Scourge of the deep II

Another day, another painting.

Scourge of the deep II

I frequently will paint opposite companion pieces.

This is one of those companion works.

It was a delight to paint.

Chris and I marked and repacked the wall parts along with the tent.

Show season is marching ever closer and we are getting things ready.

I am in full blown show mode, painting for hours each day.

I am really enjoying the process.

The first show will find us this time next week at Gulf State park in preparation for Freedom Festival.

Set up is on Friday, but we are going on Thursday to relax some before the set up the next day.

The show is at the wharf and is in a parking lot.

The show is Saturday and Sunday.

It is a hot show because of this.

Our son and daughter in love are coming to camp with us. 

Their campsite is next to ours, so we can spend time with each other when I'm not at the show.

Of course I'll be painting at the show as well.

The plan is to set up Friday and have dinner together that night.

We don't have plans yet for Saturday night, but I'm sure they'll fall into place.

I'm setting up several paintings ahead, getting them ready for painting.

The sailfish in particular is tricky, because his spear is delicate.

There are parts that have to be glued in place.

Also, the blocks that hold up the dimensional cutwork piece have to be glued and nailed into place.

 Then they have to be glued to the background round after the round is painted.

Today is done for now.

I'm getting ready for the night and rest.

Scourge of the deep II, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 16 x 16

Day 73 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

Scourge of the deep

Scourge of the deep.

My nemesis is a computer right now instead of a Lionfish.

It's acting wacky.

I turned it off, waited, and turned it back on and it seems to have repaired the glitch.

I'm much better with a brush than a computer!

Yesterday while cutting out the turtle, Chris removed a flipper purely by accident or possibly inattention.

My vote is inattention.

You see, our son was here waiting on an appointment while Chris was cutting out my dimensional pieces.

Jere was climbing around on the boat Chris bought on Monday.

Chris had mentioned to our son about the cotter pin holding the keel in place was needing to be replaced.

Jere apparently pulled the keel completely out of the hull so that Chris could refinish it and the replace the pin.

Keels are not lightweight.

Chris was quite shocked by this, but went back to the scroll saw in an effort to finish the pieces I brought to him earlier.

In his inattention, he accidentally removed a flipper.

Jere and Chris tried in vain to locate the cut off piece to no avail.

Chris brought the cut fronts upstairs and quietly disappeared.

I was matching up the fronts with their respective rounds only to realize that the flipper had been removed.

I let out a cry of what on earth happened?

As I came running down the stairs our son had a smirk while looking at his phone.

I suspected he had a hand in this disaster maybe.

Anyway I hurried into the shop to try and locate the piece as 

I've accidentally removed one before as well.

I was practically in the garbage can removing pieces of wood, but no flipper was to be found.

I recut new wood pieces to repair it.

I did tell Chris if he didn't want to help, please let me know.

What I didn't know, because he denied it was he realized his mistake and just hoped I wouldn't notice.

I said next time, let's work on it together.

Together....

Speaking of which, we both decided that this week we were getting equipment down.

The goal was to set up the tent, and familiarize ourselves with the French wall system.

I wanted to do this because I don't want us getting into a tiff at the National Shrimp Festival.

I went outside this morning to find Chris busily putting a tent together in the shop.

He couldn't figure it out.

I said this is why we're supposed to do it together.

I told him I came out to tell you I'm taking the girls to the vet.

He decided to go with me and get away from the tinker toy project that is the show tent.

(I just thank God we have a heavy duty pop up tent and not the Flourish we originally had with many parts and pieces!)

We got back from the vet and I went outside to try and figure it all out.

We had marked the majority of the poles, legs, and brackets, but some were not. 

He kept trying to put it together and we were fighting against each other.

Him pulling and yanking on supports, while I was trying to just visualize the brackets.

"I need you to go into the house Chris."

I needed to calmly figure it out, while alone.

I'm sure that's why he was attempting the same thing early this morning, to figure it out alone.

We really work well together, but sometimes each one has a thought and won't budge.

Chris went inside.

I figured out the brackets in five minutes.

"Hey I need your help"

We had to swap two of the supports and everything fell into place.

Problem was, it's been a year since we've done a double booth.

It looked as though we had lost four pieces of poles that go on the second tent.

We both puzzled about this for a bit and we decided to look up the Flourish company.

I looked at the Flourish website and could not see if there was supposed to be poles.

I then looked back at my photos from last year.

The second tent has only bottom sta-bars and not the ones on the top.

We simply used the straps to suspend the walls from the tent, and used the other bars for the bottom rail.

Problem solved, crisis averted.

Oh! AND I painted today!

Life with Chris is always an adventure because he keeps me on my toes!

Scourge of the deep, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 16 x 16

Day 72 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

Still crabby

"Still crabby"

This one was intense.

Intense because of the detail involved in creating the piece.

This is the canvas I had asked Chris to build for me.

I told him I needed a 12 x 36 with a 6 x 18-inch opening.

I needed the canvas for a shark, specifically a Great White.

Problem is to match the other canvas's; the opening needed to be 6 x 30 inch.

When I saw the canvas stretcher bars, I said okay....

A short while later, I realized my mistake.

I apologized and told Chris yes, you made exactly what I asked for.

It was still usable and beautiful though, and I knew exactly what I wanted to paint on it.

He also built the one I actually needed.

The Great White is coming soon too.

I also heard from Paul and his friend Jeff in Oxford England.

Jeff recorded and incredible message to me that really touched my heart.

Paul commissioned the piece on August 6th called Epic Goals.

Jeff actually completed the swim of the English Channel.

I've been invited to join in on a zoom call Wednesday, where Jeff will explain the process of the swim.

I am looking forward to the experience.

Epic goals indeed. 

I know both men's story will make it into the book I'm writing that includes my journals.

The book will feature stories from my life experiences as well as my journals.

Jeff already said he wants to read it!

The message that Jeff gave me made me weep with the pure love of God.

"Still crabby" Acrylic on canvas, 12 x 36

Day 56 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

Sometimes all I do is paint canvas

Sometimes all I do is paint canvas....

A LOT of canvas.

I painted a total of 20 canvases today.

Lots of white acrylic paint.

Brushes and rollers.

Tops, sides, and edges.

It all has to get done before I can actually create something to sell.

All a part of the process.

All a part of my artist life here in the Raccoon Retreat studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama.

I also gave myself a headache trying to enter shows that don't occur for 9 months!

Well 2 are in January maybe.

The other one is Mothers day weekend in South Carolina.

Reading the prospectus, it is an intense show to get into!

After I enter the shows, I need to get camping places as well.

Artist fees, jury fees, booth fees, camping fees.

All in advance, all paid in full.

Sometimes, Acrylic on multiple canvas, varying sizes

Day 52 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

Whale songs

"Whale songs"

Humpback whales will always be a favorite of mine.

They are wonderfully fun to paint and always sell.

I've put them on shadowboxes, sewing drawers, small and large canvas.

They've also been a part of poured backgrounds, in color and in sepia.

They also are a favorite of judges, earning me a merit award and judges' choice.

I love to listen to their songs when on marine life programs I watch.

All in all, a beautiful creature.

Chris built the stretchers I asked for today.

I ordered 16 x 24 canvas with an 8 x 12 shadowbox opening.

He built six offset and then he gave me one unusual, angled shadowbox opening.

More on this one later!

Chris is always keeping me on my toes for sure.

"Whale songs" Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 12 inches

Day 47 of the 100 days ~100 paintings 2026

 

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

 

Oh! Another octopus?

 

It is getting late, so I'll try to be brief.

Maybe.

Then again, once I start the writing it's hard to stop.

Oh! Another Octopus?

Yes!

If you have not seen Sally Field in the Movie, "Remarkably Bright Creatures"

I highly recommend it!

It was only on Netflix though, kinda hard to get to see it.

I paid for a month, then unsubscribed and watched the movie.

It was wonderful.

It follows the book by the same name and was well done.

The studies the people did to perfect the octopus was fantastic.

Anyway, I've read the book twice and may read it again.

Marcellus is a beautiful creature, fully intelligent, and octopus are just amazing animals all around.

So yes, another Octopus.

Octopus and turtles are both popular in my sales and fortunately for me, I love painting both of them!

Another bit of history for the sepias.

People kept asking me, "Why don't you paint bigger?"

I used to tell them about all the equipment, tent, chairs, walls, and art all fitting in a PT Cruiser.

"I can't paint bigger."

Anyway, I prayed about it, and this is what came into my mind's eye.

Five-piece paintings, made from standard canvas that fit in a small bag.

March 11, 2017, I debuted this big boy!

This was the first weekend I ever had shown the five-piece paintings.

It was in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

I had this octopus and another five-piece that was turtles.

They both measured 36 inches tall and 64 inches wide.

Shortly after I opened the booth a husband and wife came in and 

took a few minutes to decide to buy this one.

They were designing and building a home for a television personality 

in the national newscasting network.

It calls home at Innerarity Point in Pensacola Florida home.

They also commissioned me to do a 4-foot x 5-foot Pensacola Beach sign!

Soon after the octopus sold, a gentleman came in and purchased the turtles.

He then commissioned a seahorse too. 

He left the five-piece with me for judging and told me he would pick up the turtles at Arts & Crafts the following weekend.

I was in complete and total shock.

Less than an hour into the show, and my entire weekend was paid for and then some.

God does that a lot!

He gives us so much more than we expect or could ever even think we could have.

This is why I listen when the Holy Spirit speaks, 

because he's got the plan and he knows what is best for me.

Nine years of multiples.

I have no idea how many have sold now.

I also designed and make a larger version that is 40 inches tall by 84 inches wide.

That size requires Chris to build 4 canvas to complete the piece.

Now that's a big painting!

And now I bid you goodnight!

God bless you for reading the blog!

Oh! Another Octopus? Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 12 x 24

Day 42 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

Two for one!

Two for one!

And no, the painting background is not orange on one end.

It is white, the lights in my studio throw a warm glow so as to not hurt my eyes.

Anyway, this was yesterday's painting.

I just simply was tired at the end of the day and forgot to post after 2 hours at Artwalk.

Playful dolphins are so much fun to paint.

I photographed these guys in separate shots while on a dolphin cruise out of Orange Beach.

We went about 10 years ago, and the photos have stood me well.

Did you know that dolphin's bellies go pink when they're happy?

Now you do!

They also go pink when, ahem, making baby dolphins.

Interesting facts that stay in my head this many years later.

This is today's painting.

"Crabs Jubilee"

I also have dozens of photos of blue crabs I've taken over the years.

My swipe files are pretty full as well.

Swipe files are photos from the internet that are free, photos from friends, and sometimes students.

I essentially have two file cabinets full of photos, drawings, and calendars.

It's an incredible amount of reference material to have at my fingertips.

My studio is full of them, and they are used frequently.

Today was a kind of relaxed day although I woke up out of sorts.

I didn't know what I wanted to do today, besides paint.

The grandson is staying the weekend, so I chose to spend time with him and Chris.

This puts me in the studio later in the day than I want to be.

I asked Chris to take care of dinner tonight and he did!

We had salads with smoked chicken and a delicious piece of cake someone made for me.

We got the cake Wednesday night after service, and it was gluten free!

It was also incredibly tasty!

Multiple layers with raspberry filling and a strawberry on top!

We have frozen some for a later date.

Took grandson for ice cream, and I went back to the studio.

Now I'm done for today and yesterday.

4 days until set up for the Annual National Shrimp Festival in beautiful Gulf Shores, Alabama

Goodnight!

Two for one! Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 24, and 16 x 16

Days 95 & 96 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Pelican parley

I love painting these guys.

They are so incredibly interesting to create.

So much to do, so little time left before the big show starts next week.

The 50th National Shrimp Festival in Gulf shores, Alabama.

I have all the paintings done to fill the double booth and am now working ahead.

I am really excited to see how the booth looks with it going from sepia to full color in one space.

Tonight was Artwalk in Fairhope.

I was painting live while it was going on from 5:30-8:00 pm.

I actually worked on two miniature paintings for the sewing machine drawers.

They make a really great presentation for the paintings, giving them the shadowbox effect.

Two whales done, lots of people chatting about my works.

Hopefully conversations lead to sales.

I also spent time setting up the rest of the sewing drawer paintings.

So, I know what to paint.

I have the patterns ready to transfer and then just create!

Our pelicans here are an incredible work of God.

To see such a gawky bird fly so gracefully is beautiful.

They dive so hard, going after fish.

It's a wonder they don't die with how hard they hit the water.

You always know when the fish are in the bay, because there will be pelicans sitting on the water.

They're sitting because they can't fly because they're so full of fish!

Pelican Parley, Acrylic on Shadowbox canvas, 12 x 24

Day 69 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Curly cephalopod

I don't know if I'll ever tire of painting octopus.

They are a never-ending source of differences.

Beautiful, smart, and great escape artists.

They have to have special tanks to hold them in while in captivity.

There are also octopus that will crawl on land to get to a tidal pool.

That would really be a sight to see!

Nothing makes me happier than to encourage a child in their art journey.

My son asked if I had an easel to give for a birthday present.

I showed him the little easels we use for Chris's wood bowls.

He just giggled.

They are tiny.

But above that, on another shelf was French box easel someone gifted to me.

Never used, and a great gift to set her on her way.

I advised him with some paint purchased.

We then rounded it out with some extra canvas I had, an apron, a palette knife, and a water dish.

I can only imagine the surprise and joy from this precious child of God.

Happy Birthday!

I'm also toying with completing the 100 days before shrimp Festival starts next week.

How in the world?

God has placed in my mind to really concentrate on smaller works that are more affordable.

My starting price is $295.00 for my works.

Not much, some of us would say.

These smaller works will retail for $95.00 and are still unique, beautiful, and affordable.

I can make them less in price because I can complete several in a day.

They are totally unique because they are vintage sewing drawers, 

cut down to make miniature shadowboxes.

I've done them before, and they are super popular.

The vintage aspect, affordability, and recycled as the wood used is a former skateboard ramp.

The end of the 100 days is going to be fun!

Giddy up!

This is about to become a wild ride!

Curly Cephalopod, Acrylic on canvas, 12 x 24 inches

Day 68 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Flying high, but how low can you go?

The paintings are so much fun to create and see the final product.

I am really getting excited to see the booth in place at the National Shrimp Festival.

One week from today we'll be down in Gulf Shores!

These pelicans are such characters.

Their diving, eating until they are so full, they can't fly!

Trying to swallow things that are too big to eat.

Gawky when they walk, graceful when they fly.

I love painting them!

"Flying high", Acrylic on shadowbox canvas 24 x 24inches

Octopus are peculiar creatures indeed.

They can regenerate an arm.

They have nine brains, one in their head and one in each arm!

They can change color on a whim.

They have a beak like a parrot!

They can fit through a hole with their entire body, if their beak goes through.

They can unscrew a lid from a jar if the jar has food.

Slippery, intelligent, sometimes creepy, always peculiar.

Most of all, fun to paint!

"How low can you go?", Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 16 x 16

Days 66 and 67 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Octopus my octopus

Another day, another shadowbox.

I've really been working hard in the studio, bringing pieces to completion.

I still have shadowboxes to paint, so there will be more to come.

I need lionfish, so they'll most likely be soon gracing the easel.

Anyone who knows me, also knows I was a professional seamstress.

February of 1993 my family and I were rear ended by a drunk driver.

I was left with basically permanent damage to my neck and shoulder.

Two herniated discs and nerve damage to my shoulder.

My seam stressing career was pretty much over.

But God stepped in and opened a door.

A door that was a childhood hobby.

Painting became my passion as a way to work through the pain and damage.

Eventually, painting became a business as well as a passion.

But, the sewing still calls my name.

I now sew only special costumes for incredible organizations and individuals.

So much fun, and such creativity.

This type of sewing is allowing my artistic side to be showcased in incredible ways.

My machine doesn't get near the use it did, but there are still times the 

1500 stitches a minute are put to full use.

This particular machine, a Pfaff 260 is a German made machine that was made for industrial use.

My machine was then sold for home use and found it's way to me in about 1984.

We paid an astronomical $400 back then!

Many years of hard use and it's still going very strong.

Problem is, it's in a big 2ft x 4ft table.

It takes up an incredible amount of room.

Good thing my studio is large, because this machine will never leave.....

My husband was looking for a straw hat at Goodwill.

He is familiar with the Pfaff brand and found one yesterday at Goodwill.

He came sheepishly to me and said, "I found something".

I could not believe my eyes as I looked at an almost perfect, pristine, performing, Pfaff 260!

I don't NEED another machine.....

But the seamstress in me was dancing with joy, looking at this barely used, wood cabinet full of 

the book, bobbins, needles, feet for different uses, and even has the wheel you use to make the decorative stitches work.

It was taped shut.

I told my husband I just wanted to see one thing inside.

We carefully removed the tape and found the chain drives intact.

This machine is not as fast as mine, the motor is only 7200 rpms.

(My baby has a 1/3 horsepower motor, hence 1500 stitches a minute.)

No third hand, hmmmm.

We plugged it in, and it actually ran like a champ.

Zigzag was frozen, but otherwise looked brand new.

Research proved by the serial number it was manufactured from 1961-1962.

The same as my machine, except a smaller cabinet, smaller motor, and almost a barn fresh find.

Needless to say, I bought it....

Getting it home, we sprayed it with wrench release, oiled the ever living daylights out of it.

The poor machine sucked up oil as we put it in the oil ports.

It runs, and we actually got the zigzag to work partially.

Historically, the machines were shipped from Germany with a combination of Vaseline and kerosine to keep them from rusting on the long trip here.

Problem is, this combination caused almost a varnish to form when the machine was in use, that gummed things up a bit.

Really stiff, but found paperwork where it was worked on in Mobile by Geo Givens and son in 1988.

Then a receipt showing it had a cleaning done in 2011.

I don't know why it ended up at Goodwill.....

I took the head to the shop in town today for a cleaning, adjusting, and repair of the zigzag.

Needless to say, I am ecstatic to have another of my favorite machine ever under my roof.

I am eternally grateful to the family that donated it to Goodwill.

It will stay downstairs until I can rearrange my studio make room for the "new" machine.

Octopus my octopus, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 16 x16

Day 65 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023 

 

Turtle flight

Turtles really do look like they're flying when they swim so gracefully.

I love to watch them when I get to go to the Marathon Turtle Hospital or Loggerhead Marine Center.

Both are wonderful areas to see live rescued sea turtles.

Always a joy for me, especially when they can be released back to the sea!

Speaking of joy, we are one day closer to the 50th Annual National Shrimp Festival!

10 Days until set up day!

Equipment is getting ready for two tents.

Artworks are getting packed, wired, varnished, and finished.

The Motorhome is getting cleaned and ready for us to spend several days in it.

Also getting food lists ready, as we like to eat, drink,  and snack while on the road and at shows.

This prevents us from spending so much money at festivals on food that doesn't agree with us too well.

Turtle Flight, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 16 x 16 inches

Day 64 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023 

 

Turtle flipper

Truly amazing creatures these sea turtles!

Their skeletons are beautiful.

(Trust me, google it!)

Such a wonderful creature God has made.

They can survive large shark bites as well.

I once photographed one at the Tampa Zoo that had a large bite out of it's side.

Knowing that the shark took part of her skeleton, but didn't hit major organs actually blows my mind.

They are intelligent, beautiful, and endangered.

They can get caught in fishing nets and drown, or get struck by a boat and get bubble butt syndrome.

Bubble butt makes it impossible to dive, because they have air trapped under their shell.

They have to become permanent residents of an aquarium or a place 

like the Turtle Hospital in Marathon Florida.

They have to periodically have weights glued to their shells allowing them to dive normally.

They are endangered because out of a nest of over 100 eggs, only one may survive to adulthood.

Then they have to come back to the beach they were born at to lay eggs.

Amazing, beautiful, curious, and graceful.

So happy I get to create paintings of them!

Turtle Flipper, Acrylic on Shadowbox canvas, 16 x 16

Day 63 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Great Blue too!

Great Blue too! 

I say this because this is a "mate" to the other one that was already done.

I picked up another Great Blue Heron from the gallery this week.

Frequently, but not always folks want a left and a right of a particular creature.

So, here he is, ready for the show!

I am moving along now with the paintings completed, today is number 62.

I am behind because of our mission to Africa this summer.

38 more paintings to go!

I will not have the 100 finished by the Shrimp Festival.

I am however, going to continue to post and complete the 100 days.

When finished, I will draw for the winner of the painting valued at $295.00.

This will most likely coincide with the Peter Anderson show in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

First weekend in November will be the drawing.

I pray everyone understands.....

Great Blue too!, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 16 x 16 inches

Day 62 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Seahorse

What a day today was!

I am amazed at the calm and peace I am given these days when confronted by a situation.

I started my day as usual, with coffee and Bible study to get me on the right track.

If I don't start this way, I seem to be out of sorts all day.

Anyway, I got up from Bible study, reading and journaling, then sending messages out.

I stripped and made the bed.

Started the sheets to washing and because I had a chiropractic appointment, I did not head to the studio.

I then started picking and choosing clothing for the upcoming trip to the National Shrimp Festival.

Four days four outfits.

Except I couldn't pick which four, so I had Chris help later in the day.

I also talked to Chris about the hat situation I have.

I wear a hat to shows instead of sunglasses because I want people to be able to see my eyes.

I collect pins from areas we go while doing shows.

Problem is, it's a lot of pins and they are poking me in the head and making my hat feel really small.

I asked if he could remove the spike on the back, then drill holes in the pins so 

I could sew them on the hat band instead.

He got them all altered, and I had a pile on the counter awaiting my needle and thread.

I then headed to my appointment and came back home.

Into the studio I went, finishing a good bit of a painting I was working on.

I packed several paintings, marking the bags for the National Shrimp Festival.

It was then time for lunch.

Except lunch was not here at the house.

We took Sister to the Catfish restaurant because it is her birthday today.

When we returned, I had Chris choose outfits for the show, and I packed the bag to go into the camper.

So many small things to think about when getting ready for shows.

I also repaired several earrings with bigger hooks, so I don't have to fight them anymore.

I heard talking going on outside, so I went over to chat with another 

sister-in-law that came for her sister's birthday. 

I grabbed the pin project and chatted while sewing on the band for the hat.

That done, it was time to feed the dogs and take them for their daily ride.

Ride done; I begged off cooking tonight, opting for leftovers or sandwiches.

Finally made it back to the studio to paint for a couple of hours.

Back to the calmness in a situation.....

I tried to send photos to my email, but I am getting an error message.

So, I sent the photo to the blog, via my phone, then edited on the computer.

Years ago, when I started the blog, I would've totally lost my mind to get an error message like that.

Instead, I have signed out of my account, and will be turning off the computer in an effort to figure out the situation tomorrow.

Long, interesting, hectic, day.

Actually, a typical day around here.....

Never a dull moment at the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama!

Seahorse, Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 16inches

Day 61 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

Looking good!

I posted Frequent Flier a couple of days ago.

I realized in my booth set up; I needed partial color on a couple of the larger shadowboxes.

So, I added color to him yesterday.

I have gallery in particular that loves the partial color on the pieces.

Specifically, they will have me add color to the eyes, so they are in stark contrast to the sepia creature.

Big Fish Trading Company has sold several of them over the years.

I took ornaments to Big Fish today.

60 ornaments, boxes, and tissue paper will have them ready for Christmas.

I can't wait to see the tree when it's decorated in the store.

I love working with them, they are so easy going.

 They are never upset when I have to remove pieces for a show.

Surprise though this time, I only asked for my steampunk seahorse print!

Amy was shocked that I didn't want anything else.

"Here's looking at you kid" is another sea turtle of course.

This one has a colored eye as well. 

I am looking forward to the reactions from people when they see the booth.

I'm really getting excited too!

These two turtles will be at the top of the back right wall at the festival.

I am finally finished with the booth plan paintings.

Anything I do now will be extra stock held back until needed, or they'll head to another show.

Even then, if they don't sell, Big Fish Trading Company or Hello Gallery will take them for sure!

 Ah Dolphins at play! Nothing is a happier painting than these little guys.

If you ever have a chance to go on a dolphin cruise, take the time to see them.

Dolphins are the real jokesters of the sea, frolicking in the waves as they play.

Did you know?

Dolphins' bellies turn pink when they are happy or make little dolphins.

It is a precious sight to see them when they are happy.

We once had a cruise on a 4th of July coming into the Mobile River.

We had a real treat when a pod of dolphins joined us, leaping off the bow waves.

Happy memories of happy times at sea.

Looking good! Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, Each 12 x 36

Days 58, 59, & 60 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023

 

Frequent flier

I do seem to be on a turtle kick these days.

Sea turtles are one of my favorites to paint for sure!

It's even earned me the nickname "Turtle Queen" from one of my girlfriends who is also an artist.

I just really enjoy painting them every time.

We are still waiting on booth assignments from the National Shrimp Festival for this year.

I do know I'll be close to where I was last year on 182.

I can understand the logistics of running a show this large.

 I don't envy the people who are in charge.

Hats off to the committees, volunteers, and paid staff that run this show every year.

It is a monumental task, keeping artists, locals, and volunteers happy, or at least satisfied.

17 days until we set up for the show!

I have enough headaches myself, trying to coordinate a double booth.

My show schedule is complete now for fall. 

Already the spring shows are starting to have applications ready for artists submission.

We have money tied up in jury fees, booth fees, RV reservations or hotels for months before a show.

Prints ordered, mats and bags, business cards, labels, shopping bags all have to be purchased and ready.

Canvases, paints, varnish, wires, brushes are all expenses that have to be paid in advance.

Ornaments painted, clay made, ornaments completed, over 200 of them this year alone.

Two different boxes for ornaments, labels, bags, hangers, tissue paper, so many things.

I have no less than 3 shows to enter for March/April/May of next year on October 1st.

It's a LOT of work!

And most artists wouldn't have it any other way!

Frequent flier, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 12 x 36inches

Day 57 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2023