Sunday, August 18, 2013

Beachy Still Life #11

11x15" Watercolor on 140 lb. Kilimanjaro WC paper

Number eleven features a Lettered Olive shell and a Sweetgrass basket that we bought on Edisto Island, probably 23 years ago. At that time there wasn't a basket stand set up and established, but a table set out in a front yard right on highway 174. We pulled over and waited until this young lady came out of the house and sold us this one. We have the vantage point of knowing what we paid for this basket, comparing to what they are selling for today. I think in that amount of time these baskets have been collected all over the world, increasing the value. Rightly so, as they are now recognized as being more than mere craft, but beautiful works of art.

The baskets that these folks make get much more elaborate than the one shown here. Below are  a couple of paintings I did of these ladies some time ago:




2 comments:

Hugh said...

It is unreal what these baskets sell for now. All the years we drove to Charleston when I was a kid, these baskets were cheap. The sweetgrass now is harder to find, plus the baskets are rightfully considered an art now.

Gary, these are wonderful paintings you have done. You have been very busy!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful work. How talented you are with watercolors. I had practiced several years ago, but couldn't seem to get the hang of it.