Totally turtles V

"Totally turtles V"

It has been a really long day and I'm still going.

I woke up at 4 am to find Chris up too.

I started my Bible readings and Chris decided to go back to bed.

I was still doing my morning routine when he got back up.

The day began with us having breakfast and Chris keen to get on the road.

Me not so much.

I'm nervous about what's brewing in the Gulf.

I read several blogs, listened to both Mikes weather page and James Spann.

They keep showing all these models that have this thing coming into the Gulf Coast this weekend.

I asked my weather nut brother what he thought.

He says Cat 2 into Mobile on Friday night.

So many artists getting ready with no hurricanes this summer.

Isaias however may have decided otherwise.

I have been praying about this disturbance ever since I first heard about it.

Lord, we have way too many people that have worked way too hard.

I myself have been over 3 months working to get ready.

Any way, we headed down to the Gulf to pick up my packet for the show.

After getting the pass we drove into the show area.

Apparently, a lot of people have decided to opt in for the early set up day.

We drove to my spot on the end and started unloading.

Bags and tubs, pipes and walls, lights, and electric cords.

It's a lot to load out before we can separate it all.

My double booth typically has an opening to the back left side of the tent.

It's a French wall system that requires a lot of pipes and brackets.

There are actually two walls at the back of the tent, one five ft. and one seven ft.

The seven-foot wall is about two feet in front of the five.

Problem is there is a large chance of rain.

Bigger problem is there is a dirt pit right where my door is to get out of the tent.

Chris says that we'll have to flip it to the other tent.

Easier said than done.

I have to replace the poles over into the other tent.

The seven is now on the right instead of the left.

It took a while to wrap my head around the situation before I could lay pipes where they were needed.

Chris also shortened the seven-foot wall support bar by about 3 inches,

 So now we aren't fighting to get it into place.

We got the pipes in place, the walls attached, and the lights hung.

We put the rest of the equipment inside, zipped down, and headed for lunch and home.

After we got home, I went straight to the studio.

I had several paintings to varnish, wire, and pack.

Varnish is first.

Wiring tonight.

Pack maybe later tonight.

While the varnish was drying, I went to get my business license.

I also went to pay my rent at the gallery, then back home.

We took the dogs for a ride in the car, then we headed to the grocery store.

We picked up several things, especially my gluten free items.

Once we got home and loaded it all into the camper, it was past dinner time.

For us way past time to eat.

We ate at 7:30.

I mixed up muffins to take with us and set them to baking.

I finished getting all my clothes together.

I also got my makeup together.

Clothes in the camper, makeup tomorrow morning.

Still a lot going on here at the studio!

This is the layout for the Totally turtles collection.

It's going to be an awesome showcase of turtles!

This 6 x 24 is one of the ones at either the top or the bottom.

Long day here, an even later night, so my mind is not racing about what needs to be done.

It will simply BE done.

I am so grateful my small group Scripts & Strokes understands me.

They graciously allowed me to cancel the class for tonight so I could finish getting ready for the show.

"Totally turtles V" Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 24 inches

Day 99 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026 

 

Totally turtles III

"Totally turtles III"

I am really having an incredible time painting these pieces.

They are going to be beautiful together!

I am rapidly getting to the end of the 100 days as well.

It's bittersweet, because I won't have to worry about blogging and posting.

I'll just be painting again alone in my studio.

I'll still post paintings to my Facebook pages, just not the blog.

So much fun to paint these guys!

I've also decided the last two paintings which are turtles as well.

They will all be a part of the fantastic "Totally turtles" piece in the booth.

The weather is really getting the artists stirred up for next week's show at the National Shrimp Festival.

The forecast so far is for rain almost every day of the show.

But that being said we are a rain or shine event.

The show will go on unless there is really gnarly weather.

Very high winds or lightning will be enough to shut the show down.

Large amounts of rain can close it as well, because we all have power in our booths.

We did arrive one year to a downpour, and we were prevented from entering the show.

The show was delayed for three hours until things could dry out some.

That year, several artists lost their tents as well.

This is not for the faint of heart, these shows.

Although I have been known to take down all my art and put it on a cart to protect it with heavy rain curtains over the cart and tied down.

My tents are both rated for 70mph winds, so I am not terribly worried.

We will also bring every weight I own to help keep things steady.

Rain curtains, rain gutter, and art to paint while sitting at a show will be a necessity as well.

I am praying I am very over prepared.

I'm also believing that God's got this!

Totally turtles III, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 16 x 24

Day 97 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

Totally turtles

"Totally turtles"

I simply love painting sea turtles.

I pray you can see the love I have for them.

This is one of the unique new canvases that Chris has built.

He managed to build a total of seven.

One of them is the tilted canvas that I painted an octopus on.

The next few days will feature turtles, making a large piece that will measure about 

50 inches tall and 42 inches wide.

It will have six canvases, featuring 4 of the 16 x 24s and two 6 x 24s.

I think it will have a large impact at the shows.

The pieces could be sold all as one work of art, but they can be sold separately.

I'm really enjoying the process of completing of the 100 paintings.

I am so close to the end next week.

It's always a kind of happy and sad time too.

But the pressure to create will continue at the studio, just maybe not blogging as much.

The paintings done after the 100 will still be posted, just maybe not to the blog as well.

I pray you'll stay with me for the end.

"Totally turtles", Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 24

Day 95 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

Costumes and Completions

I tried, really tried to post this last night but there was a glitch in my internet service.

I was able to download one photo, but the other one no dice.

So, I decided rather than fighting with it, I would post today instead.

Obviously, I'm "painting" with fabric again!

My daughter in love, Jenna wanted a costume that was a carousel.

Little did I know it would challenge my engineering skills!

This one was fun to design with Jenna, and she's jumped right in to help.

She has gotten the majority of the carousel animals colored in and cut out.

She also helped pick out the fabrics from my stash.

Adding in some trims from my daughter Jessica and we're going to have a really cool costume.

The only things we've had to purchase were two hula hoops, and pom-pom trim for the hat.

Everything else has come from the fabric stash or the scrap heap.

I love it so far.

We'll be finishing up hopefully this weekend.

This is the skirt that hurt my engineering head!

It has really turned out just as I hoped.

It has a good bit of finish work to do still.

Together they look so cute.

I can't wait to add the carousel animals and work on the hat too.

It's going to make an amazing one-of-a-kind costume for sure!

Just precious.

Today I did the completion work on both of the five-piece Octopus and Turtles.

This involves a lot of work.

First, I covered my tables with the vinyl pieces I purchased from a yard sale 16 years ago.

They actually were cushions that I recycled into my banquet and the Gypsy wagon we built years ago.

I cut the edges off, and have used them as table covers.

They have a lot of history on them!

I then cut strips of tracing paper to trace off both edges of the canvases.

Each five piece has four seams, but eight edges to paint.

After tracing, I took apart the painting and transferred the drawings to the canvas sides.

It then took a couple of hours to paint the sides on both pieces.

Sixteen sides total!

A few years back the Holy Spirit jumped into the fray and gave me the perfect way to do these transfers.

I used to spend hours trying to draw the sides while looking at the painting next to it.

This way is so much easier and effective!

This one would have been especially difficult because the octopus has suckers that are right on the edge.

It would have taxed my brain trying to duplicate them on the sides without this new method.

I love when the Spirit speaks and gives me fantastic ideas.

I did fuss a bit though, because He let me struggle for a couple of years 

before making me see this method.

I guess I wasn't ready until then.

The completed octopus.

As you can see the painting marches right along, even on the sides!

Here are the completed turtles.

Chris helped today by putting the d-rings on and the wires.

A lot of cleaning up to do and erasing.

Then, varnish and in a couple of days, packing them for the show.

I also got a notification yesterday that one of our favorite shows for Spring has been cancelled.

This show, in Melbourne Florida is hands down one of our favorites.

The director had to step down because of family and I agree with her priorities.

The board then lost a sponsorship and no one wanted to take the reins to run the show.

The board voted to cancel the show.

Just makes me sad.

Of course, this show is in the middle of two other shows we do in Florida at the same time.

So, I scrambled to try to find a replacement show as I'm sure many other artists will be doing.

I've put in for two shows, hoping one will accept me.

One is near Amelia Island on the St. Johns River.

We've done the show once before and it was nice.

Hopefully it won't be as windy as it was that year.

The other show I applied for is a newer one.

This is only their 7th year.

They are already ranked in Sunshine Artist magazine in the fine art section at number 11 out of the 100.

They drawback is they are 12 hours away from Tallahassee.

It would also be a new state for us as the show is in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Right on the Atlantic coast.

Near the Ocean I love so much.

We would then head to Amelia Island.

I have also applied for another show on Mother's day weekend in Greensboro, S.Carolina.

This would be another new state for us to foray into.

God's hand is upon us and on these shows.

We'll see what happens.

I always remember Proverbs 16:33-"We throw the dice, but God determines where they land."

Every time I put in for a show, I'm throwing the dice.

God then plans the trip for us!

I hope you've enjoyed this bit of the Raccoon Retreat Studio behind the scenes.

Another day, another work of art!

Costumes and Completions, Acrylic on canvas and fabrics, 

Days 90 & 91 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

Cephalopod my cephalopod

"Cephalopod my cephalopod"

Incredible pieces are coming out of the studio now.

So much paint is being used that I am running out of the one jar of the color I use.

Fortunately, I have another jar in the wings.

When I mixed the color last year, I initially put out way too much Burnt Sienna.

Even after an entire tube of blue, it was still so brown!

When I first started that would've been great.

After all, they are called sepias.

A few years ago, I accidentally mixed it a little bluer.

People kept commenting on the color and said they loved the blue.

I didn't see the blue, to me it looked like a deep grey and almost black.

Back to the mixing....

Adding the Ultramarine Blue made a pile of paint that ended up becoming a little over 16 ounces.

Needless to say, that's a lot of paint!

Two large jars that I have worked from for over a year now.

At least I don't have to mix it again anytime soon.

This one has a few "Easter eggs" in the form of sea turtles.

"Easter eggs are commonly known from the Jeep brand and are things you can find on the vehicle.

They are now seen in television and movies too.

There are five of them in the painting.

Four are easy to see, one is hidden pretty well.

Any way, it lets me have fun while designing the paintings.

Hope you have fun finding them!

"Cephalopod my cephalopod" Acrylic on wood, 20 round

Day 76 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

Dead Men Tell No Tales VI

"Dead Men Tell No Tales VI"

SIX!

Number six.

I am in awe of the talent God has given me that allows me to create incredible works of art.

At least I think they're incredible.

The first one last year sold almost immediately along with a mermaid painting as well.

I was in shock because I never dreamed that something I created could actually be in demand.

I will definitely have to have more than one on hand, 

which means there will be a number seven on my easel soon.

These are an incredibly intense piece with lots of hours to create it.

Approximately 20 hours to be more precise.

20 hours and 20 years of experience behind a brush.

The couple from Tallahassee came yesterday and picked up their Dead Men 

for their daughter who is now a Marine Biologist.

She worked on a pirate ship while she was attending college.

The painting is apparently a gift for graduation.

We also delivered another one Friday to a gentleman that wanted one for his wife's birthday.

It was a completely new design with a new blunderbuss and sword.

They already own three of my pieces and their fourth makes them officially collectors now.

This latest one is a reverse of the fifth one. 

The very first one was actually a rerun.

Last year was the first year that we started making the rounds in earnest. 

I took an original octopus piece, painted the edges white, and reimagined it.

I designed the front panel with a Dead Men theme.

This piece also had angled wood pieces that made the transition from the front piece to the octopus.

Obviously, the Dead Men series has already grown by leaps and bounds.

At least to me they've come a long way.

I really enjoy designing and painting them.

I pray you enjoy them too!

I also painted 5 of the last shadowboxes white today.

I have rearranged the studio to accommodate the canvases that are stacked up 

awaiting my pencil and brush.

Lots of work ahead in the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama!

"Dead Men Tell No Tales VI" Acrylic on Wood Round, 23 inches round

Day 55 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

 

Crazy Cephalopod

Somewhere in the midst of my brain and trying to paint my husband will throw something at me that does indeed make me go cross eyed. (Or at least roll my eyes.)When he brought me this canvas I wasn't sure what I was going to put on it, or if I even wanted to paint it. This is one of the new sizes that we're going to be bringing this fall. They measure 16x24 in with an 8x12 opening in the shadow box. He brought me six others that are the regular rectangular shape with rectangular shape shadow boxes. He did bring me opposites so that I can do pairs. Then he grins as he presents this one! As I said I wasn't sure what I was going to put on to it at first. As I was painting the canvases white, and octopus appeared in my minds eye. 

Here ya go!

I also wasn't sure what to call it. Drunk octopus came to mind, but I don't drink. I also kicked around Kooky octopus too. I ended with Crazy Cephalopod, it seems appropriate especially since I just finished reading Remarkably Bright Creatures for the third time. If you haven't read the book, at least see the movie with Sally Field. It was an incredible movie and the actor they had playing her costar was very good.

That's it for tonight as far as painting goes. 

Chris and our son Jere drove to Florida to look at and then purchase a new to me scroll saw. Chris got to use it first, finishing the Dead Men tell no tales front piece this afternoon. I'll pray for the family every time I use it. The saw belonged to the gentleman's dad and is part of the estate they're liquidating. Chris got the saw, stand, and a bunch of blades for $150. It has a longer throat than the one that broke, so things will be easier to manipulate under the blade. It does have a finger guard too, although I may try the one from my other saw to see if it will fit 

I will put all of it to good use, I'm sure!

Goodnight folks!

Crazy Cephalopod, acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 16*24 inches

Day 54 of the 100 days-100 paintings 2026

Behind the scenes

"Behind the scenes"

This is the background for the latest Dead Men Tell No Tales.

This one is the 6th in the series.

I never dreamt that a series about pirates would become so popular.

I've already painted the front piece for this painting.

The front piece took a couple of days itself.

Chris is lending a hand helping by doing some of the cut work.

In the middle of the cutting, the scroll saw just quit.

No power going to the saw itself.

We've tried several different things in an effort to fix the problem.

We bought it used from a cousin's father-in-law for $75.

It has been a great tool for several years.

Chris and I went and looked at a new scroll saw at a local hardware store.

It was $275, not bad but Chris has found another one.

Marketplace is a familiar place in our house and our son especially.

We looked at several scroll saws online and have been in contact 

with a man about the one he has for sale.

Tomorrow morning Chris and our son Jere are going to look at and possibly purchase this newish one.

It looks brand new in the photos.

The videos I've seen look like it's a nice addition to our workshop.

Another tool to create!

I have to stay here, because the fifth Dead Men will be picked up in the morning.

Everyone that has picked up their pieces have been thrilled with their art.

The Little Rebel was picked up today and she was very happy.

I look forward to seeing photos of Little Rebel in place at the tailgating party.

Never a dull moment around here!

Tomorrow, a new saw probably.

I am going to stay with our grandson in Saraland about an hour from here.

We'll go to church together hopefully.

Then home, and back to work!

Behind the scenes, Acrylic on wood, 23 inches round

Day 53 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

An octopus for today

"An octopus for today"

This small painting was a lot of fun to paint.

This is another of the 4 x 12 canvases that I purchased several weeks ago from FB marketplace.

I love having small little works that allow new collectors to enter the market.

And I enjoy painting them!

Today was a run around day.

I chatted with the children's pastor this morning, both about this VBS and next year's VBS.

We barely have finished one and my brain is working overtime on the next year.

We talked about what went right and what needed some tweaking to make it better.

It's going to be a Marvel-ous VBS.

We both agreed it was a Super VBS!

We then returned the other package of the messy sphagnum moss back to the store.

Glad to shed of that messy bunch of green!

We stopped for lunch, and then hopped over to Goodwill.

We did a little shopping, then headed home.

Studio time for me and a nap for Chris and the dogs.

Chris realized we needed reservations at Fort Clinch for May of next year.

Fort Clinch already full of course as it opened two weeks ago.

We managed to find the state park we stayed at last year was available.

Reservations made and paid 9 months in advance.

Chris and I headed to the grocery store to pick up a few things, heading home before a major storm hit.

Chris was assigned dinner preparation, and I headed to the studio again.

I'm working hard when he tells me dinner is ready.

Dinner.

Back to the studio to finish my slippery friend.

A busy, hectic day as usual.

Life here at the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama.

"An octopus for today", Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 12 inches

Day 51 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

Sand Island Lighthouse

Actually, the lighthouse and the Oil house.

Originally lighthouses were fueled by Whale oil that had to be trudged up however many steps necessary.

I've been in several lighthouses, and their stairs are legendary in their amount and heights.

This one in particular is similar to Pensacola lighthouse in that it a tall tower.

The circular staircases in these marvels of engineering are a sight to behold, especially from the top looking down.

Sand Island lighthouse is not the one we currently see. 

I did work from the photograph though of the one that was post-civil war. 

The first one was commissioned in 1828.

It was built between 1837 and finally lit in 1839.

It was only 55 feet tall.

It was then replaced by a brick tower in 1859.

This tower was famously destroyed during the civil war.

The story is told that the lens had been removed from the tower by the confederate army and put into safe keeping. 

The Union took over the island and was using the tower to spy on the Confederates.

In a series of two raids the confederates snuck onto the island and planted dynamite on the second raid.

Problem was that the fuse was too short and the men nearly lost their lives when the tower came crashing down all around them.

This was 1863.

1864 a temporary wooden tower was erected.

In 1873 the current 132-foot tower was built.

There was a large house for the family and assistant keepers.

The house caught fire and burned in the early 1970s.

The island originally was over 400 acres and had farming on it as well as the lighthouse keeper and his family.

The current state of Sand Island is sadly, crumbling into the sea.

There have been multiple attempts to shore up the area around the lighthouse, but I am afraid the only thing that will actually save it is to move it.

History is fascinating isn't it!

Sand Island Lighthouse, Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 12 inches

Day 49 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

A little wiggle please!

"A little wiggle please"

Wiggle indeed!

These beautiful creatures are not only pretty, they're also pretty nasty.

Case in point, July 4th early in my marriage to Chris.

We all decided to go to the beach for a fun day.

I had bought a new one-piece bathing suit and was looking forward to body surfing in the waves.

I no sooner got in the water and surfed a couple of waves when I felt an intense burning inside my suit.

My chest was absolutely on fire.

I ran out of the water and told my mother what was going on.

My brothers, and husband kept bringing water to try and flush it out to no avail.

My mother and Chris had to hold up two beach towels so I could strip down on the beach.

I found pieces of tentacles in my suit.

I never saw the Portuguese Man of war.

I spent the next hour after washing my suit in an ice chest on my back with ice packs.

Definitely not a way to go to the beach. 

We never saw the jellyfish.

The tentacles can detach from the jelly but still sting!

They have something called a nematocyst and when it comes in contact with something they fire the barb like a harpoon into whatever it hits.

Not a pleasant experience for sure.

I still love painting them though!

Chris started stretching the canvases he built today.

I have precut all the canvas and laid it out in stacks.

He stretched; I painted.

Even with headphones and music I find it difficult to concentrate on painting while listening to the constant popping of the staple gun.

At least the new compressor I bought is not as noisy as my previous one!

"A little wiggle please!", Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 12 inches

Day 48 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

A Venus comb

Another day, another painting.

This one is of the Venus comb my parents pulled from the ocean.

My parents shell collection from the Philippines was extensive, 

because they went diving as much as they could afford.

I got to go frequently, swimming in the arm of the Bonka boat for hours on end 

while my parents dove below.

It was an idyllic life, watching my parents dive below me, 

bringing me things from the bottom of the sea. 

We would bring the shells home and place them in the ant bed that was near our front door.

The ants did an incredible job of cleaning the live animals from the shell while leaving the incredible remains for me to see.

Beautiful memories of childhood.

I got the collection when my parents both passed away and 

I was clearing the house for my brother to sell.

I now get to look at them, enjoy them, and even paint them!

More history about the sepia series.

This is about the shadowbox canvas.

They started the fall of 2015.

This is the first time I showed them.

I had seen the canvases at Michaels, but in my mind were too expensive and keep my pricing reasonable.

I had a really good National Shrimp Festival that year.

I went to Michaels afterward to pick up small canvas.

They had all of their shadowbox canvas on sale, clearance actually.

The prices were too good to resist, and I love a great sale.

I bought all 22 they had, asked them to call the Mobile store to see if they had more.

I painted all of them and took them to Peter Anderson in Mississippi.

We sold half of them that weekend.

Chris asked if I could get any more of them.

I told him I had been researching, but they were nowhere to be found.

We finished the fall season with some of them left over.

The following Spring, I was at another show in Mississippi when my husband came to me and said, 

"I think I figured out how to build them", I said "Good, I figured out how to stretch them!"

We haven't looked back since then.

Chris has opened the boxes, made different sizes, made custom sizes, 

designed offset boxes and so much more.

We estimate Chris has built over 500 of them so far!

I am so grateful to have him on my team.

My 12th year painting on the shadowboxes.

I still love them!

A Venus comb, Acrylic on canvas, 15 x 30 inches

Day 41 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

I want to wrap my arms around you!

"I want to wrap my arms around you."

This beauty was started last night at Art Walk.

It measures 18 x 36 inches.

So many textures, so many little crevices.

This one was fun to paint. 

Every painting is fun to me because I love what I do.

God definitely created me to be a creator.

I truly love my 'job'.

I pray that I never lose the love of art and painting.

So many times, people tell me that the paintings I do are exactly what they have been looking for.

I never know what people want; I just want to create and keep my art fresh for the future.

That is why the sepia series has been going for so long.

The sepias came about as a result of multiple people coming into my booth saying;

"I just love your work, but I don't know if that color will go on my wall."

I literally was beating my head against the back of the booth and asking,

 "God, what am I doing wrong?"

I clearly heard, "You're not wrong, just go neutral"

Keep in mind, I was a very strong colorist at the time.

My oldest daughter did not think they would do well at all.

They started out in shadowbox frames that I bought from Michaels that were unfinished.

I had to paint them black, then brown and quickly wipe them back to finish them.

Then they had 12 x 12 canvases in them that were a trick 

to get one to fit as the frames were not consistent.

The first seven I did were a surprise with all of them selling in a reasonable amount of time.

I then made up my mind to have a bunch of them for fall shows.

Problem was, getting the unfinished wood from the store.

I had a really great manager from Michaels that worked with me and found 35 of them and had them shipped from California.

The next problem we had was transporting them.

They took up a lot of room in the van!

I ended up with an entire wall of them and had a spectacular show.

The show went so much better than I expected with several people coming back to get pieces, 

only to be disappointed when they were sold.

The year was 2010.

16 years for a series is unusual to say the least.

Most series for artists last 2 or 3 years before it becomes boring, 

or they've explored all they can or think they can.

I keep exploring, growing, and making the series fun for me and my collectors.

I am so grateful to God for the ideas and talents he blesses me with.

My work became neutral, before it was a trend!

This was also before Chip and Joanna Gaines became popular with their fixer upper series.

Their first episode was May of 2013 and started the neutral palette of colors for decorating.

God works like that, when you listen and act upon His guidance.

I was fortunate to have given my parents two of my pieces from that first year.

After my dad passed, I brought them home.

I'm still trying to figure out where to hang them.

Lionfish, who knew they would become an invasive species....

Apparently, I did, because I painted them way back then too!

Notice two things about these guys.

They are browner, sepia toned if you will.

My signature had not changed by then.

That happened in 2013.

I always considered myself to be a Christian Artist, but that year my signature started showing it.

They are still beautiful to me, and I hope to you as well.

God bless, I bid you goodnight!

I want to wrap my arms around you, Acrylic on canvas, 18 x 36 inches

Day 40 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

Octopus in my hands

I love the smaller format!

Not only are they much easier to paint, but I can also hold them in my hands while I am painting.

This makes this size portable and affordable for collectors.

It's been a long day of intense creating on the latest Dead Men tell no tales paintings.

Lots of cut work, lots of detail, I will finish it tomorrow.

I also got a confirmation for the latest commission, so it is a go now.

It combines several things that are memorable to the recipient.

It will also include a Bible verse.

Intense

Incredible

Interesting

Life here at the Raccoon Retreat Studio here in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama

But for now, Goodnight!

Octopus in my hands, Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 12 inches

Day 35 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

All the chubby mermaids

Chubby Mermaids, Sea cows, or manatees.

How about all of the above!

I've heard them called by all of these names.

I've even had someone call them walrus!

Hint, no tusks....

This is another commission that I am working on.

This one is about the same size as their turtle they purchased.

The couple have requested two.

Manatees are their piece and an octopus that their sister missed out on at a show.

She came back to purchase it, but it was already sold.

They even grabbed a screenshot of the piece so they could ask for it to be recreated.

I am making it larger for her as I want everyone to have an original.

It will be an awesome Christmas present!

Another hint, if you like something at a show, ask the artist if you can put it on hold for an hour or so.

I typically do not take a deposit and only a phone number.

If someone comes in wanting something on hold, and the time is not up, I will call the person 

and give them first right of refusal.

But, a caveat, if you put it on hold and don't come back in time don't expect it to be there.

I had a guy ask how long it was on hold for and I told him until 3pm.

Promptly at 3 I was looking down at my logbook and then a voice said it's 3 o'clock as the money appeared under the brim of my hat.

"It's mine"

He happily tucked the work under his arm and walked away.

She showed up 15 minutes later...

Stomped her foot and said I knew it would be gone!

I really hate it when people are disappointed. 

Hence why we have a sign in my booth that says, "I should've bought it when I saw it."

Whenever someone hesitates to put something on hold, we point to the sign.

I do enjoy it when something catches ahold of people and gives them the joy of ownership.

It's just hard to make a decision sometimes.

I really understand....

What I've learned to explain to people is this. 

 That you are buying a piece of my life I cannot get back.

That part of my life is contained in that work of art.

So, you literally own a piece of me!

We started the day with church and then a delightful ride on our 'new to us' boat.

The boat is aluminum and had over 22 holes that had to be repaired.

Chris sanded and sanded, then painted it a beautiful blue.

He built a windshield very similar to the one on the boat I remembered in my teenage years.

While sitting on her today, I was facing the wake and the shape of it made this beautiful V that I remember so strongly.

I had many happy hours behind the boat while water skiing and also while holding the helm while my 

father skied as well. 

I drove a boat from about the age of 14.

I've also really begun the VBS build in earnest now.

I went to Goodwill to purchase a barstool to build the motorcycle on.

And a chair to make into a throne for the girls to have photos in.

Each year I attempt to have interactive works for photo opportunities, and this year will be no different.

It's going to be amazing.

At least that's what I'm seeing in my imagination.

Another day in the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama.

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

All the chubby mermaids, Acrylic on wood, 24 inches

Day 6 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026