Butterfly and sunflowers

Butterfly and sunflowers is one of the photos I'm using with permission from Debi Parnell.

I am having an enjoyable time painting while using her references.

This one is small, but still took a while to paint!

Several hours in fact.

I still enjoyed the piece while creating for the Audubon show.

Small but mighty.

I try to have pieces for the beginning collector as well as the seasoned collector.

Both are wonderful in my book!

Butterfly and sunflowers, Acrylic on canvas, 4x12 inches

Day 23 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Flying jewel box II

Today I painted the female of the pair.

She is the same size as the other one, 4 x 12 inches.

While small paintings don't fill walls, they can sit on a shelf, in between doorways, or windows.

I love painting small.

The show for the Audubon center is filling in nicely.

I may need to bring additional pieces from a gallery that lets me remove works for shows.

She lets me remove them, because she knows I will bring new works back in to replace them.

Things have finally settled somewhat here at the Raccoon Retreat Studio.

We had a bit of a Covid scare where we had to quarantine a few days.

Everything turned out fine though!

We also finally got the part for my swimming pool that I ordered at the end of June!

It has been two weeks of dumping massive amounts of chlorine shock treatments because my pump was not making chlorine at all.

The part came in, I changed it out, and started cleaning the algae out of the pool.

The combination of rain and a non-functioning pump has been a nightmare.

Hopefully, now things will get to where I can just enjoy it, and not constantly worry with it.

All in all, I love my saltwater system.

I loved it enough to buy another one when the first one got fried by a thunderstorm.

The pump they include with these above ground pools are an absolute joke.

The pool we bought used, but I already had the pump from last summer.

How manufacturers expect a cartridge filter to pump an 8,000 gallon pool is beyond me.

Enough about the pool, hopefully we can now just enjoy it!

In the meantime, I paint!

Flying jewel box II, Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 12 inches

Day 21 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

I'm taking an "off" day!

Well!

As promised I am posting the other side of creativity around here.

This was obviously Una Lou's birthday party held today.

I left the house at about 8:15, grabbed a bite to eat, then headed for the party venue in Mobile.

When I arrived, my daughter was not there, but I dove into bringing in the panels and setting them up because we were using them as a base for the decorations.

I used fishing line to secure them to the poles and zip ties to hook them together top and bottom.

By then Jessica arrived and the fun began!

She had the fabrics for draping, the coral pieces, the large padded shell, (pictured above) 

and the clam shell throne.

I moved on to assembling the throne, because it involved more zip ties, wood pieces 

and then the cardboard shell.

I then draped it with fabric, pulling it up into the assembly to make poofs 

at the edge where the base met the shell.

I then continued draping the present table, making a large shell, and bow from fabric.

So fun!

I built the padded shell this week, engineered and assembled the throne, and Jessica's dad cut the pool noodles into coral pieces and parts.

Truly a family affair.

Meanwhile, Jessica and Jordan went to become mermaids for the party.

I got a call a few minutes later.

Mom I need help with costumes!

I went to the apartment where they were getting ready and proceeded to basically assemble their costumes using dozens of  safety pins.

It went against every bone in my body to pin, but there was no time to sew.

I literally was pinning the costumes while they were putting on makeup.

Everything held during the party, and no mermaids were harmed in the process.

My beautiful daughter makes me feel young and energetic!

So fun!

The color palette was precious and pretty too.

The coral reefs were made in Baking pans, using pool noodles, mini cupcake papers, real shells, grasses, styrofoam balls, skewers, spray foam and paint. Painted with spray paint and glitter of course! 

They were weighted down with cups of water!

The birthday girl in her throne.

The shrimp are from when I did the Mystic Mutts parade as a mermaid.

This is the shrimps third go round!

The sea turtle is a costume that Jessica and I built that actually went to 

New Zealand for the World of Wearable Art competition about 10 years ago. 

The shell is on a backpack, the costume is black light reactive, and the head is a bicycle helmet!

An adult wears the costume on top of a full body suit and the flippers are 

moved with dowels that attach to them.

It was wonderful to see Myrtle the Turtle out of the box again!

After I got home, I crashed in my pool after I cleaned it!

However, the nap I wanted never showed up, and the hot bath I wanted was tepid.

We then took the rottens, (dachshunds) for their evening ride.

After dropping them off at the house, we picked up a chicken and sides from the store.

After dinner, I cut up the box of mat board scraps I got from the artist's studio yesterday.

I now have a large amount of 5x7s, 8x10s, and most importantly, 11x14s!

The rest will be recycled.

I love working so hard with my daughter in creative chaos.

Our lives are so unimaginably crazy, and I wouldn't take anything for them!

So, I hope you don't mind if I take an "off" day!

"Off" Day, Day 68 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019 

Picasso boxes and dish washing gel?

I know I said I wouldn't but here I go!

This past week has been another inspiring session with the young ones!

I had little ones from 7 to 11 years this past week and they are just too fun!

Most fun of all were the Picasso boxes! They are made from recycled cereal, cookie, drink, and any box I could get my hands on to cut into shapes. There are also some toilet paper tubes as well.

Masking tape or glue to put them together and then paint! I forgot to photograph the one that had tiger stripes! I am so grateful that parents share their children with this art teacher. 

I am indeed blessed and full of energy now!

My third attempt at the acrylic paint, dish washing gel and spray paint. 

They are so fun! The kids love to wash off the gel and expose their paint underneath.

Picasso boxes and dish washing gel, mixed media, 

Day 19 of the 100 days~100 paintings

Wet and Wild!

Wet and Wild!

This was the underpainting I posted the other day with the final finish. 

This process is so easy  and the kids just love it!

140 lb watercolor paper with an abstract painting. Use reasonably thick paint, don't let them dilute it with water.  Let dry at least overnight. 

This is the underpainting. After the painting is dry, You take dishwasher gel and dribble, squirt, and plop away. (We used ketchup and mustard bottles) After applying gel, immediately paint it with black spray paint. Wait just long enough for it to dry to touch, then comes the wet and wild!

You spray off the dishwasher gel to reveal the underpainting!

The kids love using the hose, but you must be careful they don't spray too hard! I found it easier to do the hose myself, getting them to move the paintings afterward to dry.

Wet & Wild!, Acrylic on Watercolor paper,  12 x 18

Day 12 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings 2017 

Going outside the box

Experimenting, jumping off the cliff, riding the zipline, going outside the box. 

These are all things as adult artists we are sometimes scared to do! 

I am no exception, sometimes scared to try new things. 

New things like being the "Foreman" on a house project. 

Building a turtle nest from nothing complete with 75 baby turtles and eggs!

Carving a reverse turtle mold out of wood for the project.

Large murals 10 1/2 feet x 40 feet.

Staining concrete floors.

Making a bathroom in our home one large mosaic.

I have conquered all these thing by channeling my inner child and learning new things.

Studying new projects, creating the beauty, pushing my limits, going outside the box.

We all need to do this in our adult lives! This painting is actually an underpainting for an experimental process. 

Looking forward to the finished project!

Going outside the box, acrylic on watercolor paper, 12 x 16

Day 10 of the 100 days~100 paintings

Playing with the kiddos this week!

While this piece is not sale material, it was loads of fun!

Sometimes you've just got to go out of your comfort zone, and children really make me do this in spades. I love coming up with creative ways for the "littles" to have fun 

(although I have had adults join in at times!) I have learned so much about construction  and materials in my recycled class, there is virtually nothing I cannot figure out! 

I have entered the KID ZONE!

This week finds me at the Eastern Shore Art Center in downtown Fairhope. 

My class is chock full of 8-12 year olds in the Artelier class. This age is so much fun to teach and so eager to create! I am looking forward to a fun filled, hectic week!

I am also in the process of getting my better half to build a small amount of sets for our church's Summer Surge program. (Thanks love of my life! Chris Chavez) I am off to paint now!

It's going to be a busy, busy week!

Talk to the hand, Acrylic on canvas, 11 x 14

Day 8 of the 100 days~100 paintings

Table Topper~hopefully a show stopper!

       Today's offering is the table top painting for the donation to Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser in September. I am hoping with the reaction to the previous days paintings that this will also be a hit! The cigar boxes have been given good reviews so far. I carried the shell theme to the next level by putting some on the table top as well. I hope this side table provides many hours of enjoyment because of what you cannot see!
       The cigar boxes that fit on the shelf below hold games inside for entertainment because our weather is so unpredictable. We can have sunshine beating down and fifteen minutes later it can be pouring down rain. You also know you live in the deep south when you turn on your heater and air conditioner in the same day. Ah, life on the coast................Isn't it grand!

Table painting, Acrylic on wood, Donation Habitat for Humanity

Blue Men and their Lady

Just try me!
 

Blue Man Too!

 

Blue Man

These three crabs were fun to paint as well. No I will never tire of painting them, they always sell! Do you know how to tell if a crab is male or female? It's easy! The girls "paint their nails"!
Blue Man, and Blue Man Too! are both 5 x 5 the Just try me! is 12 x 12 All three deep edge canvas
These are days 76, 77, and 79 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings
 

Just playing catch up! Days 69,70, and 71 of the 100 days

      

       "Jeremiah 29:10-13 " is a painting based on scripture of course! I am leading a small group at Celebration Church and this is the piece we painted on Monday night. I believe every one had a good time and there was much laughter, groaning, giggles, and just plain fun! I am really looking forward to being with this lovely group of women and children. (Don't worry guys! You could come too!) Each week we will be doing a painting inspired by scripture. The scripture that this one is based on is also it's name!

     Jeremiah 29:10-13 I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you HOME again. For I know the plans I have for you says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a FUTURE and a HOPE." In those days when you pray, I will LISTEN. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you WILL find me.

   We found a lot of God in that room Monday evening. I can't wait for the next week!
Jeremiah 29:10-13 Acrylic on canvas 20 x 20 day 69 of the 100 days~100 paintings

     "Ask the Animals" is another painting based on scripture for the small group at Celebration Church~we will be painting this one Monday the 24th of September. Next week, we have one based on Trust. This one is a lot of fun to paint with plenty of color and opportunities to personalize. I am looking forward to painting it with the Scripts and Strokes Group!

      Based on Job 12:7-10, Just ask the animals and they will teach you, Ask the birds of the sky and they will tell you. SPEAK to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you.
For they all know my disaster has come from the hand of the LORD. For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being.

     As to the part about "For they all know my disaster has come from the hand of the LORD." Keep in mind this is from Job and GOD was severely testing him at the time. You see there was this little test he went through so that GOD could show he indeed was a believer and would not curse the Lord no matter what! This is one of his "Lamentations" he never cursed the Lord, but he did  complain a little! I think I might too!

     "Ask the Animals" 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas Day 70 of the 100 days-100 paintings

     "Heron My Heron" was the first of the paintings done at the Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope, Alabama. I am teaching a painting a day class and we all created this beauty. Everyone did quite well, despite the fact that I was pushing them so hard! There was lots of giggles, smirks and concentration going on in this class. I even reminded them that they signed up for this torture! Despite the speed and rapidity, I think all had a good time and everyone completed their masterpieces.

     Speaking of completions, i really will need to complete lots of works in the next few weeks. Fairhope Connections is opening another location in Gulf Shores in October, hopefully operating during the National Shrimp Festival! It will be near the Oyster House, one of my favorite places to eat and apparently everyone else too! The wait averages an hour or more. The food is well worth it, and while you wait, now you will be able to see new works by several artists including me! We may also offer workshops and classes during the winter for the snowbirds. Southern Art and Framing also took all 13 pieces I brought to the gallery the other day, and asked for an expanded show in November and December. Add all this to my Outdoor show schedule, teaching, the 100 days and fall is proving to be a busy season! I would not have it any other way!

Heron My Heron 12 x 12 Acrylic on canvas day 71 of the 100 days

Celebrate Small Groups Artwork

     Not long after Vacation Bible School the next project came into play at Celebration. Our Fall Kick Off of small groups is happening on September 9th, 2012. I was asked to do the artwork for both the church and the Celebrate Kids building. My artworks are being displayed on stage in the church. I am having a great time designing and making these pieces! This piece is for the main panel in front of the desk on stage. CCNN stands for Celebrate Church News Network. This represents day 56.

    This is the piece created for the Celebrate Kids. These are all going on the desk on stage for decoration. It represents day 57 of the 100 days.

       

        Another piece for the decoration on stage. This one represents Celebration Church. Day 58 here of the 100 days.

     Glo is represented too!

     My favorite of the all the pieces because of the color! I really had fun making this one as well. All these pieces are on foam core and are approximately 15 x 15. The first one is larger for the front of the desk. All of these are going to make their debut on September 9th.


   

Wise beyond his years

     I started this one during a demonstration that lasted 2 hours on Tuesday at the Eastern Shore Art Center. (I finished it this evening in about an hour.) I had invited my students to show up thinking it would just be us and they could get in their lesson. Much to my surprise, people started coming in about 20 minutes before the demonstration was to begin! I started answering questions and away we went! My students have heard it all before so they painted away, while I was demonstrating and talking about my upcoming classes at ESAC in Fairhope. Before it was all said and done, the room needed more chairs and I had come close to completing this piece, talking all the while. (We had about 24 people show up, even one of the other instructors!)

     I talked about transferring, why to paint a painting in a day, brushes, paints, canvas and everything under the sun! (I also checked on my students that were there to make sure they did not dig too deep a hole.) I really enjoy teaching and encouraging people to paint more. I started the painting a day 3 years ago while we were building our house in Fairhope. Hard days of hot sweaty work, then frantically completing, photographing, downloading and blogging about that days painting! I have never had so much fun! The painting a day discipline will make you paint faster, cleaner, and more profitably because if you sell, the name of the game is to keep your prices affordable. It also stops you from just plain fiddling around with your paint! During the demonstration, the people watching were a little surprised that I did not study the photo more. I have found that too much focusing on the reference slows you down, and cause you to 'tighten up' way too quickly. I refer to the photo as I am doing the big details and then the final touches, then I simply put it away because I do not like to let a photo dictate to me the colors I use.

     Long and short of it, I now have two more people signed up for this fascinating method of painting and creating. They may not all complete a painting a day, but at least we'll all have fun trying!

Wise beyond his years , 13 x 20, Acrylic on Canvas, Day 44 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2012

The Chase is On!

     This one was really fun to paint! Lots of movement and action featuring Marlin and baitfish, this painting measures 2ft x 4ft. I still the love the aspect of one a day paintings becasue it has made me a better painter. I can also keep my pricing reasonable for collectors.

     This Friday I am part of a show at Eastern Shore Art Center for instructors teaching in the fall. The two paintings I chose to show are both one a day paintings. "Jamaican Dreams" and "Schiells Obsessioni" are both 16 x 40 and both are done in acrylic. Melinda tells me there are at least two people signed up for the one a day class. I am excited to present this fun way to improve your hand at painting! I am also scheduled to do a demonstration at the Art Center on Oak avenue on August 14th in the early afternoon. I am looking forward to showing people that it is possible to complete a beautiful piece of art in one afternoon.

     That being said, I am currently in the middle of one of the biggest art projects so far for Celebration Church. I am in charge of set design for the Vacation Bible School starting next week! The  timeline is tight with thousands of leaves placed on massive trees in a rainforest. There are backdrops of jungle to paint, signage, props to make or borrow, a talking mayan mask, a plane, and a bird large enough to swallow people! It has challenged my design skills, my engineering skills and my painting skills on levels not seen since set designs for theatre. Mrs Lois Jean Delaney would be proud! (She was my teacher in high school for speech and theatre) She was also instrumental in encouraging me until I became a member of the international Thespian Society and receiving a best supporting actress award at a state competition. I really miss her and her quiet ways, It has also brought to mind Mrs Daniels, (California) as well as Tom Gray and Fred Baldwin from Joe Jefferson Playhouse, and Tom Perez from South of the Saltline Theatre.  Oh the memories of Theatre!

The chase is on! 2ft x 4ft Acrylic on canvas~Currently showing at my facebook page and at Fairhope Connections (7 Section Street, Fairhope, Al) during artwalk this friday August 3rd from 6-9pm

Beached at Goa

        

                                  This painting is more of my typical type, featuring beaches. Beached at Goa reminds me somewhat of the Phillipines, because I remember the boats pulled up on the beach. My parents would dive both during day and night. The night dives were my father exclusively because my mother wanted to see the sharks coming at them while in the water. The sharks were not overly aggressive, just curious. The only problem with curiosity and a shark is that there are large teeth involved! Hence, Mom let dad dive with the rest of the crew at night. Night dives were the best for lobster hunting as I recall and sometimes really big fish would come in as a result of my fathers expert shooting with a spear gun.
                            
                              I spent many happy days on the beaches in the Phillipines. When we first started going to Subic Bay, I was very concerned that the local children did not wear clothing. Their freedom was contageous and eventually after several trips, I too shed the layers of exterior covering. (However, out of some sense of modesty I kept my underwear on! I was only 7 years old at the time!)

                              More about my adventures on the beaches at a later date.

"Beached at Goa" 24 x 36 Acrylic on canvas $295.00

                            Rangoli Blue is the last of the Rangoli series. The show was fun to create but I miss the sea. The next few days you will see are still a part of the show at Blue Velvet Studio, but do involve the sea.  They are paintings of Goa, a beach resort on the ocean popular with vacationers and honeymoon couples as well.

                          I enjoyed the painting of this one as it involved a lot of Dot technique. The dots are easy if you are patient, carefully dipping the end of your brush into the paint each time to make the dots even and somewhat raised from the canvas. The  Rangolis were accepted well at the show, with the peacock Gemini the favorite. Several people also loved the Brilliant Peacock as well.
                        
                          This show makes me look forward to going to India and following the footsteps of my daughter as she has been there three times before. I will enjoy seeing the country through her eyes and her boyfriend, Bappa.
     
                         Rangoli Blue, 8x8 Acrylic on canvas

Rangoli Star & Rangoli Butterflies

                      The post for today is a catch up day because my life just can't get more complicated. I am finding the time to paint, but not finding time to post. For those of you that read the blog, I offer sincere regrets. On to today's and Friday's posts!

                      Rangoli Star is another in the series of paintings that is for the show at Blue Velvet Gallery in Mobile, Alabama. It is the one at the top with the lavender background. The show at BVS went well on Friday night with bolly wood music playing and lots of friends old and new coming out to see what was happening. Artwalk was wet, but that did not slow down the crowds that came. I am always amazed at what people like to see as art and we showed them  a new form with pigment throwing at models wearing white outfits. The people attending had great fun getting the models covered in pigments, althought the dry paint did not stick well on the models dry clothing. Oh well, live and learn, maybe it will go over better the next time (if there is one!)

                      Rangoli Butterflies is one of my favorites with lavender and reds contrasting nicely with the golden yellow background. The rangoli have been fun to paint, but I miss my sea life and I can't wait to visit the sea again! Soon dear readers soon, my thoughts will come home from India and the wonderful colors offered by the paintings based on Rangolis.

                     Rangoli Star & Rangoli Butterflies both 8x8 acrylic on canvas.

Brilliant Beauty

         The central panel from the Rangoli show for Blue Velvet Studio. Things are progressing nicely now, with more pieces coming out of the studio for the 100 days~100 paintings. This one really struck a chord with me as there apparently is a great deal of Rangoli dedicated to Peacocks. This is a detail of one with some additional white work added. I really enjoyed this one even thought the layering of the paint about drove me over the edge. For those of you that paint, you would understand that the transparent colors will really test your mettle. For this one, that is the lime green and the brilliant blues! The paint had to be layered on with at least 4 coats!

Day 4 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2012

"Brilliant Beauty" 24 x 24 Acrylic on canvas. Available this Friday July 13th at Blue Velvet Studio during Artwalk in Mobile Alabama.

Rangoli Dots

                                           A couple of months ago, my youngest daughter Christina called me about a request she had gotten from Blue Velvet Studio. Blue Velvet is a delightful gallery in the heart of Downtown Mobile that started a few short years ago. Karen Cassidy is the owner and wanted to have a space open for artwalks that featured contemporary art in a nice venue. The space is really her home, opened up during artwalks held on the second Friday of every month. I have participated in several of her shows held with wild imagination and loads of fun. These shows included designer clothing, corsets, costumes, hand painted gowns with famous artists works, and blacklight works to mention a few. Her openings are very well attended and always interesting to the public.
                     Back to my daughter, Christina Chavez and our conversation. Karen had asked her about a show for her at the Blue Velvet. Christina did not think she could carry one off by herself so she called and asked if I would participate along with her sister, Jessica Chavez Price. We last did a show together in 2005 at Arts Blanche, another gallery that was a co-op at the time. That show was very small, but featured a Geisha we all three did in our respective styles. We bounced around ideas for this show at BVS and she came up with "Rangoli~Mixtures of Color". This is a not so subtle nod to the love of her life, India. She has a boyfriend there in New Delhi that is a holistic Doctor operating a practice with his father. Christina has been there three times in the past visiting and has fallen in love with the country and his family.
                     I have been having trouble wrapping my head around this theme, but this piece is a literal translation of a Rangoli artwork. I do not promise to do the wonderful pieces that they do in India, as these fantastic designs are done in colored rice on the ground. They are good luck symbols for the festival of Diwali~a festival of lights held in the fall. The Rangoli are placed near doorways as tokens of good luck and some are quite elaborate and beautiful. They all are colorful, and I imagine take hours to create. I will probably add this festival to my "bucket list" of things to go and see before I pass this life. I imagine it is quite spectacular.
                     My piece, Rangoli Dots measures 8 x 8 and is one of 9 canvas, one large and the 8 smaller surrounding it. We hang the show this week so I am visiting India at my easel daily. I have paintings of the Taj Mahal, beach scenes from Goa, and the Rangoli pieces. It makes me want to visit this lovely country my daughter may call home some day.
                     "Rangoli Dots" 8 x 8, acrylic on canvas.

Shrimp & Straws~Fridays entry

The Mobile Museum has certainly stretched my imagination and art skills this past week. I have never taught a full day before and I have to admit, it is exhausting! My hat is off to the teachers of the world~no matter what you teach!

I am very pleased with this project completed with the children in the watercolor wonders class. They learned about, transfering an image to paper, outlining with a permanent marker, and then the fun part, color! We took clear water and blew through the straws to make the 'seaweed' and then dropped color into the water on the paper. Some of them also added the drops of color as well. I don't know why, but this is one of my favorite projects of the entire week. I guess it is the discoveries made by the children this past week as well as the happy colors!

I did not enter this one yesterday on the blog because of my LONG day. I left the house at 6:45am and finally dragged myself home at 9:45pm after teaching adults in Daphne. It made for a long, fulfilling, exhausting, fun filled day! I love my job as an artist!

Scallop

This is the last of the three paintings in the series. I painted these this summer before I started the 100 days and good thing too! I never realized just how much time is consumed with framing, matting, inventorying, bagging, pricing, packing, promoting and driving. I also scrubbed my display on Sunday, I did not realize how muddy it looked until I got it clean!
Speaking of driving, I am headed over to Jim Crampton today at Grapevine Graphics (251-928-5255 )to look at proofs for Giclees'. He is really awesome, cares about his work and is reasonably priced. He is just up the road from my new/old house in Fairhope and I am looking forward to working with him to get new prints up for the Pensacola Seafood Festival this weekend!
He will photograph, edit and print your images for sale (and I suspect, will also mat and bag them for you too!)
Because of his hard work, I hope to have Pensacola Lighthouse, Bonding (the whales), Headed for home too! (Shrimp Boat), Misty Waves (July 6th) and Pelican Morning (July 21st) all available for sale this weekend at the festival!
I am hoping and praying for good weather, setting up and breaking down in the rain is no picnic!
Scallop 10 x 10 Acrylic on canvas