Artist: LC Neill
Title: “Burton’s Garden”
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 16″x20″
SOLD

My neighbors have a well kept garden. It’s really spectacular most anytime of year. I paint there often, and feel fortunate to be surrounded with such beauty.

Artist: LC Neill
Title: “Hotel Baudy”
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 18″ x 24″
Price: SOLD

When in Giverny, I stopped nearly every day for lunch or dinner at a restaurant called Hotel Baudy. It was about 1/2 the distance from my B&B to Monet’s Garden. Perfect for a refresher. The establishment is no longer a hotel but there is quite a bit of history with the restaurant/hotel in it’s heyday. Many American painters stayed and dined there when exploring the area and seeking out what Monet was up to.

On the grounds is a large sprawling multi-level garden, with paths, and stairs that lead up the hillside. It was not only pretty but great fun to explore. They also had brightly colored turquoise metal tables and chairs spread about the grounds in case you needed to take a rest. It was inviting enough to have a glass of wine or two!

Artist: LC Neill
Title: “Black Eyed Susans and Daylilies”
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 16″ x 20″
Price: SOLD

My neighbor has an awesome garden lakeside. It’s breathtaking any time of the year. I’m really fortunate they let me go and paint there just about any time I want. It’s a little slice of heaven overlooking the water. Painted en plein air.

Artist: LC Neill
Title: “Little Mountain”
Medium: Oil on Linen
Size: 14″ x 11″
Price: On Request

This painting was done from kayaking out to a small island with my painting supplies. It a challenge to pack all your supplies and put them into the kayak. I also had to watch out for the fire ants and waves lapping up against the shore.

Painting en plein air on a small island on Lake Norman.

Notice the paddle supporting my canvas. Fun work day for me.

Artist: LC Neill
Title: “Lilies II”
Medium: Oil on Linen
Dimensions: 14″ x 11″
SOLD

During my trip to Monet’s Garden, I had two hour windows in which to paint onsite – 7-9 am and again from 6-8 pm. Each day the light and surrounding gardens changed drastically. One morning cool and crisp another, cool and drizzling, and the rest of the days were equally different. This painting was an early morning visit.

Artist: LC Neill
Title: “Monet’s Water Garden”
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 18″ x 24″
SOLD

This painting is one of several I did after my trip to Giverny, France to paint in Monet’s Garden. Lush plantings in the foreground, water, lily pads, and plantings in the distance. More about my full trip in another post.

Artist: LC Neill
Title: “Summer Sky”
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 18″ x 24″
Original: Framed Available please contact me for more information.

A haze is always in the air when it’s Summer in the South. Especially over the lake. It makes you want to slow down a bit and get a sugary ice tea or lemonade.

Painted en plein air on Lake Norman, NC.

Signed, Sealed and Delivered!

Artist: LC Neill
Title: “Bantam Lake”
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 36″x48″
Original: SOLD

This painting was installed yesterday; a commission from Owners of the Andre Christine Gallery in Mooresville, NC. They lived in Connecticut for many years before moving to North Carolina, and had particularly fond memories of Bantam Lake. After reviewing years of pictures, they selected one favorite and provided it to me. It was of a vivid sunrise, back lighting some winter bare tree branches.

With just a few guiding comments from them:

• They wanted to reduce the number of trees and have a clearing on the left side with no trees.
• They wanted to reduce the number of overall branches, keep the brightness of sky.
• They loved the way the clouds and reflections created “fingers” of light.

I was able to work up a couple of quick proofs and discuss with them until they were happy with the general direction and concept. Then the painting began, and a couple months later it was completed.

Here is the painting installed. It looks wonderful against their butterscotch wall color. The hutch below is a deep, deep mahogany with undertones of red and black. Everything seems to be working together, even the reflections of light off the dark wood furniture. To my surprise, it’s a vivid blue.

If you have questions or would like to contact me, please write a comment below, or send me an email .

Artist: LC Neill
Title: “Waters Edge”
Medium: Oil on Linen
Dimensions: 14″x11″
Original: SOLD

At the water’s edge you’ll find all kinds of things – fish, small shelled creatures, rocks, and plants growing under the water to name a few. What struck me about this area was the red clay brilliantly coming through the water. The beach was sandy, but where the water met the sand you could visibly see new red clay silt washed in over the sand. A little farther out, you could see the ground drop off and the water turned to a deep green.

I did this painting “Plein Air” – here is a photo of my start. At one point I took a break to get out of the sun and have a snack. When I returned to the painting I saw the tree line needed to be changed, so I updated it. That’s the beauty of oil paints, you can smush it around until you get it where you want it.

Artist: LC Neill
Title: “Cottage”
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 8″x10″


I was out painting this morning on the Lake. I’m practicing my plein air skills getting ready to go to France and paint in Monet’s Garden. Below are a few pics of my set-up on the lake. It adds a whole new dimension to painting when you are bobbing and weaving with the waves. Ooops didn’t mean to make that stroke! Even though I am anchored, the wind blows the boat around, so I have to adjust constantly. It doesn’t bother me, I just put on some music – listened to a local station this morning – WDAV – and go with the flow. Painting outside is a much different practice than inside the studio. The light moves quickly and everything is so vibrant in the bright sun.

This little cottage sits right on the water. Today they require a 50 foot setback if you are going to build, but every now and again you’ll see an older cottage that has been grandfathered sitting literally on the water or within a couple feet of it.