Mistakes are made! Turtle II & Turtle III

Well then, the turtles are coming off my easel lately.

I actually thought I posted last night, but apparently not!

So again, a two for one.

I thought I remembered posting, but it somehow disappeared.

Probably my fumble fingers on the computer after painting all day.

Anyway, I am posting now before I get too far in the painting zone and forget.

These guys are fun to paint, giving me inventory that is quick and easy to create.

With 6 shows this fall, I'd better get busy!

I've been working hard on steampunk pieces as well.

These are intense, detailed, shoulder stressing, terrifically fun works.

Today was my last day this year to walk for turtles.

It was a beautiful morning, with the sun just coming up as I went back to the car to go home.

Breakfast together, then Chris drove to Mississippi to pick up a boat project.

We also picked up my sister in law from the airport in Pensacola after her trip to Montana.

It's been a long day of road trips and painting!

Turtle II & Turtle III, Acrylic on wood panel, 12 inches round

Days 64 & 65 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Upward

Upward is another of my turtles.

I love painting turtles and I pray that will never change.

Sea turtles are in peril right now.

The amount of plastic waste, general garbage, and pollution takes its toll on our oceans.

The plastic is even finding its way into our food chain through the fish we eat.

The turtles injest plastics, which in turn impacts them and they float.

When turtles float, they are prone to boat strikes which can put air into their shells.

Once a turtle has air in their shell, they can no longer be in the wild.

The plastic can sometimes be passed naturally, but most of the time they must be helped along.

If you ever get a chance to go to Marathon Florida, go to the turtle hospital there.

It is a magical place, with wonderful sea turtles in large tanks.

They also perform surgeries there to remove tumors that can plague them.

If the tumors can be removed and have not gone internally, they can be released into the wild again.

Upward, Acrylic on wood panel, 12 inches round

Day 63 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

A Crabby Pair

I don't like it when I'm so tired I forget to post!

Anyway, here is a two for one.

These are male and female blue crabs.

How do I know?

Scientists have determined that the female paint their "nails".

That's right, the girls are red, boys are blue for the most part.

You can also tell by looking at their shell on the bottom.

However, the last time I did that, I was soundly pinched.

That crab got flung into the water.

Which was probably what it wanted anyway!

I am still working and focusing on the steampunk piece that I am currently working on.

It's going to be awesome, but it is taking a long time because of all the detail.

But I do believe I can finish it this week!

Then I need to decide on the next one.

I really need another sea turtle, sea horse, or possibly skull.

Which one do you think?

I've painted each of these before, but I could really use another original for the booth in October.

I already have a pelican, nautilus, dachshund, blue crab, alligator, and the new one.

Hint, the one I'm working on now is not a marine themed one!

Coming soon, a mascot one!

I also taught a class today after going to church in the morning.

It's been a full day.

Time with Chris, Time with my church family, time for art.....

It's been a good day.

A Crabby Pair, acrylic on wood panel, 12 inches round

Days 61 & 62 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Great pacific

I love painting octopus!

All the tentacles are so fun to create.

It has been a good day.

Working hard on a steampunk piece to have for the National Shrimp Festival.

I have two booths this year.

One will be my "normal" marine life.

The others will be all steampunk style pieces.

Obviously, these works will take more than one day each.

They actually take anywhere from 2 weeks to a month for each one.

Lots of fun to design and paint!

Great Pacific, Acrylic on round wood panel, 12 inch round

Day 60 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Whale song

This is actually an example painting for a class I'm teaching at Stewart Heath Gallery.

The class is scheduled for September 8th in the evening.

Should be a fun class!

Sign up through www.stewartheathgallery.com

We delivered the three pieces to Mississippi today.

The owners were over the moon !

I am one very happy artist right now and they are happy collectors!

I also delivered three new works to the Audubon Center in Pascagoula.

We left the house at 1:30 got back by 7:00 with a stop for dinner.

Thanking God for a neighbor that stopped by to let dogs out for a bit at 5 pm.

Although, she saw something that kinda has me creeped out just a little.

She witnessed a person going into the house next door.

The house next door is pretty much abandoned.

She then saw the man come out with a white bag.

She confronted him, and asked what are you doing in there?

He mumbled something about renting the place.

(The house is in an advanced state of disrepair.)

I've contacted the owner of the house.

No response as of yet.

We are getting more solar powered lights for the front of our home in the morning.

Hope I can sleep tonight!

Whale song, acrylic on canvas, 10 x 20 inches 

Day 59 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Mantas!

I love painting these beautiful, graceful creatures.

They have such a gentle quality to them.

Not only that, but they're also fun to paint.

I am getting really tired of the rain as of late.

It seems every day is either cloudy or downpours.

I want to get into my pool and just relax for a while.

 Then I hear thunder rumbling in the distance, I don't even want to get in!

Even then, the water is rather chilly as the sun has not heated the water for days.

Small world complaints, I know......

At least being inside has put me in the studio.

I'm usually in here anyway, but I love to paint while it's raining.

Just so long as the lightning doesn't get too rowdy!

Speaking of studio time...

I have collectors that are pushing me to greater heights of late.

They love my work, but they wanted a different style.

They commissioned me to do a series of three pieces.

Emulating a style that is nowhere near mine.

 I've had a ball completing them.

Lots of knife work, lots of paint!

The pieces get delivered tomorrow to Mississippi.

I have already done one piece for them that was 6ft x 6ft.

That one was a vintage drawing of a kabuki mask.

They wanted a painting of the drawing.

I thought it was going in their pool house.

It ended up at their front door!

You can see it from the street.

Oh my!

I love collectors that push my limits.

 They also ask me to stretch my style into other realms of art.

I'll show the other works after they are hung at their home.

Mantas!, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 24 x 24 inches

Day 58 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Lionfish pair

 

Lionfish are some of my favorite fish to paint!

I love all their beautiful fins.

Those fins are deadly though.

Not so much for us as humans, but to other fish.

The deadliest part though is the way they use their fins.

When they encounter something they want to eat.

Usually very small baby game fish.

They simply encircle the fish and inhale.

They have extremely large mouths.

When captured and dissected, they have been found with dozens of babies inside.

Now, divers have discovered a new source of income.

Capturing lionfish and selling them to restaurants.

I hear they're delicious!

Lionfish pair, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 24 x 24 inches

Day 57 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

Herons around II

I'm taking a "Skip" day.

I painted all day today, my brain is on overload and I must calm down.

The euphoria from painting today was very real.

It wasn't while painting this heron though!

I am working on a very large project that is SO not my style.

It has me energized because the owners are delighted with my progress.

I am over the moon with joy!

Herons around II, Acrylic on wood panel, 12 inches round

Day 56 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Herons around

The painting today was fun to paint.

I really love painting these predator birds.

Even though they're not raptors, they are really efficient hunters.

They are also efficient scavengers.

Although if you're at the end of that beak, they don't seem like a scavenger.

They can be very intimidating as well, flying in to get their share of your catch of fish!

I have seen them actually steal a fish right off the hook of a fishermen, much to their consternation.

They also have a very mean sounding call as they're flying in.

Herons around, Acrylic on wood panel, 12 inches round

Day 55 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Octopus escaping

I just love painting octopus!

They are so fun with all their tentacles.

Did you know?

Octopus have 3 hearts.

They have the neurons in each of their arms making them have essentially 9 brains.

Each arm has 250 suckers.

Their arms if separated from the main body, can still move for several hours.

(Thus eating "live" octopus can kill you! About 5 people a year die from it!)

All octopus have venom.

The blue ringed octopus has a deadly venom for humans, you won't even feel the bite!

Their blood is bluish in color.

If their "beak" fits through an opening, the rest of the octopus will too!

Fascinating, funky, and fun to watch.

And really fun to paint!

I also worked on the steampunk piece for several hours today.

I am really liking this one!

Octopus escaping, Acrylic on Shadowbox canvas, 24 x 24 inches

Day 54 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Turtles, turtles everywhere!

Last year, we started making the offset shadowboxes.

I have not been able to keep them on hand.

People love them and are fascinated at the handmade aspect of them.

They really are not harder to stretch, but I imagine they are harder to build!

I don't really know, because I stay out of the way when Chris is constructing them.

I am so grateful he builds these for me!

(No, he doesn't build them for anyone else either!)

The grand was up here asking questions tonight.

Such as, what is in that jar marked sepia 2022.

"This year's color mixed for my paintings."

How many paintings do you have up here?

(Counting, discovered 50.)

"Then there's another 60 at the Audubon Center, Another 10 in Malbis, 

10 in Downtown,, and five in Foley."

That's a lot!

What are your three favorite animals?

"Turtles, Dachshunds, and Octopus."

More to come as summer progresses.

Turtles, turtles everywhere!, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 24 x 24 inches

Day 53 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Sweet turtle too!

Another sweet turtle.

Another day painting too!

I actually spent the bulk of the day working on a new steampunk piece.

These pieces take a lot more than one day!

I am very excited about this one.

It's a creature I've had several requests for over the years.

He is also quite large, measuring 2 ft. x 3 ft.

I am having a very enjoyable time painting him for sure!

I'd better get busy on steampunk.

 I have a booth of nothing but them this fall at the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

I've always wanted them to be judged on their own merit, so this year is the year that happens.

The steampunk I do is so very different from my normal works.

People are usually quite shocked to find I paint them.

It also got a lot of buzz and recognition at shows this Spring.

I took three awards this Spring.

I know at least one of them was for the steampunk.

 The judge made a point of coming back after awards and told me.

So, I work hard creating new works for two booths this year!

Whew!

Sweet turtle too!, Acrylic on Shadowbox canvas, 16 x 16 inches

Day 52 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Sweet turtle

They may have a face only a mother could love, but I do love sea turtles!

There is such wisdom in their eyes and a deepness to their soul.

I had the opportunity to photograph sea turtles up close at the Loggerhead Marine Center.

These turtles were amazingly close and had the most wonderful windows in their tanks.

I'm sure the windows were there for children to see them up close while their parents looked from above.

I turned into a kid that day, sitting on the ground at turtle level underwater.

The turtles responded in kind, seeing I was an adult human and could possibly have food for them.

They did some of the most amazing poses and I took lots of photos.

This turtle is one of them.

I really enjoy painting them too!

The vast majority of my day was spent setting up a new steampunk piece for fall shows.

It is a labor-intensive process, involving lots of parts and pieces.

First, I get an idea of what I want to steampunk and do a simple drawing.

Sometimes I work with pieces of metal I have in my studio.

Other times I work with photos, laying them out in complicated patterns.

I am tracing the photos I placed today to see if I need to add anything to the current work.

This one will be an incredible addition to my steampunk series.

The Mechanics of...........

You'll have to wait and see what comes from beneath my brush!

Sweet turtle, Acrylic on Shadowbox canvas, 16 x 16 inches

Day 51 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Pelican IV

Day 50!

Can you believe it's already halfway through the 100 paintings for this year.

It has been a challenge for sure, trying to do commissions, get ready for a show, and paint every day!

Not to mention sewing too.

Mardi Gras in August, still can't wrap my head around that.

The queen's train is coming along nicely.

Pelicans are one of my favorite birds.

They have the absolute neatest flight pattern when fishing.

When they see a fish, they dive to the left.

This is to protect their esophagus and prevent water from going into their lungs.

I am fascinated by this, because it is a built into their nature.

They automatically dive to the left every time.

God is such a masterful designer!

They are also some of the gangliest looking birds I've ever seen.

They don't walk very well, but boy how they can fly.

I love they've made such a great comeback from the results of DDT on their eggs.

When I first moved back here from California in 1976, 

it was a rare sight to see more than one at a time.

Now, it is common to see flight formations of 25 or more birds gliding along.

Such a beautiful sight in our southern skies!

Pelican IV, Acrylic on wood panel, 12 inch round

Day 50 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Pelican III

The Raccoon Retreat Studio is a hum of activity as of late.

I am painting and also working with my daughter on a Mardi Gras train for next year.

It's hard to wrap my head around Mardi Gras right now as it seems so far away.

Pushing to get things done.

I've already used over 1,000 yards of thread making appliques so far.

The appliques are a large part of the train with two of them measuring 

3 feet and the other two measuring 3.5 feet!

Lots of sewing, trimming, then having to clean my studio from the fabric remnants.

Such is the life of an artist, especially one who sews.

But, before anyone asks I don't sew professionally any more.

Too many headaches and time I really don't have right now!

Somewhere in there, I painted too!

Loving these rounds!

Pelican III, Acrylic on wood, 12 inches

Day 49 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Pelican II

What an amazing day to day was for me!

I started out by doing my Bible readings.

Then we went to church.

I came home then went to My Daughter in loves house in Mobile for a tea party.

It was a very well-done party and they had so much food.

They even had gentlemen to serve tea and other beverages.

So fun!

I drove back home to spend time with Chris.

We had a late lunch together and then we both took a nap.

Chris's nap was much longer than mine of course!

The late afternoon was spent working on a project for and with my daughter.

We are making a train for a Mardi Gras organization.

It's going to be an incredible work of art, as well as a lovely train fit for a queen!

Somewhere in the middle of creating, I finished a painting too!

Such a fun one to do!

I love the smaller rounds.

Pelican II, Acrylic on wood panel, 12 inches round

Day 48 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Pelican I

My goodness I love these small rounds from Hobby Lobby!

I had the large rounds last year but decided to purchase several of these when they were on sale.

They are about 12 inches in diameter.

They are so fun to paint, and the turtles are already selling at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center.

I'm sure others will go too!

The Audubon Center has already sold several pieces.

They've also asked me to stay until the afternoon of October 4th around 2pm.

I will be there for several events happening at the center as well as Cruising the Coast reception.

The Cruising reception is over about 2pm and we immediately take down the show.

(We set up for the National Shrimp Festival the NEXT DAY!)

I've also been invited to come over during the Hummingbird happy hour on September 22nd.

So many things happening here!

Show schedule is firmed up for this year as well.

Pascagoula River Audubon Center, My Nature Odyssey, Moss Point MS Through October 4th at 2pm

Freedom Fest II, September 30th & October 1st, Orange Beach AL at the Wharf 9-5 daily

National Shrimp Festival, October 6th-9th, Gulf Shores, AL 9-5 daily (some nights later perhaps.)

Double booth at Shrimp Festival, one marine life the other all Steampunk!

Jubilee Festival, October 15th &16th, Daphne AL 9-5 daily

Mattie Kelly Festival, October 29th & 30th, Destin FL 9-5 daily

Peter Anderson Festival, November 5th & 6th, Ocean Springs, MS 9-5 daily

Three Rivers, November 12th & 13th, Covington LA WAITLISTED

Possible Christmas show at the Wharf in December as well (lots of small pieces for that one.)

Anyway, show season promises to be really hectic.

Such is life here on the Great Gulf Coast in Fairhope, Alabama

I bid you adieu for now!

Pelican I, Acrylic on wood panel, 12 inches round

Day 47 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Stormy

Born on this day in 2013 was our first grandchild.

Archer has been an energetic part ever since.

We have watched him off and on ever since he was a baby.

He still visits frequently, staying for days while his parents are working.

We love it so much!

Happy birthday Archer!

Nine looks good on you>

Today's painting is not for sale.

This one belongs to Archer.

Every year on his birthday I paint him a painting.

Some are small, some are large.

All of them are sepia colored.

My hope is that someday he can decorate a wall with the memories that have been built in art.

Although I was going to keep them all until he got older, he has managed to get the last two of them.

He has requested paintings for the past several years.

One is a dolphin with a sea turtle, the other is a sailfish with fish ball.

He also has a rhinoceros.

This year, he requested a painting of his dog Stormy.

Happy birthday Dude!

Stormy, Acrylic on canvas, 8 x 10

Day 46 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Heron mother

Loud and obnoxious.

Scary when flying toward you.

I am really respectful of that massive beak!

So, I learned something about bird behavior.

Great Blue herons lay their eggs a couple of days apart.

This means that they hatch a couple of days apart too.

The first one laid is the first to hatch.

It has a couple of days to get a head start on their siblings.

If you're the third egg, the first one is much larger, louder, and gets in the way of food.

Needless to say, it's a hard life.

Not all make it to adulthood.

Such is nature at its finest.

We had the reception today at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center.

There were not as many people this year as last.

Several that bought last year did show though.

The show let go of three small sewing drawers today.

Baby steps, this brings the total to six sold so far.

I've also been invited to come to the Hummingbird Happy hour on September 22.

Another chance to sell and talk about recycled art as well as marine and bird conservation.

I am enjoying the ride so far!

Heron mother, Acrylic on wood panel, 5 x 15

Day 45 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Flying jewel box VII

I don't know if I'll ever tire of painting hummingbirds.

However, unless commissioned to do more this is it for the series.

Such beautiful little birds, so fun to paint!

I am forever in debt to Debi Parnell for the use of her photographs.

Today was turtle walk day.

I like many others walk the beach looking for sea turtle nests.

I found none today.

Our beaches seem really quiet as far as turtle activity is concerned.

I have probably decided not to walk next year.

I have patrolled for 10 years this year.

We have to get up at 4:30 am in order to get on the beach and patrol before sunrise.

It's a lot of hours out of my day, even though it's only twice a month.

I also painted a lot today.

Getting works done, now I have to varnish and wire again.

The Audubon show has already sold pieces and I need to replace them.

I will be bringing smaller works to fill in when I go to the reception tomorrow.

The dog is hanging in there so far.

She seems brighter and happier as well as more active.

She started her liver medicine and homeopathic therapy as well.

That makes me happy too!

Flying jewel box VII, Acrylic on Wood panel, 5 x15 inches

Day 44 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Flying jewel box VI

So much fun, and so much beauty in a small package.

I love to watch them.

Now I love to paint them too!

Today was a good day.

The laundry got done.

The dogs behaved themselves for the most part.

That is except for the phantom puppy pooper in my bedroom. 

The poop that was found by my robot vacuum cleaner.

Cleaned up that mess.

Cleaned the vacuum cleaner that sucked up said poop.

Cleaned the stove where I cleaned the vacuum cleaner.

Cleaned the sink after I cleaned the stove and the vacuum cleaner.

Such is life with senior dogs.

I just pray the vacuum doesn't find poop or pee again!

The dogs may have to stay outside for a while during vacuuming.

Studio time was good, I got a lot done today.

I put a couple of coats of Kilz on the latest sewing drawer projects.

The color kept seeping through, so another layer of Kilz.

Finally, I was able to put white acrylic on them to prepare them for artworks.

I also painted today for several hours.

Dog feeding time, then the afternoon ride.

Dogs are happy, husband happy.

Laundry done.

Dinner cooked and cleaned up.

Time spent with husband in early evening.

Then lost myself into the studio for a couple of hours.

Going to be now, 4:30 am comes quickly.

(Walking for turtles in the morning.)

Such is the artist life here at the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama!

Flying jewel box VI, Acrylic on wood panel, 5x15 inches

Day 43 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Flying Jewel box V

Incredibly beautiful these little birds are for sure!

I am looking forward to taking them to the Pascagoula River Audubon Center later this week.

Thursday is the reception, and I am so excited to hang them at the gallery.

They have already sold 3 pieces at the show!

I hope to replace them while there as well.

So many things happening here at the Raccoon Retreat Studio in Fairhope, Alabama.

Chris has built a stack of shadowbox frames for me to work on soon. They still have to be stretched, painted white, and sketched then painted.

It's a never-ending cycle of wonder here.

I wonder how I get it done.

I wonder if I'll get it done.

I wonder when I'll get it done.

I wonder if people will like them.

I wonder if people will purchase them.

I wonder most of all at the talent God has blessed me with!

Flying Jewel box V, Acrylic on wood panel, 5x15 inches

Day 42 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Flying jewel box IV

I know the names are cheesy.

I've never thought of them as anything other than Flying Jewelry boxes.

These birds coloring is a sight to behold.

That something so small, so incredibly shiny, so fast.

God made a lovely creature when he made the hummingbird.

So fascinating to watch, and so fun to paint!

I will forever be in Debi Parnell's debt for her allowing me to use her gorgeous photography!

Today being Sunday, started with us going to church.

I am so grateful for my church family.

Our Pastors are pretty incredible people as well.

Such a great place to call home, Celebration Church in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama.

I am still fighting with my swimming pool.

I thought I had figured out the problem.

The pool is still turning green even though the pump is running regularly.

I just don't have time to figure it all out.

I wish I could find someone that knew about saltwater systems and could fix it.

I'm really tired of wanting to swim but I am having to scrub for an hour to remove algae.

Every stinking time.

I just want to be able to relax for a bit.

We've also had a 16 year old dachshund not doing well.

After having a tumor removed.

Finding out her liver numbers are sky high.

Her gall bladder is very enlarged and possibly causing high liver numbers.

We did find out through an abdominal exam that she does indeed have Cushing's disease.

I have another one with similar symptoms.

Unfortunately, this is common with older dachshunds.

Ours are 18, 16, 14, and 10 year old siblings.

Five times the fun, five times the vet bills.

Five times the love as well.

Painting, painting, painting here in the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama!

Flying Jewel box IV, Acrylic on wood panel, 5x15 inches

Day 41 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

 

Flying Jewel box III

I am having a great deal of fun working both on birds and in color.

But, to the sepias I must return because I love them so much!

For now though, colorful birds fly from my brushes.

This series are encased in vintage sewing machine drawers from treadle machines.

My precious husband is able to dismantle the machines that are typically rusted and locked up.

He uses the base to make beautiful tables.

Our son uses the machine itself to make steampunk lamps.

Some of the internal workings of the machines are in my studio for steampunk inspiration.

I am able to use the drawers, slides, and pulls to make miniature shadowbox frames.

My husband takes each drawer, and cuts them into thirds.

Typically each machine gets me 24-28 frames.

They are then backed with recycled wood panels from a skateboard ramp.

Painted with Kilz, then painted white.

Some of these machines have not seen the light of day for many years.

Some have veneer that is in rough shape.

Most are in storage, covered in dust.

They are receiving new life as little pieces of art in a recycling way.

I love them!

I hope you do as well!

Flying jewel box III, Acrylic on recycled wood, 5x15 inches

Day 40 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Turtle Time!

Turtle Time!

I am part of share the beach.

It is a group of volunteers that walk 47 miles of Alabama beaches every day from May through August.

There are so many volunteers that we walk twice a month.

We have found nothing on our days of walking, but others have on our route.

This week, we had two nests "boil".

It is a sight to behold!

Turtle time!, Acrylic on wood panel, 12 inches

Day 39 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Bad Hair Day (Heron II)

Bad Hair Day.

We all have them, bad hair days.

These magnificent birds with their flowing feathers can really have a bad hair day.

I love it though, when they dry their feathers.

They get in the weirdest position, with their wings flipped forward as if in supplication to the sun.

Actually, they are drying their wings for the next flight into the blue.

I love watching these beautiful birds.

The Audubon show is already having sales!

I received a text today letting me know Bring home dinner (Heron pair with babies)

is already sold!

They also bought two turtle rounds apparently.

Last year's show was a hit, and it looks like this year may be as well.

I'd better get painting!

The Mobile History Museum had the opening tonight of the 30 by ten show.

I was fortunate to become a part of this show back in 2002.

It was originally a part of the new building owned by the Mobile Press Register.

Each floor had a century represented, 1700's, 1800's, and 1900's.

I have three paintings in the accession, Annual Indian Congress, Naval Stores and tar and pitch production, and the Opening of the Cochran Bridge.

I feel extremely humbled to be a part of their collection!

 

Heron I

Today was a busy day.

I started with my bible readings and journal.

Dentist appointment at 8 am.

Came home, painted a bit then Chiropractor appointment.

Straight to church, to dismantle VBS.

Decorations always come down faster than they go up!

We salvaged lumber from the flats, and tossed cardboard that served us well for two years.

We then went to lunch at the pier.

I love painting birds, I've discovered.

Heron I is one of them.

Because of the Audubon show, I have had several birds leave the studio this month.

We watched a Heron today while eating lunch at the Orange Street pier.

While he was entertaining, the dolphins were more fun to watch.

The dolphin pod was chasing mullet up the bay, leaping out of the water in their haste to catch lunch.

We were sitting quietly observing the pelican sitting on the piling.

The heron decided that was his piling, and swooped toward the pelican, cackling as he flew in.

The pelican decided that he did not want to deal with that beak and left his perch.

Such is life here on the bay, summer winding down, herons defending their territory, pelicans diving to capture the next meal, dolphins playing with their food while eating.

I love it here!

Heron I, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 12 x 24

Day 37 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Lionfish II

I cannot even imagine how we are going to be rid of this invasive species.

Unless we find a way to overfish for them!

I've heard they are delicious, but have yet to find a restaurant that has them so I can try for myself!

Today was a good day in many ways.

I am very happy to have been able to paint so I can replace works removed from Big Fish gallery.

I also need to replace works for Stewart Heath Gallery as she made a large sale of five different pieces.

I am always amazed when people let go of their hard-earned money to purchase my works.

I am able to make a living doing something I love, so it doesn't feel like work.

But there is pressure to create now, more than ever. 

It's only 65 days until the National Shrimp Festival at Gulf Shores in October.

65 days.

65 paintings, maybe more.

Fortunately, God has given me an almost unbelievable talent and ability to create quickly.

I also have a great supportive husband that builds my frames, stretches canvas, erases, wires, and sometimes varnishes too!

When things get crazy, I pull him into my circus that is my studio!

Lionfish II, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 16 x 16

Day 36 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022