The artist at work. Personalizing a leatherbound journal.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Drayton Hall: Haunted Plantation

Based on Drayton Hall Plantation located in the “Low Country” near Charleston, North Carolina

Drayton Hall was built for John Drayton. Construction begun in 1738 (George Washington was 6 years old) and completed in 1742. (A year before Thomas Jefferson was born and 25 years before Jefferson began construction on Monticello) Drayton Hall is still standing today. It is said that it is haunted. In 1779 the British army arrived at Drayton Hall. In anticipation of their arrival, and the destruction they wrought, John and his family packed what they could and left. While crossing the west branch of the Cooper River at Strawberry Ferry, John suffered a seizure, died, and was buried in an unmarked grave.

The watercolor painting on this old book cover depicts the palladian mansion and some of the ghosts whose spirits might dwell there. It has been drawn and written over in graphite showing a masonic square and compass, a crown and several spiritual beings. Also penciled in is the notation, Great hall built by John Drayton. Construction began in 1738. Drayton Hall was completed in the year of our Lord 1742. Underneath the words John Drayton, B. 1715, D. 1779. in the upper right corner, are listed John’s four wives. His first wife Sarah Cattell, the daughter of a neighboring plantation owner; she and their two children died before 1740. In 1741 John Drayton married Charlotta Bull, daughter of South Carolina's Lt. Royal Governor William Bull. Charlotta died in 1743. In 1752, John married Margaret Glen, the sister of James Glen, the Royal Governor. Margaret died 20 years later in 1772. In 1775, John married Rebecca Perry, the 17-year old daughter of a neighboring plantation owner.


Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Fraktur Bird

Capt. Kidd's journal: Sighting a mermaid off the island of Tortola.


Barbados. Another new painting





Folk art owl:The Night Watcher

FOLK ART OWL: THE NIGHT WATCHER
This painting show an Owl done in an early folk art style. Sitting on a tree branch. Colonial house in the background. A large moon and stars shines overhead.Ink, watercolor and pencil. Painted on the inside cover of an old book. Antiqued to look even older.


14"X 18" Unframed, mounted on black background. Will fit into a standard 14 x 18 frame.
Reg. $135. 
SPECIAL VALENTINE'S DAY SALE PRICE $100.
Ink, watercolor and pencil. 
SALE ENDS JANUARY 25! Please include $12 shipping.

A new painting called Liberty






Two of the pages in my personal journal