Turtle babies

These little guys are always fun to paint!

I am so delighted I managed to get these canvases from marketplace.

The woman advertised 18, but when I got there, the number was 20!

They were a really great price and give me small canvas that I can hold and easily paint.

Finishing up on a commission which should post tomorrow.

I am currently working on cushions for our son and daughter in love's camper.

I always love a good sewing project, but wrestling these cushions into the covers is a marathon.

I feel like an octopus with an arm stuck inside the casing and another pulling the plastic bag out that helps me put the cover in place.

I love that they are letting me make my contribution to their first camper together.

It is small, very small but oh so cute.

We are rapidly headed to the finish line of completion on the trailer.

 Then Chris will likely help our oldest daughter with her new shop conversion.

Next in line will be repairs to the tiny house, as we've had some rather bad leakage around the windows that has caused rot in the wall. 

I just pray it's only one wall and will be easily fixed.

Never a dull moment around here!

One project to the next, and the next.

Maybe the commissions are done for now too!

Friday night is Artwalk night in Fairhope.

6-8pm at Hello Gallery, 18 South Section Street

I'll be painting live on the next Dead men tell no tales!

Come and say hello!

Turtle babies, Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 12 inches

day 37 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

More of the future is here

More baby turtles today. This year's 100 days began with four commissions. One of them was for baby turtles on the 6 x 24 canvas. I told the collector that I would paint two and he could choose one of them. This is the second one. Hopefully one of them is sold already. I really enjoy painting these little guys every time. Specifically, this collector wanted the ones coming out of the nest.

Today is a special day. It is our youngest daughter's birthday in India. A joyous day for sure when she was born. It was an incredible day that is burned into my memory.

Today is July 2nd. This is interestingly enough the apex of the year. There are 182 days before, and 182 days after. The first part of the year we climbed toward the middle and from now on there are less days in the year. Just an interesting fact that is really neat.

Christina, the one whose birthday is today was born on the second of July. My mother, (her grandmother called Manna) was born on May 2nd. My birthday is October 2nd. She was absolutely delighted that her daughter, Dahlia was born on August 2nd. Her birthday this year she will turn 5.

My day was filled with painting, sanding and going on a date with my husband. We went to see Young Washington and it was an incredible movie and story. Well worth the time to see it.

Speaking of well worth the time. I have a bit of history for my dimensional pieces that began in earnest last year. These works are a long process that begins with unfinished wood cut into circles with a router. These pieces are sanded carefully using a drum sander. They are then backed with a thinner layer which forms the background. They are glued and nailed around the edge. Each one is then painted with Kilz so that the glue layers are trapped beneath the painting layer. They are then painted again after more sanding with Acrylic paint. Chris gives me a piece of wood that matches the round, which allows me to draw the dimensional top piece. This piece has to also be painted with both Kilz and Acrylic. The top piece is then cut with either a band saw or my scroll saw. The scroll saw is used on more delicate works like lionfish fins and octopus legs. Most complex are the Pirate pieces because of all the open cut work allowing the base of the pirate ship and reef to be seen beneath. The dimensional piece is then sanded carefully from the back. The background must be painted first. I then take the dimensional piece and nail blocks underneath which are nailed from above and below. The edges of the top piece are painted on the edges, then the creature is then painted as well. I then varnish the back and the top piece to protect it. I add a hanging wire as well to finish the work. Almost 20 steps total!

So, when you're looking at a piece of art. 

There are hours of decisions, drawing and painting. 

In the case of the dimensional works many more steps are needed to complete the piece. I am grateful for the many people who have let go of their hard-earned money to purchase one of my works. 

The artist that you purchase from may really need the income or the 

validation that comes from creating.

I am so blessed to be able to create and actually make money with what I paint.

From the bottom of my heart, Thank You!

More of the future is here, Acrylic on canvas 6 x 24

Day 3 of the 100 days!00 paintings 2026

A wonderful day one!

Today, June 30th marks the first day of the 100 days 2026.

Each year, I do 100 paintings, projects, or plans to do them.

Most of the time, it will be a painting.

Sometimes it's just my hectic, wonderful artist life here in Fairhope with my husband of over 40 years.

There are also 4 dachshunds in the mix, adding to the chaos which can be so much fun!

This year again my church's VBS is smack dab in the beginning of the fray and only adds another dimension of art to the 100 days.

I've already been accepted into two of my shows and am awaiting answers to 4 more.

Another 6 shows to add to my fall schedule and hopefully my checking account as well.

Next year, 2027 promises to be even more fun as I am praying to get my African Son, Crecious 

here for at least 3 shows of his own before returning to Zimbabwe.

It will take a year of preparations and planning to make his shows a success as well as mine!

For those who are new to the blog, Welcome!

I am a professional Christian artist living in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama.

I went back to painting back in 1993 after a drunk driver hit our family van.

I was working as a costumer at the time and had sewn all night to meet a Mardi Gras deadline.

We were headed to a parade that evening when we were rear ended from a dead stop at a light.

Unfortunately, I was turned sideways in the front talking to my husband when we were hit.

I don't have a typical neck whiplash, instead of being front and back, mine is a side-to-side injury.

I have two herniated discs in my neck as well as nerve damage in my right arm.

But God!

I began painting again because it was something I did as a child.

I did it to work through the pain and to give me a creative outlet as sewing professionally 

was not an option at the time.

Don't get me wrong, some days are diamonds and some days are dirt depending on the activities.

All of them are good days though, because I count it all as joy!

Today marks the beginning of 100 days 2026.

The blog began on July 1, 2009 with a painting of Middle Bay Lighthouse 

18 years of the blog, and my 32nd year of painting.

This year marks my 19th year since I started going to the Annual National Shrimp Festival at

Gulf Shores, Alabama in the month of October.

So many paintings, so many blog posts.

Come along with me as I paint, praise, and produce pieces.

Of course, today is a Loggerhead Sea Turtle.

My girlfriend refers to me as the Turtle lady!

This piece was started at Fairhope's art walk this month.

I finished it today in my signature Sepia color.

It is an impressive 24 x 36 inches and was so fun to paint!

Not my usual shadowbox canvas, or the new rounds from last year, just a flat canvas.

I'm looking forward to the wonderful creative journey this year.

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

A wonderful day one! Loggerhead sea turtle 24 x 36 inches

Day 1 of the 100 days 100 paintings 2026

 

Stretching to the limits

Another day, another painting!

"Stretching to the limits"

Loggerhead turtles are such beautiful creatures.

Awkward on the earth, so graceful in the sea.

The turtle nesting season here is over.

The nests should be hatched by October.

We were at a Shrimp Festival one year in October and heard about a hatching going on.

Most of the time, they hatch at night, on a full moon so the babies can see the water and 

hopefully head in the right direction.

Sometimes the Shrimp Festival is so hot.

One year the heat index was 122 degrees.

It was hard to be chipper and fresh in that kind of heat.

Other times, it's been a bit on the chilly side.

The wind is definitely a factor as well.

Weights are a requirement weighing at least 40 pounds.

One for each leg.

That means we have to carry 8 weights to the show.

My van will be filled to the top with art and equipment.

Pretty soon, we'll start laying out the parts and pieces necessary to put on a show.

I will be making a list, because otherwise I will forget something.

It gets checked off only when it is loaded into the van.

If I don't make a list, I won't be able to sleep because I keep mulling it over in my mind.

It becomes a loop of doom, because I'm worried about forgetting something.

On the dachshund side, Trixie is eager to eat now.

The other dachshunds are jealous of the tasty food she is receiving.

We have to watch, because the puppies especially will steal her food.

She's a momma dog, so she will walk away if challenged for food.

Feeding her has been an issue for a while now.

I thought it was her teeth, but it may have been the beginnings of kidney disease.

Hopefully she's on the mend now.

Praying everyone has a better week this week.

Last week was so heavy and sad.

I'm looking forward to the new week that began today with church.

Chris and I then went to lunch, and I said I wanted to go to the thrift store.

I'm looking specifically for Fanka brand leggings because they offer compression.

Hopefully I'll find some one day.

Anyway, I did find a new pair of Yoga pants.

AND

The most amazing pair of Octopus leggings in black and white!

I also found a high-end White/Black brand vest in a lovely black color.

The octopus leggings look great with the vest.

Chris approved, so I bought them all.

My thrifting heart is so happy!

Stretching to the limits, Acrylic on canvas

Day 76 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Beauty in the Caretta caretta

Caretta caretta or loggerhead sea turtle, whichever you prefer.

I love the scientific name of this turtle.

I am beginning to find my pace in the 100 days.

Working hard to create every day.

Sometimes the paintings are easy to set up and paint, and sometimes they hurt my head!

Each day is a new adventure in paint!

I am still amazed that I get to create and even make money while doing it.

I truly believe the saying: Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life!

Finding what to paint can be a challenge though.

Some years Turtles are more popular; others it's the octopuses.

I've also painted manatees, alligators, pelicans, sharks, herons, 

seahorses, manta rays, and so much more!

Then, just when I think I have it all figured out, the rules change.

The neutral paintings have not slowed down even after 10 years.

I started the Sepia series when people would comment that the colors 

I would use might not go on their wall.

I prayed and the answer I got was go neutral.

To go from strong color to neutral was a stretch.

When they first started, they were browner.

Like a sepia toned photograph.

I purchased unfinished wood frames I bought from Michaels, 

hand painting them to match the sepia paint.

Then, a few years back, I mixed the sepia color bluer, and it's been that way ever since.

Anyway, today was a full day.

Helping others and then hitting the studio after getting blackberries, blueberries, and onions into the freezer.

Tomorrow, we bag them!

Beauty in the Caretta caretta, Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24

Day 64 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Great Blue and a turtle!

I have told you all before, I am not above revisiting paintings in an effort to salvage them.

This is one of those pieces.

It is painted on one of the wood framed sign blanks from Hobby Lobby.

I am very pleased with how it turned out.

He only needs varnish and a companion.

Another Great Blue in the works, facing in the opposite direction so they can be a pair.

I love painting the herons.

This is also from a photo I took several years ago while on vacation in Orange Beach.

I took my grandson home to Saraland after a weekend with Yaya and Yoyo.

I brought him home as our daughter was working hard to get her bedroom 

together after painting this weekend.

I then stayed and helped her with going through bags and boxes.

I came home with eyeshadow palettes, lip gloss, and bronzer, as well as hand cream.

She also gave me a red jacket.

Hmmm. 

She said I know you don't typically wear red, but it is a cute jacket.

I took the things after two hours with her and we got a lot done.

I also brought home a taboret she has had forever, still in the box.

I unboxed it at their house and put it in the car.

Came home, ate a late lunch, took a little nap.

Headed to the studio, for a few stolen moments.

Then the dogs wanted their ride, and I needed a break.

I put together the taboret, photographed it, and put it on marketplace.

Hopefully it will sell, as it probably won't work in my studio.

We ate leftovers for dinner, and I again headed to creating.

I'm thankful for leftovers, it makes for a quick dinner and clean up!

I also managed to paint this little guy today too!

He is a small part (about five inches) of a 24 by 24 shadowbox.

I'm trying to find my groove in painting the shadowboxes again.

It will take a bit of thinking as their set ups are so very different from the new dimensional rounds.

This piece will have three turtles on it eventually.

I may try to paint the colored heron as well tomorrow.

I'm needing to change out my space at the gallery downtown before Artwalk this Friday as well.

So, lots of paint slinging tomorrow!

Goodnight from the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama

Great Blue and a turtle, Acrylic on wood and canvas, heron 15 x 30

Day 63 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Babies, babies everywhere!

Today's piece was after a long day.

My youngest brother was having surgery, so I drove to Mobile to sit with him and my sister in love at 6:15.

I spent the day waiting and chatting with her.

We talked a lot, prayed a lot, and even cried a little.

Then the doctor came out and said it was tough removing the knot as it was full of scar tissue.

We'll find out results later next week.

I finally got to see him again as he was being wheeled out from his outpatient surgery.

Surprisingly about 1 pm.

Too late to go home to Fairhope, too early to pick up grandson from school 

as he is spending the weekend with us.

So, I got lunch at Tazikis.

A lovely salad with chicken and fruit.

I then drove to my daughter's house, and she gave me a hair trim!

Yahoo no more bangs in my eyes!

I could hear my grandmother saying, "get those bangs out of your face!"

It's like when I get dirty fingernails or paint.

I have to clean them, or I'm nervous.

My dad would whip out a very sharp knife and dig the dirt out if I didn't do it.

This is why I have a nail brush by the sink, to scrub.

It's also why I don't care for the artist look of dirty clothes covered in paint at a show.

I just don't feel it presents yourself professionally.

So, I'm always neat, clean, and wearing pretty clothes at shows.

The drive home was interesting to say the least.

The traffic was unbelievable and it took over an hour and a half to get back to Fairhope.

Anyway, I came home to french fries and chicken nuggets that my husband heated up at my request.

I ate, then came upstairs to paint.

I painted these guys in between my grandson asking questions about the books

 I want to sell out of my studio.

I have quite the collection of books on drawing, painting, and references galore.

His research found some of my books are rare and somewhat valuable.

I told him he could have a cut in exchange for photographing, posting, and researching pricing.

We agreed to 20 percent of the profit after sale and shipping.

I have a very interested tweenager in the studio now!

Babies, babies everywhere!, Acrylic on wood, 12 inches

Day 60 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Just passing through!

I am amazed at these beautiful creatures.

I am also a little shocked at how few survive hatching.

They have many predators because they make a tasty snack.

Sharks, big fish, seagulls, and probably pelicans will eat them if given a chance.

I used to walk the beach for turtles at dawn.

We would look for a crawl, then try to find if there was a nest.

In 10 years of walking, I only found one crawl with Chris.

It was a false crawl, meaning the turtle came in and out without leaving a nest.

They can be disturbed as they are coming in, or something doesn't feel right.

We also found a nest one time, but the team on the other section claimed it as their person found it first.

The sections overlap somewhat.

Anyway a sea turtle nest averages about 100 babies in it.

With predators, plastic pollution, and boat accidents only one from each nest 

will typically make it to adulthood.

Adulthood and nesting age, about 35 years for a loggerhead.

Then they can lay eggs typically 4-5 nests per season.

They lay clutches typically every couple of weeks during the warmer part of the year.

I do remember a nest hatching during the National Shrimp Festival.

They usually finish laying nests around the end of August.

If you've never seen a boil in person, Google it.

A sea turtle boil is the most beautiful thing to watch.

It's called a boil, because they look like they're boiling up out of the sand.

They scramble over each other in a mad dash for the water, usually at night.

Night is when they hatch, usually during a moonlit night because they go towards the light.

We had a hatch try to go toward the condos one evening at sunset. 

We ended up holding beach towels along the route to corral them into the water.

We were also down at a concert when we got the alert that a nest was hatching.

We ran from the concert at the wharf, only to find we missed it!

I've also had a sea turtle peek at me while paddleboarding Mobile Bay.

Once, from a distance on a beautiful sunlit morning just under the pier.

The next time I was paddling several months later and actually had one come up right by the board.

It took a breath, then disappeared into the water.

I guess it was just curious.

I was thanking God for the encounter!

I'm also drafting the pattern for the octopus for the mural.

It is very hard to draft a ten foot x six foot pattern even in my studio!

I first had to tape paper together for the pattern.

Fortunately I was able to find bulletin board paper that is four feet wide.

So I'm drafting a ten foot octopus after drawing a grid on the paper!

Such is my artist life here at the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama!

Just passing through!, Acrylic on wood, 12 inches

Day 54 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Traffic jam!

Oh today!

Today was wonderful!

We started out the day with breakfast at Julwin's.

We picked up Jeanny and Bobby Gause from their boat, "Firefly" in Fairhope Harbor.

We had a delightful breakfast and walked around downtown, showing them parts of Fairhope.

We had an appointment at 10, so we left them happily finding their land legs.

We told them to text when they were ready to be picked up.

We also offered to take them to the grocery store if needed.

They texted about 11 and said they were ready.

When we picked them up, they asked if we could go to Publix as they needed a few things.

While there, we shopped a bit too.

Taking them back to the boat, they asked if we wanted to come back for sunset.

We said sure!

Why not get together for dinner?

Plans were made to meet at 5:30.

This afternoon I made a salad, sweet potatoes, and coconut treats.

We brought the deer meat steaks and Jeanny cooked them while we were all visiting.

We then had a lovely dinner in the stern dining area with a storm that went around us.

The Firefly is a beautiful vessel.

There were only 41 of the Pilgrim made, and theirs is #34.

We had a delightful time, visiting, praising God for what He has done in all our lives.

What an incredible friendship we've started.

They have invited us to come visit in Demopolis while they are there until November.

We've also been invited to Tarpon Springs.

I think there's a show there, it could happen!

Regardless, we probably will visit when we swing into Florida for the Spring shows.

Thanking God for new friends that have so much in common with us!coa

The painting "Traffic Jam" was painted today in two sessions, one this afternoon.

The other session was when we came back from dinner.

I also cut several pieces of foam board and packed two more bags.

A wonderful day!

Traffic Jam, Acrylic on wood, 20 inches

Day 51 0f the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Incredible journey

Ah! 

These are slightly bigger than the backer board I'm using.

So, you're seeing a slight bit of my studio and easel.

I am very pleased with this one.

My precious husband Chris managed to use a router to cut near perfect circles.

He made these for the 19.5-inch boards I've had in my studio for about two years. 

They make a heavy piece, but so lovely to behold.

His "frame" is about an inch in width and about 3/4 inch deep.

Perfect for my needs!

Chris also cut from the scraps 11 more to be constructed and used probably for Peter Anderson.

He bought another sheet of Luan to use for backing the new circles.

They still have a lot of work to get them ready to paint.

They must be sanded, mounted, sanded again then Kilz, then acrylic paint to make them white.

I simply will not need any more rounds for the National Shrimp Festival.

I took an inventory last night and I've already completed over 25 of them!

I have 11 more to put under my brush.

There are six more already cut, ready to be sanded, edged, mounted, then painted.

I'm dreading the varnishing, but I must do that this week.

The rounds are taking over the studio for sure!

I pray you're not getting bored with them!

Incredible Journey, Acrylic on wood, 20 inches

Day 47 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Excuse me!

"Excuse me!"

I imagine this Loggerhead coming up on a human and cutting his swim short.

Yet another of the rounds, they are making me really happy with my progress.

Each one is unique and beautiful.

The pricing is going to be tricky though, as there are several different sizes ranging from 11 to 24.

I'm pondering the lower tier of 11s and 12s will be the lowest priced ones at $195.00

Next would be the 13s, 14s, 15s 16s in the mid range at $295.00

Lastly, would be the 24 inch ones at $395.00

This means the majority of them would be at the $295.00 price point.

These prices enable me to have some wiggle room during a sale of multiple pieces.

We'll see, shows are coming up fast.

 I've been invited to another one on Amelia Island the first weekend in November, 

but I'm going to have to decline.

I would love to do the show, as it is honoring the Right Whales.

I just can't afford the time away from the studio after Mattie Kelly.

I may be having to build up inventory and that is very difficult to do on the road.

It would also be a grueling trip to Amelia and back on a quick turn around.

I don't do quick on a 400 plus mile trip.

When we travel with the trailer, we take our time and people can just go around.

We don't do 20 but we don't do 80 either!

We average about 60-65 when towing the trailer.

We also love back roads and have seen some of the most beautiful areas in Florida this way.

We also have seen quite a few prisons on one road in particular!

We still laugh about the "prison road".

I've also explored saving some of the 24 inch rounds that have not sold previously.

The pirate octopus is one of them.

I am working on one that had a Great Blue Heron on it and 

will soon be dimensional, as well as all white. (The original rounds had a worn beach frame)

It will still be a Great Blue, and I love it so far!

"Excuse Me!" Acrylic on wood, 12 inches round

Day 44 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Traffic jam

Oh the joys and headaches of getting ready for shows!

There are days I feel like these turtles, both coming and going!

Don't get me wrong, I love what I do.

I also love meeting all of you!

I already know about all the shows for fall and even some of the spots I'll be at those shows.

National Shrimp Festival~Double booth on end just like the past couple of years.(Look for the flags!)

Mattie Kelly~End booth, typically toward food trucks

Peter Anderson~Near Government street Market on Government street. (Near Dr Buntyns old office)

Three Rivers Covington Booth 433 Near Black Flower in between Gibson and Lockwood

So nice to know ahead of time to let collectors find me again!

I'm very excited for all the fall shows.

I am preparing hard for excellent presentations at all of them.

I endeavor for each show to have new works not seen at other shows.

This is why I paint so many paintings during the summer.

That, and I was created by my Creator to create!

Oh the joys of creating.

I get excited knowing there are collectors looking for more pieces, and new collectors finding exactly what they want and need to beautify their space.

I'm also happy with the new works and the way they are progressing.

The booths will be filled with beautiful art, lovingly created with the Holy Spirits help.

Each new series I have started have been the result of prayer and listening.

I was a very colorful painter, but after hearing numerous people say; 

"I don't know if that color would go on my wall"

I literally was in the back of my booth beating my head against the tent.

I begged ,"God tell me what to do, am I painting the wrong thing?"

I distinctly heard, "You're not wrong, just go neutral."

Neutral

I took pride in my colorful pieces.

I tried the neutral "sepias" on new shadowbox framed canvases.

They were very well received and I sold all of them.

I then pushed to have an entire booth wall full of them and they were also well received.

I was still painting color though, albeit a bit toned down.

Within a couple of years it was time to step up again.

"Okay God, What's next?"

The neutral pieces were selling well, but I knew it was time for a new challenge.

I had a really good National Shrimp Festival and went to Michaels to purchase 4x4 canvas.

To my surprise, the Shadowbox canvas I had been watching all year were on clearance!

I bought all 22 they had in stock.

I painted them, took them to Peter Anderson.

I sold half of them in a weekend.

I was on to the new thing, but now Michaels was not carrying them any more.

"Okay God, help us figure this out"

A few months later, I was at a show and my husband quietly said, "I think I figured out how to build them." I said "Good! I figured out how to stretch them."

We have been team building them for years now.

Chris has redesigned the canvases, giving me a wonderful challenge to paint with the offsets he builds.

So, shadowboxes, then offset shadowboxes.

After that, people kept asking for bigger works.

"How God can I do this without carrying a large canvas?"

The bigger pieces had to be easy to carry.

I figured out multiple canvas was the answer.

It enables us to carry a 3ft x 5ft piece in a single bag.

It's made of one 12x36, 2 12x24s, and 2 12x12s.

I sold the first two I painted at the first show I took them to in Florida.

The multi canvas pieces were begun before the photographers started doing it.

I now do even larger ones that require 2 custom built canvases to make it, it measures 40"x80"

It is a 16x40, 2 16x30s, 2 16x20s.

We've had a few years of multi canvas works and I'm still painting them.

"Okay God, What next?"

I went to Hobby Lobby to get canvas and here were these beautiful round 

wood pieces for making signs.

I instantly saw paintings on them.

They were on sale, so I bought a few.

They ended up being a great seller, but this year Hobby Lobby discontinued them much to my sadness.

Fortunately, I had a few left and have been able to locate some different style rounds in wood.

Enter this year.....

"Okay God, what next?"

I had a vision of the rounds with dimensional pieces added to them.

I took two to a spring show and sold one.

The other one didn't sell, but we kept asking people what they thought about them.

They loved them and so here we are.

I can't wait to see what God sends next!

Can you?

Traffic jam, Acrylic on wood, Dimensional 24 inch

Day 43 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Creative Cephalopod

My days are going very well, with lots getting done 

for both my studio work and the pieces for our church.

I have always loved painting Octopus. 

Creative Cephalopod was a challenge.

The cutting of the legs and subsequent sanding pushed the limits of this delicate creature.

Every leg is shown, but there is one leg leaving the frame.

I may add the end of the leg into the background as it seems jarring to me without it being completed.

Making my senses sharpen, by challenging my artform.

Indeed, again I am growing as an artist.

This growth comes as a result of an answer to prayer.

Each new series I do since the sepias started has been a result of prayer, listening, then acting.

Some of the challenges are looming, but I am able to create because of my creator.

As Artists, "We were created to create!"

The sepias began over 11 years ago, as an answer to "God what am I doing wrong?"

I distinctly heard in my spirit, "not wrong, just go neutral." 

The sepias began as 12 x 12 canvases in hand painted shadowbox frames.

The frames were hard to get, and a pain to paint twice.

Don't even get me started on trying to find a canvas to fit the frame.

Once the frames became difficult to find and were no longer cost effective, I had to pivot.

I started doing white backgrounds with the sepia and deep edge canvas.

This effectively got rid of all frames in my studio.

I then discovered shadowboxes at Michaels.

They were very expensive, ($70) so I hesitated to purchase them.

This was when I was first getting a good reputation and reasonably priced.

I had a really good Shrimp festival in Gulf Shores and went to go buy 4-inch canvases.

When I arrived, every shadowbox canvas was on clearance.

$10, $11, and $12 each.

There were 22 of them and I bought them all.

I painted them over the course of three weeks.

I took them to Peter Anderson in Ocean Springs.

We sold half of them that weekend.

A few months later, the shadowboxes were selling, and we were down to the last few.

My husband came to me and said, "I think I can build them."

I said "Good, I figured out how to stretch them."

The design has changed slightly over the years, with additional shapes and offset shadowboxes.

They are almost a decade old now.

My wonderful husband and life partner Chris has built about 500 of them so far.

I then had people asking, "Why can't you paint bigger?"

Bigger involves 5 canvases with a common painting.

When I started the multi canvas pieces, with the first two selling at the first show they debuted in.

They are also several years old now and still going strong, with an even larger canvas for bigger homes.

I then started adding color to the shadowboxes and they have been well received.

Which brings us to the rounds, which started about four years ago.

They have been a popular series for collectors, but Hobby Lobby is no longer carrying them.

Time for another pivot!

Still staying true to the sepias, this new series is a bit more work.

Probably about the same as building the shadowboxes, but very different.

I am getting used to them and a new fine-tooth scroll saw blade works wonders!

Less sanding for sure.

I took only two of the dimensional series to Spring shows.

Selling one and asking opinions about the other one.

Overwhelmingly, people loved the uniqueness, the work, and the detail.

I am seeing in my mind's eye an entire wall of nothing but the rounds done this way.

It's going to be a wonderful summer!

Buckle up, it's going to be a wild ride!

Creative Cephalopod, Acrylic on wood, 19 inches

Day 12 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Freedom

Freedom

We are so lucky to have the freedom we have in our country.

Freedoms that are guaranteed by laws.

There are many countries that don't have free speech or free movement.

We are so fortunate.

Freedom includes the animals of the earth and the oceans.

They have the right to be able to be the creatures God intended.

This delicate balance God designed is rapidly becoming destroyed by the people that inhabit the earth.

Our urban sprawl, our voracious appetite for new things, fast fashion are all rapidly destroying

life as we know it.

Storms are becoming more intense and frequent.

Fires are raging.

Floods are happening more often.

Our planet is heating up, melting the glaciers and raising the seas.

I'm sure you're all aware of the problems were facing now, but what of our children and grandchildren?

What are we leaving them in our wakes?

We can all make the small steps necessary to help the world we live in.

We can recycle, we can reuse, we can repurpose much like our ancestors did in previous centuries.

Many things can find new life if we make the effort.

Teaching our children about the world they live in can make them more 

aware of the impacts they have from day to day.

My small steps are clothing I've had for years, recycled wood in my art, making several stops instead of small quick trips back and forth.

I gift things away, repurpose them frequently.

I also pray a lot for solutions to problems I have here in my studio.

Books that need new homes, paint not being used, art supplies that I'll never touch again.

Why do we hold on to the things.

They hold memories, memories of when we purchased them, or were given them, or pieces of family members that have passed.

Things we need freedom from.

I am discovering the freedom of lightening my load and the number of things my children will have to go through after I'm gone.

Freedom to be an artist, freedom to be a good human, freedom to go to church.

Freedom for the animals to live in a non-toxic environment, especially in the sea, where plastic is an incredibly bad presence.

Freedom, Acrylic on wood, 16 inches

Day 11 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025