Race to the sea!

Race to the sea!

If you've never seen a "boil" Google it to see what happens when baby turtles hatch.

I have had the absolute privilege to actually see this happen several times.

Once, because the babies were headed for lights on the shore I got to handle them.

We put them in the "turtle taxi" to take them for release at the waters edge.

I was so thrilled to be so close to something so precious to me!

Most sea turtle nests have a little over 100 eggs.

I once had to help move a nest with over 120 eggs.

Out of that average of 100, 1 yes 

ONE may survive to come lay eggs on the beach when they become an adult.

Share the beach is a wonderful program started over a decade ago. 

It is to help with the preservation of Sea turtles.

Every day in the state of Alabama volunteers walk the 47 miles of beaches on the Gulf Coast.

This occurs from May 1st to August 31st.

Many volunteer hours each year are spent walking, moving, guarding, and monitoring the precious nests along our coast. 

It will still be several years before we see the fruits of our labors as the babies hatched won't become adults for 10 to 50 years before they become adults!

(This of course, depends on the species of turtle as well.)

Race to the sea! Acrylic on panel with recycled wood drawer frame. 5x15 inches

Day 6 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Tidal watchers I & II

I am indeed fortunate in the gifts God has provided to me.

I use some of them everyday, while others are quietly waiting until they are necessary.

I don't even try to identify them, I just ask and they seem to show up just when needed.

Whenever I have a problem to solve, something to create I've never done before, 

how to talk with someone, I ask.

 The solutions are laid out in front of me or come out of my mouth in unexpected ways.

How do I ask?

I pray for God to show me.

I pray for God to enter me.

I pray for my hands to become his hands.

Make me go so far back into my body that people don't even see me anymore.

I find the Holy Spirit takes over my conversations with Alfred, my artist friend from Zimbabwe.

I am able to give him such insight and just the thing he needs at that moment in time.

I tell him it is not me, but He that is in me.

 

My most common gift is my art.

It is one I use daily.

Sometimes I even get to use it in ways I never imagined, 

building large sets for minimal money for children's ministry.

He gave me the gift of sewing so many years ago, that I almost don't even think about it.

Even when making a minor repair to a beloved stuffed animal for a child,

Then telling her I thank God for the gift of Sewing.

He gives me solutions and knowledge I have never dreamed of having or using.

I am grateful minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day.

Both of these little guys were painted on poured canvases 

that have hung around my studio since the spring.

I have not yet decided if I will pour more backgrounds.

For the time being though, I am returning to the shadowboxes I know and love so well.

I have a large supply of shadowboxes thanks to another of my gifts, 

a husband given to me that is my absolute soulmate. 

He is also the best helper I could have ever imagined.

Gratitude, I guess is what I am trying to say.

I have so many things to be grateful for in my life.

Have you been grateful for the gifts God has given to you today?

I know I will fall asleep thanking Him for everything.

Tidal watchers I & II, Acrylic on canvas, each 4 x 6 inches

Days 71 & 72 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2020

 

Simply Shrimpy

Simply Shrimpy is a grouping of five little paintings. 

The only problem is the phone won't let me post them together in a line like I wanted.

I painted shrimp like this for the National Shrimp Festival~Eight Flags on Amelia Island. 

Chris and I had the best time at that show back during the first weekend in May.

This was the weekend after the Melbourne Festival of the Arts.

Melbourne was a successful show and I was panicked, painting that week at the campsite. 

 The shrimp were well received, with all 8 I painted sold!

I even had a woman purchase 4 of them as a grouping for a shelf. 

I'm still shaking my head over that one!

I've also gotten in trouble over shrimp, or the lack thereof. 

I was at the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama several years ago. At a lot of these shows there are patrons that purchase certificates for the purchase of artworks. I had a woman come in to my booth asking if I had shrimp paintings for sale. She really liked my style of art and wanted to purchase one for the Alabama Seafood industry. I had to tell her I'm sorry but no shrimp paintings.

She looked at me and said "Well it is the SHRIMP Festival" I said yes mam, you're right!

Lesson learned, I'll have shrimp from now on.

Although I had a shrimp painting that took two years to sell!

Simply Shrimpy, 3x3 inches, Acrylic on canvas

Day 50 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2018

Let the paintings begin!

It seems as usual I begin this year of 100 days~100 paintings 2016 with a sea turtle!

This has been a blog several years in the making, with over 500 paintings completed thus far. I do the paintings and the blog in an effort to get ready for the fall show season. Some of the blog entries are long and involved, some are short and sweet. This year will hopefully be no different. 

We are already gearing up for the fall shows, with an acceptance into the National Shrimp Festival already on my schedule. I put in for the Fine Art Division again this year, AND an end space booth! Other shows planned but not confirmed include, Grand festival in Fairhope, Jubilee Festival in Daphne, St Lawrence festival at St Lawrence church, Merry market at Orange Beach, and lastly but certainly not least, Peter Anderson in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  Others may be added as well.

The summer has proven to be a busy one too, with classes at Mobile Museum of Art, Eastern Shore Art Center, and an art camp at Celebration Church too! All told, I am teaching 6 weeks this summer. Fall classes are also being scheduled, with Eastern Shore Institute of Lifelong Learning ESILL already confirming Beginning and advanced Watercolor classes. I will also again be teaching in my studio on Tuesdays as well as possibly at Celebration Church.

Back to the turtle..........

This morning started with a phone not soon after I woke up from Share the Beach. I knew this meant a nest had been found and answered immediately. Not one, but two nests had been found! I jumped in the car and drove the almost hour towards the beach and possible nesting sites. I had never helped move a nest before and this was a goal for this year. I texted my team leader and was told we had a third nest in Orange beach and to head to that team to help. I was very excited as this was my first possible nest move! My team is great, they allowed me the honor of handling each and every one of our precious eggs into the bucket to be moved out of harms way. I counted 121 eggs myself, with other numbers ranging from 120 to 123. Such a wonderful way to start my day, and a wonderful way to start the 100 Days~100 Paintings 2016!

Green turtle Acrylic on canvas 6 x 6 

Day 1 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings 2016