Flying jewel box VII

I don't know if I'll ever tire of painting hummingbirds.

However, unless commissioned to do more this is it for the series.

Such beautiful little birds, so fun to paint!

I am forever in debt to Debi Parnell for the use of her photographs.

Today was turtle walk day.

I like many others walk the beach looking for sea turtle nests.

I found none today.

Our beaches seem really quiet as far as turtle activity is concerned.

I have probably decided not to walk next year.

I have patrolled for 10 years this year.

We have to get up at 4:30 am in order to get on the beach and patrol before sunrise.

It's a lot of hours out of my day, even though it's only twice a month.

I also painted a lot today.

Getting works done, now I have to varnish and wire again.

The Audubon show has already sold pieces and I need to replace them.

I will be bringing smaller works to fill in when I go to the reception tomorrow.

The dog is hanging in there so far.

She seems brighter and happier as well as more active.

She started her liver medicine and homeopathic therapy as well.

That makes me happy too!

Flying jewel box VII, Acrylic on Wood panel, 5 x15 inches

Day 44 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Flying jewel box VI

So much fun, and so much beauty in a small package.

I love to watch them.

Now I love to paint them too!

Today was a good day.

The laundry got done.

The dogs behaved themselves for the most part.

That is except for the phantom puppy pooper in my bedroom. 

The poop that was found by my robot vacuum cleaner.

Cleaned up that mess.

Cleaned the vacuum cleaner that sucked up said poop.

Cleaned the stove where I cleaned the vacuum cleaner.

Cleaned the sink after I cleaned the stove and the vacuum cleaner.

Such is life with senior dogs.

I just pray the vacuum doesn't find poop or pee again!

The dogs may have to stay outside for a while during vacuuming.

Studio time was good, I got a lot done today.

I put a couple of coats of Kilz on the latest sewing drawer projects.

The color kept seeping through, so another layer of Kilz.

Finally, I was able to put white acrylic on them to prepare them for artworks.

I also painted today for several hours.

Dog feeding time, then the afternoon ride.

Dogs are happy, husband happy.

Laundry done.

Dinner cooked and cleaned up.

Time spent with husband in early evening.

Then lost myself into the studio for a couple of hours.

Going to be now, 4:30 am comes quickly.

(Walking for turtles in the morning.)

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

Flying jewel box VI, Acrylic on wood panel, 5x15 inches

Day 43 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Flying Jewel box V

Incredibly beautiful these little birds are for sure!

I am looking forward to taking them to the Pascagoula River Audubon Center later this week.

Thursday is the reception, and I am so excited to hang them at the gallery.

They have already sold 3 pieces at the show!

I hope to replace them while there as well.

So many things happening here at the Raccoon Retreat Studio in Fairhope, Alabama.

Chris has built a stack of shadowbox frames for me to work on soon. They still have to be stretched, painted white, and sketched then painted.

It's a never-ending cycle of wonder here.

I wonder how I get it done.

I wonder if I'll get it done.

I wonder when I'll get it done.

I wonder if people will like them.

I wonder if people will purchase them.

I wonder most of all at the talent God has blessed me with!

Flying Jewel box V, Acrylic on wood panel, 5x15 inches

Day 42 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Flying jewel box IV

I know the names are cheesy.

I've never thought of them as anything other than Flying Jewelry boxes.

These birds coloring is a sight to behold.

That something so small, so incredibly shiny, so fast.

God made a lovely creature when he made the hummingbird.

So fascinating to watch, and so fun to paint!

I will forever be in Debi Parnell's debt for her allowing me to use her gorgeous photography!

Today being Sunday, started with us going to church.

I am so grateful for my church family.

Our Pastors are pretty incredible people as well.

Such a great place to call home, Celebration Church in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama.

I am still fighting with my swimming pool.

I thought I had figured out the problem.

The pool is still turning green even though the pump is running regularly.

I just don't have time to figure it all out.

I wish I could find someone that knew about saltwater systems and could fix it.

I'm really tired of wanting to swim but I am having to scrub for an hour to remove algae.

Every stinking time.

I just want to be able to relax for a bit.

We've also had a 16 year old dachshund not doing well.

After having a tumor removed.

Finding out her liver numbers are sky high.

Her gall bladder is very enlarged and possibly causing high liver numbers.

We did find out through an abdominal exam that she does indeed have Cushing's disease.

I have another one with similar symptoms.

Unfortunately, this is common with older dachshunds.

Ours are 18, 16, 14, and 10 year old siblings.

Five times the fun, five times the vet bills.

Five times the love as well.

Painting, painting, painting here in the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama!

Flying Jewel box IV, Acrylic on wood panel, 5x15 inches

Day 41 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

 

Flying Jewel box III

I am having a great deal of fun working both on birds and in color.

But, to the sepias I must return because I love them so much!

For now though, colorful birds fly from my brushes.

This series are encased in vintage sewing machine drawers from treadle machines.

My precious husband is able to dismantle the machines that are typically rusted and locked up.

He uses the base to make beautiful tables.

Our son uses the machine itself to make steampunk lamps.

Some of the internal workings of the machines are in my studio for steampunk inspiration.

I am able to use the drawers, slides, and pulls to make miniature shadowbox frames.

My husband takes each drawer, and cuts them into thirds.

Typically each machine gets me 24-28 frames.

They are then backed with recycled wood panels from a skateboard ramp.

Painted with Kilz, then painted white.

Some of these machines have not seen the light of day for many years.

Some have veneer that is in rough shape.

Most are in storage, covered in dust.

They are receiving new life as little pieces of art in a recycling way.

I love them!

I hope you do as well!

Flying jewel box III, Acrylic on recycled wood, 5x15 inches

Day 40 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Flying jewelry box

"Flying jewelry box"

I must first of all give a great debt of gratitude to Debi Parnell, 

the photographer that is allowing me to use some of her images for paintings.

She is truly a gifted photographer and someone I am glad to call friend!

Some of the imagery will be directly taken from the photograph, 

lots of them will be used as part of a larger piece of art. 

I am fascinated by these birds as I'm sure a lot of you are.

Their antics while flying are a sight to behold indeed!

We have a feeder outside the kitchen window.

 Invariably I see the one that decides this is his feeder and no one else's.

He proceeds to chase off anyone that dares to enter his space.

Not so when I was a teen in California.

We lived in Sunnymead, which is like a suburb of Riverside.

Our home had a large cover over the patio with an umbrella style clothesline.

The patio had four poles, each of which had a feeder on it.

The dining area had two large sliding glass doors.

Every morning, my father would watch the ensuing show put on by the local hummingbirds.

He would drink coffee and smoke a cigarette as the dawn came up.

Without fail, during the right season the show would begin.

We would have literally dozens of hummingbirds come to eat.

These birds would line up in their respective pecking order.

Yes, these hummers actually took turns!

Mind you, there were a few that were monitors of the line, but most actually waited their turn.

The monitors would knock back the ones that tried to cut in, zooming and 

chasing them to the clothesline or off into the distance.

It never failed to be extremely entertaining.

They also knew my dad would watch them each morning.

Thus, one morning early he found them hovering by the back door instead of the feeders.

Strange behavior indeed!

Turns out, they were hungry and the feeders were empty.

My father filled them, and the party ensued again.

They were a beautiful, flying jewelry box part of our California lifestyle.

Ruby male, Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 12

Day 20 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022