Mermaid reflections

"Mermaid reflections"

I wonder what is going through her mind about this funny looking thing from the wreck.

I'm sure like "The little mermaid" there are lots of things in her stash of collectibles.

A little caveat.

Our "African son" asked me about mermaids.

It seems that people there think they are real spirits that are not very nice.

No son, they are fantasy here not real.

Curiously strange.

This is the last of the rounds for a while.

I have 11 more to paint, awaiting my brushes.

I will probably paint them in between Mattie Kelly and Peter Anderson.

Peter Anderson has sent out booth numbers and I am 656.

I asked to please be placed back near the Government Street Grocery.

The booth should also be near our wonderful parking. 

We park Friday night, and don't move even to load out or in.

I am so grateful for the spot we stay in during this show.

I asked to be moved because we were across from a popular place and people were constantly cutting through our booth to get to the restaurant.

We were also cut off from people seeing us because of the line from the restaurant.

So, we'll see how it goes this year!

This mermaid was fun to design and paint.

It was also incredibly hard to cut out.

Thankfully Chris is willing to help out frequently.

His band saw has a really thin blade he discovered while cleaning, so he's able to get pretty intricate.

There are still some things I would cut differently, but I am grateful for the extra hands and help.

I also had to use my Dremel on the dolphins recently as there were two spots that weren't removed.

The Dremel is the same one I used to make ornament push molds carved into wood.

We make a wonderful team.

I am so glad God placed us together as man and wife.

So, now I have to check my inventory here at the house and come up with a plan of what to paint.

There are several shadowboxes lined up and ready to go.

I am also going to make at least one 5-piece turtles for the far wall.

I'm really looking forward to the new booth set up with black walls.

The white backgrounds will really pop off of them.

I just pray the booth won't be too dark inside.

I may have to invest in some serious lighting that's easy to transport, not too fragile, and able to run off my battery pack.

That sound like a tall order to me, although I'm all in as far as investing in myself and my business.

The next order of business is a website other than this blog.

The blog has increased my presence on the web but has not increased my sales.

I just need to stop long enough to build it and post photos.

I had a website before, when I had oodles of time to build it through a company.

I was happy with it, but it was taken down by the company when my debit card wasn't able to pay.

I also wasn't able to simply reinstate the website.

So much work lost, and now I have to carve out time to build another one!

So much to do, so little time on my hands as of late!

To God be the glory though, because I usually get it all done!

Just another day at the Raccoon Retreat Studio here in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama!

Mermaid reflections, Acrylic on wood, 20 inches

Day 62 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

A Circled Cephalopod

Today was another day of joy for me.

I started the day in the studio, working on backgrounds for the last two circles.

Don't worry they're coming back in late October, because I still have 11 more to paint.

I'm going to use them as "fill ins" after the first three shows.

As usual, this one was fun to paint.

What was not fun was trying to paint after a restless night.

I finally gave up and got up at 4am this morning.

I got my Bible readings done, painted a bit, then headed off to a Baby shower.

The shower was fun, but I was hungry for lunch.

The shower had only fruit and dip that I could eat.

I have apparently become Gluten intolerant.

I don't have violent reactions as some do, but it's bad enough.

I have what amounts to an allergy attack, phlegm, and sinus drainage.

Sometimes up to 24 hours later!

It's just not worth the tastiness.

So, I ate a leftover salad from the refrigerator and headed back to the studio.

The studio was quiet except for the dachshund that followed me up here.

The tippy tapping of her claws is cute, but then I worry when I don't hear movement.

Quiet in a dachshund is like a quiet toddler.

You better be nervous and you better go look.

With dachshunds they're usually in a garbage can, stealing tissues to shred.

I worked for a couple of hours then decided it was time for a nap.

The dachshunds and I piled onto the couch under a blanket and dozed off.

I needed that nap!

It was time to go back to the studio and after an hour or so, it was time for the afternoon ride.

I then cooked dinner, took grandson for ice cream and headed back into the paint.

A good day.

Now hopefully it will be a good night!

A circled cephalopod, Acrylic on wood, 12 inches

Day 61 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Babies, babies everywhere!

Today's piece was after a long day.

My youngest brother was having surgery, so I drove to Mobile to sit with him and my sister in love at 6:15.

I spent the day waiting and chatting with her.

We talked a lot, prayed a lot, and even cried a little.

Then the doctor came out and said it was tough removing the knot as it was full of scar tissue.

We'll find out results later next week.

I finally got to see him again as he was being wheeled out from his outpatient surgery.

Surprisingly about 1 pm.

Too late to go home to Fairhope, too early to pick up grandson from school 

as he is spending the weekend with us.

So, I got lunch at Tazikis.

A lovely salad with chicken and fruit.

I then drove to my daughter's house, and she gave me a hair trim!

Yahoo no more bangs in my eyes!

I could hear my grandmother saying, "get those bangs out of your face!"

It's like when I get dirty fingernails or paint.

I have to clean them, or I'm nervous.

My dad would whip out a very sharp knife and dig the dirt out if I didn't do it.

This is why I have a nail brush by the sink, to scrub.

It's also why I don't care for the artist look of dirty clothes covered in paint at a show.

I just don't feel it presents yourself professionally.

So, I'm always neat, clean, and wearing pretty clothes at shows.

The drive home was interesting to say the least.

The traffic was unbelievable and it took over an hour and a half to get back to Fairhope.

Anyway, I came home to french fries and chicken nuggets that my husband heated up at my request.

I ate, then came upstairs to paint.

I painted these guys in between my grandson asking questions about the books

 I want to sell out of my studio.

I have quite the collection of books on drawing, painting, and references galore.

His research found some of my books are rare and somewhat valuable.

I told him he could have a cut in exchange for photographing, posting, and researching pricing.

We agreed to 20 percent of the profit after sale and shipping.

I have a very interested tweenager in the studio now!

Babies, babies everywhere!, Acrylic on wood, 12 inches

Day 60 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

10 years later....

10 years ago, I was painting a mural in a hyperbaric chamber room.

I don't even know if it's still there.

It was an amazing under the sea theme with lots of fish, Dolphin, and corals.

It was so the people in the hyperbaric chamber could see the mural as they passed time.

This week found me a delightful "job" in Pensacola Beach Florida.

This couple found me at the Gulf Breeze show in the Spring.

They have been searching for an artist over a year to paint their mural.

They have a long tradition of murals in their homes, now both in New Orleans and Pensacola.

They have patiently waited through my show season, a visit from daughter and grandchildren, and a massive dinosaur build for our church VBS called Summer Surge.

The first day, (Monday) we arrived at their condo and settled in quickly.

I was incredibly happy to see a wonderful scaffold as promised, with rails!

I got to work on transferring the pattern to the wall.

Chris settled in to chatting with the owners, Cathy and Randy, while I listened in and occasionally added a bit to Chris's stories.

Orange peel texture is incredibly difficult to paint on because it's so bumpy.

Not to be daunted, I got the pattern on the wall cutting it into manageable strips of six feet by 1 foot.

It took a couple of hours to transfer the pattern I had drafted.

I then excitedly started painting the farthest legs on the right.

I worked a total of 6 hours the first day.

I then took Chris to Peg Leg Petes for a delicious meal.

On Tuesday, I pushed until I got all eight legs done!

It was an adventure all the way fighting with the orange peel texture that was 

becoming easier with each stroke.

This was my point of view most of the day.

I would hang my legs over the edge, leaning into the strokes following the patterning.

Laying on paint, scumbling paint, removing paint.

Just like on the smaller canvases, except on a grander scale.

At this point Cathy was already texting photos to friends and family.

She kept saying it was so much more than she expected.

This is my absolute favorite thing to hear from a client.

I stopped again about 4 pm because I was hungry.

We had a delicious dinner, cooked by me of spaghetti made with deer meat and a lovely salad.

We enjoyed each other's company until later in the evening 

after Chris and I went and got Ice cream on the boardwalk.

Wednesday found me working on the head and rest of the body.

We kept hearing the Blue Angels practicing, and I came down just in time to see a pass by and an incredible lift while barrel rolling high into the air.

What a thrill to watch.

I worked until lunch, then Chris and I went to a restaurant on the water for BBQ.

I told Cathy and Randy to please look for anything that bothered them on the octopus.

When we came back, I swung into action doing the final shading and touch ups.

Chris and I then joined the owners out for a relaxing dip in the sound.

Relaxing that is, until the fish started biting us.

Randy and Chris went in with Larry to take down the scaffolding.

I chose not to go in as there was a bit of a problem the first day just dropping the floor down to facilitate me walking back and forth while painting.

I was too nervous to watch it come down.

Chris had a part of the floor dropped on his head that first day.

It's always his head!

Lord!

Anyway, they took the scaffold down and we got showers while Cathy and Randy returned the equipment back to the store.

I realized I had not signed the piece, so Chris and I got out the ladder and I signed it in the bottom right curl of the leg.

We had dinner together again, eating the leftover spaghetti and a new salad.

The owners are very happy with their piece of art!

They are trying really hard to come up with a unique name.

We spent the evening relaxing, chatting, and finally going to bed.

I love it when collectors become friends!

We came home today, with them waving goodbye from under the condo after walking us to the car.

I almost didn't want to go home....a lot of work, but so relaxing.

I believe they went back home to New Orleans today too!

I came home, unloaded the car, unloaded the bags, greeted the dogs and then went into the studio.

Chris and I got lunch at Rouxsters in downtown Fairhope.

That was an adventure in itself, going around all the detours to get to the restaurant.

We had leftover chicken salad with a salad for dinner, using up all the chicken I made.

These guys were cut out, but not sanded, edges painted, mounted, then painting both the background and the dimensional dolphins.

It's been a long day, but a productive one!

I pray Cathy and Randy; our new friends made it home safely to New Orleans.

10 years of adventures here in Fairhope since the mural.

I've painted several since then both at church and another hyperbaric chamber.

Adventures!

Kind of has a nice ring to it!

Goodnight!

10 years later...., Acrylic on wall and wood, Octopus 6 x 12 feet, Dolphins 12 inches round

Days 56,57,58, & 59 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Muralist, muralist, where is the muralist?

So, when I first started as an artist, I did do murals before I really started doing shows.

It was a way to showcase my skills and make a little money.

I did this while I was working at Alabama Art supply as well.

By this time in my 'career' I was down to three days a week at the store, 

because we were slow at the time.

I really didn't need the income from the store, and it was nice to do something different.

The money at the time was decent and the work was fun.

I've also done a very large mural at the Abba Shrine Center that was 10x48 feet.

It was impressive, and I think they still have it, although it may be covered by curtains.

Most of the time, people don't want murals.

They want canvas they can move if they leave the space.

This couple approached me at the Gulf Breeze show in late March.

I explained to them that I couldn't at the time, but perhaps later in the year.

They said they were patient and willing to wait because they feel that I am the artist they have been searching for.

As time passed, I became concerned about being on a ladder again.

I explained this to them, and they said they would get scaffolding.

I set it up for Late May.

May came and I was overwhelmed by coming home after shows, a massive yard sale, and our daughter and family coming in from India.

Then there were the Dinosaurs.....

I messaged these sweet people telling them it would be August before I could get there, and I would understand if they could not wait.

It took a couple of days, but they messaged me again telling me they thought I was the Artist they were looking for to do their mural.

I am so grateful God has given me this talent.

The mural is happening this week!

Chris is going with me to their condo, so in between painting, we get to walk the beach.

I pray everything goes well.

The photo above is the diagram sketch I sent for approval.

They said they love it.

This is a small part of the design.

Each blue square is a square foot, so you can see it's rather large.

At first, I thought I could project the image I had drawn onto paper.

The weather around here has been sketchy at best, so I didn't know if I would be able to take the paper outside to tack it to the fence for the projector to enlarge it.

In stepped the Holy Spirit.

He reminded me about gridding.

I made the paper I needed the correct size, then started transferring the image.

The thunderstorm raged outside as I was drawing last night.

Pretty easy actually.

Now getting it on the wall will be another story.

I will probably have to cut the pattern into strips, then transfer to the wall using graphite paper.

Lifes going to be interesting for the next few days!

BTW, there will not be a painting a day, just that day's painting progress.

Praying to get done by Thursday afternoon.

Headed to Gulf Breeze tomorrow morning!

Craver Mural, Pencil on paper, 6ft x 12ft

Day 55 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Just passing through!

I am amazed at these beautiful creatures.

I am also a little shocked at how few survive hatching.

They have many predators because they make a tasty snack.

Sharks, big fish, seagulls, and probably pelicans will eat them if given a chance.

I used to walk the beach for turtles at dawn.

We would look for a crawl, then try to find if there was a nest.

In 10 years of walking, I only found one crawl with Chris.

It was a false crawl, meaning the turtle came in and out without leaving a nest.

They can be disturbed as they are coming in, or something doesn't feel right.

We also found a nest one time, but the team on the other section claimed it as their person found it first.

The sections overlap somewhat.

Anyway a sea turtle nest averages about 100 babies in it.

With predators, plastic pollution, and boat accidents only one from each nest 

will typically make it to adulthood.

Adulthood and nesting age, about 35 years for a loggerhead.

Then they can lay eggs typically 4-5 nests per season.

They lay clutches typically every couple of weeks during the warmer part of the year.

I do remember a nest hatching during the National Shrimp Festival.

They usually finish laying nests around the end of August.

If you've never seen a boil in person, Google it.

A sea turtle boil is the most beautiful thing to watch.

It's called a boil, because they look like they're boiling up out of the sand.

They scramble over each other in a mad dash for the water, usually at night.

Night is when they hatch, usually during a moonlit night because they go towards the light.

We had a hatch try to go toward the condos one evening at sunset. 

We ended up holding beach towels along the route to corral them into the water.

We were also down at a concert when we got the alert that a nest was hatching.

We ran from the concert at the wharf, only to find we missed it!

I've also had a sea turtle peek at me while paddleboarding Mobile Bay.

Once, from a distance on a beautiful sunlit morning just under the pier.

The next time I was paddling several months later and actually had one come up right by the board.

It took a breath, then disappeared into the water.

I guess it was just curious.

I was thanking God for the encounter!

I'm also drafting the pattern for the octopus for the mural.

It is very hard to draft a ten foot x six foot pattern even in my studio!

I first had to tape paper together for the pattern.

Fortunately I was able to find bulletin board paper that is four feet wide.

So I'm drafting a ten foot octopus after drawing a grid on the paper!

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

Just passing through!, Acrylic on wood, 12 inches

Day 54 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Killer dolphins!?!

"Killer Dolphins"

Did you know that Killer Whales are actually a member of the Dolphin family.

I didn't, and now you know too!

Pilot whales are also a part of this unique part of the dolphin family.

These creatures are always fun to paint, now that I have actually painted them this summer.

I actually haven't painted them because I focus on Gulf of Mexico species.

People have asked for years, now I do!

Today was pretty quiet around here.

I painted the Kilz on the new rounds Chris built and found them to be quite rough.

I brought it up to him and he promptly took them back to the shop and sanded the daylights out of them.

They are much smoother now.

These 11 will wait until I'm in between Mattie Kelly and Peter Anderson.

By then, I should be needing some new ones to fill in.

The smallest ones will be interesting to paint.

Just as much work as the larger ones, but on a smaller scale.

The outer rim is slightly over 11 inches, but the center is only 8.

I'll have to ruminate on that for a while.

I have painted them with white acrylic and am waiting for them to dry before placing them on the shelf to patiently wait for the brush to transform them.

I realized today that two of the shows I am doing this fall are ranked in 

Sunshine Magazines top 200 shows for 2023.

I'm sure they'll be in the 2024 version as well.

I feel fortunate to be juried into these major art shows.

Covington Three Rivers and Peter Anderson here we come!

The blog has over 260,000 views now.

That is almost unbelievable to me, as it was just a few years back I was barely at 100,000!

I am grateful for everyone that reads, and especially comments on the blog and the painting.

You see, studio time for most artists is a lonely place.

Fortunately for me, I have a husband that makes me take breaks and naps.

That's pretty much it for today folks.

47 days until the Annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama

I bid you goodnight!

Killer Dolphins!?!, Acrylic on wood, 13 inches

Day 53 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Traffic jam!

Oh today!

Today was wonderful!

We started out the day with breakfast at Julwin's.

We picked up Jeanny and Bobby Gause from their boat, "Firefly" in Fairhope Harbor.

We had a delightful breakfast and walked around downtown, showing them parts of Fairhope.

We had an appointment at 10, so we left them happily finding their land legs.

We told them to text when they were ready to be picked up.

We also offered to take them to the grocery store if needed.

They texted about 11 and said they were ready.

When we picked them up, they asked if we could go to Publix as they needed a few things.

While there, we shopped a bit too.

Taking them back to the boat, they asked if we wanted to come back for sunset.

We said sure!

Why not get together for dinner?

Plans were made to meet at 5:30.

This afternoon I made a salad, sweet potatoes, and coconut treats.

We brought the deer meat steaks and Jeanny cooked them while we were all visiting.

We then had a lovely dinner in the stern dining area with a storm that went around us.

The Firefly is a beautiful vessel.

There were only 41 of the Pilgrim made, and theirs is #34.

We had a delightful time, visiting, praising God for what He has done in all our lives.

What an incredible friendship we've started.

They have invited us to come visit in Demopolis while they are there until November.

We've also been invited to Tarpon Springs.

I think there's a show there, it could happen!

Regardless, we probably will visit when we swing into Florida for the Spring shows.

Thanking God for new friends that have so much in common with us!coa

The painting "Traffic Jam" was painted today in two sessions, one this afternoon.

The other session was when we came back from dinner.

I also cut several pieces of foam board and packed two more bags.

A wonderful day!

Traffic Jam, Acrylic on wood, 20 inches

Day 51 0f the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Pelicans, pilings, and a Firefly!

Oh, the joys of painting!

I pray each and every one of you gets to find this kind of joy in your work.

Today is day 50!

Oh my!

The morning started easy enough, with me reading the Bible and sending out messages 

to friends here in the states and in Africa.

My morning started at 4am.

Once I'm awake, I'm awake for good.

Except for a nap during the day maybe.

I headed to the studio.

I took some of the heavy weight bags I purchased and cut them after 

sewing a new bottom on the second one.

Fold in half, stitch, then cut, making two bags.

I also drove to Walmart to purchase foam boards to cut and place between the paintings.

I cut the foam boards into 16-inch squares, putting the board on top of the 

painting and under the next piece. 

I managed to pack almost 3 bags full of beautiful works.

I still have a couple to add to one bag, then I have to pack the larger ones together.

We drove back to the store this evening as we needed more romaine lettuce for dinner.

We also got drinks for Chris while he's working outside.

I was picking up more foam boards, but they were damaged.

No parent would pay almost 8 bucks for these things for their kid to use.

I asked for and got a slight discount on them, as it doesn't matter to me that they're bent.

I'm going to cut them up any way.

Came home, made dinner, and decided to go to a local custard place to get a treat.

Neither of us have had any real sugar for two weeks.

So off we went, Chris got a no added sugar, I got the vegan coconut.

They both were quite delicious.

We dropped off scenic 98 to watch the sunset at the Fairhope Yacht Club.

The boats were rocking and Chris got out to look at the new docks the city built in the harbor.

At the end of one of the docks was the prettiest "little" trawler.

The owner came out, and we said we love your boat!

He said I'm going to get laundry, but you can come aboard.

He came back from the laundry, and said his wife wasn't answering the phone.

Give me a minute.

He welcomed us onto the Firefly, a beautiful little live aboard trawler.

We went on the back deck first, with a wonderful dining area.

We went around the port side toward the bow.

We then went back to the dining area and climbed the ladder to the top deck,

rocking in the wave action from Mobile Bay.

We went back down to the dining area, and he opened the sliding doors into the main cabin.

His name is Bobby and her name is Jeanny.

Jeanny greeted us and showed us several parts of the boat.

A compact delightful kitchen.

A large, beautiful living room.

A bathroom that is a dry bath. (most boats are wet baths)

Their bedroom is below the kitchen and a walk-in closet under the bow.

It even has a cellar with a freezer!

So much storage, such delightful touches of the sea in every nook and cranny.

They come from Tarpon Springs, Florida where they run tours and dinner cruises aboard the boat.

They bought Firefly after hurricane Helene last year.

Their house was spared, but it was a close call, so they sold the house.

AND bought a boat! 

Talk about a life pivoting!

They are taking Firefly up to Demopolis for protection from hurricane season.

They plan to go home about December.

After a delightful bit of conversation, we realized we were keeping them from their dinner.

We said our goodbyes and told them if you want to see Fairhope, 

we would be delighted to give them a ride and tour.

We said our goodbyes after Jeanny gave me her number and a card about the vessel.

As we were leaving, Bobby called out, text Jeanny so she'll have your number.

I did, and guess what?

We are taking them to breakfast in the morning and showing them around town.

God certainly placed us in the right area today.

New friends, fellow boaters, and tiny house living....

Great combination!

Pelicans, Pilings, and a Firefly!, Acrylic on wood, 12 inches

Day 50 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Varnishing the world

This little guy is simply adorable.

I had so much fun painting him and his buddy.

One of the smaller ones, I painted it after a long day in the studio.

I began early, knowing I had a daunting task at hand.

My studio is on the second floor and consequently has a tiny bit of bounce in the floor.

Not a problem usually, but when you have paintings lined up along the wall of bookcases....

After so many days of paintings, there are 33 of them ready to attack.

Almost every time I would walk around my table there would be at least one or two sliding to the floor.

Then it became an organized battle plan with them sliding to the floor in shifts.

Sometimes as many as ten of them.

Needless to say, it had become a problem with only one solution.

I needed to get them finished with hangers and varnish.

This took the better part of the day to finish.

I will check them in the morning to be sure I varnished them correctly.

Sometimes I have a "holiday" (a spot that I miss).

If that has occurred, I will have to touch up the varnish and wait for them to dry.

I also have to cut the bags I bought to put them in for protection.

I bought heavy bags big enough to cut them in half to make two of them.

I will either tape the bottom or throw them through my sewing machine.

We will also have to go on the hunt for foam boards to cut and place in the bags with the pieces to protect the wooden dimensional parts.

Then I can pack them away, knowing they are protected and ready for the first show.

I've also got to make a "map" to facilitate placement in the booth.

The map will make set up much easier for both Chris and me.

This is almost all of them laid out on the table in the studio.

The Annual National Shrimp Festival choose their new poster and announced it.

The original one had a bit of controversy surrounding it, so it was pulled and replaced.

The new design is cute and a typical Shrimp festival poster.

I also have a commission down at the beach.

I am painting an octopus mural on a wall surrounding an opening in the space.

It will be very interesting to paint and get on the wall.

They are getting me a scaffolding to use as it is up high.

The wall is 10 feet long, and they want her to fill the space.

Design approved, starting next week!

Chris gets to stay with me so I will not be alone on the scaffolding.

The project should take about 4 days to complete.

They live in New Orleans and may not be at the condo while we're there.

This couple has been very patient and sweet.

They talked with me at Gulf Breeze back in April.

They have been waiting through the visit from our daughter and family, then the dinosaur build.

They are the next big project in line.

New things happening here at the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama

Varnishing the world, Acrylic on wood (manatee), 12 inches

Day 49 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

 

All over the place!

Today was a very busy day.

I had several pieces to sand and paint the edges.

Not the least of which was this guy!

He was incredibly difficult to cut out and to finish the edges.

It seemed like every time I thought I was done sanding or painting the leg edges, I found out I wasn't.

It felt like there was a lot more than eight of them!

Anyway, once I got to painting, this one was fun.

The delicacy of the legs, to his spotted body was so interesting.

To give you an idea of the complexity of this one!

Here is the cut out against a black background.

Very visually interesting to me and I hope for you as well.

I am really in a groove now, finding my way closer to the halfway point in this year's pieces.

I am also closer to painting a large mural inside a condo down at the beach.

I may also get some beach time as well.

Lots of hard work, lots getting accomplished here at the Raccoon Retreat studio.

Another beautiful hot day on the Gulf Coast in Fairhope, Alabama.

All over the place! Acrylic on wood, 20 inches

Day 48 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

 

Incredible journey

Ah! 

These are slightly bigger than the backer board I'm using.

So, you're seeing a slight bit of my studio and easel.

I am very pleased with this one.

My precious husband Chris managed to use a router to cut near perfect circles.

He made these for the 19.5-inch boards I've had in my studio for about two years. 

They make a heavy piece, but so lovely to behold.

His "frame" is about an inch in width and about 3/4 inch deep.

Perfect for my needs!

Chris also cut from the scraps 11 more to be constructed and used probably for Peter Anderson.

He bought another sheet of Luan to use for backing the new circles.

They still have a lot of work to get them ready to paint.

They must be sanded, mounted, sanded again then Kilz, then acrylic paint to make them white.

I simply will not need any more rounds for the National Shrimp Festival.

I took an inventory last night and I've already completed over 25 of them!

I have 11 more to put under my brush.

There are six more already cut, ready to be sanded, edged, mounted, then painted.

I'm dreading the varnishing, but I must do that this week.

The rounds are taking over the studio for sure!

I pray you're not getting bored with them!

Incredible Journey, Acrylic on wood, 20 inches

Day 47 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

The Sentinel

The Great Blue Heron is a very territorial bird.

They are extremely protective of their "space" and will defend it if necessary.

That includes human trespassers!

I had the misfortune of meeting one while walking for turtles at dawn one morning.

Usually, they will walk up the beach, then go back to the shoreline.

They also will just simply fly away.

Not this morning.

Apparently, I was keeping him from tasty bits at the water's edge, and he didn't appreciate my intrusion.

Instead of flying away, he flew straight at my face.

Needless to say, I ate the sand that morning ducking down into the beach.

He was not happy I was disturbing him, and he let me know it.

I don't know if you've ever had one fly at you, but I didn't want to argue with that spear of a beak.

The beak is only about 5 or 6 inches long, but I didn't want to become a part of it.

They are also about 4 feet tall.

Their wingspan is about 6 feet.

Their S shaped neck can strike at 90mph.

They also have a most annoying squawking sound.

Altogether terrifying at 5 am in the morning.

Not a bird to tangle with for sure.

They also have a very bad habit of learning to steal.

Fishermen know this and will try to protect their catch before the Blue can get it.

We once were kayaking in the Florida Keys and saw a group of fishermen walk to the water to fish.

No sooner did their hooks hit the water, than the Great Blue showed up.

They told us he stole a fish from their rods the day before.

Not a fun way to lose a fish.

I am really pleased with this painting because it is a rework of a previous piece.

The frames are no longer available at Hobby Lobby, and I am trying to salvage what I can.

The bird is the same that was on the work previously but now is raised up on the edge dimensionally.

There is also an additional heron in the background.

It involved a lot of sanding, Painting with Kilz and then the white acrylic.

I also worked on "set ups" for paintings today as well as designed a mural for a couple in Florida.

They want an octopus and have been extremely patient with me, waiting for the VBS to settle down.

Hopefully they still want him, but it does mean I will be on a ladder or scaffold for a couple of days.

Good news is, they have invited me to stay with them while working.

They seem to have an incredible art collection and are committed to having one of my pieces, although they want it on the wall instead of a canvas.

Anyway, today was a good day.

All four new rounds that Chris reworked with frames have been painted white 

with both Kilz and White Acrylic.

Now, to figure out what to paint on them!

"The Sentinel" acrylic on wood, 24 inches

Day 46 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025.