Manatees and completions

I spent time today to finish both the sea turtle painting and the octopus with pirate theme.

I don't have a photo of the background for the turtle; it's just a reef with coral.

I am pleased with both of them, although I still have cutting to do on the turtle.

The weather has not been cooperative, making it difficult to get to the scroll saw to cut out the pieces.

So, I paint them and will cut, sand and finish the edges afterwards.

Obviously, it's better to do finish work first so the mounting to the tray can take place.

After mounting, the holes must be filled in and painted if needed.

It's a bit of a challenge, but I think I'm up for it.

This tray is another 16-inch tray ready now for its dimensional piece to be added.

I am always happy with manatees, the sea cows of the water.

They are just so majestic in their floating.

So comical with their faces.

So still in danger from boat strikes and cold stunning.

They are amazing creatures to watch and I'm happy to paint them!

Manatees, Acrylic on canvas, 16inch round

Day 37 & 38 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Completion

Go big or go home!

I really must use this concept for Peter Anderson in my booth.

I absolutely LOVE it!

The collector is very happy with the results and I also heard my coveted phrase.

"It's better than I imagined!"

I always enjoy hearing that one!

When I sent him a photo, he was ecstatic in his response.

We will deliver it tonight after set up.

Today is set up day!

I adore watching the tents popping up like mushrooms, filling the space with excitement.

There is such an energy there, all the vendors setting up for a rather large party on the Gulf Coast.

If you plan to come down, wear comfortable shoes, and bring an  insulated water bottle.

While it will not be overly warm, but you do need sunscreen as well!

I am so excited!

This completes the 100 days, it has been an adventure as usual hasn't it!

The blog now has over 71,000 hits on it!

I've also been nominated for best artist in Baldwin, voting continues until November 3rd.

I will probably continue for a few days at least, I have multiple canvases awaiting my brush.

There are also 2 more shows after this one, and the shows in Florida after the first of the year.

Christmas and galleries are waiting as well. 

I will be drawing for the winning entry tomorrow morning hopefully.

That's if my brain remembers during the hub bub of the first day at the 

Annual National Shrimp Festival at beautiful Gulf Shores, Alabama.

"Completion", Acrylic on multiple canvases, 12 x 12's and 12 x 24's

Day 100 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

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 

Lionfish I

I know I say this a lot, but this was so fun to paint!

I did my third series of  pours in preparation for my girlfriend 

coming over next week to learn the hows and whys of pouring backgrounds.

This pouring process allows you to get multiple backgrounds done extremely quickly.

But,

There is no control over what the paint will or won't do in any given pour.

I don't own a butane torch so I cannot open cells on the pieces as much as I might like. 

I tried my heat gun, but it's not the same. The 36 oz pour that made this background covered a 16 x 20, 

2 -10 x 20's, 1 -12 x 12, 6-4 x 12's, and 9 -4 x 4's!

Lots of beautiful greys, ivory's, and golds.

They can be a challenge to create on top of the poured paint, but I am up for it wholeheartedly!

I already have plans for several of the others in the grey range.

Some of the new pour pieces will be at the Artists gallery (18 S Section St) in downtown 

Fairhope for the upcoming Artwalk on September 6th.

In the meantime. 

I am mentoring an Artist in Zimbabwe, Africa.

We met at the Grace School on the Thursday I arrived, and we instantly bonded. He is a delightful teacher as well, lending a helping hand at several art classes with me at the school. I have taught him some techniques that are different from his college days and I am amazed at his age. I was stunned to find out he had retired from teaching after 20 years! I guarantee you he does not look over 40 years old. 

He retired, wanting to teach only art in a school. 

On the second day of helping me, he was offered a job at the school teaching Art!

He is eager to learn, and as usual I am eager to teach!

He has a show in Bulawayo (sp?) in November and I am pushing him to start working on it now. His last experience for a show was not good, waiting until the last minute to try and

create. He admitted it was not his best, and the gallery owners were not real impressed.

Anyway, I am in touch with him almost daily.

Gently pushing him to hopefully greater things than he could ever imagine!

I am always creating and or thinking about creating.

Getting ready for fall classes for ESILL as well as teaching for Shepherds place every other week.

Food, fabric, or canvases all are a part of my thought process on a daily basis.

All a part of being an artist I guess!

Lionfish I, Acrylic on canvas,4 x 4 inches

Day 54 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Mural watercolor

These two are watercolors for a layout of a possible mural in Daphne. I am so excited to be able to use my talents to help people feel better! This is for a doctors office opening soon. Those who follow me might remember last years mural at the Hyperbaric center here in Fairhope. That mural was half the size! (8 x 24) This one will be 10 x 52 linear feet when completed. 

If I get the contract hopefully!

Reef Mural ,Watercolor, 10 x 52 inches,

Day 41 of the 100 days~100 paintings

Scallop & Butterfly~Oh my!

Scallop is a 12 x 12 painting that was really fun to paint! I love all the colors that are on shells and they make great subject matter as well. I will be painting a lot of shells I think for the fall season. My husband has nudged me into purchasing 43 wooden boxes for the show offerings to the patrons that frequent our booth. They are all sanded and primed with multiple sea glass colors, patiently awaiting their various decorations over the next few weeks. 

Scallop 12 x 12 Acrylic on canvas, Day 66 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings

Today's offering for the 100 Days is a butterfly fish. If you have been on a reef at least snorkeling, you have missed a real treat. We have one of the largest reefs in the United States at John Pennencamp (sp?) in the Florida Keys. You can take one of the many boat trips down there to see the coral, fish, and maybe spot a turtle, shark or lobster along the way!

Butterfly fish 12 x 12 ,Acrylic on canvas, Day 67 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings