More Mahi-mahi

I am really enjoying this series.

It has been a long day of concentrating on the book I'm illustrating.

This weekend will be dedicated to it as well.

Although, there may some pool time in there somewhere.

The hardi bord has been fun so far, and there are still several to go.

These will be appropriate for outdoor hanging or could go into a bathroom easily.

Hardi bord is a concrete based material made to mimic the look of wood.

Insects don't like it, it's easy to paint, and it's does not burn easily.

I am looking forward to working on a project that has been thrown my way.

It is a baby now, but must be completed and approved rather quickly.

While I cannot go into detail yet, it may be a smash hit.

I would very much appreciate prayers thrown my way.

The great part about it is, I did not pursue it, but it is pursuing me!

I just LOVE it when people talk about me and my art!

More Mahi-mahi, acrylic on hardi bord, 10 x 10 inches

Day 19 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2020

Silent Swimmers

I made this photo extra large because in real life it is very big for me!

If you remember the other day, I managed to snag a truckload of stretcher bars for free.

This one is on those bars, with some Chris Chavez thrown in for good measure!

My husband Chris, is my rock and the absolute best thing that has ever happened in my life. 

He makes things happen when I ask him if he can do them.

This instance, he added an angled piece of wood to the bars 

so they could have the spring necessary for painting.

He also gave me a lot of help in stretching this rather large piece.

It measures 3 ft 7 inches x 5 ft 7 inches.

It was a challenge to bring and paint in my angled ceiling studio as well.

He also helped me horse it up to be able to photograph it tonight for you to be able to see it!

I will take it outside for a proper photo tomorrow, so it can be seen better for possible prints.

I am amazed at the talent God has bestowed on me, 

I thank him daily for the ability to paint and create!

I really should not be able to do the things that I do.

Our family was hit by a drunk driver in 1993.

For the most part, the rest of the family is okay, but I have permanent damage.

I have two herniated discs in my neck, and nerve damage in my right arm.

Some days are diamonds, some days are dirt, but all of them are creative in their own way!

I pray for the driver that hit us, every time I have a headache,  

or a brush comes out of my hand because it has gone numb.

I pray for others hurt in accidents, childhood tragedy, friends, family, or marriages 

with every stroke of my brush.

I tell you this, not because of a need for sympathy, but out of a need to tell you about the 

grace that God gives us.

Grace that allows me to paint.

Grace that allows me to make money at what I love to do!

Grace that helps me through the pain on days I don't think I can.

Grace that allows me to teach.

Grace that allows me to mentor.

Grace that allows me to give to others.

Grace that has taught me how to receive.

Grace that has made me learn humility.

Grace that reminds me I am a sinner.

Grace that allows me to forgive because I am forgiven.

Grace.

Have you received yours today?

Silent Swimmers, Acrylic on canvas, 3 ft 7 inches by 5 ft 7 inches

Day 73 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Two turtle tango

Two Turtle Tango came about because a lot of research. 

I research a lot when I am painting, learning about the beauty, fragility, 

and sometimes tragedy of the creatures I so love to paint.

I was looking up Turtle eyes for a commission I was working on for Christmas.  

I came across a couple of turtle photographs that 

were a lovely set up for the painting you see here.

I will use photos from online frequently, some are from friends, but none are an exact copy. A flipper from one, A head from another, coloring from yet another. Thousands of references for hundreds of paintings. I love the way they interact with each other!

Today found us kinda trapped inside because of rain with an excited, almost Christmas, happy to be at Yaya's and Yoyo's house, 5 year old fresh out of school for the break. We took him to the store because mom said he needed new uniform pants to wear in school. I am in agreement, as all his pants seem to be about 2 inches too short! The entire time in the store, he played the typical 5 year old, wanting everything in sight. He even tried to ask us to use his quarter he found to purchase something, trouble is what he wanted needed 199 more quarters! Nope, not happening here. He understood and we headed back to the house after purchasing the pants and looking around a while. Yoyo even took him to his favorite park here in Fairhope. When they came home, His pants and shoes were soaking wet, he cannot stay out of a puddle!

We love to have him here, but getting anything of note accomplished 

with a 5 year old in tow is a challenge to say the least.

So we play with him!

We did manage to make two gingerbread projects though. He is very happy with his gingerbread house and once the camper is dry, I'm sure he'll love that too. Problem is, with my stinker, sneaky, stealing dachshund, I have to store it in the pantry so she can't get it in her belly!

Exhausting and mentally taxing, yes.

Too much fun to have around, Certainly!

Two Turtle Tango, Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24 shadowbox

Day 14 of the 100 days~100 paintings Spring 2019 

Grateful green

I am trying to get a few more shadowbox canvases ready for the shows in Florida. 

This one happens to be of a Green Sea Turtle.

These turtles are endangered and or threatened around the world. 

What this means, is they are in danger of being no more.

Green Sea Turtles were hunted almost to extinction.

 The meat and fat were apparently quite tasty, despite it's green color.

They were used to make canned turtle soup! 

The Florida Keys employed a lot of people around the early 1900's.

A combination of over killing, a hurricanes destroying the factory, and general public outcry finally made the industry die out. (Although not until the 1940's!)

Anyway, Green's are grateful because now they are protected, but now the environment and fishing nets are their biggest death threat.

Today found me loading the kitchen and other items back into the Wagon.

You see, we have a tiny house too, and at one time were trying to sell the Wagon. The tiny house was out first build on a trailer, but at about 4,500 pounds proved to be a bit much for our truck to pull long distances for shows. We now use it for temporary housing and guests love to stay in it when they come here. Chris and I also stay in it when family comes to visit so they can stay in the house. I am hoping to talk our youngest into staying in the house while we go into the tiny house when she comes to visit, hopefully later next year. Anyway I digress, We thought we had the Gypsy sold, and I emptied it of all the extras in preparation for the sale. (Chris and I love her, but she is a bit heavy and we're ready to build a lighter version.) The day came for pick up, and the couple backed out of the sale. They were buying it for their 19 year old daughter to live in on their property with intentions of her paying them back for the purchase. The daughter said you should just give it to me. I am pleased the parents said no! Time to grow up and have some responsibility about paying bills. A hard lesson for her indeed, as she did love the wagon and was very excited to get it as her "pad". 

Oh well, that means I got her back!

Today I spent a couple of hours refilling the kitchen and trailer with pots, pans, towels, and too many other things to mention. We have a coffee pot, crock pot, toaster, stove, dish washing buckets and drain, and  towels. No microwave, no room! I count myself lucky to have a full bathroom, queen bed, dining area, 6 foot kitchen, closet, bench storage, and small refrigerator in a 6 x 8 foot trailer!

The times we've had the opportunity to camp in it, people are shocked at 

how much we thoughtfully fit into such a small space. 

We LOVE traveling in it!

Each time we go, we tweak it a little more. It really is a comfortable space for just us two!

(Although our grandson could sleep on the floor under the bed if he really wanted to one night!)

That's all for today folks, Over 65,000 views on the blog now! 

Hoping to hit 70,000 before this adventure of 100 days is over!

Grateful Green, Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 16 shadowbox

Day 12 of the 100 days~100 paintings Spring 2019

Wingman

Turtles are my wingman. Any time I want to paint, but am not quite sure what to paint, 

sea turtles come to my rescue. 

My girlfriend who is also an artist, says I could paint sea turtles in my sleep!

I really enjoy them and the beauty and serenity they represent. 

I want to swim with turtles some day, photographing them underwater 

so I would have lots more references. I have a great deal of references from diving friends and from the Sea turtle hospital in Marathon Florida. I have been invited to go to the lab in Mississippi and photograph them there. In the business of life I managed to lose the card a gentleman gave to me several years ago at Art in the Pass.

This turtle happens to be a green sea turtle. 

They are called green because their skin has a greenish hue. Their shell or carpace is almost heart shaped and dark in color. They start out life at about 2 inches, but can grow to 5 feet making them one of the largest sea turtles. They weigh almost as much as a vending machine! (700 pounds) 

As babies they eat invertebrates like crabs, jellyfish and sponges. When they become adults, they prefer to be herbivorous and will eat sea grasses and algae. They are known to sun themselves on the beach as well. They reach breeding age between 20 and 50 years old. 

They can live for about 100 years. 

Green turtles were almost hunted to extinction in the 1800's for their meat and 

fat that was used for turtle soup. There is a large turtle museum in the keys dedicated 

to the turtle industry. They are still considered endangered.

Wingman, 12 x 24 Acrylic on canvas,

Day 18 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2018

Retails for $195

Sea turtle pair

The post photo for this one is a little larger than I usually show because I wanted the details to be seen. These turtles are on 5 canvases. I have painted several multiple canvas pieces this year, with a pretty good success rate. All of them painted so far have found homes. Some of them smaller, the largest covering a staggering 9 ft x 3 ft! One has been in color at the clients request, One has a tan background matching the collectors wall color. I was skeptical about the colored background and sepia, but it really worked well together. 

This grouping measures 3 x 5 ft approximately. The advantage of these multiples is you can spread them apart because they are painted on the sides as well. So much fun to paint and yes a day to complete the front at least. They have another day in painting the backgrounds and sketching them. I still need to paint the sides which will take a bit of time, then varnish them. 

Sea turtle pair, 5 canvases, 12 x 36, 2~12 x 24, 2 12 x 12, Acrylic

Day 96 of the 100 days ~100 paintings 2017

Swimmingly simple

These two little ones are indeed swimmingly simple. They are both looking at you as well. I love painting turtles and these guys were no exception! 

It's turtle nesting season on the Gulf Coast. While our orange Beach team was not terribly busy this year, the Ft Morgan team is hopping! They have had record amounts of nests this year, and this week they have a whopping 8 nests being monitored for activity. This stretches the team pretty thin, so they've called for other teams to lend a hand in watching the nests. Keep in mind the importance of monitoring these babies coming into the world, only one baby out of 100 survives to become an adult and have babies of their own!

Swimmingly Simple, Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 16

Day 66 of the 100 days~100 paintings

Rainforest Room~Days

The Main Wall with Signage "The Rainforest"

Flora

 Located at Celebration church in Fairhope, Alabama, this mural was a labor of Love. It took two weeks total, but only about 40 hours. Without the help of some really great people from the church, I would have been much longer! I am grateful to share my talents with  




Just Hangin'

             



                this  place we call our church home and I am
                grateful for the talents God has seen fit to
                bestow upon me. The top piece is the main
                wall as you walk into the room. The flora are 
                under the window. The different monkeys
                and birds were a delight to paint.
                There is much more in the room to look
                at and explore, but you have to
                come to Fairhope to see it!







Macaws Together
 



This post marks days 54~59 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings

Rainforest Room

The view by the window