Scripts & Strokes woman on the beach.

Based on Proverbs 31: 25, we enjoyed our small group while painting this together. Each of our paintings this semester are based on proverbs.
Woman on beach, 11 x 14, Acrylic on canvas, Day 78 of the 100 days I think! I have managed to catch a late summer cold.

Hectic weekend

This weekend we went to our daughter's home for a visit and for me to work on pirate costumes for their up coming Disney cruise. No one can ever accuse us of being wall flowers when it comes to putting on a show for fun. We converted, we created, and we conversed for hours while working.  Still not complete, she is much further along than when we got there Friday night. I also have a bag of fish extenders to complete. More on that project later.
In the meantime I have revisited the bathing suits for a commission piece that is a birthday present. The tricolor ed one was actually advertised in 1957. The client wanted the polka dot one to have his wife's  birth year. So it has 1957 too!
All in all, a productive weekend, and 4 days closer to the first show of the season!
I'll post later with the painting for today.
Vintage bathing suits, Acrylic on wood panels, 8 x 10
Days 74,75,76,and 77 of the 100 days 100 paintings 2017

Two days~two Paintings

The Eastern Shore Art Center called on Monday and said your email bounced back!? 

You have a class tomorrow from 3:30 until 5 pm. The class is Atelier and the 4 students are in 3rd and 4th grades. I really enjoy this age, they are so fun! This fall semester we will be studying different artist styles and Tuesdays class was Walter Anderson! We all had such fun creating this fun and whimsical painting. Several other fun pieces are in the works as well. Our fall session is 8 weeks, so 8 paintings in total as well as 8 different styles.

I look forward to creating with them.

I have also started teaching for the Fall semester of Eastern Shore Institute of Lifelong Learning, two classes for them. Beginning watercolor and beginning acrylics. Both classes are full of fun energetic seniors that are so eager to learn. 

All in all, about 30 new students to plan and prepare for every week!

Eeek!

Nobody ever said an artists life was boring, did they?

Manatees are on my mind this week with the massive hurricane Irma bearing down on the Florida coastline. My thoughts were also with the Turtle Hospital in Marathon , the Hemingway cats on Key west, and people that stayed on their boats during the storm tied to the mangroves in the Florida keys. The hurricane actually hit Cudjoe key, going between Key West and Marathon. The hospital had a skeleton crew there during the storm and fortunately all the humans and turtles are safe! Ritchie has even been brought a baby sea turtle already. (he is tireless for the turtles!) Sanibel island, Coya Costa, places we've visited and loved for their wild natural beauty...............

Recovery prayers for the coast of Florida as well as the islands off our beautiful coast and Cuba. So much destruction and desperate people. Chris and I were fortunate enough to be able to help a family of 7 while at the grocery store on Sunday.

There but for the grace of God go I...............

Anderson Pelican, 11 x 14, acrylic on canvas,

Manatees on my mind, 15 x 15, acrylic on canvas

Days 72 & 73 of the 100 days~100 paintings  

Joy

Tonight's painting is "Joy" the joy we should bring to ourselves when we follow our Christian path.  Based on Proverbs 23: 25 

May your Father and Mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!

Sometimes difficult, the paths we chose can really make or break us. 

I seem to have found Joy in living because I no longer follow my path, but the one chosen for me. This fun painting was created with my small group, Scripts & Strokes. I have led this small group for several years now after receiving a nudge from God to teach. My Christian walk has been a long one, with trials like many, and some trials no one should ever have to live through. By the grace of God, I walk with him and am delighted in him every hour of every day. I work hard to open all the gifts the master has given me, letting him lead the way.

 God is NOT my Co-Pilot, He IS my Pilot!

Joy, Acrylic on canvas, 11 x 14

Day 71 of the 100 days~100 paintings

"Breaking out Octopus"

This one was a little more difficult because of the size! This Octopus is on (and in!) a 16 x 16 shadowbox canvas.

 Our day started simply enough, breakfast together and Church at Celebration. Our church had a lovely couple visiting from Punta Gorda, Florida. They are staying at his sisters house until hurricane Irma passes. Lifting them up in prayers for sure. We then drove to the grocery store, where we met a family of 7 bugging out from Florida. Two separate vehicles, one pulling a trailer. The trailer is a 4 month project and is stripped out with no beds, but they are grateful for a place to be together and sleep. We offered our shower in case they were boondocking at Wal Mart. They told us they are staying at Blakely state park. Thanking us profusely for our offer, we both went our own ways. We did our quick shopping and headed for home. On the way, I mentioned they probably could not afford to go on such a trip. Chris turned around the truck and back we went. They had done some quick shopping themselves and were loading up the kids, dogs, and cat. I asked the young man, what do you do for a living? He said HVAC. I knew then why God had sent us back. We gave them what money we could, but the man told me I didn't need to do this. I said but yes, this is what my husband and I both are hearing. A large hug, and a quick good bye. I can only pray they are safe, both in their adventures and going home. I also pray their homes are intact.

Prayers for all affected by this storm. I worry about the keys, the Hemingway cats, the conch people in general.  Ah life on the gulf coast , never a dull moment, and opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ.

If we would only open our hearts and minds to listen and act upon those gentle nudges from our father!

Breaking out Octopus, 16 x 16 Acrylic on canvas

Day 70 of the 100 days~100 paintings

Houdini Crab

I hope you enjoy today's painting for the 100 days. I was inspired several weeks ago by this packing material that form this curious net like shapes when pulled apart. I was patiently waiting for the painting to come to me, and so here he is!

Houdini is a blue crab escaping from the confines of a net to safety.

I have had many of them run when pulled out of the water if they are not in a cage type trap. My husband many years ago told me, pick them up behind their legs, they can't reach you. 

So he said............. 

When I picked it up behind the legs, the darn thing reached under and grabbed me,

hard! I squealed of course and flung the crab several dozen feet, getting ti off my hand. I was not happy with Chris for a while after that!

"Houdini" Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24 shadowbox canvas

Day 69 of the 100 days~100 paintings

Swimming along

Today's painting almost did not happen! I spent a long day cleaning and clearing space in the "Barn" for Chris to be able to work without tripping over my "Stuff".  After our daughters renewal vows, we had several boxes to go through of decorations that I keep on hand. I have lots of lights, vases, tablecloths, table toppers, lanterns and fabrics for draping. It all takes up a lot of space and many tubs to keep it all together and free of sawdust! You see, my husband is a bit of a termite and wood is his favorite medium to use. Wood makes a LOT of dust! But I digress, back to the painting. 

IT almost did not happen! A long morning, a trip to a trailer store, lunch, and a nap! 

(The dachshunds forced me to nap I promise!)

Then another round of tackling salvaged wood, getting it off the floor and easy to move so I can get to my equipment for shows. We rearranged the show equipment, dusted things off a bit and replaced them on the shelves. We have 36 feet of shelving in the "barn" and we both have a lot of "stuff"! I then tackled a project I've been after Chris to start, cleaning our fans we use for shows. They were disgustingly dirty, dusty, and rusting due to our coastal weather. He wanted to work on our new trailer instead and handed me the screwdriver. Undaunted, I tackled the deconstructing, cleaning, brushing, painting, and rebuilding. That process took about two hours. We also rode the dachshunds for about 30 minutes. Then, dinner!

Completed fans, ready for shows.

No time to paint? 

I think not!

There's always time to paint, my body does not always cooperate though!

Settling in, I got today's post done in record time!

Swimming along, Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 16

Day 68 of the 100 days~100 paintings