Playful Dolphins

Playful Dolphins is another of the multiple piece series started this spring. 

This one is actually for a client that was disappointed recently when Big Fish Trading Company sold the set she was originally looking at to purchase. I assured her I could paint another equally as lovely, but not the same pose. I try not to recreate the same pose over and over, thereby keeping my work as fresh and new as possible. We made arrangements to meet and I brought the Dolphins with me for her to have them in her space. After I toured her gorgeous new home, we unpacked the dolphins. She loved them, but wanted her husband to see them as well. I left them at her home on approval overnight. 

The next afternoon, her husband had some questions, one of which was,

 "Do you ever paint in color?" He also wanted to know if I was on the same page as far as hanging them. Additionally, we discussed the color to be added that would remind them of their honeymoon. They also have the cutest photograph of them with dolphins in the Florida Keys!  There is a  beautiful teal blue green cabinet that is near where the painting will hang.  This couple already have a collection of art that includes a wonderful mosaic piece done by a friend.  

This is Playful Dolphins with color added. I have done this with several of my sepia paintings, sometimes by request, others on my own.

I hope they enjoy them in their home as much as I enjoyed painting them!

Playful Dolphins, Acrylic on canvas, 2 16x20 and 1 24x24 canvas, 

Total piece measures about 5ft by 2ft

Day 13 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings 2017

Playtime!

We took an amazing dolphin cruise a few years back down at Orange Beach. It was a delightful time for all on board, as the dolphins were particularly happy that day. They put on quite the ballet show, leaping and jumping in the wake of the boat. How do I know they were happy? They had this beautiful pink glow on their bellies! Such a pretty pink! I got an incredible amount of beautiful photographs, perfect for references and lots of paintings. I work from photographs a lot, it's hard to get any sea creature to sit still for a portrait! 

This shadowbox is one of 2 12 x 36 that I purchased and I wish I had gotten my hands on more! It's such a lovely size and the opening works well with the outside edge. I've painted this as a reference and mock up for a much larger piece in the works. 

That painting will be on three canvases measuring an incredible 9 1/2 feet total. I am actually looking forward to the challenge of painting such a large piece in a smallish studio. (My main studio is 12 x 16 ft of pure heaven!) I am creating it as a possible piece for a collector with a very large space above her double doorways going into her incredible screened porch. 

The total space is 3 ft by 15 ft. 

I only hope the  painting will be big enough! It is on 3 canvases, 2 at 24 x 36 , and one at 30 x 40

A caveat though, I could add 2 more 18 x 24's canvas and fill the space more!

We'll see what this new adventure brings!

Tonight is artwalk in Fairhope as well from 6 until 8pm. Weather permitting, I'll be outside painting at the gallery. 18 South Section Street. Hopefully I'll see some of my readers there tonight!

"Playtime!" 12 x 36 Shadowbox canvas, Acrylic , 

Day 5 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2017

Vintage Beach Again?Vintage Beach XII,XIII,XIV, XV

Vintage Beach  Again?

I'm afraid so! 

I have to create what I love as well as what seems to be in demand, so here we go!

I have changed the colors done previously, but the styles are there. The  plaques still need to be distressed, stained, and then varnished. The 70's one is completely new, the 1946 is a bikini designed by Reard. Reard once said a bikini is not a bikini unless it fits through a wedding band. The one with the palm trees was a Catalina, I painted it a different color as well. Kinda makes you want to think really hard at why the designers of the day were pushing the limits of just how small you could go. Part of it was the war effort, but I think they just wanted to see how much demand they could create. One suit even touted that it weighed 8 ozs and that it would fit in a matchbox!

I don't know about you, but I do know about me. I cannot wear something so small it barely covers my private areas. I want them to stay private, thank you very much!

Vintage Beach XII, XIII, XIV, XV

Acrylic on recycled wood panel, 8 x 10

Days 16, 17,18,  and 19

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

Sometimes you just have to be crafty!

Rarely does the church call and ask for favors, so I sometimes have to resort to asking if they need help. Such is the case here with the Summer Surge at Celebration Church in Fairhope, Alabama. Each summer we have a fantastic kids program that really puts the focus on Faith and Fun. This year is no exception with a beach theme that really is extraordinary. 

                My husband Chris did a beautiful job building these fantastic lifeguard stands in just a couple of days.  (I volunteer him on a regular basis~Life with me is unpredictable, you never know what I'll say Chris can build!) I am so grateful he does not say no too often.We have built an airplane and turtle nest together as well! The kids at the church painted the stands pink and blue. I was pleased to help with some small details on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. Both lifeguard stands needed lettering on the backs and sides. There is a pink one and a blue one to separate the boys from the girls sections. I also built (with Chris's help) the life buoy rings in the photos. I fashioned them from recycled foam insulation cut in three layers. We then wrapped them with white duck tape. After the white, I added the rope trim and red stripes, finally finishing them with a black paint pen to do the lettering. I am really happy with how they all turned out!

     Sunday afternoon found me with the Tiki hut on the stage. After making 3 different sizes of 'bamboo' patterns from poster board , I painted the outlines first. This was a trick since the 'stage' is fence boards I had to climb on, hoping they would not break under my weight. They had already painted the background a medium brown, so I really only needed 3 colors. A dark brown, yellow ochre and a white. After laying in the outlines, I dry brushed the yellow ochre and white on each piece of bamboo. I was really happy with the results after I touched up the seams between. I then added a bamboo outline on the sign already painted by one of the girls. We then trimmed and tacked the sign to the wall.

The whole project really turned out so cute! I am always happy to give time to the church and they have several of my pieces in their offices. I am grateful for the talents my God has given me and love using them in such a fun way! Many congratulations to Brianne and Judson Shores, Children's pastor at Celebration Church for a job very well done!

Sometimes you just have to be crafty! Not for profit, but for the 100 days~100 Paintings, Day 36

Rangoli Fish Jubilee

                How appropriate that I would paint fish in a rangoli! I was quite taken with this design and it went rapidly after I started it. I love the bright beautiful colors that reflect my thoughts of living on the eastern shore.
            
                      Our coastline here alsong the Mobile Bay is one of two places in the world that has a phenomenon known as Jubilee. The other place is off the coast of Africa, I think. Back to our jubilee here. Jubilees are caused by  a number of factors coming into play. Temperature of the air, water temperature, and  an eastern breeze are what is required to cause a jubilee. The locals know what to look for, and start gathering up their buckets, gigs, nets and lights.
                    
                        When the jubilee occurs, the cry goes out along the coast, and if you are very lucky, someone calls you and informs you of the happening which usually occurs in the middle of the night. Creatures of all types come rushing to the shoreline, starved for oxygen. Everyone scoops up buckets of crabs, flounder, and fish of several types while avoiding the eels that join into the fray.
               
                       I have yet to experience one of these events, but hope to join in on one this summer, primarily to photograph the people and their catches.
             
 Rangoli Fish Jubilee 8x8 Acrylic on canvas.

Exploring the seashore

         Exploring the seashore came about because of the trip we took to the Keys last year. On the way, we stopped again in St Augustine, Florida. We spent a few days ar the state park and rode our bicycles all over the city. Bicycles allow you to park easier, and when the traffic is really bad, get ahead of the crowd of cars waiting for the traffic lights..
         The day we arrived was our first day out from Fairhope and we were tired, but wanted to see the Atlantic ocean that evening. We were not the only people there and I observed the children playing in the water. Several camera shots later, I felt I had the pictures neccessary for some delightful paintings. I changed the bathing suit, punched up the color and just had a lot of fun painting this little girl on the beach.
          This year I am pleased to announce as well that the Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope, Alabama has asked me to teach a class about  "A Painting a Day" Look for them to announce the class soon starting in the fall. I highly recommend the practice and diligence it takes to make a painting a day. It makes you a better painter, allows you to make quicker decisions, and makes painting more profitable (if you have chosen this for your profession). It also is just plain FUN!
"Exploring the Seashore" 12 x 24 Acrylic on canvas

Starfish Bliss

Starfish and the sea, ahhhhhhhh. I think of nothing but relaxation when I think of the sea and the waves. This makes this summer more frustrating because I have not spent any time at the beach or even gone sailing. This is part of a group of four little paintings done in watercolor on watercolor board.
Starfish Bliss 4 x 6 Watercolor on Board $15.00
The whole set will be $50.00.

Tequlia Sunrise I &II

These trees are always such fun to paint! I had leftover paint from the classes I have been teaching and did not want to waste, so here we are with bright happy color!
My children have no appreciation for these "play" paintings. (I love to show my wild side every now and then. They call it t-shirt art) I usually call it sold!
I had a pair of 15 x 30's of this type that sold last year at two different shows! These are much smaller 6x12 deep edge canvas. I am sure they will find a home. Otherwise, they may have to stay with me!
They can be purchased for $50.00 each or $90.00 for the pair. SOLD

Ghost Crabs July 4th & 5th

These Guys are just plain fun to paint! This pair completes days 4 & 5 of the 100 days of painting. I talked with Shelby Jones who is another artist with me in Cathedral Square Gallery in Mobile, Alabama. I told him of my "project" a painting a day for 100 days. He looked at me like I had three heads. Why! he exclaimed. I told him I took this challenge to myself to become a better Painter. The painting a day is challenging not only in finding something you are excited about painting, but the act of creating itself. I asked him how much he had painted lately He said that he had not painted for almost a year. I would absolutely feel suffocated if I went that long without creating! His work is amazingly detailed and beautiful to look at. I invited him to come over to my home on Tuesday evenings because that is when I have an open Studio. The open Studio gives me a chance to interact with other artists as well as receive their input on my most recent works. I also teach at that time. My students love the studio, and I love the interaction! By the way, I have had several conversations with other artists and have come to the conclusion that I am very lucky indeed. I actually have a studio in which to work! So many artists work off of their dining room table, desks, or someplace else that they have to pack up every day they create. I just want to say, Thank you to my husband of 30 plus years for giving me such a marvelous gift!