Swimmer

Tonight's painting was fun to do! I love painting turtles and this guy was no exception. Part two of a series of three.

Swimmer, Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 16

Day 67 of the 100 days-100 paintings.

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

Heron to heron

This painting is a great example of the many birds we have here along the gulf coast.

We have birders from all over the country come to capture sight of our wide and varied species. I've even had the good fortune to see a cedar wax wing in Mobile one time in my own backyard! He was exhausted from his flight and needed water from our pond. 

I will also never forget my first sighting of a blue bird here in Fairhope. We now have at least two mating couples that come back to their nest boxes, defending them with all the muster a tiny blue can bring! 

I love catching sight of the birds enjoying our backyard, that is, until the dachshund explosion comes out the back door!

Heron to heron, Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24 shadowbox with a 12x12 opening

Day 65 of the 100 days~100 paintings

"Henri" the pelican

"Henri" is a pelican that lives on the Fairhope pier. The story is told that the pelican was rescued after a hurricane and was injured. The couple named the pelican Henry. After nursing him to health, the couple took him to a vet to see if he could be released. After a thorough examination, the vet told them that SHE could be released just fine. Almost any evening you can find Henrietta hanging about, begging for fish and posing for photos. This magnificent bird has been photographed thousands of times, I'm certain!

"Henri" Acrylic on canvas 24 x 24 shadowbox canvas

Day 64 of the 100 days~100 paintings

Heron study IV

Another Heron to add to my studies of herons. We have one here in Fairhope that does a most peculiar thing with his wings and I may have to stalk him to get a photograph. My husband and I have seen this strange way this bird holds his wings, almost as if in supplication while facing the sunset. It is a sight to behold, but one of those things people may never believe unless they see it themselves.

Beautiful nevertheless......

Heron study IV, Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 12 inches

Day 63 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2017

Heron Study III

This painting is another study for a larger work later this year. I love to paint birds as well as photograph them. This guy hung out near a pier in Perdido Key, Fl. Somehow, he always knew when the hooks would hit the water. Mysteriously he would appear out of nowhere, ready to be thrown his next meal. Not being patient however, he would sometimes intimidate the children that were dropping their hooks in the water. Hopping or walking toward them with his menacing stare and rather large beak, both children and adults would invariably drop or throw their catch of the day. I enjoyed photographing him and have several shots of a snake that met his match. 

This was also a trip that we took 3 dachshunds with us. Daily walks in the 90 degree heat were not fun, so we did a lot of morning walking and playing on the tennis court with a ball. We also managed one afternoon to turn our little sailboat turtle when a wind caught us amidships. Not fun, let me tell you! When you feel that slow sinking turn over...... I have to admit I panicked just a little! I kept asking Chris while hold to the side and kicking to stay afloat, "What do we do?, What do we do?" He simply said stand up. Once I put my feet down there was a soft bottom to stand on.

Fortunately we were able to turn her back over, get a tow back to the condo, and dry out the outboard motor with little more than our ego's a bit bruised. We promptly got ourselves free from that little hole in the water, selling it as soon as we got home. It did not however, end our adventures with other sailboats in later years.

Heron Study III, Acrylic on canvas, 4x12 inches

Day 61 of the 100 days~100 paintings

Life gets in the way...........................

This past couple of weeks since my NYC trip have been hectic to say the least! 

Our youngest daughter came to Fairhope after her trip to Washington DC with her husband and inlaws. Let the games begin is the saying, and our lives were joyously turned upside down when they arrived. We showed them Fairhope and surrounding areas, shopping at outlet stores and antique shops. We also celebrated a birthday along the way! In the midst of all this celebrating, I had tables to decorate for their renewing of vows, American Style! I decorated the hall with a minimal amount of fuss with the exception of creating "suitcases" for their travel themed reception. The suitcases took several hours of my days but were well worth the effort. They were made from "travel labels", Photo boxes, and vinyl cut to look like straps. Best of all, we had a friend that thankfully took all 14 of them to add to her wedding reception in November. All this, and a hurricane named Harvey in the Gulf of Mexico, slamming into Texas with Catagory 4 fury and torrential rainfall inundating  the major city of Houston Texas. My continued prayers for all affected by this storm.

Not to mention, Hurricane Irma looming in the Atlantic already a catagory 3 hurricane. Such is life along the gulf coast, but so unlike the earthquakes I experienced in California that came without warning.

At least with hurricanes, we know days in advance of their approach!

Before my NYC trip, we celebrated a grandchilds birthday. He is now 4 years old and a delightful personality. Every year on his birthday, I paint him a painting. By the time he is 18, there will be 19 paintings, all done in Sepia to go into his home when he moves out on his own.

Long time away, I know right?

Archers Pelican, Acrylic on canvas, 8x8 inches

Officially Day 53 of the 100 days~100 paintings

If these look familiar, they should! I painted these a second time to replace the one's given as a birthday present to my daughter's mother in law. She collects shells from around the world and was delighted to receive them. They are now proudly displayed in India.

Shells, Acrylic on canvas , 6x6

Days 54, 55, and 56 of the 100 days~100 paintings

The Magnolias were painted in anticipation of giving to our daughter's mother in law. I changed my mind after seeing her excitedly picking up shells in Gulf Shores.

Magnolia I, II, and III, Acrylic on canvas, 6x6

Days 57, 58, and 59 of the 100 days~100 paintings

Today finds me finally catching up and able to breathe!

Heron Study I and Heron Study II

Days 60 and 61 of the 100 days~100 paintings