The End of the 100 days 2023!

I cannot express the feelings I'm having now! I have finished the hundred days in actually less than 100 days. It has been a journey this year with wonderful people pushing me along. Thank you so much! On to finishing the show!

Another day?

As you can see, these are unfinished pieces.

Still needing their erasing, varnishing, framing, and hanger.

But I am 5 days closer to completion.

I was supposed to complete the 100 paintings today.

This brings me to numbers 92-96.

4 more to go!

One painted last night, then the other 4 during a hard day's work.

I enjoy these small works, as they are an affordable alternative to the large pieces I create.

I painted, because I stayed home today instead of staying with my dad in the hospital.

He told me yesterday to go to the show, and how much he appreciated how much time I spent with him.

But again, God's plan....

Dad did have his surgery today.

I was told by his nurse that he did well, and cardiologist said they got to do what they needed.

His cardiologist has yet to call me to tell me how it went.

I only know because I was proactive in chasing down information.

I painted rather than wasting the day doing nothing.

Plus, it helped keep my mind from racing thoughts about my dad, the weather, and the show.

About the show....

Yesterday afternoon I had been reading about large amounts of rain and wind coming in today.

I prayed the people in charge would move the show out one day, 

rather than have us set up in the nasty weather.

I was also calculating in my head how many hours it would take for us to set up the tents.

My plan was Thursday morning early (about 5 or 6am) for the opening at 10 am.

Little did I know my husband was having the same thought process about setting up Thursday!

On the way home I received an email telling us the show 

was being postponed until opening at 2pm Thursday.

No set up in 4 inches of predicted rain, and 40 mph winds!

At least set up was optional today.

If you wanted to set up today, you could.

We may head down to our campsite tonight after the system has passed through.

That way, we could get up at 5am instead of 4am for a 6 o'clock morning set up.

There were some people that took a chance though today.

I have seen too many destroyed tents and inventory to put mine at risk at this point.

Some of the ones that took a chance today did not fair very well.

My girlfriend headed down, and told me there are several flattened tents already, mangled frames, missing roofs, with inventory out in the weather.

There will be several scrambling to find tents tonight or tomorrow.

I don't have an extra one, or I would put it out there.

We sold one of my heavy tents after a storm system hit Arts and Crafts here in March of 2022.

Maybe the husband will agree to go down tonight!

Such is the Artists life, at the whim of the weather.

Proverbs 16:33 We throw the dice, but God determines where they land.

Every time we enter a show, we are throwing the dice.

God determines if it is favorable for the most part!

Favorable for my dad today, favorable for me because I got to paint!

Another day? Acrylic on wood panels, approx. 5 x 15 inches

Days 92-96 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Do you know how to make God laugh?

I love rollercoasters!

However, the one I'm on currently is a little too much for me!

Do you know the answer to the title question above?

Do you know how to make God laugh?

Got it?

Read on for the answer to this query.

We should all remember God's plan is perfect.

 We don't always understand it.

We don't always like it. 

But HIS plan is perfect!

Case in point.....

When you last read the blog, I was on target to finish the 100 paintings in the 100 days 2023.

I was rapidly completing the sewing drawers and they will help reach the finish line.

I was caught up and confident I would complete the task.

Those were MY plans.

Then God stepped in and said here ya go!

My dad is quite elderly, and his health is not the best.

He does alright but insists on living alone.

He doesn't get enough exercise and his diet is well, not so great.

My brother and I were calling the house, and he did not pick up.

I live an hour away, so my brother drove over to check on him.

He found him in a sorry state, unable to stand or walk.

He had a similar health scare in March and April.

He told all of us to never call an ambulance again.

We said okay back then.

Then Sunday happened and it took two hours to convince him to call 911.

He did, and we got him to the hospital.

He was dehydrated, very weak, and upset at the time things were taking.

CT scan of head clear.

Chest Xray clear.

Blood work not so much.

Infection somewhere, bilirubin elevated.

Abdominal ultrasound clear.

Brought back to ER room.

He then had a seizure, apparently caused by his pacemaker kicking in because of tachycardia.

Nonresponsive for a few minutes.

Now he's admitted to hospital to figure this out! 

Cardiologists are now involved again.

Scary!

Needless to say, I have spent the last few days at the hospital with him.

He is now getting better, but still needs some surgery for his heart as he has not one, but two blockages!

Hopefully tomorrow will take care of his problem while in surgery.

More pelicans!

Dolphins!

Humpback whales!

Meanwhile, I'm trying to pack for the Shrimp Festival starting on Thursday.

So, as you can see, I am close to completion of the 100 days.

We were supposed to set up on Wednesday.

Bad weather moving in with high winds and heavy rain.

God's plan, Let's do Thursday instead.

So, show is delayed.

I can go to my dad's surgery.

We don't have to set up in the wind and rain.

God's plan, is PERFECT!

The answer to the question:

Do you know how to make God laugh?

"Tell Him your plans...."

Kinda funny, right?

Multiple days, Acrylic on Wood panel, each about 5 x15 inches

Days 80-91 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Wild ride today!

 

These days are running by so fast now!

I am just hanging on for the wild ride to the end of the 100 days by the

 beginning of the National Shrimp Festival next week.

I am very excited to be able to paint these miniatures framed by the 

drawers from vintage sewing machines.

The first set of 28 was because of a neighbor who wanted my husband Chris 

to take her machine base and make a table.

I asked her what she wanted to do with the drawers, and she just said get rid of them.

I didn't want to just throw them away.

Chris figured out how to cut them in thirds and they make perfect little shadowboxes.

The backings are thin wood panel from a recycled skateboard ramp.

Our son uses the machines to make steampunk lamps as well. 

They are recycled, fun to paint, and affordable too!

I also must apologize because the photos are not edited.

My phone is acting the fool these days, and my husband dropping it a few minutes ago doesn't help.

Anyway, tonight is 10 paintings total.

Not all painted in one day, but I can paint several in a day!

I love painting miniatures.

Enjoy the menagerie!

Here's looking at you!

Sandpipers central!

Octopus escaping!

Pelican Piling.

You can see my messy easel and some collected art too.

Seahorse with coral.

Notice this one has the lock mechanism still in the drawer.

They just are lovely to look at, and so fun to paint!

Wild Ride today! Acrylic on recycled wood, each about 5 x 15 inches

Days 70-79 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Heron mother

Loud and obnoxious.

Scary when flying toward you.

I am really respectful of that massive beak!

So, I learned something about bird behavior.

Great Blue herons lay their eggs a couple of days apart.

This means that they hatch a couple of days apart too.

The first one laid is the first to hatch.

It has a couple of days to get a head start on their siblings.

If you're the third egg, the first one is much larger, louder, and gets in the way of food.

Needless to say, it's a hard life.

Not all make it to adulthood.

Such is nature at its finest.

We had the reception today at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center.

There were not as many people this year as last.

Several that bought last year did show though.

The show let go of three small sewing drawers today.

Baby steps, this brings the total to six sold so far.

I've also been invited to come to the Hummingbird Happy hour on September 22.

Another chance to sell and talk about recycled art as well as marine and bird conservation.

I am enjoying the ride so far!

Heron mother, Acrylic on wood panel, 5 x 15

Day 45 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

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

 

Freely in flight

Not a real great photo of this one!

I promise it looks better in person.

The brown pelican has really made a comeback since the DDT days of the 70's.

You see the pesticide DDT was affecting the shells of their eggs.

When the birds would try and incubate them, they would break instead of protecting the baby inside.

As a result, when we moved here in 1976 pelicans were few and far between.

You would see a few here and there.

The numbers today have almost attained them nuisance status.

I love to see them in flight formation, each one using the wingbeats of the one ahead.

Our brown pelicans are the smallest and lightest of the eight different types of pelicans.

Then there is the diving.

The seemingly impossible diving they do for fish.

Did you know they always turn to the side to protect their esophagus?

They also close off their breathing, so they don't inhale large amounts of water 

as the open beak hits the surface to catch fish.

Their mandibles in their beak flex open sideways as well as up and down.

They actually can hold several gallons of water in the pouch, but they must squeeze it out before swallowing the fish.

They also bring the wings back so as not to break them while hitting the water.

They also don't breathe through their nostrils on the beak.

What we think are nostrils are actually glands to secrete oil to take care of their feathers.

Fascinating, funny, never changing pelicans.

Freely in flight, Acrylic on panel, 5 x 15 inches

Day 11 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Small but mighty "O"

Octopus are absolutely fascinating to me.

This guy would be considered a miniature in the painting world.

A lot of impact in a small painting.

I really enjoyed creating him too.

Things are ramping up here at the Raccoon Retreat studio in Fairhope, Alabama.

Most of all, is the getting ready for shows in the fall.

I have put in for several, we'll see when the acceptances start coming in (or not) as to how busy I'll be.

August and September will be "My Nature Odyssey" at the Audubon center in Pascagoula, MS

National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, Alabama October 6~9, 2022

Jubilee festival, Daphne, Alabama October 15th & 16th, 2022 ~Tentative

Mattie Kelly, Destin Florida, October 29th & 30th, 2022~Tentative

Peter Anderson, Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Nov. 5th & 6th, 2022~Tentative

Three Rivers, Covington, Louisiana, November 12th & 13th, 2022~Waitlisted

There may be other smaller shows in between and after, but this is what I have entered.

Hopefully, I'll see you at one this fall!

The spring shows are still producing work as well.

I have commissions I'm working on to make collectors happy (and me too!)

I am always delighted to help make that special day even better with original art!

I am humbled at the amount of work lately.

God has been working overtime to give me commissions so I can support others in their art endeavors.

In the meantime,

I PAINT!

Small but mighty "O", Acrylic on panel, 5 x 15 inches

Day 8 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Race to the sea II

Race to the sea II

This one was so fun to paint.

My grand here loves it, so he'll probably get it for his birthday in August.

This is part of the framework for the sewing drawers.

All in all, this machine has had some interesting "frames".

I look forward to finishing them!

Today is also the 4th of July.

A day to celebrate if you're into that sort of thing.

I don't mind getting together with others, but right now we cannot leave.

I have at least 3 dachshunds that are freaked out about all the 

bottle rockets and fireworks going off all around us.

I just cannot justify blowing up so much money that could be put to better use in my mind.

Other parts of the day were spent sending messages to folks about their commission works.

Two out of the three have responded very favorably and that makes this artist very happy.

The 3rd has not responded yet, but I'm sure it will be good.

 They will probably be picking up or shipping this week.

I will post more on these later, as they are part of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022.

I varnished, bought paint for a large project with 3~3ft. by 5ft. canvases.

I am still in awe that I get to earn money while having so much fun!

Getting ready for the fall shows is going to be a wild ride indeed!

Race to the sea II, Acrylic on wood panel, 5 x 15 inches

Day 7 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

100 days~100 paintings 2022

The 100 days of paintings actually started this year on Tuesday June 28th.

Time got away from me however, and I am just now getting to post!

I really enjoy the paintings every year as well as the comments when you read the blog!

This year, I begin with sewing machine drawers.

These are taken from vintage sewing machines in bad condition and used in a whole new way!

We break down the drawers from the machine and my husband Chris cuts them down into thirds.

He then uses wood panels to fill in the openings from more recycled wood.

I am amazed with how they turn out every time I do them.

It all started with a sewing machine our neighbor had that she wanted turned into a table.

She did not want the drawers or the machine.

The machine is very heavy and my husband used it for weight added to his lathe.

(Several months later, our son commandeered the machine as he is making lamps out of them.)

The drawers however presented a problem, throw them away or creatively reuse them.

I am so grateful that Chris is talented enough to help me reuse them.

So far, we've repurposed 3 machines and have plans for more.

Each machine allows me to create anywhere from 18 to 24 little pieces of art.

They are proving to be popular!

This summer will be interesting as I have been invited back to the 

Audubon Center in Mississippi for another one woman show. 

The first one was called "My Ocean Odyssey" and was one of their most popular shows. 

I am honored that they believe in my works enough to invite me back this year. 

This show will be called "My Nature Odyssey"

The show will have my usual marine life and shadowbox canvases, as well as multiple piece works.

 One entire wall will be flora and fauna from our beautiful gulf coast!

Hummingbirds, shorebirds, raptors, and earthly creatures will make for a fun show.

The National Shrimp festival in Gulf Shores will happen this year!

I am now 95 days out from this wonderful show that is one of my favorites.

This year, I will have a double booth.

One booth will be of the marine life sepias, possibly moving from sepia to color added on some.

 The other will be the Steampunk that has proven popular during the spring shows.

The Steampunk has also gotten some awards this spring.

Come along for the ride this summer!

100 paintings~100 days 2022

My Nature Odyssey!

Sewing machine drawers, each 5x15 inches,Acrylic

Days 1-5 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022