"Over the years, my wife and family have joined me on many voyages of
discovery to places all over the world. As an artist, I find exploration an
essential part of creativity. One of our recurring discoveries is
Charleston, South Carolina, where the heart of the Old South beats with a
special vigor. Here, surrounded by the pastel colors of pinks, golds, and
grays provided by the weathered facades of Charleston's famed Rainbow Row,
we've discovered a world of romance and elegance.
When I travel to new places - when I set up my easel to create a plein-air
painting, as I recently did in Rainbow Row - I am, of course, working in
the here and now. But when I bring the canvas back to my studio, then I
allow myself to travel in time as well as space.
The feeling that I get when I visit Charleston is nostalgic, romantic, as
if I had somehow stepped back in time. So, as I worked on my studio
treatment of Charleston, Sunset on Rainbow Row, I attempted to re-create
the sense of antique charm that I feel when I'm there. A storm is clearing;
lights from the shop windows and ancient street lamps shimmer on the wet
cobbled streets. The scene is suffused by the warm glow of memory.
I've filled the streets of my Charleston, Sunset on Rainbow Row with
vintage cars and passersby wearing simple yet timeless garb. The ever
present horse-drawn carriage, a favorite conveyance of Charleston tourists
to this day, becomes a magical transport to yesterday. Welcome aboard."
