Yin-Yang turtles

This is the really large canvas with 5 pieces making a polyptych.

Greek for the word poly meaning many.

This is the beginning of the work, layering in skin wrinkles and outlines.

I also had painted the eyes, but they still needed shadowing and highlights.

The multi canvas series is several years old now, but this is the first time I've done one in color.

It is made with a canvas in the center that is 16 x 40 inches tall. 

Each one of the side panels is a 16 x 30 and a 16 x 20 on each end.

The entire piece when displayed is 7 feet wide.

I love the colored turtles; this piece puts me one step closer to the set up for the National Shrimp festival.

The show is 19 days away now, and I hope to complete several more paintings before the big day.

Each piece makes me happier than the one before.

I am grateful to God for the talent He's given me, and the ability to complete the tasks before me.

This second photo is while in progress.

I had started to add the colors to the flippers and the back of the shells.

There was still a lot of detailing at this point, although they look finished.

So much fun, making rapid decisions for color, detail, and shading.

So large I cannot photograph it in my studio, because I cannot put a back board behind it.

So, we took the beast downstairs and hung it on the fence to take a photo.

I love the combination of the weathered fence and the color of the turtles.

It makes a lovely presentation.

I took a photo of myself with the painting so you can see how big it really is in person.

And yet it seems small.

I have "maps" of the walls for the show, placing each piece where it needs to go.

It also gives me a good idea of how many more I have to make to have the look I want.

The show is really getting closer now and I am on hyper drive at this point.

I tell Chris, I am in "show mode."

This discipline is the only way I will have enough pieces to display, sell, and replace works that sell.

After we photographed the turtles, we took it apart while outside making it easier to take back upstairs.

I then spent a couple of hours painting the sides of the canvases.

This is so when viewed from the side, you still see a completed work.

I'm really excited to see what people think about them!

Yin-Yang turtles, Acrylic on canvas, 40 inches tall 72 inches wide.

Day 55 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

 

The Mechanics of Elephants

Yes, this is one of my paintings.

No, I did not paint it in one day!

This is one of my new steampunk pieces for fall this year.

People don't believe I do this art form after looking at my other pieces.

Why steampunk?

I enjoy painting rust, metal, wood, and just putting them together.

The complexity fascinates me, driving me further and further into their realm.

The steampunk started several years ago when I was painting public metal sculptures.

The first show I took them to display, several people said "I like your steampunk!"

Frankly, I had to look it up myself.

Turns out, it is an artform that has been around since the late 1800's.

(Think Jules Verne 20,000 leagues under the sea.)

The word steampunk is attributed to a reporter in the 1980's.

Anyway, after starting to display the paintings of public sculpture.....

I was called out by an artist and asked to stop.

I thanked him for the opportunity to grow as an artist.

I then started building them in miniature and on paper.

I built one miniature piece (a seahorse).

Then I decided it was too much trouble to do that.

I then started "building" them on paper.

Each Mechanics piece starts out with a simple line drawing.

(The entire series is called The Mechanics of...)

I then start pulling out all the pieces of metal that I have in the studio.

I have old tools, sewing machine parts, cooking utensils, springs, wheels and other things.

I also have photos of architecture, engines, farm equipment, car parts, and machinery.

I photograph them after laying them all out on the outline.

I then manipulate photos into the sizes I need them to be, transferring them to tracing paper.

Lots of tracing paper.

Each drawing takes anywhere from a week to two weeks.

Then it is transferred onto the canvas.

Sometimes I do a sepia underpainting, others I just dive in!

The painting can take another two weeks to complete.

We took them to five shows this spring, two of the shows awarded the steampunk a prize.

This year, I will have a separate booth at the National Shrimp Festival of nothing but Steampunk.

(Don't worry, I'll have my other marine life as well!)

I love them, and I hope you do as well.

The Mechanics of Elephants, Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 30inches

Day 72 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Seahorse I

Well!

This is a hard one to post.

The National Shrimp Festival cancelled the show today.

I have to admit, it's taking the wind out of my sails for a moment.

The good news is, the other shows are silent so far as cancelling is concerned.

I get it, but this is seriously messing with my income for this year!

I prayed okay God, what are you trying to teach me?

TRUST!

Trust that He will provide.

Rely on His provision.

Understand His will.

Stand on His word.

Teach others about trusting.

The same message God gave me last year when the shows were all collapsing.

I now pass it on to you!

Worked hard on a Steampunk piece design today.

Paint to follow soon afterwards.

Life goes on here at the Raccoon Retreat Studio in Fairhope, Alabama

Seahorse I, Acrylic on wood panel, 5 x 15 inches

Day 73 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2021

 

A loggerhead for class

This was a quick painting done as a demonstration for a class I'm teaching in August 

at the Stewart Heath Gallery.

It's an open class and anyone can come, you just need to sign up for it soon!

Today found us going to breakfast and church.

The afternoon was spent working on items for the 

summer surge (VBS) at our church in August.

We have put together several things already in preparation for a large 

work group tomorrow at the church.

This years theme is "Wonder".

It involves lots of oversized items that will be able to cause wonder in the eyes of the children.

We may even use the items for our float at Christmas in downtown Fairhope.

A giant hairbrush, mirror, lipstick, monster truck, oversized art supplies, rubicks cube, dice, pizza slices, and other various assorted items will be built over the next few days.

There's even a rocket and a large globe.

Good thing our church now has a man-lift to suspend things from the ceiling!

I even have to build a working robot costume.

Life is going to be interesting for the next few weeks.

A loggerhead for class, Acrylic on canvas, 11 x 14

Day 13 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2021

 

Lovely turtle

They're all lovely to me, the sea turtles.

I really enjoy painting them, big or small.

Colored or sepia.

Multi canvas or single.

Today we went to the Coastal Alabama Chamber and paid for 

my booths at the National Shrimp Festival.

Booths........

That still kind of scares me.

One booth marine life I can do standing on my head.

The other Steampunk, which are extremely involved and complicated.

The steampunk will stand alone quite well I think because they were so well received at Arts & Crafts.

 I will really just have to work hard to get them done.

Add to that, the fact that I've sold three of my originals in the past two months.

Not that I'm complaining mind you!

I absolutely adore designing and painting them.

Why two booths?

I have shown them before together.

Even though I am standing there, people find it hard to believe that I actually paint them!

The style is so different from my usual fare, but still beautifully detailed.

I truly believe that the steampunk is the reason I got an award this spring at Arts & Crafts.

I want to see them judged separately.

It's going to be a fun summer!

One more class to teach in Mobile, one more camping trip, then I have to knuckle down for sure.

On a side note, while traveling to pay booth fees 

I wanted to pick up more fabric to cover my walls in the booth.

Fabrics by the pound is where I purchased my grey material before and I wanted to drop by and see if they had more on hand.

The gentleman I talked to said no they were sold out.

Then he said wait, what color?

Grey.

Let me look.

He came out a few minutes later with a very long roll of extremely dirty fabric.

It had gotten wet and had spots all over the outside.

I had him remove the fabric from the roll as it would never fit in my car.

As he unrolled, the fabric was perfect except for being dirty.

He minimally charged me after seeing the spots were through the entire roll.

Spots, what spots?

I have cut the roll into 10 ft pieces and washed them in hot water.

Spots are gone!

I have fabric to cover my walls that is an EXACT match to my other walls!

One happy artist after painting today too!

Lovely turtle, Acrylic on poured background, 4x12 inches

Day 10 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2021

 

Tiny turtle

I photographed this little guy while at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida.

It is a magical place, full of caring people that really love sea turtles.

At the time, I think he was sucked into the water cooling area of the electrical plant. 

Once rescued, checked out, he became an ambassador of sorts for the hospital.

He traveled quite a bit before growing too large and being released.

Today has been a full day of painting, appointments, and grand coming to play in the pool.

We always enjoy his activity level and are ready when it's bedtime for all of us!

I also got everything together for my classes I'm teaching at the Alabama Contemporary in two weeks.

We are winding down summer already here, with a camping trip planned, 

a final week of art camp, 

and of course painting every day!

Tiny turtle, Acrylic on poured background, 4x12 inches

Day 9 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2021

 

Birthdays

I did not post Saturday because the internet was down again!

Our grandson, Neel's birthday was yesterday.

He became the big two.

He is already a character, and is a bundle of energy.

He is finally starting to speak, but because he will be tri-lingual I think he is somewhat

 confused as to which language to use! 

 Each year on our grandsons birthdays I paint them something, so that when they move away from home, they will each have a wall of art that reflects their lives.

This year, Christina asked me to paint a portrait of his "new" giraffe.

They have named him Johnny and Neel is already in love with him.

Johnny is "new" to Neel, but not new to the Banerjee family.

You see, this precious gift came from his grandmother, Sumita in India.

Originally, Johnny was a toy that Bappa's sister had when she was small.

She passed away several years ago.

I can imagine Mom, (her name) is smiling down at her nephews antics with this new part of his life.

I am so glad Sumita thought enough of him to share it for his birthday! 

Precious memories!

On to today's piece.

Another birthday of sorts.

Today finds our beaches celebrating the hatching of baby loggerhead sea turtles.

We did not have many nests this year and some were washed.

Every baby turtle making it to the surf is a cause for celebration!

Johnny, Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 6

Race to the sea, Acrylic on wood panel, 5 x 15

Days 69 & 70 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2020

 

Seahorse

I love painting these seemingly whimsical creatures

This one was a challenge though, as I had to draw the outline, fill it in with lighter colored paint, then transfer the details.

Not too difficult, but time consuming for sure!

Well now on to the show results.

Another long day in the heat that is our Southern Alabama in September.

I was optimistic this morning when we opened the tent for day two of the show.

By 9 am there were people already walking the venue before church. 

We set up an awning out front of the tent, in an effort o cut down on the heat. 

We also put a fan up in the roof blowing downward.

The fan did surprisingly well, while it was not cool in the tent, it was cooler than in the sun.

The sun itself was in and out today and there was a nice breeze.

Overall, beautiful weather in spite of the heat.

The ice cream vendors did booming sales this weekend.

Me not so much.

I have had my first (and hopefully only!) 

ZERO, (yes $0.00!) show.

This has been about 20 years in the making folks.

Am I disappointed, yes.

Am I devastated, no.

I am confident of my pricing, painting, and preparations for shows. 

God has great things in store for me.

 I just have to have patience.

Patience that God will take care of me in his own due time.

I just have to be persistent and consistent.

Persistent in creating and consistent in my quality.

I also must become more humble of my talents that he has bestowed upon me.

I must remember that God has always provided for me.

Then, God will open the storehouse for me!

I am blessed, not stressed.

On to the next show!

National Shrimp Festival in Gulf shores, Alabama

October 10th -13th

Seahorse, Acrylic on poured background, 10 x 20 inches

Day 90 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Blessings

Blessings indeed!

Scripts & Strokes class tonight at Celebration Church.

I am indeed very blessed.

I have food enough to share.

I have a car.

I have talent enough to share with others.

I have a home that is ours.

I have friends that are wonderful.

I have family that is blessed in their talents.

I have a job I love.

I have a wonderful church.

I have a long lasting marriage to a man that I love dearly.

I am saved.

I am the daughter of a King!

I am blessed beyond my biggest imagination.

I can only imagine what heaven is like, but  I know it will be amazing!

Blessings. Acrylic on canvas, 11 x 14

Day 84 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Three for one!

Today was interesting to say the least!

I started the day with coffee and Bible study, then on to the day!

We had an appointment to go to an artists studio that has gotten older and has moved closer to family.

The studio was left pretty much in place with large amounts of tables and supplies of all types.

The family has moved the artist, but given them 

supplies to still be able to create.

The rest is being given to a few select artists and I am fortunate to be one.

I am saddened by this artists turn of life, but I know we all will be in their shoes someday.

Looking through and touching so many items this artist touched, held,

destroyed and created with had me in tears.

I  have items from several artists that have passed on to a higher plane,

and I thank them every time I use their brushes, tools, or paints.

This artist has such an abundance, that I could never use it all.

I will be taking items to gift to other artists, as well as things to use with children, and my seniors art. 

Nothing will go to waste in my studio.

I have been able to teach for months, nay years now from items I am cleaning and clearing out of my own space.

There will also be lots of seniors benefiting from the generosity of the family that so graciously called me.

I thank them with a grateful artists heart.

We went home, with plans to come yet another day next week.

My plans were to help another artist with a major project.

This artist is our oldest daughter and I am helping here with a huge project she has very little time to complete for a child's birthday party tomorrow.

Grabbing my high heat glue guns and glue sticks. 

I started out for our daughter Jessica's home about an hour from here.

Once I arrived, I was immediately placed on clam duty.

Our daughter has this grand plan for a mermaid themed party, and making a little girls dream come true.

I soon confronted the clam she had worked so hard upon, trying to figure out how to attach

 it to a chair and make it safe.

Basically I didn't have a clue, and neither did she!

I tackled the lower portion first, figuring out how to make the shell pieces appear like she is sitting in the shell.

I used parts from my grandsons old easel, combining zip ties and drilled holes in the cardboard with a wire running between them to keep them from destroying the structure. 

The bottom of the chair finished, I moved on to securing the heavy, cumbersome, large upper structure.

After some thought, and a lot of prayer, I had a plan!

I took large pieces of cardboard, cutting them in a curved shape that would lift the shell above the chair.

I glued pieces with the cardboard running in two directions.

Then I sandwiched the shell structure between the two double pieces using hot glue.

The hot glue was not enough, it kept popping out of place and not holding together at all!

I used the glue as a temporary hold, then drilled and zip tied the structure to my pieces.

Once assembled, it became strong and actually stood above the chair safely!

Thank you Lord for my artist's/engineers brain!

My daughter will be painting it tonight, with me going to the party and helping assemble it in place.

I promise there will be photos tomorrow!

This party will be epic!

I then headed home, 30 minutes later than I wanted to be on the road.

The time spent with my daughter is priceless though, and I would not take anything for it!

The interesting part is the two of us side by side, sometimes butting heads, always enjoying the process!

Anyway, headed home I called my husband and he was cooking dinner!

Thank you Lord for this man of mine.

I was going to have to cook, clean up and go to artwalk in Fairhope.

Now, I just had to eat and get ready.

I am so grateful for my artist's life!

Yes, I did find time to paint early this morning too!

Three for one! Acrylic pour and paint, each 4x4 inches

Day 67 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Are you a sandpiper?

Are you a Sandpiper?

Am I a Sandpiper?

Today was my last day for this year to walk the beautiful beach looking for a sea turtle nest.

You think about lots of things while walking a mile in the darkness just before dawn.

I was alone with my thoughts today as Chris was having a tooth pulled later this morning.

My thoughts wander a lot while walking.

This morning though I felt as if God was speaking to me about the beauty 

he provides in this world we live in and he created.

This morning it was sandpipers, seagulls, and Blue herons providing the background for my thoughts.

I was on the first leg of my one mile walk, and I had my sights focused on the sand above the wrack line, looking for sea turtle tracks. 

However, the sandpiper was just ahead of me, in my peripheral vision.

I glanced off and on at the little bird ahead of me, rushing with the edge of the water.

He occasionally poked his beak down, searching for the mussels that could become breakfast.

He passed up lots of little fish that were getting washed up along the shore.

In the meantime though he kept a wary eye on me, looking furtively back every few seconds.

His feet moving so fast, he rushed on ahead still looking back frequently.

He dipped his beak searching for a meal and I got too close for his comfort. 

The bird decided to change tactics and ran into the water toward me, 

then cutting past in a brown and white blur.

His feet were moving so fast, I could not even see them.

I snickered to myself, that he was so worried I was going to hurt, eat,

 or possibly kill him while he was rushing along.

That's when God spoke to me.

His human creation (us) are the sandpipers.

Stick with me here.

We rush along, searching for the next big thing.

We miss the little things he places in our lives every day.

Searching for the next big thing. 

We are constantly running along, instead of taking advantage of the  obvious.

Meanwhile, we are running, looking back to make sure that something doesn't catch us.

We run first in one direction, then the other trying to escape.

Sometimes we miss the big waves, or the tangled fishing line that the devil throws in our way.

We are constantly running, scared to death that life is going to catch us and throw us for a loop.

We are looking back at our past lives instead of focusing on the here and now.

We also forget about our future life, what we were created for.

But what if God is the one chasing us?

What if he is working so hard to catch you, but you won't stop.

We all think we can fix our lives, our past, our present, our future.

Be still and listen for him, he will talk to you.

His son Jesus (your brother!) is right next to you, pleading for you to just stop and give God the time of day.

We were all created for a purpose, to love and serve God in whatever capacity he chooses to give us.

Give him the time out of your day.

To Pray.

To Walk with him.

To listen.

To learn.

Are you a sandpiper?

I'm pray I am not!

I constantly listen for him to speak to me.

Are you a sandpiper? Acrylic on poured background, 4x12 inches

Day 59 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Today is a two for one!

Today is a two for one because last night Chris and I went on a date instead of posting.

I finished the painting of course, just did not post the turtle that was completed.

We went to go see "Overcomer", the new Christian Movie that just came out this past weekend.

It did really well this weekend, I think it may have surpassed their expectations.

The movie is really worth going to see, very heart wrenching and humorous at times.

The story line was good, and as usual the acting was very well done.

This little turtle was so fun to paint.

I really enjoyed him a lot!

The paintings are flowing now, much easier now and quicker.

The seahorses were a blast to create!

I love them and painting them was a breeze.

I do love these poured backgrounds as well, they make the transition easy from pour to completion.

The gallery owner was extremely excited to have me put them in the gallery too!

Time will tell if they sell, I know I'm excited to see the results of the fruits of my labors.

"Sea turtle flying" & "Seahorses together", Acrylic on canvas, both are 4x12 inches

Days 57 & 58 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Octopus Changing II

Another octopus!

I am really enjoying these little works of art!

I hope you are as well!

The days are going by so fast now, my show schedule is coming together nicely too. 

I am in the studio every day now, getting back in the groove after my Africa mission.

The routine is simple for me, get up, greet the husband, get coffee and read the bible.

If I don't start the day this way, it feels disjointed and "off".

I love starting my day with God's word speaking to me on so many levels.

My Scripts & Strokes class pieces are coming to me as I read the word as well. The small group starts September 9th for me and I am excited about the new series of paintings we are going to create.

New people to meet, old friends to greet!

I am looking forward to this semester at Celebration Church.

Any way, back to the studio!

My friend Linda Scott joined me today with a large paint pour. She is curious about the process and we both learned a lot about the beauty that is a poured background. She brought 6 canvases, we mixed paint and I got out extra canvases just in case. 

Glad I did! 

She ended up with a lovely bunch of extra 4x4s and three 4x12s.

A grand total of 18 canvases covered in beautiful colors and so quickly.

She is nervous about painting on top of them though!

I will have to guide and push my friend down that road as well.

Love ya Linda!

I also took several of the new pieces to the Artists gallery in downtown Fairhope today.

I was nervous myself about the gallery owner liking them or not. 

Mind you, I am still true to my realism, but the abstract backgrounds are very different.

I needn't have worried.

She is in love with them!

Here is what my space looks like after dropping them off today!

The wood turning is my husbands. He has started a  new series of bowls with lids. 

We are both curious to see what the new pieces will do in the next month.

I have a lot to do this week as well. Shepherds place is in the morning, I love working with the seniors!

Thursday morning we walk for turtles the last time this season.

Chris also gets a tooth pulled that morning too!.

I get to drive to Mobile after turtles to pick up pieces from a show at Southern Art and Framing.

A busy day!

A blessed week!

Octopus changing II, Acrylic on canvas, 4x12 inches

Day 56 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Octopus changing

I simply love to paint these guys!

They are so fun to paint on these poured backgrounds.

The backgrounds seem to give a movement and beauty to the pieces.

I am having a great time painting them while Pandora plays in the background 

filling my studio with music and giving my brush a beat.

I can only pray you are enjoying the series as much as I am!

Today found us going to church, our son coming over for a visit, and new lights in Chris's Workshop.

Our son is an electricians mate in the Coast Guard Reserves and he is quite handy with our electrical needs. He put a meter on his dads truck and determined that the fan was the problem with his AC. $60 later for a fan, and that was repaired. Our son also got his wife one of Chris's new wooden bowls in exchange for the lights in the shop. It was definitely a win for everyone involved.

I love having adult children now, our relationships are on a whole new level!

They are fun to be with, and I think we did an all right job as parents.

At least they don't mind being with, working alongside, and talking to us!

All in all, a wonderful day.

Octopus Changing, Acrylic on canvas, 4x12 inches

Day 55 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Independence day sketch

Have Watercolor pencils, will travel!

This sketch is for a painting at a later date.

I worked on this sketch until it got too dark to see.

Watercolor pencils are fun to use, either drawing with them or pulling color from the tips with a wet brush.Sitting in a chair, listening to the conversations around us,  seeing friends and catching up, families winding down their day with tired children running freely around the crowd for the 4th of July.

Things are happening in the studio as well, I started a major canvas day by setting up my compressor and staple gun. Trouble was, I could not find my canvas pliers. They were not in their regular place, in the drawer with my supply of staples. I am not real certain where they are, possibly at our oldest daughters house. I may have taken them there when we were working on her dining room chairs. Any way, she cannot find them, I cannot find them, dead in the water as far as canvas stretching goes!

(we did stretch one by hand, but I cannot do that for the other 17 left to go.)

 I did get the canvas cut and ready for the next step. One large 6 yard roll of canvas just about makes 18 complete shadowbox canvases along with scraps from the studio.

At any rate, I still accomplished getting a new hose for my compressor and eyes to replace the ones lost on our grandson's "turts". Their dog has chewed the original eyes off, after our grandson scratched the paint off the pupil. Our daughter keeps replacing them with glass beads, but turts hits the floor quite frequently. We also shopped at a sale our local Goodwill had, 50% off everything. I managed to find 2 pairs of cargo pants to take to Africa, as well as an animal print coat and black swing top.

 Another day starts tomorrow, I borrowed a pair of canvas pliers and managed to get 2 more canvases  completed before stopping to cook dinner and go to fireworks at the bay.

Another day in our home and country, free to celebrate, free to worship, free to gather in large crowds without fear. I 'm glad we live in the United States!

I pray the rest of the world can have the freedoms we have as well!

Independence day sketch, 11x17, watercolor

Day 3 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Then, I must paint them all white, in preparation for paintings coming soon. 

Thanks for visiting

Pick a shell, any shell

This one completed in one day was very tough!

 By the time I was finished, my back hurt, my eyes were kinda crossed and I still had to post and blog. On top of that, I was also trying to listen to our church service online. Neither the blog, nor church happened. I did manage to hear a good bit of the worship portion of our church service though. Blogging however did not occur because the fire would not cooperate. It did not have enough charge to photograph, and I didn't have the energy to wait! So here I sit, blogging on my Monday, but your Sunday in the USA. Don't know what date will show up!

We spent the majority of the day inside the house here in New Delhi. The air quality is poor and the temperature colder than normal for this time of year. We set up breakfast for the morning, and our it into the refrigerator till cooking time. 

After Neel's nap, we ventured out to get a pair of glasses reworked for Christina's Father in law from the mall. We also picked up a good bit of groceries from a market in the mall. This concept is kinda new to me, groceries alongside Forever 21 , H&M, Cinnabon, and many other large retailers familiar to us as Americans.

 One thing not familiar is the security outside the mall. When you arrive, your car is checked inside and out, hood, and trunk. You then go through another security point at the entrance. Bags are scanned, you walk through a detector, bodies are wanded in a curtained off area for women. With a nod of her head, the guard waves you into the mall. 

I am sure something like this may eventually come to the USA, in an effort to stop mass shootings and possible bombs.

We rushed to do our errands and got back to the car. 

Loading up, we headed into Sunday afternoon traffic. 

Dusk was falling, and this adds a while new element to riding in India. I have to ride in the front seat, because there is not enough room in the back for carseat and two people. I have become somewhat used to the melee, not slamming my foot to the floor in an effort to brake. I have also become more silent as to not distract the driver. You also ride as a passenger in the opposite side here , adding to your level of anxiety. 

Now it is dark, and our ride continued into the night. 

The bicycles with no lights take on new hazards as they ride.

Motorcyclists are required to wear helmets, but instead carry them on their arm, hand hooked through the chin guard.

People step off the curb, dressed in dark clothing and from between parked cars, taking their life in their hands with every step they take.

The auto rickshaws are everywhere, beeping and whipping in and front of cars and buses. Some of the autos don't have headlights, making them difficult to see. The motorcycles weave in and out of traffic taking every imaginable tiny space they can occupy. Street wise dogs, patiently wait for traffic to slow for just a brief second so they can cross somewhat safely. Buses lumber along their way, traffic flowing around them much like water around a rock in a river. Then there are the cars, most of them bearing scars of battles lost in the fight for space in the road.

in the midst of this, someone stops looking for directions on their phone. Horns honking, headlights coming head on to our car in somewhat of a game of chicken, suddenly whipping to the side avoiding collisions.

All this with a somewhat cranky baby in the backseat.

Even been in Mr. Toads wild ride in Disneyland?

This is traveling in India!

Pick a shell, any shell , Acrylic on canvas, 8 x 24 inches

Day 52 of the 100 days~100 paintings Spring 2019

Morning is his time

This series is a bit of an experiment on my part. 

I have several ideas bouncing around my studio, but I don't always act upon them.

I cannot become bored with my Artist life, there are too many things to paint!

I have a swipe file that is thick with things I want to paint. I add and subtract from it as the years go by, changing the tape on the front to reflect the current year.

This series is inspired by something I saw at the Naples show.

People have always been in love with the long skinny canvases, 

but I've only done them in a 4 x 12 size. They invariably get snapped up quickly. 

These guys are on custom canvases 4 x 24!

I will be finishing the series while in India. 

Meanwhile, a sneak peek ! 

Tell me what you think!

This weekend finds us helping our daughter, Jessica and her family move into their new home. We also delivered a massive entertainment center that is gorgeous in Sean's office. (And was a absolute steal at $60.00! I am going to be doing a lot of painting in the next few weeks over there, getting everything just so! We also have a set of furniture here to paint as well before delivering it to their new home. We are also building a loft bed frame for our grand to put in his room. 

Tomorrow we'll all be wearing messy clothes and wielding brushes and rollers in attempt to paint the bedroom set I purchased as well for another $50.00. Old 80's furniture, should be interesting to see how that project works out! I just pray the rain holds off so we can get some work done.

Things are hopping here at the Raccoon retreat studio.

I have a pile of items to take to India, but I have not even begun to pack!

Long days and nights ahead.....

Morning is his time, Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 24 inches

Day 36 of the 100 days~100 paintings Spring 2019

Sand dollar

Today started out calmly enough. We got on the road somewhat early in the morning taking our time. Once on the road, we decided to find breakfast and ended up at a little restaurant called Country Skillet not too far from the campground. It looks like an old Waffle House, with newish decorations. The waitress was great, the food was good too!

We then refueled the truck with a lot of gas! Cheaper than a hotel hauling a camper, but we went through over $ 100 in gas. Ouch! I keep reminding myself cheaper than $100+ a night hotel! Our campground is about $275 for 5 nights. All told before we even open our tent, the show will be well over $1200. It's not cheap to do art shows folks!

On the way down here, we stopped in Clearwater Florida to go to the showoff canopy showroom. I was looking to replace two of my roof rack at Corners as they have gotten bent and been repaired numerous times. Because my tent is over 28 years old, they had to custom make the brackets for the two corners. When Chris saw this he asked if we could get two more. Turns out this is my anniversary present from him. They are much heavier cast aluminum and have holes that it will allow him to put the ratchet straps in the brackets. It will be interesting to set up the tent the first time with the new brackets tomorrow on our anniversary!

Tomorrow marks 40 years that we have been together! I can't imagine spending my life with any other person than this Man of Mine! Any other man might not be willing to set up for an art show on his anniversary either!

Time to wind down for today, the night has fallen,  dinner is done and cleaned up, and we are tired. Tomorrow is a big day!

Sand dollar, acrylic on canvas, 6x6
Day 21 of the 100 days-100 paintings Spring 2019

Chestnut Turban

Short post tonight folks, I'm tired and it is Christmas in the morning.

Today's shell is another of the shells found along the Florida coastline. It is amazing to me the variety and beauty of these creatures. The endless array of sizes, shapes, and colors is amazing to me!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Chestnut Turban, Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 6

Day 18 of the 100 days~100 paintings Spring 2019

Bay Scallop

I've always called these Queen Scallops. I have now discovered I was incorrect and may still be!

I think these are what we call Bay scallops. They are a member of the mollusk family as well.

I have collected dozens of them while at Sanibel Island.

They are edible and one of my favorites to eat. 

They can develop both male and female organs making them able to fertilize their own eggs. Even though they spawn millions of eggs, only ONE survives to adulthood out of 12 million!

Spawning takes a lot out of these little guys too, once they've spawned, they become weak and vulnerable. 

The REALLY neat thing about them is they have 60 bright blue eyes!

Fascinating to me.

Hopefully for you too!

Bay Scallop, Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 6

Day 7 of the 100 days~100 paintings Spring 2019