Stretching, painting, and Middle Bay Lighthouse

Day 75!

I am sorry to say this is it for today.

I stretched one 24 x 24 shadowbox and 10-6 x 24s.

The stretching took a while as I had to get out all the equipment.

Compressor, Staple gun, bucket of tools.

LOTS of staples too.

Razor, square, scissors, canvas cut to size.

Stretching took a couple of hours.

Then I put away all the tools.

By then it was lunch time.

Our son, Jere was taking us out on the pontoon boat at 1.

By the time we finished eating, Jere was here and loading up.

His girlfriend Jenna had never seen the Middle Bay lighthouse in person, so off we went.

It is so sad to see her in this condition.

It is one of the few remaining lighthouses entirely surrounded by water.

Unfortunately, since Captain Hal pierce passed away in 2020, Middle Bay 

seems to have lost its champion.

He coordinated efforts to repair and keep the lighthouse painted by using the Seabees, 

who gladly took on the job.

He made sure the lighthouse was beautiful in 1985 for its 100th anniversary.

The pilings are especially in bad shape.

Flailing, rust, and a barge hit have all taken their toll.

At one point, there was a movement to move it to the battleship grounds.

This would allow thousands of school children to tour it and learn about 

the 23 children that called it home at one time or another.

Unfortunately, it was voted down to move her.

It is now a glorified weather station and day beacon.

After looking all around the light we stopped off at the Blind Tiger restaurant on the pier.

It has such a great view, and the foods pretty good too!

While we were at the lighthouse there were several sailboats in a race.

They took a turn around the light then headed back to harbor.

They were probably out of dog river.

It is where Chris and I would come out after leaving Alba Club for a sail.

We would stop at the Mariner restaurant and eat before going home.

Great memories and wonderful seafood!

When we got home after going out on the boat, we fed the dogs.

They were a little late getting their evening meal.

That didn't stop them from wanting their afternoon ride!

After we came home from the ride, I made salads for dinner.

Cleaned up the kitchen, then did some quick shopping for items needed in my studio and at home.

Then, I watered plants and dachshunds.

The wirehaired dachshunds will not let us water the yard or plants without them having a lot of fun.

They will bite at the water and will tear into plants if you don't spray them.

This spraying is of course exactly what they want!

They resemble Lipizzan horses with their leaping antics.

They are fun to watch, but then they are soaking wet.

Fortunately for us, simply throwing a towel on the floor will start the rubbing to get dry.

These two are absolute comedians and make us laugh frequently.

After making sure they were getting dried off, I went into my studio.

I broke out the paint and painted all the canvas I stretched today white with acrylic.

The actual painting took less than an hour.

It allows me to grab and paint them without having to wait for the white to dry.

 

Pelicans on the derelict pier next to the launch.

Closer shot of the pelicans

                                        

Middle bay used as a turning point for a race, likely out of Dog River.

Stretching, painting, and Middle Bay Lighhouse, Acrylic on canvas, multiple sizes

Day 75 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

Another 100 days!

This fall was an incredible season with over 50 paintings sold at the shows.

The sales at the galleries have not slowed for me as well. 

Now my inventory is very low.

A great problem to have indeed!

Then there's the "problem" of winter shows.

I have two winter shows coming up in January down in Florida.

Starting with March Arts & Crafts here in Fairhope, we have a total of 7 shows for Spring as well. 

I have also been waitlisted for one show. 

Spring show season was wonderful earlier this year, with over 80 pieces sold.

So, I begin again with 100 paintings~100 days 2022 winter version.

The plan is to blog and post every day until Arts & Crafts.

Once again, I'll be giving away a painting valued at $295.00 at the end of the 100 days.

Join me in this rocking, rolling, wonderful life we call art here 

at the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama.

Middle bay lighthouse Day 1 SOLD, a crabby situation! Day 2

100 days~100 paintings 2022w Days1 & 2

Middle Bay Lighthouse

Middle Bay lighthouse sits in Mobile Bay. It began it's work as a lighthouse on December 1st, 1885.

It was decommissioned in 1967 and was slated for demolition in 1971. 

Public outcry was so great, they decided to leave it where it stands now.

23 children have called it home.

One cow lived there for a few months, the lighthouse keeper's wife had a baby that would not nurse.

They moved the cow out there to provide milk for the baby.

I've talked with someone that said it was a black and white cow. I have also conversed with one of my friends that said her father brought hay out to the cow. I've always wanted to depict the cow, but I can not find out for certain where it was kept. Some historians say it was on the gallery, others a barge. 

I can only only imagine a herd animal being forced to live on the ocean by itself. 

I have read somewhere that it lowed constantly.

Anyway, the cow, wife, baby and light keeper were evacuated 5 months later when a hurricane threatened our stretch of the coast in 1916.

Middle Bay Lighthouse, Acrylic on canvas, 8x8 inches

Day 51 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

All caught up!

Have you ever heard the expression, there's more than one way to........ While I don't want to do that here, I am having to find new ways to work this blog. That is why all of the pieces are on the left side of the page. Tomorrow is another day and perhaps I will find my way to the regular computer in the office, instead of struggling with my fire. Actually figuring out the photos and posting from the fire is an accomplishment for me. Those of you that have read the blog before know that I am much better with a brush than a computer!

Apparently also better with a computer than the fire too!
As you can see, the photo for the two other paintings are below instead of the side. I am annoyed and it has been a long day so I will not fight it, but roll with the punches.

Christina and I were both in the studio today. She is working on a couple of pieces for me to take back for a show she has in April. While she cannot come to the opening, I will be representing her. Actually I am framing ,matting, carrying, curating, and representing her. Hopefully it will be a success! I do know it will be lovely !

This morning started for me about 1 am. As per my usual l awakened with a nature call. Unfortunately that was also the time that the thunderstorms moved in with high winds, thunder, and lightning. No sleep for me again until 4am. I set my alarm for 7 and hoped for the best. After a few fitful minutes I managed to fall asleep only to have strange dreams. When awake for a few minutes, Tina came in and handed me the baby for her to catch some z's for 30 minutes. We went downstairs for breakfast and the sky turned dark as night! The next set of rain came in and drenched the area, but moved out quickly. We also had lunch at The Big Chill restaurant. There are several of them here in Delhi, with all of them having very tasty cuisine! Mine was amazing, Tuscan chicken with spinach and Sun dried tomatos in a sauce you could taste the heavy cream in! Yum!. Served with just right green beans and bell pepper strips.

That's all for today, I am tired and ready for the bed that calls my name. Have a wonderful day!

Cast net, Sand Island Light, Catch of the day, Middle bay light
Acrylic in canvas all 4 x 12
Days 44, 45, 46, &47 of the 100 days~100 Paintings Spring 2918

Mobile Harbor~Middle Bay

I absolutely love the way this one turned out!

It started as a demonstration for a class, and I finally sat down and finished it! 

This one is mounted a new way for my watercolors. After finishing the watercolor, you spray varnish on it. I try to spray at least 2 or 3 coats of damar or acrylic. You then mount the paper onto canvas or board using acid free gel medium for acrylics. I brush the medium on to the paper and the substrate. After firmly pressing every possible area on the painting, you put as much weight on it as possible. (At least I do!) You can then varnish again if you like! The wonderful part about it is there is no need for glass or mats. While I know my framing friends will cringe at the thought, I prefer them this way. There is no glare on the glass, no glass to get broken, and none of the weight! This one is currently at the Artists gallery in Fairhope on South Section Street.

Mobile Harbor~Middle Bay, Watercolor paper mounted on canvas, 18 x 24

Day 7 of the 100 days~100 paintings

Middle Bay and Old Glory

"Middle Bay and Old Glory"

It's hard to imagine that it is already another year gone by and time to start the 100 Days~100 Paintings. I started this series in gulp.....2009. This year will find me blogging and painting my 900th piece of art! (Actually more, but there may be a post about that later.) I never imagined it would still be something I look forward to creating and writing about. This day begins the 2017 series. 

This year the dynamic is still changing daily. My hard work as a professional artist is paying off with my pieces starting to be in demand. This spring was very successful and it found me doing more commissions than ever. "The Artists gallery" on South Section Street, Fairhope Alabama, now carries my works in a double sized space. Big Fish Trading Company on 98 is also carrying my pieces to go with their fabulous furniture. People are also visiting the studio to pick out their works. 

I also began a new series of paintings on multiple canvases. 

Fall shows applications are in and acceptances are being sent. 

The biggest change of all is my husband retired from his 40 year job at the paper mill. I am really enjoying having the love of my life at home, but we are still getting used to doing things apart. Most exciting is our new "tiny house" we use to travel and carry our dachshunds along for the journey! I cannot wait to take it to shows for us to have a place to stay. 

Now as to the surprise mentioned on Facebook, I am giving away a shadowbox painting of your choice in the 16 x 16 size. This size painting sells at shows for $155. I am looking forward to seeing how many collectors, new and old sign up to be a part of this exciting giveaway!

Feel free to share, share, share, the link please.

This painting started as a class piece for one of my advanced watercolor students. She added her husband's  sailboat to her painting for an anniversary present. 

This one is a watercolor mounted to canvas and put into a barnwood frame.

"Middle Bay and Old Glory" Watercolor mounted on canvas 14 x 18

$175.00

Black Tar Paper paintings and the Mobile Museum of Art 2014

     I was introduced to Tar Paper several years ago and am always delighted with the results. The Tweens at the Museum painted both Middle Bay and a self portrait on this versatile paper. While probably not a permanent piece of art, it still is impressive!
Self Portrait, 18 x24 acrylic on tar paper, Mobile Bay revisited 18 x 24 scrylic on tar paper

Lighthouses on the Gulf project

This project began as a response to a request for a painting of Middle Bay Lighthouse. I am now deep into the Eighth District according to the United States Coast Guard Map. History has never been so fun for me, learning about the lighthouses, their keepers and the storms from which they provided a beacon of light for refuge. Middle Bay especially now is prominent in my studio, I have worked on several versions in Oil, Acrylic and watercolor. This adventure in history proves to be a long one, with lots of research and paintings. I recently finished a painting of Pensacola Lighthouse that was sold before I could get it off of my easel. The Lighthouses are available in prints