Archers Lion

Today is Archer's birthday.

Archer is our first grandchild, and he is an amazing young man.

He turned 13 today.

I have a teenaged grandson.

It seems like yesterday when he was born.

I barely got to Mobile when our daughter and her husband rushed out the door because she was in labor.

We all went to the hospital and the waiting began.

I was glad I had a painting to work on while waiting.

I painted him a crab the day he was born.

Each year, he gets a new painting added to his collection. 

The first few years I choose the painting.

The last few, he has chosen what he wants for his painting. 

This year I had been working on the lion as a demonstration piece.

I asked Archer if he wanted it for his 13th birthday.

All his other paintings are on flat canvas.

This is his first shadowbox.

The paintings are supposed to stay with me until his 18th birthday, but they are starting to take over.

He mentioned he wants them in his room now.

Soon he will have all of them, ranging in size from 4 x 8 to 18 x 24 inches

I will help him hang them.

He has a wide range of pieces from a gecko to a sailfish, a rhino to a portrait of his dog.

They are all in sepia, so they all go together.

Each one has the date and the year on the back.

A funny aside today.

I asked for a 12 x 36 shadowbox with a 6 x 18 opening.

When I saw it, I realized my huge mistake.

The opening was too small.

It will make an awesome blue crab though!

I needed a 12 x 36 with a 6 x 30 opening.

He provided that today.

I also asked Chris if he could build me some 6 x 24 flats as they are a popular series and I am out.

I went to work in the studio, Chris went to the shop.

I worked for a couple of hours, then decided to fix something for lunch.

Tuna fish sandwiches with chips would do nicely.

No chips.

No sweet relish either.

I went out to the shop to tell Chris I was going to the store.

He proudly showed me 5 12 x 24 shadowboxes.

I said nothing, went to the store purchased the items I needed, then came home.

We ate lunch, then we went to pick up some art supplies I found online.

In our conversation, I asked if he could build the 6 x 24s now.

He started laughing.

I thought you wanted 12 x 24s.

I said no, I told you I had plenty of shadowboxes, I needed the 6 x 24s.

He thought it was so funny that he apparently heard 6 and 24, 

but thought I wanted shadowboxes 12 x 24.

The 12 x 24 shadowboxes have a 6 x 18 opening in them.

I now have 5 extra 12 x 24s.

More to stretch and stack up in preparation for more paintings!

And now I'm tired and ready for bed.

Goodnight!

Archer's Lion, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 24 x 24 inches

Day 44 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

A very full day!

Well, the photos are backwards.

This one is actually the end of my day.

Painting several rounds and flat pieces with Kilz to begin the process for the rounds.

The wood has to be isolated to make sure things don't yellow from the glue in the wood.

So many steps to complete the rounds!

Speaking of rounds, I delivered the very special project to Paul today for his friend.

I can't wait to see the photos from that reveal!

I pray that his friend is successful in his swim of the English channel.

Headed to England next week!

I also took time out from my day early in the afternoon to rehang my space at Hello Gallery.

The Gallery is located at 18 S Section street in downtown Fairhope, Alabama.

Seven new works are on display, along with other pieces.

My morning started with getting everything ready for the many commissions.

I packed them up.

Called and texted the new homes.

One picked up today, one next week, and one the week after.

It's been a long day, but a productive one for sure.

Goodnight!

A very full day!, multiple pieces, acrylic on wood and canvas

Day 43 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

Turtle babies

These little guys are always fun to paint!

I am so delighted I managed to get these canvases from marketplace.

The woman advertised 18, but when I got there, the number was 20!

They were a really great price and give me small canvas that I can hold and easily paint.

Finishing up on a commission which should post tomorrow.

I am currently working on cushions for our son and daughter in love's camper.

I always love a good sewing project, but wrestling these cushions into the covers is a marathon.

I feel like an octopus with an arm stuck inside the casing and another pulling the plastic bag out that helps me put the cover in place.

I love that they are letting me make my contribution to their first camper together.

It is small, very small but oh so cute.

We are rapidly headed to the finish line of completion on the trailer.

 Then Chris will likely help our oldest daughter with her new shop conversion.

Next in line will be repairs to the tiny house, as we've had some rather bad leakage around the windows that has caused rot in the wall. 

I just pray it's only one wall and will be easily fixed.

Never a dull moment around here!

One project to the next, and the next.

Maybe the commissions are done for now too!

Friday night is Artwalk night in Fairhope.

6-8pm at Hello Gallery, 18 South Section Street

I'll be painting live on the next Dead men tell no tales!

Come and say hello!

Turtle babies, Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 12 inches

day 37 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

Dead men tell no tales V

I love it when someone gives me free rein to do a commission.

Pretty much all he told me was like this one and sent me a photo of Dead men tell no tales IV.

This is it below.

This is the one painted last month, that calls home with a marine biologist.

Her parents wanted it for the newly graduated daughter who actually worked on a pirate ship doing tours while she was in school!

Any way I was contacted by this gentleman, and he said we have several of your works, but he wanted to commission a pirate piece for his wife.

When he showed her the one I posted last month, she fell in love and said fingers crossed she still has it at the Shrimp Festival.

That's when he decided to commission the piece.

Apparently, it is a wonderful birthday surprise.

I pray she loves it, both for the work and the sentiment behind it.

Dead men tell no tales V is all new.

New blunderbuss, and a really cool sword with shell details.

Both are actual pieces of armory and are beautiful in their details.

The pieces of eight are new as well, with actual "pieces of eight".

They would cut them apart in halves, quarters, and eighths.

There is also a Venus comb peeking out from under the banner.

This one took a solid two days just to design it.

Then it took several days to paint it, and now it's revealed today!

Fortunately for me, I can simply reverse the design and use it again for the next one!

I can also create it in different sizes.

Whew it was intense!

I am also working on a really neat commission for a local gentleman that is for his business partner. 

It involves swimming, the English Channel, and both a map of England and France.

He is presenting it to him after he swims the channel from Dover to Calais.

Another really cool presentation and gift from a thoughtful person.

I love being able to bring dreams to reality.

Thank you, Lord, for the talent you give me!

Dead men tell no tales V, Acrylic on wood, 

day 36 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

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

Octopus for a sibling

An incredible day indeed!

This is the "Octopus for a Sibling".

This same octopus is a recreation of one seen at Chain of Parks in April.

Unfortunately, the first one was sold before they could come back to get it.

They also ordered the Manatees from yesterday.

This piece is larger than the original one they saw.

I am praying that it is everything they hoped for when Christmas comes with a wonderful surprise.

I am honored to be a part of the gift.

I am also incredibly happy to be done with the commissions part for the 100 days.

The rest of the paintings will be available after today.

I also was helped greatly by my husband today.

We painted the Kilz on all of the panels today for the VBS.

This preps the panels for the drawings and then the painting to begin.

This Summer surge will be incredible as it will be an immersive experience for the children.

They will enter the "Gate" and into the world of Super Mario.

There will be trees, mushrooms, a throne, a motorcycle, and probably more.

I have an incredible amount of excitement bringing things like this to the minds of children.

It brings me closer to God as well, because this allows me to work side by side 

with the Holy Spirit within me.

The Holy Spirit throws so much at me when I'm working, and I love it so much!

Sometimes though, I have to ask Him to slow down as I cannot keep up!

Each VBS is an incredible experience for me as I grow every time as an artist and set designer.

Thanks for coming along on the adventure with me!

Octopus for a sibling, Acrylic on wood, 16 inches

Day 7 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

All the chubby mermaids

Chubby Mermaids, Sea cows, or manatees.

How about all of the above!

I've heard them called by all of these names.

I've even had someone call them walrus!

Hint, no tusks....

This is another commission that I am working on.

This one is about the same size as their turtle they purchased.

The couple have requested two.

Manatees are their piece and an octopus that their sister missed out on at a show.

She came back to purchase it, but it was already sold.

They even grabbed a screenshot of the piece so they could ask for it to be recreated.

I am making it larger for her as I want everyone to have an original.

It will be an awesome Christmas present!

Another hint, if you like something at a show, ask the artist if you can put it on hold for an hour or so.

I typically do not take a deposit and only a phone number.

If someone comes in wanting something on hold, and the time is not up, I will call the person 

and give them first right of refusal.

But, a caveat, if you put it on hold and don't come back in time don't expect it to be there.

I had a guy ask how long it was on hold for and I told him until 3pm.

Promptly at 3 I was looking down at my logbook and then a voice said it's 3 o'clock as the money appeared under the brim of my hat.

"It's mine"

He happily tucked the work under his arm and walked away.

She showed up 15 minutes later...

Stomped her foot and said I knew it would be gone!

I really hate it when people are disappointed. 

Hence why we have a sign in my booth that says, "I should've bought it when I saw it."

Whenever someone hesitates to put something on hold, we point to the sign.

I do enjoy it when something catches ahold of people and gives them the joy of ownership.

It's just hard to make a decision sometimes.

I really understand....

What I've learned to explain to people is this. 

 That you are buying a piece of my life I cannot get back.

That part of my life is contained in that work of art.

So, you literally own a piece of me!

We started the day with church and then a delightful ride on our 'new to us' boat.

The boat is aluminum and had over 22 holes that had to be repaired.

Chris sanded and sanded, then painted it a beautiful blue.

He built a windshield very similar to the one on the boat I remembered in my teenage years.

While sitting on her today, I was facing the wake and the shape of it made this beautiful V that I remember so strongly.

I had many happy hours behind the boat while water skiing and also while holding the helm while my 

father skied as well. 

I drove a boat from about the age of 14.

I've also really begun the VBS build in earnest now.

I went to Goodwill to purchase a barstool to build the motorcycle on.

And a chair to make into a throne for the girls to have photos in.

Each year I attempt to have interactive works for photo opportunities, and this year will be no different.

It's going to be amazing.

At least that's what I'm seeing in my imagination.

Another day in the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama.

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

All the chubby mermaids, Acrylic on wood, 24 inches

Day 6 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

More of the future is here

More baby turtles today. This year's 100 days began with four commissions. One of them was for baby turtles on the 6 x 24 canvas. I told the collector that I would paint two and he could choose one of them. This is the second one. Hopefully one of them is sold already. I really enjoy painting these little guys every time. Specifically, this collector wanted the ones coming out of the nest.

Today is a special day. It is our youngest daughter's birthday in India. A joyous day for sure when she was born. It was an incredible day that is burned into my memory.

Today is July 2nd. This is interestingly enough the apex of the year. There are 182 days before, and 182 days after. The first part of the year we climbed toward the middle and from now on there are less days in the year. Just an interesting fact that is really neat.

Christina, the one whose birthday is today was born on the second of July. My mother, (her grandmother called Manna) was born on May 2nd. My birthday is October 2nd. She was absolutely delighted that her daughter, Dahlia was born on August 2nd. Her birthday this year she will turn 5.

My day was filled with painting, sanding and going on a date with my husband. We went to see Young Washington and it was an incredible movie and story. Well worth the time to see it.

Speaking of well worth the time. I have a bit of history for my dimensional pieces that began in earnest last year. These works are a long process that begins with unfinished wood cut into circles with a router. These pieces are sanded carefully using a drum sander. They are then backed with a thinner layer which forms the background. They are glued and nailed around the edge. Each one is then painted with Kilz so that the glue layers are trapped beneath the painting layer. They are then painted again after more sanding with Acrylic paint. Chris gives me a piece of wood that matches the round, which allows me to draw the dimensional top piece. This piece has to also be painted with both Kilz and Acrylic. The top piece is then cut with either a band saw or my scroll saw. The scroll saw is used on more delicate works like lionfish fins and octopus legs. Most complex are the Pirate pieces because of all the open cut work allowing the base of the pirate ship and reef to be seen beneath. The dimensional piece is then sanded carefully from the back. The background must be painted first. I then take the dimensional piece and nail blocks underneath which are nailed from above and below. The edges of the top piece are painted on the edges, then the creature is then painted as well. I then varnish the back and the top piece to protect it. I add a hanging wire as well to finish the work. Almost 20 steps total!

So, when you're looking at a piece of art. 

There are hours of decisions, drawing and painting. 

In the case of the dimensional works many more steps are needed to complete the piece. I am grateful for the many people who have let go of their hard-earned money to purchase one of my works. 

The artist that you purchase from may really need the income or the 

validation that comes from creating.

I am so blessed to be able to create and actually make money with what I paint.

From the bottom of my heart, Thank You!

More of the future is here, Acrylic on canvas 6 x 24

Day 3 of the 100 days!00 paintings 2026

Our future babies

 Is it possible to see anything more precious than a boil of sea turtle babies? When I first started walking with Share the Beach, I had never seen a boil happen. They truly do look like they are boiling up out of the sand. Each baby frantically climbing over the next in a frantic effort to reach the sea and hopefully safety. 

Share the Beach was started a long time ago, over 20 years and counting! It was started when a local that loved the turtles noticed they were going toward the lights of the houses and businesses in Gulf Shores. So many babies lost in the dunes, unable to get to the sea because they were confused by the lights. So many babies run over by cars that did not see them in time. Tired of seeing the destruction of life a group of people started Share the Beach. 

Volunteers now patrol 47 miles of beach every morning from May 1st through the end of August. They look for nests or activity of turtles, possibly signifying a nest. If an area looks promising, they carefully dig the nest up, leaving it if it is above the high tide line. If not above the high tide line, the eggs are carefully moved one by one into a bucket, counted carefully, then reburied further up the beach. Then nest is then covered with a screen, and sand placed over the top. The screen helps prevent foxes, dogs, raccoons, coyotes, and sometimes humans from accessing the nest. There is a perimeter placed around the immediate area, then a larger perimeter is established. It is a federal offense to disturb a nest. All nests that are found are carefully monitored, then the waiting begins. Towards hatching time, you will see a large group of people waiting and listening for the boil. It really is a sight to see. The monitors make sure the babies don't turn toward lights away from the sea. I've even been part of a group holding beach towels up along the track to shade them. If they insist on going the wrong way, they are carefully put into a bucket taxi and gently put into the sea and on their way.

Why go to all this trouble?

Most sea turtle nests have an average of about 100-120 eggs. Only ONE of those babies may survive into adulthood and produce more. Adulthood is over 30 years old. Scavengers, birds, fish, and other sea creatures may attack them on their way to the sargassum grass beds where they grow until older. Each nest is important as well as each baby.

The Eastern seaboard is having a banner year this year, with many turtles coming in for nesting. This year, our own Orange Beach team has FOUR so far! An amazing testimony to the hard work of all involved on our beaches from Orange Beach to Fort Morgan and Dauphin island. Our future babies indeed!

Our future babies, Acrylic on canvas 6 x 24inches

Day 2 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

On the 100th day....

Today began normally with me reading my Bible and sending messages. We then rushed headlong into the day with last minute packing, and a sewing project.

We couldn't find the rain gutter I made from before, so I took part of a wall and rebuilt a gutter for between the booths.

We then hit the road and grabbed breakfast on the way. 

We stopped off first at the Chamber to get my packet. Then we headed to the campground on the way to the show. We dropped off the camper, then headed into the chaos that is set up for the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores. 

We spent a while setting up both tents with their roofs and walls. We then began the daunting task of putting up the new Flourish walls with the French wall opening in one tent. The entire set up took 3 hours to get done. I really believe part of this is because of me sustaining an injury with first pole I picked up. As I lifted the pole, the bracket slid down and caught the edge of my index finger. An almost immediate blood blister popped up and it was rather large and painful.

I took a bandaid to put pressure on it and kept working. Finally everything was in place and we could start hanging art. So many bags! 100 paintings are a lot, but we didn't bring that many with us. The response has been very favorable so far,with several people coming in to look while we were setting up. We took the longest we ever have to set up. Five hours total. Most everything is done though, even price tags in place. Tomorrow we set up the Christmas ornaments and straighten before we open.

We also went to dinner with our son and his girlfriend at Sunliner diner after hot showers and setting up the camper.

After dinner we went for some quick groceries and to relax. 

I then painted the 100 th painting in the camper this evening. 

I'm really happy the 100 paintings are done! Tomorrow morning I'll draw the winner of the painting valued at $295.

Thank you for following this journey with me!

Headed to the show! As usual Chris looks injured! I love him so much!

Tentacles, tentacles everywhere! Acrylic on canvas, 6 x24 inches

Day 100 of the 100 days-100 paintings 2025

Just playing around!

"Just playing around!"

The dolphins may be, but I'm sure not!

Today was a productive, not so productive day.

I got a lot of the things on my to do list checked off, but there is so much more to do.

Some are small inconsequential things that if they don't get done, the world won't fall apart.

Unfortunately, I might! (Fall apart that is.)

Then I remind myself to breathe!

I have a thought in my mind of things I want to do, but God sometimes decides otherwise.

"Many are the plans of man, but the Lord's purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:21

In other words, this joke comes to mind.

Wanna make God laugh? 

Tell Him your plans.

God's plan is always better, but in our stubbornness, we pitch fits.

"But I want it this way!"

Then like Balaam and the donkey, we beat the animal until it speaks to us.

Reminding us to slow down and not sweat the small stuff.

"But I'm a detail person and I sweat the small stuff."

Sometimes it keeps me awake because I ruminate over things.

To counter this, I make lists and maps.

Although this time, the maps escape me because I can't visualize the rounds in place.

I can see the wall in my mind in the booth and it's beautiful.

But I can't get it on the graph paper.

Not even on paper.

Maybe I'll try again tonight.

In the meantime, I erased, wired, and varnished the last of what we are taking this weekend.

As I was laying out my vinyl pieces I've had for 15 years, I realized how much history is on them.

I've threatened to paint them white but never seem to find the time.

The opposite side is neon green vinyl.

They once were cushions in a doctor's office. I bought all he had at a yard sale.

I used the cushions for my dining area and in a camper Chris built.

The vinyl was cut apart into strips that I cover my table with to prevent paint from getting on the wood.

There are so many projects on these pieces, so much history, so much work.

I can recall a lot of the projects, some for church, some for family, dozens of ornaments, 

varnishing, and painting canvases white.

Some of the projects haunt me, one in particular.

I worked with my daughter Jessica on the giant bird Kevin from the movie "Up"

Those blue feathers somehow keep reappearing on my white canvas years later.

This is after I have swept them, rolled them with lint rollers, shook them.

And still, the bright blue feathers!

Ornaments and decorations from Christina's baby shower.

Little ovals from her birdcages.

Apples for the church.

Sets for the church.

I guess I'll keep them as they are, too many memories to paint them white.

We also got another boat today.

I guess this will be the Winter project this year for Chris.

It's going to be a lot of work.

Chris invited me to lunch and took me while he was going back to the 

gentleman's house to try and get the motor.

He picked up the boat earlier along with all the supplies to outfit the boat that the guy bought new.

New seats, new lay down seats, various items to complete the project.

Anyway, this motor was a beast, a 1973 Evinrude.

Extremely heavy.

They were trying to rig a come along to hoist it into the truck and I became extremely nervous.

I suggested maybe a trailer would be better and safer.

So, off we went back home.

Chris got the trailer, and I went back to the studio, praying the entire time he was gone.

I once had a friend whose father was nearly killed by a 

come along snapping and throwing the chain at him.

Chris finally got home.

We rode the dogs.

We then loaded the van with a bunch of equipment and his new system 

for lifting the art above the tents, walls, weights, chair, umbrella, etc.

It's a lot of equipment to put on a show.

Especially a double booth!

We load in artwork tomorrow after we hitch up the camper.

We are almost at the end of the 100 days~100 paintings.

It's been an adventure this year as it is always an experience to remember.

New species, new works, new life. 

It's all here at the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama!

Just playing around! Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 24

Day 98 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

King of his domain II

 Another great day in the studio. Another day closer to the Annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This guy was fun to paint after a day with my daughter working on her Queens ensemble.

My daughter Jessica will be Queen of the Phoenix organization early next year. There is an incredible amount of crazy work to do in the meantime. I was a professional seamstress for years until a drunk driver changed the landscape of my body. I have two herniated discs in my neck, and nerve damage in my right arm. I am herniated on the right side but have found relief with a wonderful product called "Huggterra". This device is an incredible invention that vibrates, has heat, pressure points, and electric stim therapy. 15 minutes a day, and I am loosening up more and more. The Huggterra and Chiropractic care are helping a great deal. There are still days though.... Some days are diamonds and some days are dirt. 

Anyway, back to my personal Queen. She has designed her dress with help from another designer, and I am doing the main build of the dress, skirt, and train. To say it's complicated is an understatement, but that is typical of my daughter. She has the most spectacular ideas and expects me to execute them. I pray a lot, and the Holy Spirit answers a lot, allowing me to do things I never imagined. It's a lot of engineering, sewing, hand work, and prayer on my part. This design will be spectacular on a lot of levels. 

I am so grateful for the many talents God has given me. He allows me to do things I never dreamed of when I was younger. I've also been asked to do another mural at a condo in Fort Morgan. That's already on my schedule for January of next year along with getting ready for shows in the springtime. 

Painting, camping, showing, spending time with my best friend Chris! This is our artists life here in Fairhope, Alabama!

King of his domain II, Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 24 inches                                          Day 91 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

King of his domain

It is so good to see the pelicans make a comeback. I know they can get annoying with the messes they make, but they are so beautiful in flight. They were at the edge of extinction as a result of the use of DDT. This pesticide made their eggshells so fragile that when they went to sit on the nest, they crushed the eggs. This species has truly made a roaring comeback. They are found along the West coast, but they are more yellow in their head area. They range from Oregon to below Mexico into South America. Their range is also Southern covering the Gulf Coast down into South America, Cuba, and the Bahamas. They also go up the Eastern seaboard as well. Most of the time, our pelicans stay locally for the most part. Some of them fly South for the winter. On the Pacific side, they leave the Gulf of California after breeding.

They eat small fish for the most part including menhaden, herring, anchovies, mullet and sailfish mollies. They fly and dive from up to 65 feet high. They tuck and twist to the left to protect its esophagus and trachea from the impact. Their throat pouch expands, trapping the fish with up to 2.6 gallons of water. They are typically found within 12 miles of shore. They can also feed from the surface of the water if it is too shallow and muddy to plunge. They will also steal from other birds and scavenge dead animals. 

Pelicans are awkward on the ground but are strong swimmers and powerful fliers. They are susceptible to oil spills as they nest near shipping channels. They are also still hunted and eggs are eaten on Latin American and Caribbean coasts. They are also endangered by fishing lines and lures. There are an estimated 700 birds that die from this alone. The birds themselves weigh about 8 pounds. Their wingspan is about 7 feet. They have no teeth either, their stomach does all the work digesting their fishy catch. They have two stomach chambers, the first secretes acid that softens bones and scales. The food then moves to the gizzard which further grinds the food into smaller pieces.

Now you may know more about Brown pelicans than you want to know. These guys are such a comical goofy bird on land, but there's no denying the grace with which they fly just above the water.

Kind of his domain, Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 24 inches                                          Day 90 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

Not what I expected!

 Today was not what I expected. I was planning to paint more shells, but time was getting away from me, so I switched to the pelican for today. This guy was a pleasure to paint after the intensity of the shells the past two days. I love painting the detail of the shells, but they put such tension into my neck. Small details do that of course, but sometimes the little details are what counts big!

I've always loved painting pelicans. They are becoming quite the nuisance bird though, leaving their bird splatter everywhere. They can also be rather aggressive when seeking food from the fishermen on the dock. Don't even think you can toss a piece of a fish, it must be the whole thing, or they will spit it out. Where they congregate, they make a mess. Just look at the pilings they sit on. They are a beautiful bird though, especially in flight.

I went with Chris to Foley today to see the new thrift store that opened. I love that Chris enjoys thrifting, and he especially loves the books. I perused the clothing, not finding anything I really had to have. This store is new and particularly crowded, so we decided on going to lunch instead of shopping. I went to Hobby Lobby to get double sided blanket binding for my octopus themed pants. 

We came home and I went to the studio. I managed to add the border to my octopus print pants, put Velcro on the curtains, and hem a pair of shorts for Chris. I also finished the painting for today. It was then I realized I had forgotten to get something else I needed from Hobby Lobby. We had a dinner get together at 6:30 so we left early for me to go back to the store to get paper rolls to lay out the queen's train for Mardi Gras. I ended up buying three rolls because they were reasonable and I don't want to have to try and get more later. I will tape it all together to get a sense of the scale of the elements of the train and sketch it all out. 10 feet wide and 15 feet long is going to be one rather large piece of paper!

We finished dinner and here we are back home after driving through a heavy rainstorm in Daphne. It was not even raining in Fairhope when we arrived home. Unloaded the car and here I am posting for today.

A busy, not so busy day. Another day closer to the Annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Twelve more days until set up. I'm in full blown show mode now! Making lists, checking them off and starting to pack clothes, items for the camper, artworks, and equipment. This will be my 16th year of the festival!

Not what I expected, Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 24inches                                                                                   Day 88 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

Imperial Volute

 Imperial Volute

Another of my shells which hails from the Philippines. It is one of my favorites in the collection of shells from the time we were in the country. Again, the points are wonderfully preserved, and the color is fantastic. These shells are part of the Mollusk family, and its scientific name is Cymbiola Imperialis. To me, it's just a beautiful work of art. As you can see from the top of the shell, it is a lovely example of the Golden spiral.

These shells are native to the waters in between Malaysia and the Philippines in the Sulu Sea. They can be found in shallow waters just below the low tide zone all the way down to 80 meters. They prefer a sandy bottom. They feed on other Mollusks and invertebrate animals. They can grow large, all the way up to 9 inches. The one I have is 6 inches. In the wild they are covered by a thin layer of brownish periostracum. So, if you don't know what you are looking for, you may not see it!

This painting was fun to paint and a lot easier than I thought it would be! I was thinking I might have to do another piece instead of this one because of the degree of difficulty. 

I also painted white all the canvas Chris stretched yesterday this morning. We then went to lunch and bought lumber for a project Chris is working on to take to India. Christina keeps asking for various things to be brought to her because she misses home and wants items made by her parents. I get it, but it may mean another piece of luggage!

I also managed to alter the Octopus pants I bought at Goodwill. They were originally like sweatpants, but I opened up the legs and inserted a large black triangle flare on both sides of the leg. There are really cool looking now, albeit a little short. I may add a black band at the bottom to complete the look. I also found a terrific top to go with them, so my first outfit for the National Shrimp Festival is complete.

I've also got a couple of other projects at my sewing machine that must get done soon. Velcro added to the bottom of the new black curtains that cover my poles and weights. It keeps the curtains from flapping in the breeze, makes a clean line, and adds to the professional look of the booth. My goal is even more of a gallery look with the new black walls and white background artworks. The new octopus pants outfit will match the booth for sure! I've also got two pair of pants Chris wants made into shorts. He's lost weight and is having to use some of the pants that have been stored for a while. So, the new lifestyle is working but he cheats a lot!

Imperial Volute, Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 24 inches                                                                                         Day 87 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

Venus Comb

 Venus Comb Murex

To say my parents were avid shell collectors is putting it mildly. I have vivid memories of them coming home from dives while we were living in the Philippines. Invariably, they brought home either shells or something for our fish tank. The process was always the same, they would come home and place the shells in the ant bed. The ants were fed handsomely, and in two weeks we had shells that were incredibly clean and beautiful. It was like Christmas, carefully removing the shells from the ant bed and finding the treasures held within.

If you've never seen a shell brought up from the depths of the sea, you'll be in for a shock. The shells caught live are beautiful with incredibly sharp spines. The clams are even sharper as their flutes are intact. Razor coral is sharp enough to cut you, even after drying out and even years later. The shells we see on the beach have been rolled in the surf and softened by the sea. I got my parents shell collection after they both passed away. They have brought back incredible memories of living in the Philippines and snorkeling for hours on end while my parents dove below. 

The Venus comb murex is known by its scientific name Murex pecten. They are large predatory snails that eat other mollusks. They grow 4-6 inches in length. The one I have is about 5 inches. It is the one I photographed and painted here. The spines are though to protect the shell from predators while they are hunting. The shell shape is considered to be elongated with a pronounced siphonal canal. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region and can be found from coral reefs to sandy bottoms. They occupy water depths between 0-1115 feet! They like tropical waters as the warm stable temperatures aid in their survival. Bottom dwelling using camouflage to hide among the rocks and corals.

It does face threats from overharvesting and habitat loss. My parents got theirs in the 60's. They were considered to represent wealth and status. They may serve as trade items or gifts. They are used in crafting sometimes, but the delicate spines break easily. 

I pray you've had a great day. Today was much better for me in the studio. I was able to paint and cut canvas for Chris to stretch on the bars he made for me. I am one happy artist! I painted this evening while dinner was cooking, and Chris stretched the frames and then we had dinner, cleaned up and got ice cream. I then headed up to the studio to finish this painting depicted here.

Venus Comb Murex, Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 24inches                                                                                   Day 86 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

Crustacean Celebration

I have yet to see a jubilee in person.

There are numerous photos and people that have seen one.

Jubilees happen in two places in the world.

Here in Mobile Bay and Tokyo, Japan.

Pretty cool huh!

We seem to have more here because of the shallowness of our bay.

Mobile bay is one of the largest in the United States.

It is 31 miles long 24-mile-wide estuary in Alabama.

Our bay is also known for the Battle of Mobile Bay during the civil war.

Several rivers feed into the bay, hence the name five rivers delta.

We are a major port for the United States.

We also were known for Naval Stores and tap and pitch production during the early part of our history.

I am having a bit of a jubilee here in the studio.

Large amounts of paintings that need to be varnished, wired, and packed for shows starting in about three weeks.

Crustaceans are defined by their exoskeleton, segmented bodies, jointed legs, and two antennae.

They must shed and regrow in a process called molting.

This is how we have soft shelled crabs.

As an invertebrate, they lack a backbone and a spinal column.

They belong to the Phylum of Arthropoda, this includes insects, arachnids (spiders), 

and myriapods (millipedes, and centipedes).

If you want to look a spider in the face, look at a crab!

Crustacean Celebration, acrylic on canvas, 6 x 24

Day 81 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025