Spotted visitor

Whale sharks are my new fun creature to paint!

This one is on a hand built long canvas that is 6 x24 inches.

The elongated canvas came about after I saw another artist with these really lovely abstract watercolor pieces that were elongated but matted to make them have more of a presentation.

I started out having Chris make them 4 x 24 but they were just too narrow to do anything with.

So, we started making them 6 x 24.

They are the perfect size for between windows or above doors.

People seem to love them, sometimes buying two for either side of a door or window.

I enjoy painting them too!

I was checking my pages on Facebook to see how things were.

I discovered much to my dismay that there was a fake event using my profile picture 

and a photo of my paintings for the Fairhope Arts and Crafts for next year!

There were several people using it to advertise "booths still available", 

contact me (which was various people)!

My name, paintings, and likeness being used for a scam!

I reported every single one of these people.

I also deleted the "event" invitation.

I'll probably contact the show too!

Or at least one of the members that puts it on for our fair city.

Another day, another painting, another scam, one day closer to the Annual National Shrimp Festival 

in beautiful Gulf Shores, Alabama.

I'm done for tonight!

Spotted visitor, Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 24

Day 80 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

I'm seeing spots!

I'm seeing spots!

You can see why too!

These guys were incredibly hard to finish in one day.

My typical shadowbox canvas, but not my typical sea creature.

They are incredibly beautiful and gentle giants.

And yes, they are in the Gulf of Mexico!

I would love to see one in person for sure.

This photo is from NOAA Fisheries and shows the amazing tracks these wonderful creatures take.

While you may not see one near Mobile Bay, it is possible to see them in the Gulf of Mexico.

Now, for some fun facts.

They are not actually whales but the world's largest fish species.

They can reach up to 46 feet and they can weigh 12 tons!

Thats the size of a school bus folks!

They are filter feeders, scooping up plankton, krill, fish eggs, and small fish.

They have more than 3,000 teeth, but they are not to eat with.

They can grow to be very old possibly to 100 years in age.

The oldest documented whale shark is 75 years old.

They swim slowly but can still travel long distances during migration.

They give birth to live young after an estimated pregnancy of 12 to 18 months.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature considers them endangered.

They can live in captivity and there are four of them at the Georgia Aquarium.

They are also a member of the Orectolobiformes also called carpet sharks.

I'm done for today!

I'm seeing spots! Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 24 x 24 inches

Day 79 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

A Rock solid week!

I am sending apologies everyone's way!

I have been painting, selling, setting up and teaching classes the past week.

To start off, I left you last Friday with Pelicans fly free! Friday was set up day for the Jubilee festival in Daphne Alabama. It is a small little show with an easy set up, break down, and nice artist amenities. After setting up just the tent on Friday, we went home to get some rest. I am still recovering from a summer cold, and was extremely worried about my voice not working during an entire weekend. All was well, my voice held up and I was very surprised at the sales during the show. I did not expect to sell as many as I did, and am now scrambling to create these last few days before the National Shrimp Festival in two short weeks..................

Not to be outdone, it is now crunch time at the Raccoon Retreat studio!

The painting above was partially painted as a demonstration, and the other half in my studio. It is on two angled canvases and measures 16 x 40 inches total. 

"A Pelican's domain"

Day 83 of the 100 days ~100 paintings

"Octopus my octopus" 

I started this one at the Daphne show on Sunday, and finished it in the studio Monday morning. It is always interesting to paint at shows, people love to watch and talk about the pieces as I am working on them. I work primarily with sepia at shows, because I only have to think about value and not color!

"Octopus my Octopus"

16 x 16, Acrylic on canvas, Day 84 of the 100 days ~100 paintings

A revisit to one I painted that has not sold previously. The sepia I used a couple of years back was a little more brown, and people don't seem to like it as much. (Each year, at the beginning of the 100 days, I mix that years sepia in a large quantity to use.) So, a bit of sanding, and a retouch to correct the color to this year. Hope the freshening up works, as it is a lovely little painting!

Dolphins

Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 16

Day 85 of the 100 days~100 paintings

Several weeks back I asked my readers what I needed to paint during the 100 days. Several requests of Pelicans, crabs, and dolphins ensued. One of my collectors however, requested a Scalloped hammerhead shark. Well, here ya go!

Top to bottom

Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks

Acrylic on canvas, 12 x 24, custom shadowbox

Day 86 of the 100 days~100 paintings

Tiger Sharks

Acrylic on canvas, 12 x 36, custom shadowbox

Day 87 of the 100 days~100 paintings

Mako Sharks

Acrylic on canvas, 12 x 24, custom shadowbox

Day 88 of the 100 days~100 paintings