Turtle and Pelican

The best part about being a professional artist?

People wanting and collecting your art!

 I am so fortunate to have collectors that continue to add to their collection.

I was contacted this week by someone who has several pieces of my work in their home.

He was inquiring about something that still blows my mind.

Last year, I started the rounds in earnest and opened the National Shrimp Festival 

with over 25 of them on display.

I sold half of them in just the first day!

I was in shock but shouldn't have been.

You see, I had prayed about the new series and the Holy Spirit revealed to me that the rounds were the next big thing in my art career.

The Sepia series was the beginning, over 15 years old and 

before Chip and Joanna Gaines became popular.

I was right on the edge of a new decorating trend of neutral tones.

The first ones were in shadowbox frames purchased at Michaels, painted, and distressed.

There were 12 x 12 canvases in the frames.

The frames were fragile, hard to carry, and difficult to obtain.

I then prayed again and started the deep edged canvas and no frames.

Still white backgrounds, and sepia toned paintings.

I loved wrapping the edges with the sea creatures I created.

The next big thing came as an accident, but also after prayer. 

I had glanced at the shadowbox canvas at Michaels, 

but had dismissed them as too expensive for me to invest in.

Lo and behold, I went to Michaels again after a successful National Shrimp Festival 

and they were on clearance!

I couldn't believe the price, and I had the money to invest in them.

I bought all 22 they had on hand.

I painted them all and took them to Peter Anderson in Ocean Springs, MS.

We sold half of them that weekend.

My husband asked, can you get any more of these?

I said no, they're discontinued and no one else makes them.

(I had been looking ever since I purchased them.)

We still had a few left in the Spring and my wonderful husband came to me and quietly said,

"I think I can build them."

Such joy!

I told him, "I just figured out how to stretch them."

My precious partner in art has built over 500 of them so far and has innovated the designs, 

pushing me to greater works of art.

This year will bring new pieces on unusual sizes and offsets.

I then prayed again about a question I kept getting asked at shows.

"Why don't you paint bigger?"

This was when the multiple canvas works were started.

They are several years old and still going strong.

I then started the rounds, and I have been so amazed at their reception.

Which brings me back to the collector's request.

Another round.

Another Dead Men tell no tales.

This will be the fifth one in the series!

So fun to paint, but such a headache to cut out with all of its openings to the background.

Still incredible to me!

I've also been commissioned to do an extremely customized round that will go to England as a special presentation gift for a friend and business partner.

More on that one later!

Yesterday's piece was this turtle.

I love painting turtles and hope I never have to stop.

I'm really happy too as our area is finally seeing the results of so many years of protecting turtle nests.

There are over 80 nests this year on the coast of Alabama alone!

I painted this one today, in between church, cooking and designing the new works.

It's an amazing time here in the Raccoon Retreat Studio, here in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama!

Turtle and Pelican, Acrylic on canvas, 4x12 inches 

Days 33 and 34 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

Herons around

The painting today was fun to paint.

I really love painting these predator birds.

Even though they're not raptors, they are really efficient hunters.

They are also efficient scavengers.

Although if you're at the end of that beak, they don't seem like a scavenger.

They can be very intimidating as well, flying in to get their share of your catch of fish!

I have seen them actually steal a fish right off the hook of a fishermen, much to their consternation.

They also have a very mean sounding call as they're flying in.

Herons around, Acrylic on wood panel, 12 inches round

Day 55 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Pelican IV

Day 50!

Can you believe it's already halfway through the 100 paintings for this year.

It has been a challenge for sure, trying to do commissions, get ready for a show, and paint every day!

Not to mention sewing too.

Mardi Gras in August, still can't wrap my head around that.

The queen's train is coming along nicely.

Pelicans are one of my favorite birds.

They have the absolute neatest flight pattern when fishing.

When they see a fish, they dive to the left.

This is to protect their esophagus and prevent water from going into their lungs.

I am fascinated by this, because it is a built into their nature.

They automatically dive to the left every time.

God is such a masterful designer!

They are also some of the gangliest looking birds I've ever seen.

They don't walk very well, but boy how they can fly.

I love they've made such a great comeback from the results of DDT on their eggs.

When I first moved back here from California in 1976, 

it was a rare sight to see more than one at a time.

Now, it is common to see flight formations of 25 or more birds gliding along.

Such a beautiful sight in our southern skies!

Pelican IV, Acrylic on wood panel, 12 inch round

Day 50 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Pelican I

My goodness I love these small rounds from Hobby Lobby!

I had the large rounds last year but decided to purchase several of these when they were on sale.

They are about 12 inches in diameter.

They are so fun to paint, and the turtles are already selling at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center.

I'm sure others will go too!

The Audubon Center has already sold several pieces.

They've also asked me to stay until the afternoon of October 4th around 2pm.

I will be there for several events happening at the center as well as Cruising the Coast reception.

The Cruising reception is over about 2pm and we immediately take down the show.

(We set up for the National Shrimp Festival the NEXT DAY!)

I've also been invited to come over during the Hummingbird happy hour on September 22nd.

So many things happening here!

Show schedule is firmed up for this year as well.

Pascagoula River Audubon Center, My Nature Odyssey, Moss Point MS Through October 4th at 2pm

Freedom Fest II, September 30th & October 1st, Orange Beach AL at the Wharf 9-5 daily

National Shrimp Festival, October 6th-9th, Gulf Shores, AL 9-5 daily (some nights later perhaps.)

Double booth at Shrimp Festival, one marine life the other all Steampunk!

Jubilee Festival, October 15th &16th, Daphne AL 9-5 daily

Mattie Kelly Festival, October 29th & 30th, Destin FL 9-5 daily

Peter Anderson Festival, November 5th & 6th, Ocean Springs, MS 9-5 daily

Three Rivers, November 12th & 13th, Covington LA WAITLISTED

Possible Christmas show at the Wharf in December as well (lots of small pieces for that one.)

Anyway, show season promises to be really hectic.

Such is life here on the Great Gulf Coast in Fairhope, Alabama

I bid you adieu for now!

Pelican I, Acrylic on wood panel, 12 inches round

Day 47 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022