The Sentinel

The Great Blue Heron is a very territorial bird.

They are extremely protective of their "space" and will defend it if necessary.

That includes human trespassers!

I had the misfortune of meeting one while walking for turtles at dawn one morning.

Usually, they will walk up the beach, then go back to the shoreline.

They also will just simply fly away.

Not this morning.

Apparently, I was keeping him from tasty bits at the water's edge, and he didn't appreciate my intrusion.

Instead of flying away, he flew straight at my face.

Needless to say, I ate the sand that morning ducking down into the beach.

He was not happy I was disturbing him, and he let me know it.

I don't know if you've ever had one fly at you, but I didn't want to argue with that spear of a beak.

The beak is only about 5 or 6 inches long, but I didn't want to become a part of it.

They are also about 4 feet tall.

Their wingspan is about 6 feet.

Their S shaped neck can strike at 90mph.

They also have a most annoying squawking sound.

Altogether terrifying at 5 am in the morning.

Not a bird to tangle with for sure.

They also have a very bad habit of learning to steal.

Fishermen know this and will try to protect their catch before the Blue can get it.

We once were kayaking in the Florida Keys and saw a group of fishermen walk to the water to fish.

No sooner did their hooks hit the water, than the Great Blue showed up.

They told us he stole a fish from their rods the day before.

Not a fun way to lose a fish.

I am really pleased with this painting because it is a rework of a previous piece.

The frames are no longer available at Hobby Lobby, and I am trying to salvage what I can.

The bird is the same that was on the work previously but now is raised up on the edge dimensionally.

There is also an additional heron in the background.

It involved a lot of sanding, Painting with Kilz and then the white acrylic.

I also worked on "set ups" for paintings today as well as designed a mural for a couple in Florida.

They want an octopus and have been extremely patient with me, waiting for the VBS to settle down.

Hopefully they still want him, but it does mean I will be on a ladder or scaffold for a couple of days.

Good news is, they have invited me to stay with them while working.

They seem to have an incredible art collection and are committed to having one of my pieces, although they want it on the wall instead of a canvas.

Anyway, today was a good day.

All four new rounds that Chris reworked with frames have been painted white 

with both Kilz and White Acrylic.

Now, to figure out what to paint on them!

"The Sentinel" acrylic on wood, 24 inches

Day 46 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025.

 

Another day?

As you can see, these are unfinished pieces.

Still needing their erasing, varnishing, framing, and hanger.

But I am 5 days closer to completion.

I was supposed to complete the 100 paintings today.

This brings me to numbers 92-96.

4 more to go!

One painted last night, then the other 4 during a hard day's work.

I enjoy these small works, as they are an affordable alternative to the large pieces I create.

I painted, because I stayed home today instead of staying with my dad in the hospital.

He told me yesterday to go to the show, and how much he appreciated how much time I spent with him.

But again, God's plan....

Dad did have his surgery today.

I was told by his nurse that he did well, and cardiologist said they got to do what they needed.

His cardiologist has yet to call me to tell me how it went.

I only know because I was proactive in chasing down information.

I painted rather than wasting the day doing nothing.

Plus, it helped keep my mind from racing thoughts about my dad, the weather, and the show.

About the show....

Yesterday afternoon I had been reading about large amounts of rain and wind coming in today.

I prayed the people in charge would move the show out one day, 

rather than have us set up in the nasty weather.

I was also calculating in my head how many hours it would take for us to set up the tents.

My plan was Thursday morning early (about 5 or 6am) for the opening at 10 am.

Little did I know my husband was having the same thought process about setting up Thursday!

On the way home I received an email telling us the show 

was being postponed until opening at 2pm Thursday.

No set up in 4 inches of predicted rain, and 40 mph winds!

At least set up was optional today.

If you wanted to set up today, you could.

We may head down to our campsite tonight after the system has passed through.

That way, we could get up at 5am instead of 4am for a 6 o'clock morning set up.

There were some people that took a chance though today.

I have seen too many destroyed tents and inventory to put mine at risk at this point.

Some of the ones that took a chance today did not fair very well.

My girlfriend headed down, and told me there are several flattened tents already, mangled frames, missing roofs, with inventory out in the weather.

There will be several scrambling to find tents tonight or tomorrow.

I don't have an extra one, or I would put it out there.

We sold one of my heavy tents after a storm system hit Arts and Crafts here in March of 2022.

Maybe the husband will agree to go down tonight!

Such is the Artists life, at the whim of the weather.

Proverbs 16:33 We throw the dice, but God determines where they land.

Every time we enter a show, we are throwing the dice.

God determines if it is favorable for the most part!

Favorable for my dad today, favorable for me because I got to paint!

Another day? Acrylic on wood panels, approx. 5 x 15 inches

Days 92-96 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Wild ride today!

 

These days are running by so fast now!

I am just hanging on for the wild ride to the end of the 100 days by the

 beginning of the National Shrimp Festival next week.

I am very excited to be able to paint these miniatures framed by the 

drawers from vintage sewing machines.

The first set of 28 was because of a neighbor who wanted my husband Chris 

to take her machine base and make a table.

I asked her what she wanted to do with the drawers, and she just said get rid of them.

I didn't want to just throw them away.

Chris figured out how to cut them in thirds and they make perfect little shadowboxes.

The backings are thin wood panel from a recycled skateboard ramp.

Our son uses the machines to make steampunk lamps as well. 

They are recycled, fun to paint, and affordable too!

I also must apologize because the photos are not edited.

My phone is acting the fool these days, and my husband dropping it a few minutes ago doesn't help.

Anyway, tonight is 10 paintings total.

Not all painted in one day, but I can paint several in a day!

I love painting miniatures.

Enjoy the menagerie!

Here's looking at you!

Sandpipers central!

Octopus escaping!

Pelican Piling.

You can see my messy easel and some collected art too.

Seahorse with coral.

Notice this one has the lock mechanism still in the drawer.

They just are lovely to look at, and so fun to paint!

Wild Ride today! Acrylic on recycled wood, each about 5 x 15 inches

Days 70-79 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Great Blue too!

Great Blue too! 

I say this because this is a "mate" to the other one that was already done.

I picked up another Great Blue Heron from the gallery this week.

Frequently, but not always folks want a left and a right of a particular creature.

So, here he is, ready for the show!

I am moving along now with the paintings completed, today is number 62.

I am behind because of our mission to Africa this summer.

38 more paintings to go!

I will not have the 100 finished by the Shrimp Festival.

I am however, going to continue to post and complete the 100 days.

When finished, I will draw for the winner of the painting valued at $295.00.

This will most likely coincide with the Peter Anderson show in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

First weekend in November will be the drawing.

I pray everyone understands.....

Great Blue too!, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 16 x 16 inches

Day 62 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Octopus and herons

I am at the end of a long day.

I started in the studio at 9 am, erasing and varnishing over 20 works.

You see, the art is starting to attack me as I walk through the studio.

 It slides to the floor or just falls over and hits my shins.

I did have lunch with Chris and our son Jere', then later took the rotten dogs for their daily car ride.

I then ate dinner and went back to the studio in the evening.

After answering email, and soon to be sketching off a rather large multi canvas piece. 

I will call it a day about 9:30 pm

I love it, my back and neck however do not.

Ahhh blessed relief when I hit the shower and the bed tonight!

These guys are for sewing machine drawers.

I have an absolute stack of them in the studio, awaiting my brush and creative spark.

They are always a popular piece of art, affordable, and can be hung on a wall, or placed on a shelf.

I love painting them!

The octopus is another in the series of color on the shadowboxes.

They are a challenge to create, with the corners and edges making me turn the canvas every direction.

I'm really enjoying the challenge of painting them.

Octopus and herons, Acrylics on canvas and wood, Herons 5x15 inches, Octopus 12 x 24 inches

Days 51,52, & 53 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Colors, canvases, and completions

Days and days since I've posted!

The studio has been a hive of activity as of late.

I have been too busy to post, but today I am bound and determined to get this done!

Both of these pieces are 24 x 24 inches and so fun to paint.

I really enjoy these sepias and shadowboxes.

The booth is coming together very nicely on paper, hopefully it will look the same on the walls.

These are some of the partial color paintings.

The walls of the booth will gradually go from sepia to full color, 

left to right if you're standing in front of the space.

I'm enjoying the process for sure!

So much to do in the next three weeks before the Annual National Shrimp Festival.

The turtles are a continuation of works I do for Big Fish Trading Company in Foley, Alabama.

These will be in my booth though and not at the gallery.

Sea turtles are always some of my favorites to paint. 

The octopus is another partially colored piece.

I love the surprise of color in the eye area.

We shall see how they do at the show!

The crab is for the far right wall at the festival in October.

Full color is interesting on the shadowboxes, adding a degree of difficulty.

Challenging yes, but not impossible to paint.

I do love a challenge too!

The three following pieces are the unusual canvases Chris built.

Two 15 x 30s and one central 30 x 30, making for one large work of art.

The challenge was the set up and arrangement of the turtles.

I decided to have a total of 7 turtles spread across the 3 canvas.

7 turtles for the 7 days of creation.

Truly a wonderful piece of art!

This is the tryptic on my fence, because I cannot set up and photograph in the studio.

The work measure 30 inches tall and 60 inches wide.

It really will look great in the booth for sure!

Colors, canvases, and completions, Acrylic on canvas, varying sizes

Days 41- 50 of the 100 daya~100 paintings 2023

 

Too many days to remember

 Too many days indeed!

These paintings represent several days of work.

Works done, but not posted as of yet.

Today I take care of that situation!

Lots of things happening here, making me tired at the end of the day.

Too tired to post it seems!

This big, bad, boy was an incredibly fun to paint bird!

Great blue herons and Pelicans are two of my absolute favorites.

May I never tire of painting them.

This gorgeous creature is on an unusual grouping of canvases.

The center canvas is 24 x 24, the two outer ones are 18 x 24.

This makes him a rather large 6 foot heron.

I just need to break him apart, then paint the sides.

Day 18 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

Every year, I attempt to paint something on Archer's birthday which is August 12th.

He is double digits now!

10 years old.

Now I feel older.

He's old enough now that I ask him what do you want for your birthday painting?

This year he said a monkey, a capuchin monkey to be precise.

I love this little fella!

He a precious 8 x 10

Day 19 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

Occasionally I get asked for commission pieces.

I'm not a big fan of them, as I find what I think the client wants is not always the case.

Hopefully this guy makes the grade, and she loves him!

Otherwise, I have another piece to sell.

This one is 16 x 16

Day 20 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

Another commissioned piece from the same collector.

She is finishing a wall of pieces using sea turtles.

I pray this one finds a home with her as well!

She went to the blog and chose this pose, but of course I have to change it some 

as I want everyone to have an original.

This one is also a 16 x 16

Day 21 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

This little guy is not so little!

This shadowbox is a 12 x 24.

It is the last of the commissioned works that will hopefully grace this woman's home.

I cannot wait to see it in place with her other turtles!

Day 22 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

It is only by God's grace that I have a husband who wants to please me.

God placed us together as we are the perfect mix of stable and goofy.

He loves to build my shadowboxes, and today he also helped stretch them!

I had already stretched 9 of the last group, so he came and helped with the other 17.

We also stretched 2-16 x 20s, 2-16 x 30s, and a 20 x 24.

More about these canvases later!

We work well together, actually not even talking much.

We have a sense of what the other needs and it is provided.

I bought him a new staple gun, as his electric one had given up the ghost.

Two compressors, two guns, the dachshunds did not appreciate the racket at all!

Although they slept through most of it.......

Day 23 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

Last but not least, more turtles.

I will never tire of painting them I hope!

These guys are already sold as well, I'm afraid.

Day 24 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

More canvas ordered~I love pro-packs from Michaels!

I also spent the evening painting multiple canvas's white.

I also have ordered a gallon of soft body Liquitex white from Alabama Art Supply.

Hope it makes it here before I run out!

I have become desperate before and bought several jars at Hobby Lobby, 

adding a tube of Golden Titanium White to make it more opaque.

Hours of preparation are coming together into a beautiful show.

That is, if I can paint fast enough!

Thank you, Lord for the talent, stamina, and beauty that surrounds me.

Tomorrow is another day!

To many days to remember, Days 18-24

Of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

Three for Four

Today's paintings represent two days.

I spent the majority of the day cleaning up the mess that is my studio presently.

I cannot walk by, without something slithering to the floor.

I have thousands of reference photos that I use.

Some of them are photos I took, some are friend's photos that they graciously let me use,

others are from the internet and are changed a lot before they leave my studio.

I "Frankenstein" a lot of my paintings, using my knowledge of animal anatomy to manipulate several photos into one that I can then paint.

These guys are a little of both.

The upper one was almost completed at artwalk in June.

It was then brought to the studio for completion, wiring, and varnishing.

The one below was completed in my studio yesterday.

They are each large examples of these beautiful birds that grace our coasts.

"Great Blue I" and "Great Blue II"

Each measures 16 x 40 inches and will be at Hello Gallery in downtown Fairhope.

I may add the large round herons as well just for fun!

They will make a gorgeous grouping together for sure!

The last of the six rounds from my studio has a lined seahorse.

These guys are incredibly fun to paint.

Lined seahorse is on a 24-inch round wood panel.

I am really enjoying the colorful creations in my studio these days.

I keep dreaming of the booth at the National Shrimp Festival this year, with it starting with sepias on one side gradually shifting to partial color, then full color paintings on the other side.

It's going to be fun to create, then hang at the show.

I will have to be careful to have back stock to fill in during the show, so the booth stays full.

A lot of my artist friends are nervous about the upcoming show season, 

I am remaining optimistic that the pieces will sell.

God continues to bless me in my artistic endeavors. giving me the images to paint.

Even if paintings don't sell at shows, there are two galleries that want the pieces that don't sell.

Big Fish Trading Company in Foley, as well as my local hang out, "Hello Gallery" at 18 South Section Street in downtown Fairhope.

Oh! and there's the one woman show at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center.

The show will feature my Steampunk & Marine pieces, Steampunk style tables and my son Jere's lamps, as well as some of Christopher's woodturning.

It will hang for December and January.

There will be multiple prints of the steampunk available for purchase as Christmas presents.

Ornaments are coming too!

Both steampunk and marine ornaments will be available.

I am so delighted to have been invited back for the third year in a row!

It's always fun to be there, the people that run the Center are so kind and supportive.

Mark your calendars, December 9th, 2023, is the official opening reception.

Steampunk and the Sea!

So, things are humming along here at the Raccoon Retreat studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama.

I am joyous to be on this journey with those who follow the blog!

I am blessed indeed!

Great blue heron I, Great blue heron II, Lined seahorse Acrylic on canvas and wood panel

Days 15, 16, and 17 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Paintings 7~11

Not necessarily days, but at least #7 through #11 paintings

Our lives are unbelievably hectic these days!

Retirement, what's that?

Chris is busier than I think he ever expected to be in his golden years.

I am so happy and grateful that he's on this art journey with me.

Speaking of Chris, his hand is much better now!

I pitched a fit more or less, last week for him to go to urgent care and get it looked at again.

I think he felt it was getting better, but I knew it was not.

The culture came back as I suspected for a staph infection.

Staph is a really nasty thing to get rid of, but he seems to be 

really responding to his antibiotics positively.

Although when the culture was diagnosed, he was put on another antibiotic specifically for staph.

He's well enough to go to the shop and lovingly start making shadowbox frames as I am out of them!

These two shadowboxes are the last of the 32 he built in March of this year.

They are each 12x24 

I am also working hard to paint the last of the 24 inch rounds I had from shows this spring.

I did not get to them while on the road, and then life got in the way.

I've also bought 36 canvases from Michaels for the 5 piece paintings.

This getting ready for shows is a lot of thinking, planning, and preparations.

Months of money tied up in jury fees, booth fees, and believe it or not, 

campgrounds that are reserved over a year in advance!

 

I've also had to rethink my giclee prints and have ordered some online for the Steampunk.

We shall see if the quality is there when I get them.

I will do a post about them when they arrive as this is a new company.

I've done research on this them and they have great reviews.

Family owned company in the Midwest that apparently is extremely fast and efficient.

Cost effective too!

I have also taken on the ornaments this year as well.

Last year got away from me, with no ornaments offered and requests were made.

They will be on flat wood pieces instead of glass balls.

They will be easier to transport and less likely to break.

I will have a limited amount of the glass balls this year as well.

I bought both clay and metallic paints to prepare for making them soon.

The Raccoon Retreat studio is humming with activity every day now!

Hopefully, I can make the posting on the blog a priority as well.

In the meantime, I paint!

Paintings 7 ~11, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas 12 x 24 and wood panel 24 rounds

Days 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Two herons for two days

 

Today begins the 100 days~100 paintings for 2023.

Needless to say I am a bit tardy in getting started this year.

I normally start the 100 days early in the month of July.

While I should be on day 28 already.

I will be trying to get two paintings done per day to catch up.

We were in Africa and I was a little busy on our mission.

I also came home to a large build for Vacation Bible School at my church.

We arrived a day late, and I jumped into the build for three straight days.

Tomorrow we take it all down and pack it up until next year.

I really enjoy the process, although it gets really hectic trying to get it all done.

This year was a beautiful success.

The 'leftovers' are also going to an elementary school!

I'm so excited to know that children will get to see the creatures we built with so many hours.

Anyway, here we go!

Two herons for two days.

Today we begin the 100 days~100 paintings for 2023

I am just fascinated with these birds.

They are definitely large and in charge.

Their wingspan and noise they make are enough to make anyone get nervous.

I have even had one fly straight at me, full on beak and feathers.

Needless to say, I ate the sand, rather than be impaled by that beak.

Now, that you've had that image in your head, imagine a bird that looks just like our heron.

The biggest difference between them is the coloration is browner than our blue grey birds.

They are also larger.

This is the Goliath heron in the wilds of Africa.

Having just come home in the last week from our mission in Zimbabwe, Africa is still on my mind.

The people are beautiful, their smiles are genuine, and their needs are great.

For example, just today I received a message from my African son, Crecious

 telling me that he was in line for water.

The reason for this line was because the water to the city was turned off.

Turned off for four days already.

Four days without water to drink, wash, or flush.

Turned off because the city is putting in new water lines to other towns.

So they shut off the water....

The electricity also gets turned off randomly at times.

We have it so easy here in the states....

So easy.

Praying for Zimbabwe

Two herons for two days, acrylic on wood, 12"round,

Days 1 & 2 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Three for one!

The first of the three days is a leatherback turtle baby.

Leatherbacks are almost black in color.

They have white stripes on their back.

They are the largest of the sea turtles and also the deepest divers.

Leatherback, Acrylic on wood panel, 24 inches round

Day 19 of the 1`00 days~100 paintings 2022 winter

Sea turtle pair.

These guys were fun to paint.

I always have a good time when painting turtles.

These guys are on a shadowbox built recently.

Sea turtle pair, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 24 x 24

Day 20 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022 winter

A beautiful pair.

Peaceful here, but not always!

These birds make the strangest sounds when startled or being aggressive.

Lovely birds, always interesting to paint.

A beautiful pair, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 24 x 24

Day 21 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022 winter

 

Great Blue!

I don't think God created a bird with more attitude than a great blue heron.

They are fearless around fishermen, stealing fish off the hooks before the catch can be brought in.

They are protective of their territory.

Swooping down on anyone hapless enough to be in the way.

I've been a near victim of one once.

I apparently startled him while walking for turtle nests at dawn.

He flew straight at me.

Needless to say, I ducked and covered.

I didn't want the beak of that bird impaling me!

Loud, noisy, rude, and inconsiderate birds they are for sure!

But oh how beautiful!

Great Blue, Acrylic on sewing machine wood, 5 x 15inches

Day 18 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022 winter