The conchs have it!

 The conchs have it!

At least around here for the time being. The top one is a horsehead conch, the other is a regular conch, often used for conch fritters. (BTW, I don't care for them at all!)

My first Show at Orange Beach  started today. Chris helped me set up yesterday on his birthday and then we went to Art Walk in Fairhope in the evening. We brought BBQ Deer meat sandwiches and they were a hit! I also brought mini cupcakes that were eaten by several adults and children. Happy birthday Chris!

Today found me alone at the show, because our son came over to help with the wiring on the UHaul camper. We are coming close to the deadline for using it and I for one am grateful that one more thing can be checked off the list. Well, at least part one. The AC is all wired up, but the DC is still to be done. Next weekend Jere' will come back and finish the job. We have new LED brake lights and running lights. The new lights inside will all be LEDs as well because they pull so little   power and can be used with the Battery so we can boondock for shows.   Coming closer to reality. Now, if we could just sell the Gypsy Gal to help finance this adventure! I still have yet to begin the interior design of the UHaul, I know a lot of it will be baskets inside the bins, upholstery in the dining area, curtains for the windows, the list gets longer by the minute! So fun, designing the new interior with a sea theme. 

I also have some surprises in store for the interior as well! 

The show went very well today! Last year, I did not even make expenses. This year was totally different, with me making expenses (and then some!) before the show even opened at 10 am. I had some frustration with my square though, a new phone may become a must before too long. I am also pleased to report I got a patron award as well! So fun, and the gentleman choose a painting I dearly loved, but has not sold in several showings. He very happily went home with the Manta rays shadowbox tucked under his arm. The new elongated paintings are very well received, although I only sold one of them today. Several people said they had to go home and measure before they could decide on pieces. Tomorrow is another day, a day to spend with Chris, a day to paint, a day to sell, a day to be thankful to God for the blessings he bestows upon me. I am indeed humbled and honored that people want to buy my pieces for their homes and offices. I am so grateful too, that I get to play in the paint and then sell what I create!

Needless to say, the next few days before Arts & Crafts will be a flurry of activity in the Raccoon Retreat Studio here in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama!

The conchs have it! Acrylic on canvas, each 6x6 inches

Days 92 & 93 of the 100 days~100 paintings Spring 2019                                                            

Fighting conch

Tonight's post is a Fighting Conch.

So called because they apparently fight for their lives! They are actually algae eaters! They are eaten themselves by quite a few other creatures, including crabs, larger conchs, spotted rays, and the occasional octopus. 

Like most everyone else, we are celebrating Christmas. We spent the day with two of our children, and their spouses. We started with our breakfast of Waffle house, leaving tips for the entire restaurant. I guess we've brought up children that appreciate wait staff, as they left tips that were nice Christmas presents. I am proud of what they have become as adults and what they do for others. We also cooked a rather large meal that none of us could really eat because there was so much. We have brought food home, hoping the dog sitters will enjoy lovely amounts of leftovers. Too many sweets, too much food, lots of wonderful company! Plans next year for a cooking day involving gingerbread houses, cookies and probably a meal too! We do enjoy working together in the kitchen! 

I can finally show off the kai honu for a new collector! This beauty was photographed in Hawaii while on vacation. The husband contacted me and asked me to paint it for his wife as a surprise Christmas present. I think we actually pulled it off! So exciting to know his anticipation at her opening her thoughtful gift! I hope they enjoy her for many years to come!

Kai Honu, Acrylic on canvas, 30 x 40

We also came home this evening and put all the show equipment in the back of the truck. The new truck cover has a brand new lock and we will both feel better about the tents being protected. First we pulled out everything, then we carefully put both tents, sides, weights, table, decorations, show box, show sales desk, chairs, and both carts in case we have to load in the hard way!

Once we got everything in, we moved the truck out and I went on the deck to get our large market umbrella, as we use it at our kitchen when we're in the Gypsy Gal. I brought it out the gate, leaned it against the wagon and helped Chris for a moment. I then went back to the umbrella to put it in the wagon. 

That's when I got stung.....

Dusk was falling and I could not see what got me, but boy did it hurt, burn, and sear!

I brushed away what I thought it was, but did not know for sure. I was just hoping it was not a spider!

I went inside, got one of my wrist braces and put an ice pack in it to stop the pain after I washed it in cold, cold water. Time to push on, I helped Chris to back up the truck and when he had a problem with the hitch, I turned my attention back to the umbrella. I kicked it and that's when the wasp crawled out and onto the umbrella. Needless to say, it did not survive long after that! Then I became concerned that there might be more, so I opened each fold on the outside, finding several stink bugs and lady bugs. No more wasps, thankfully. Carefully checking the inside of the umbrella, I removed more lady bugs then tied it up and put it into the back of the truck.

Good thing I'm not allergic to wasps...........

Made two more covers for the panels we are carrying to Florida. I love the new covers!

Laundry, packing, and decisions about show clothes!

Tired, satisfied, and almost ready to start our next adventure!

Another day in the life of this artist in Fairhope , Alabama

Fighting Conch, Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 6

Day 19 of the 100 days~100 paintings Spring 2019

Conch mini

Conch shell mini.

I have been in love with conch's for years. I purchased one while we were in Jamaica. 

The fluting on the shell is so beautiful, folds of the home that the creature occupied.

Layer upon layer of hard covering, protection against the dangers of the deep.

The biggest danger to conchs I believe is man. There is even an annual hunt with an allowance per person down in Florida. I have had conch fritters while visiting down in Florida, it is a must when you are down there. I can't say I liked them, they were very chewy.

They really reminded me of clams, tough and almost like chewing rubber bands.

To each his own!

Conch shell mini, Acrylic on canvas, 4x4 inches

Day 57 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2018

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. 

She Sells Sea Shells

      This week has been interesting to say the least! Frantic sewing, set designs for church (to be constructed next week), furniture re-design and painting! These two beautiful shells are part of the collection that will be with a table I am donating to Habitat for Humanity and their fundraiser in September at Oak Hollow Farm. They go with a table that has shells painted on it as well.
       These paintings are actually created on wooden cigar boxes! We have a local cigar shop here in Fairhope named Bouch's that gets a lot of empty boxes. Eventually, they have a sale and get rid of a few. I had noticed them a couple of weeks back out front, stacked high. Some of them are quite beautiful on their own, but I sanded these, removed the labels, and gave them a new coat of paint. The next day, I painted the shells on them. There are a total of six to go with the table and some of them have games inside them for entertainment at the house in which the set will hopefully find a home. I hope that they get a good price at the auction. My husband and daughter in law love them and think I should do more for sale at my upcoming shows. We shall see..........
       In the meantime, there's those furniture pieces we are re-habbing for the auction as well.
More on that later!

"Shell Collection" Acrylic on Wooden boxes. 8x8's, 10x10's, 8x16, 

Days 46, 47, 48 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings

Queen Conch

       Queen Conch is a watercolor demonstration done while teaching a class. I choose to demonstrate as well as discuss while I am teaching. I find it helps my students to understand what I am trying to teach them. I was explaining the process of layering, building washes and adding final color for details. I really enjoy teaching both adults and children, seeing the delight in their eyes when they finally 'get' what I am trying to explain. Hands down though, the best way to learn is to observe the technique, practice it in class, (if you are taking a class,) then go home and try it on your own! I learned more doing this than anything else! At home, you don't have the instructor telling you to stop, don't do that. It allows yourself to dig into a hole, (how did I get that color?) make mistakes and fix them. It adds to your frustration level, yes, but it also forces you make decisions on your own. (You really didn't want to take lessons for the rest of your life, did you?) Making the decisions yourself builds confidence, re-enforces what you learned in class, and allows you to make mistakes. You then learn from the mistakes and move on. When I teach, I tell my students every mistake I have ever made, hopefully so they will not do the same things. Invariably, there is at least one in the class that isn't listening and makes the mistake I have tried to get them to avoid. When they are blustered, the other students in the class tell them, yes she did say not to do that!

       Anyway, I guess what I am trying to tell you dear readers is:
1. Don't let minor setbacks pull you down.
2. Allow yourself to make mistakes.
3. Learn from your mistakes.
4. Don't make the same mistakes again!
5. Above all, paint, paint, paint-time behind a brush is worth more than any instruction!
6. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do that.
7. Try to do something new and challenging.
This works for everything I try, tile mosaics, stained concrete floors, tiling, designing, and too many building techniques to go into right now!

Posted today instead of yesterday because of continuing internet issues,
'Queen Conch' watercolor on paper,9 x 12, matted to 11 x 14 Day 8 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings

She Sells Seashells.......................

"Conch"

"Lacy Murex Back"

"Lacy Murex Front"

"Nautilus"

"Queen Scallop"
 

"Sand Dollar"

"Starfish"

"Turbin"

Never without collectors for shells andI will never tire of painting them. The are two more to this collection to be posted later today. Each of these beauties measures 8 x 8 deep edge canvas.
These paintings represent days  87~94 of the 100 Days ~100 Paintings. This year is rapidly coming to a close with the 100 paintings finishing up during the beginning of the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama starting October 10th, 2013.
I will continue on this year though, maybe not posting a daily painting, but new pieces in the works down the line.
Come join me for new adventures in the Raccoon Retreat studio in Beautiful Fairhope, Alabama.






 

Conch

     Conch came about as result of a visit to the Conch Republic located in the Florida Keys. Key West to be exact. On April 23, 1982, two days after our son was born, this "Tongue in Cheek" secession of the city of Key West occured. It came about as a result of frustration over a roadblock and checkpoint by the U.S Border patrol which greatly inconvenienced residents and was detrimental to tourism in the area. After much frustration, the mayor of Key West decided that since they were being treated as a foreign country, why not be one? It has been a boon to tourism ever since with celebrations of Independence day that lasts for a week in April of each year.(Wikipedia) Check it out, it's fun to see the history of this funny happening in our country.

Conch~Acrylic on Canvas~10 x 10

Fish Series

                 This grouper study is on the block for August 10th.day 38 of the 100 days. I always enjoy the sepias and this one was very easy to do. I did a series of 4 of the big game fish with one in sepia and the larger in color. The men really love the sepias because of the quality of them looking like drawings. The white background allows them to go anywhere!

Grouper Study 4 x 12 acrylic on canvas~available at Fairhope Connections in Fairhope, Alabama

                  This grouper was very fun to paint and I love the neutral colors. The Grouper is  on canvas and is a 12 x 24 acrylic. The fish series has been fun so far with several fish swimming away with the days flying by in rapid procession. I have no problem this year getting the paintings done, but the blogging...........................everything gets in the way!

 "Grouper" 12 x 24 Acrylic on Canvas

     This study for the Mahi Mahi was interesting to say the least! These fish are so colorful and to translate that into sepia was a challenge. I still enjoyed painting him though! This painting represents day 40 of the 100 days.

"Mahi Study" 4 x 12 Sepia acrylic on canvas

     When we first came back to Mobile in 1976 I was introduced to this fish. But, when we came home, people kept talking about eating Dolphin! Imagine if you will, in my teenage mind they were eating Flipper! I would always refuse to eat this fish, being ignorant of the reality. I don't know why they are called Dolphin so when I found the name was also Mahi Mahi, I much preferred THAT name. I then tried this fish and found it to be quite delicious! My husband and I have found the best place for fried Mahi Mahi at the Market by the Bay. Having grown up in a family that fished a lot and ate a great deal of fish for dinner, I usually will try anything. But Dolphin?

 Mahi Mahi! 12 x 24 Acrylic on canvas. Day 41 of the 100 days~100 paintings.

     Those of you that know me, also know I spent a bit of time in the Phillipines while my father was in the service. We would go diving at Subic bay (the Naval Base I think) and it was a popular spot for diving. We would spend all day and sometimes the weekend. During those times, my parents were  collecting shells and placing them in the ant bed at the back of the house we lived in at the time. I have shells from that time period and have used them in paintings several times. I still collect them and finding them is always a pleasure. This conch shell was one I purchased from a vendor in Montego Bay Jamica several years ago, carefully packing it in my luggage on the trip home.

"Conch" 6 x 6 Acrylic on canvas, day 42 of the 100 days

Conch Baby

Conch Baby is basically a repeat of a painting done earlier this series. When I went on a cruise recently, we found a small conch while snorkeling at Cozumel. I love to snorkel, and my new friend, Amy does too! It was delightful seeking out and showing each other the different things we found while in the cool, clear waters off the coast. I spent more time in the water than out while we were there at the resort for the day. The conch we found was only about 5 inches and really clean and pretty. We both took pictures with it and Amy put it into her backpack. She has found a conch on each of her trips to Mexico and I was glad we found it!

Conch Baby 4 x 4 acrylic on canvas

Upward Conch

The conch is always a favorite of mine to paint. It is a very interesting shell. I love the spikes on the top that show the growth of the animal inside from a tiny creature to the large shells that they become.

On a trip to Horn Island in 2004 with the Ohr museum I had the pleasure of blowing one of these shells that had been made into a horn. The sound is really beautiful on the beach and it was what we used to call everyone to dinner. You have to 'buzz' into it like a trumpet to make the sound. It is very rich when done properly, not to mention a lot of fun! These little paintings are all available at Fairhope Connection in Fairhope, Alabama.

'Upward Conch' Acrylic on Canvas 4 x 4 $35.00

Downward Conch

One of the things to try in the Keys is Conch. There are advertisements for Conch Fritters on virtually every menu in the keys. My husband and I had never tried them, so when they were offered on a seafood platter we were excited. Let me tell you, they are a workout for your jaws! They are extremely chewy, tough and the flavor was, well just not there for us. Maybe it was the people cooking the conch, but we will never try it again. Now Calamari, that's a whole different story!

Downward Conch Acrylic on canvas 4 x 4

Conch

I did not have a clue how hot the summer had become until I hung my show Friday for Art on Holiday. The colors in a particular group of paintings were extremely hot in temperature. Bright, warm, clear color is what a limited palette brings to me! I am looking forward to teaching the limited palette class, "Why wasn't I taught that!"at the Eastern Shore Art center starting next Monday, September 28th. You can use either oil or Acrylic as I am familiar with both. Class size is limited and it promises to be fun!
This is the first of three posts for today as I am playing catch up!
Conch 10 x 10 Acrylic on Canvas