnolia Swamp 18 x 26″ pastel on pumice paper, framed by the artist

Best in Media at the 2025 Lowcountry Fine Art Showcase at Old Santee Cooper

Magnolia Swamp was created au plein air in the swampy bog at Magnolia plantation. The Mosquitos were swarming and the No-see-ems were having a feast, but I kept working. It is very ambitious to work in such a large scale au plein air and in pastel in the short window of time I had. But I was excited by the challenge. I like pastels that are direct, not too many layers, never beaten down, hardly blended. I did it because I wanted the urgency I sometimes lack in the studio. I had to get what I was seeing down very quickly, as the moment began to fade. And there was a lot of area to cover. I like that it captures the urgency I felt. Time is definitely one of the essential visual elements in painting.