I am joyful, jubilant, and jazzed!

 The month of July has moved so fast as to have a rocket attached to it! I started doing the 100 Days~100 Paintings on the 1st of July and was moving along until the 3rd. Then God placed a call to work on sets for the church! I am never afraid of major set designs and jumped right in to the design and completion within 1 1/2 weeks. I could never have accomplished all that I did without the helping hands of a lot of people! I am grateful to those that lended their hand wielding brushes for coming out. We laughed and painted for many days! Then, my husband, Chris Chavez jumped in and helped with construction and safety. I am always amazed at how easily he makes things work! Thanks Honey!

 I never heard from the children's pastor what the children thought of the design, but I am certain it was a small addition to the colorful things the kids got to do over those 3 wonderful days! Thanks to all for many hands making for light work!

During the same time of the set design, I had an art camp at the Eastern Shore Art Center.
 The following week found me at the Mobile Museum of Art teaching 6-9 year olds. Then came the Church Art camp. Full days, lots of laughter, lots of work, exhausting, FUN! We had a great time at the church, with sculpture, watercolors, acrylics, and recycled arts! So many projects, too many to photograph and display. I sure hope the children went home, happy and tired from a long day of creating. I know I did!
This week finds me back at the Eastern Shore Art Center for my last week of teaching for the summer. After this week, I must buckle down and get back in my own studio, that is after I clean up from the chaos that is creation and creativity at art camps. As art teachers, we bring a lot of "Baggage" with us, supplies, extra brushes, scissors, and such to make our lives easier.

I have created so many things in the past month, none of which may be "sale" quality. We have gone through a virtual ton of recycled supplies, much to my husbands delight!
That being said, I think I may call for a restart of the beginning of the 100 Days~100 Paintings. Or, I may try to paint two a day until I am caught up! That would be a trick wouldn't it?

Christopher's Crustacean

"Christopher's Crustacean" 

is a painting done at the request of my best friend and husband of 36 years.

We recently went on a trip with our teardrop camper "Tortuga" to Fort Pickens, Florida. It was a delightful stay and I'm sure we'll be back again. I photographed several Artillery guns, textures on walls and doors, and other assorted things. I also happened upon a hermit crab walking along the bottom of the bay, among the sea grasses. The grasses were teaming with life, small fish darting everywhere, thousands of eggs, and this hermit crab. It was not terribly happy that I plucked it from the water to photograph it! Waiting patiently for it to appear was not my strong point, but wait I did. The photos in the water were not so lovely, but we may visit them later as well in other paintings. 

Fort Pickens is a wonderful campground not far from here in Florida. It is a world away from the hustle and bustle of any city. Down a long stretch of road with water on either side, it reminded me of the keys. It is a part of our national parks system and beautifully maintained. The funny thing about this trip was their efforts to get people to slow down because of nesting birds. The birds have a tendency to run across the road in an effort to go somewhere and their babies will follow. The speed limit was 20 mph on a very long stretch of road. Once while we were traveling the posted speed, we were passed by two young men in a pickup truck out for a good time. Their trip was short lived however, as the ranger pulled them over and started the ticket process. (I imagine he also located the beer they were drinking!) Oh the joys and stupidity of youth! Most peculiar though was the speed bump in the middle of nowhere. Chris could not stand it any longer and asked why is it there in the middle of the 20mph stretch? The ranger laughed and said, it's to wake people up when they are not doing the speed limit. I'm sure they get a kick out of people hitting it rather hard if they are not paying attention!

I love these adventures with Christopher and this crustacean is a reminder of that lovely trip to Florida!

Christopher's Crustacean, Acrylic on canvas, 10 x 20

Savvy Seahorse

Seahorses are peculiar creatures to say the least! They seem so calm, cool, and collected in their movements. I love to watch them swim, even when they are as awkward as you can get as far as swimming is concerned. They seem so out of balance, using their fins on their heads and backs. Even more unusual is the fact that the male seahorse is the one who carries the babies. 

This one came from the photos in Tampa, Florida taken while on a trip there with friends to a national convention we attended annually. This trip was a fun one, none of us had a job to do, so we were pretty much free to move about. I painted our members bags for identification purposes and did not realize the commotion it would cause. Before I was through, with the help of my friend and cohort, I would have painted about 75 bags! The money we collected paid for my trip and bought me some pretty awesome jewelry too! I never could have completed the late nights, near midnight run to get extra paint, without the helping hands of both my mother and Barbara Kynaston. (A true friend indeed!) I am wonderfully blessed to call her a friend. The seahorse painting at this point in the 100 days was her idea. After she read the story about the turtle, she reminded me about the seahorses. She then inquired if I was going to paint one this year. Barbara, this day is dedicated to you, a friend indeed!

"Savvy Seahorse" 20 x 20 Acrylic on canvas, Day 3 of the 100 days~100 paintings 

Silently, so silently

If you've ever met me at one of the shows, you know my love of sea turtles.

I was in a lean-to tent in the Philippines at night on the beach when a sea turtle came in to nest. I was trying to go to bed like my mother told me, (and being a military kid you'd better listen!) She was on the beach with the villagers and my father was night diving. I went dutifully to my beach towel and tried turning my back to the light from the burning barrel that guided the divers back to the beach. I felt sand flip on my back, and thinking someone else came in, did not turn over. The next time I felt sand, I still did not turn over, but said "Hey you're getting sand on me!" When it happened yet a third time, I turned over to give the person a piece of my small mind. (I was about 7 at the time). I said "Would you please stop!" Barely getting the words out of my mouth, I ran to my mother and told her the event playing itself out in the tent. She did not really believe me and thought I was simply dreaming. After some convincing, she went with me back to the tent and saw the mother turtle busily digging her nest. Needless to say, she was surprised to see the mass of turtle taking up half the lean-to area.

I have been privileged to be near these creatures a few time since then. Brief glimpses going under a sailboat in the keys, aquarium experiences, and the turtle hospital in Marathon, Florida. I seem to be fascinated by these beautiful animals and sometimes the encounters are breathtaking. One of the takes your breath away moments was in Tampa Florida at the aquarium. We were in a big room with a wall of glass that was part of one of the bigger tanks. I had spotted a turtle and hoped to get a photograph by carefully placing my lens against the glass. The turtle in question was swimming around and passed me a couple of times. I shifted my stance, trying to be patient and that is when this turtle turned around came back and looked me eye to eye. I frantically photographed, hoping to get a shot. My mother was sitting on the benches behind me and noticed the encounter. I asked her what she thought, and she said the turtle definitely changed course to come back to me. It really did take my breath away! 

More recently, I have have had contacts here on Mobile Bay. My husband bought my a paddle board for my birthday last September (early birthday present). The morning of the set up for Shrimp festival that afternoon I was marveling at the beauty of the bay. I was also amazed to be on the water in the middle of October because it was so warm. The light was absolutely gorgeous, just coming over the ridge of trees on the bluff overlooking the pier. As I was looking under the pier, I saw a juvenile turtle head pop up out of the water, get eye contact with me and then slip beneath the surface. I thanked God for the encounter, and went headlong into my day. I paddle frequently, and most recently had another quiet encounter one morning. I was about halfway through my routine and I look around my board frequently for objects floating in the water. It was at that point of looking by the board that I saw the juvenile again, but this time right next to me! It gulped the breath of air it needed then calmly swim into the depths of the bay. I nearly wept with joy at seeing this little guy, giving me a glimpse of his watery world. 

As a side note, I have asked the other boarders if they have seen them, but they have not. I pay closer attention to the area around my board than most, and it has given me more delightful encounters. I have seen jellyfish, needle fish, jumping mullet, stingray and most recently, a very large fresh water turtle. This turtle is so big, he is not scared of much. He stopped and stared at me for at least 30 seconds as I stared back! I never know what I'll see, and I'll treasure each moment on or in the water.

"Silently, so silently" Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24

"Breakaway!"

"Breakaway"

This post begins the 100 days~100 paintings for 2015

Hard to believe this will be the 7th year doing 100 pieces in 100 days to get ready for fall shows. I have already been accepted into the National Shrimp Festival in October. This year at my request, I am in the Arts & Crafts area. Hopefully on the Street with friends George Kearney and  JuJu Bee's. I have also applied for several shows I regularly appear in on the coast. We also have one new show in Florida for which I am awaiting the jury process. This show will be in late October. 

This year promises to be a real adventure, with lots on my plate even now. Teaching for the Eastern Shore Art Center, Daphne Art Center, Mobile Museum of Art, and a week at Celebration Church. God has indeed been kind to me, filling my calendar with classes for lots of little ones, as well as adult classes in the fall already lining up! Whew!

On to this, the first of the 100 Days~100 paintings for 2015. 

"Breakaway" has been a while in the making, as the background for this piece was leftover paint I was not able to just throw away. It has called the studio home for over a year now, being moved from spot to spot while I ruminated about what to paint on it. The painting presented itself while I was going through photos on my computer and saw this little boy. The afternoon sun was setting and his mother decided to take him to the beach for a walk. He decided otherwise, opting for a run to the waters edge to play. His mother gently pulled him back, telling him he was not dressed for the water and it was too cool to get wet. He walked by his mom for a bit, then the breakaway! In typical toddler fashion, he giggled and starting kicking water everywhere. His mom did not want to get wet, and he took advantage of her hesitancy in catching him. He started running as fast as his little legs could carry him, splashing and laughter filling the air. Finally his mother gave up and started taking photos of his fun instead of "Takeaway" the experience of "Breakaway"

This painting is headed for "The Art of  Making Miracles-To Romania with Love", a fundraiser for Romanian children in September at the Venue in Fairhope, Alabama. This is an Artist Invitation only event for artists to showcase their works. I am honored to be asked to participate.  I can set a reserve price, and if it does not sell, I can take it home that evening. The advantage of this show is that I get to take home 50% of the selling price. This is a Win/Win benefit show and I am looking forward to participating!

"Breakaway" Day number 1 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings for 2015

Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 40.

Shells, Pelicans and cigar boxes?

This painting represents day 96 of the 100 days. It is another of the shell series I have been doing on 10 x 10 canvases. The colored paintings on white backgrounds are selling well and I am pleased to offer them again this year. 

Nautilus 10 x 10 Acrylic on canvas, Day 96 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings

Days 97 and 98 are Pelicans on a new series offered for the first time this year. I started painting on reclaimed cigar boxes, both as a way to recycle and a way to have something unique to offer my customers. I have painted 14 so far, with more of them threatening to take over the studio. I am pleased to say, they are selling very well as a novelty and gift item.

Cigar box pelicans I and II, Acrylic, Days 97 & 98 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings

Day 99 found me teaching a class to my Scripts & Strokes small group at my church. We do paintings based on scripture, and this one has to do with God taking care of even the birds of the air.

Birds of the Air, acrylic on 16 x 20 canvas, Day 99 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings

More cigar box paintings filled my day 100. Getting ready for the National Shrimp Festival is a chore in itself, with packing and trying to remember everything necessary for a show. Even with a list, I forget to bring things and we have to modify parts of the tent to allow us to put on a show. 

My husband Chris, did a great job making a french wall insert for "his" tent so we could have a sales area behind. He has such a wonderful way of being able to make what I envision. He is also an invaluable help before, during , and after the shows, silently (mostly), quietly(sometimes), listening (I think he is hard of hearing) to me as we set up, break down, and pack up. I could do the shows solo, but it is much more fun with a husband that is so supportive and loving. 

To you Chris, I dedicate this last day of the 100 paintings, for the meals missed, the ability to cook, (or at least "make" dinner by taking us out), for tolerating my grumpiness at yet another show with no "award" but many sales, rejoicing, laughing, traveling, making new friends, but most of all, believing in me enough to support what I love doing. I am so lucky to have a life partner that believes in me and sweats with me doing this thing called art!

Day 100 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings, Acrylic on cigar boxes. 

Shells, Longitudes, Latitudes and Clowns!

Sand Dollars are a rarity along the coastline now, although my mother told me you could find them all over when she was younger. I have found literally dozens of tiny baby ones early in the turtle nesting season. It is a joy to see them, but also tinged with sadness. Usually by the time they wash up onshore, they are most likely no longer alive. They will live on in my paintings because I will never tire of painting them!

Sand Dollar Day 90 of the 100 days 10 x 10 acrylic on canvas.

Turbins, I have always called them this, because of the way they coil onto themselves. I love to paint them, draw them, and find them. Some day I will get the shell collection from my parents home and display the treasures from the sea that fill my childhood memories

Turbin, acrylic on canvas, 10 x 10, Day 91 of the 100 Days

I have always called these cones, because they resemble the cones shells in the Philippines. The cones in the ocean there are deadly poisonous, so I learned to never pick them up. My father once tried desperately to save a girl that had been stung, but sadly she died. He held me a little tighter after that experience, because she reminded him of the fragility of life.

Cone Shell, 10 x 10 Acrylic on canvas, Day 92 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings

Horsehead Conch, so called because of it's shape. I have not been lucky enough to find one here, but I have found them in Florida. Sanibel Island is the best place for shelling in the United States. I plan on going back one day and staying on Coya Costa, primitive camping in a cabin, and just unplugging from the world.

Horsehead Conch, 10 x 10 , Acrylic on canvas, Day 93 of the 100 Days

Enough said, Longitude and Latitudes for our local area. I plan on distressing these before they make it to shows on the coast. I am also putting them on Cigar boxes as a different way of storing items. I may add a compass rose and coastline map as well, still sketching in my mind!

Longitudes and Latitudes, each one 3x9 inches, acrylic on canvas, Day 94 of the 100 Days

Wanting something happy to paint, I started a series of Clownfish. I have joyous memories of Clownfish, as they were one of the fish dad brought home from his dive trips.

Clownfish 1, 16 x 16, Acrylic on canvas

Actually a rework of one of the paintings from last year, This Clown has had more anemone added and fins made more black. 

Clownfish 2, 16 x 20, Acrylic on canvas

This guy was fun and happy to paint! I could watch them for hours, playing among the anemone. They have a wonderful relationship with the Anemone, helping to guard them and clean them.

Clownfish 3, 16 x 16, Acrylic on canvas

The completed set all together. 16 x 52 inches. Each one is a stand alone painting, but I hope someone wants them all!

Clownfish Trio, Acrylic on canvas, Day 95 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings