Sandpiper

Today was rather "busy" in a myriad of ways.

I did laundry, painted canvases, went with Chris on a journey looking for a shop vacuum, ate lunch, then painted today's piece.

I then got in the pool with my sister in law for a long luxurious time

 of chatting, floating, and remembering.

My sister lives here now and we both love it so much!

We have had many discussions about Christ and being Christian.

She has enjoyed them too, deciding to be baptized again!

This has made me beyond joyous.

Chris and I then rode the dogs, don't ask it's every day!

Ate dinner of leftovers.

I then went to my studio, and Chris to his lathe.

We both got a lot done, and now I blog and call it a day!

Whew!

Sandpiper, Acrylic on hardibord, 10 x 10 inches

Day 22 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2020

Playful Dolphin

Today's piece was combination of painting on top and painting inside.

Painting on top of the poured paint, painting inside the bubbles that formed in the pour.

If you will recall last fall, I painted a whale that had lots of bubbles and 

I did a combination of painting inside and adding more bubbles to my liking.

Anyway, lots of fun to paint as usual.

I had a meeting with the author of the book I'm illustrating today.

I am delighted to report we are moving along nicely, making decisions 

that will help me with my work in the studio.

I am scanning and sending two cover ideas to the project manager

and hope that it goes well in that department.

I will be pushed to complete by August, but that is my goal.

August was my goal originally because we were going to Africa.

Now that mission seems to be flattened, although I am talking with Alfred daily.

Prayers appreciated that my neck and back hold out over the next couple of weeks.

I am still reeling over the National Shrimp Festival being cancelled.

I get it, but that would've been a good deal of income that is now gone.

I also have collectors that are very disappointed.

Hopefully God will see fit to fill in and feed me as he feeds the birds.

Besides, there may be an "Almost, but not Quite Sea Festival" here at my house in October.

I want to have about 4 artists here, so we can social distance by spreading out in the yard.

Maybe by October, people will be ready to get out and buy art!

Prayers for everyone concerned, I know we all count on these festivals 

for our main source of income.

I am not worried in the least.

Anyhow, 

That's it for this evening.

May God bless and keep you in his perfect care.

Wear a mask and wash your hands!

Playful dolphin, acrylic on Hardibord, 10 x 10

Day 20 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2020

Are you a sandpiper?

Are you a Sandpiper?

Am I a Sandpiper?

Today was my last day for this year to walk the beautiful beach looking for a sea turtle nest.

You think about lots of things while walking a mile in the darkness just before dawn.

I was alone with my thoughts today as Chris was having a tooth pulled later this morning.

My thoughts wander a lot while walking.

This morning though I felt as if God was speaking to me about the beauty 

he provides in this world we live in and he created.

This morning it was sandpipers, seagulls, and Blue herons providing the background for my thoughts.

I was on the first leg of my one mile walk, and I had my sights focused on the sand above the wrack line, looking for sea turtle tracks. 

However, the sandpiper was just ahead of me, in my peripheral vision.

I glanced off and on at the little bird ahead of me, rushing with the edge of the water.

He occasionally poked his beak down, searching for the mussels that could become breakfast.

He passed up lots of little fish that were getting washed up along the shore.

In the meantime though he kept a wary eye on me, looking furtively back every few seconds.

His feet moving so fast, he rushed on ahead still looking back frequently.

He dipped his beak searching for a meal and I got too close for his comfort. 

The bird decided to change tactics and ran into the water toward me, 

then cutting past in a brown and white blur.

His feet were moving so fast, I could not even see them.

I snickered to myself, that he was so worried I was going to hurt, eat,

 or possibly kill him while he was rushing along.

That's when God spoke to me.

His human creation (us) are the sandpipers.

Stick with me here.

We rush along, searching for the next big thing.

We miss the little things he places in our lives every day.

Searching for the next big thing. 

We are constantly running along, instead of taking advantage of the  obvious.

Meanwhile, we are running, looking back to make sure that something doesn't catch us.

We run first in one direction, then the other trying to escape.

Sometimes we miss the big waves, or the tangled fishing line that the devil throws in our way.

We are constantly running, scared to death that life is going to catch us and throw us for a loop.

We are looking back at our past lives instead of focusing on the here and now.

We also forget about our future life, what we were created for.

But what if God is the one chasing us?

What if he is working so hard to catch you, but you won't stop.

We all think we can fix our lives, our past, our present, our future.

Be still and listen for him, he will talk to you.

His son Jesus (your brother!) is right next to you, pleading for you to just stop and give God the time of day.

We were all created for a purpose, to love and serve God in whatever capacity he chooses to give us.

Give him the time out of your day.

To Pray.

To Walk with him.

To listen.

To learn.

Are you a sandpiper?

I'm pray I am not!

I constantly listen for him to speak to me.

Are you a sandpiper? Acrylic on poured background, 4x12 inches

Day 59 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Morning is his time

This series is a bit of an experiment on my part. 

I have several ideas bouncing around my studio, but I don't always act upon them.

I cannot become bored with my Artist life, there are too many things to paint!

I have a swipe file that is thick with things I want to paint. I add and subtract from it as the years go by, changing the tape on the front to reflect the current year.

This series is inspired by something I saw at the Naples show.

People have always been in love with the long skinny canvases, 

but I've only done them in a 4 x 12 size. They invariably get snapped up quickly. 

These guys are on custom canvases 4 x 24!

I will be finishing the series while in India. 

Meanwhile, a sneak peek ! 

Tell me what you think!

This weekend finds us helping our daughter, Jessica and her family move into their new home. We also delivered a massive entertainment center that is gorgeous in Sean's office. (And was a absolute steal at $60.00! I am going to be doing a lot of painting in the next few weeks over there, getting everything just so! We also have a set of furniture here to paint as well before delivering it to their new home. We are also building a loft bed frame for our grand to put in his room. 

Tomorrow we'll all be wearing messy clothes and wielding brushes and rollers in attempt to paint the bedroom set I purchased as well for another $50.00. Old 80's furniture, should be interesting to see how that project works out! I just pray the rain holds off so we can get some work done.

Things are hopping here at the Raccoon retreat studio.

I have a pile of items to take to India, but I have not even begun to pack!

Long days and nights ahead.....

Morning is his time, Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 24 inches

Day 36 of the 100 days~100 paintings Spring 2019

Just Sitting by the Bay

         This little painting was also a joy to create in watercolor. I enjoy it very much when students ask me to demonstrate small pieces like these to show techniques they can use. Using the same "tricks" as Go Away! this painting uses washes, glazes, spattering, layering. Miniatures are always fun to paint, although the brushes can be a bit small to handle!
 
         Just Sitting by the Bay, watercolor, 3 x 5 inches

Ruddy! and Piper!

 

 

Ruddy! Is the little bird that came to our beach at Cayo Costa last year. This is a much smaller version of the larger painting completed several days ago. It also has less sand and background. I try to have a variety of pieces and prices to offer at the shows, so my work is more affordable. I have collectors that range from waitresses and car mechanics to doctors and lawyers. I love to keep my work at a price point that allows me to create and still make a living doing this really fun thing called ART!

 

Ruddy! Acrylic on canvas 5 x 7~available at Southern Art & Framing in Mobile, Alabama

 

 

Piper! Is another of my smaller affordable pieces available for sale at Southern Art & Framing in Mobile, Alabama. I am so incredibly happy to be able to do something I love to do for a living! God has been very kind to me and I try to give back to the church whenever I can. This past week found me making no less than 4 almost life sized Football players and Cheerleaders for our kickoff for small groups on Sunday. I have become a rapid enough painter now that I can do large scale projects for others and still have time for my works for sale. I will also be teaching paintings based on scriptures starting next week on Monday. I am really looking forward to the class and seeing who shows up!

 

Piper! Acrylic on canvas 5 x 7~Day 67 of the 100 days

The Returning Beggar

     This is the third in the bird series from Coya Costa. I want to go there again because the island was absolutely filled with animals so happy in their pristine environment. Coya Costa island is so beautiful and the animal species numerous to say the least. The Sand Dollar we found was huge and a brilliant reddish purple. I had never seen a live one that large or that deep in color. The whelks we found that were live were beautiful as well. We put the live shells back into the water so they could live for another day. Much to my dismay, the sand dollar we had found was located by a family that excitedly added it to their growing shell collection on the beach. Chris and I knew not to keep live specimens, but apparently this family was either ignorant or uninformed. At least I hope it was one of those and not that they did not care about the environment.

          Note to visitors~ please read the instructions offered by the State and National Parks. No live species are to be removed from the parks! This not to make your life miserable, but to keep native species alive for the next generation. No shell, creature, plant or rock is worth going to jail over or paying a fine because you wanted that memory from your vacation. Take only pictures~leave only footprints. Then the Coya Costas of our beautiful country will be there for our future generations.

       This little guy is not so little. I loved painting these birds larger than life size. It also makes them easier to paint! 'The Returning Beggar' 12 x 24 acrylic on canvas.

Shorebird

     I have a favorite painting that I did years ago when I first began that featured 6 sandpipers and beautiful pale water. I carted this painting around for the better part of three years before the right buyer came along. The story goes like this...................

     Most painters paint in uneven numbers, 1, 3, 5, etc. For some reason, I wanted to have 6 birds in this particular painting. It has 5 birds going in one direction and one towards the others. I love the painting and it is still one of my best selling prints, called "Sand, Surf, & Sandpipers" From the beginning, my husband wanted me to paint out one of the birds, and kept telling me on a regular basis that was why the painting did not sell. Featured at the National Shrimp Festival, the painting caught the eye of a woman that was married to a much older man. She loved the story about the painting, looked at me and said I want you to tell your husband something for me. I am going to buy this painting and the reason is my husband tells me stories about his children chasing the sandpipers along the beach. The main attraction to me is the 6 sandpipers. Why you ask? My husband has 6 children and it will mean the world to him! She not only bought that one, but another as well . So stick to your guns artists! Don't always follow the rules and stay in the box!

     Back to this little guy! Painted much larger than life, this bird is so much fun to paint! I am so excited to bring a painting a day to the Eastern Shore and will be teaching the discipline this fall at the Eastern Shore Art Center. I am really looking forward to it! Painted with a limited palette, color decisions are easier and quicker to make. The limited palette makes your paintings more cohesive as well, because they are simple to make similar if you are making a series such as these birds. The limited palette is also non~fugitive, meaning your paintings will never change!

Shorebird~12 x 24~Acrylic on canvas

Exploring the seashore

         Exploring the seashore came about because of the trip we took to the Keys last year. On the way, we stopped again in St Augustine, Florida. We spent a few days ar the state park and rode our bicycles all over the city. Bicycles allow you to park easier, and when the traffic is really bad, get ahead of the crowd of cars waiting for the traffic lights..
         The day we arrived was our first day out from Fairhope and we were tired, but wanted to see the Atlantic ocean that evening. We were not the only people there and I observed the children playing in the water. Several camera shots later, I felt I had the pictures neccessary for some delightful paintings. I changed the bathing suit, punched up the color and just had a lot of fun painting this little girl on the beach.
          This year I am pleased to announce as well that the Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope, Alabama has asked me to teach a class about  "A Painting a Day" Look for them to announce the class soon starting in the fall. I highly recommend the practice and diligence it takes to make a painting a day. It makes you a better painter, allows you to make quicker decisions, and makes painting more profitable (if you have chosen this for your profession). It also is just plain FUN!
"Exploring the Seashore" 12 x 24 Acrylic on canvas

Splish~Splash

             
           It seems appropriate to start the 100 days~100 paintings 2012 with a post about the sea. I have really been a water bug my entire life. Now in my adult years, I find myself drawn to the water frequently. I may be swimming, out on a sailboat for an evening sail, or painting water. Our bodies are made up of mostly water so I guess that is the connection.

            I helped my father in Ohio when we had a boat refinish project. He made the gunnels, keel, dash, windshield, and other parts at the wood shop at the Air Force base we were living. This is the same base that brought me my first and only horse, gave me a new love for fresh corn, started me on the road to extraordinary kite flying, and fostered in me a new respect for children that were different from myself.
             
            I also spent what seemed like hours with my father under the boat painting the inside while the snow fell gently from the sky. As we worked, I dreamed the dreams of children, in eager anticipation for the day when I would again hit the water. Until then, patience was the key word, carefully pushing the enamel paint deep into the cracks and crevices of the fiberglass that would soon be under deck boards during the summer. My father finished the  wood pieces carefully and slowly, and, after several coats of polyurethane the water reflected in the sheen of the wood grain while we were on the water.
            
             The boat named Quarter Penny (because of  money found under the decking) also made the trip to California when we moved to yet another Air Force Base. This time though she was not on the water, but a trailer and made a very efficient way to carry the camping equipment we used while trekking and camping across country to our new base.
            
            This was the life of a military family, moving every couple of  years. New friends, new home, new schools, new adventures.
            
              The one constant in my life was the presence of water.

Winged Flight I

Followers of the blog now know that I have a special passion for the silent ones, the animals that can't speak for themselves. I am constantly painting, photographing, or researching about the animals I know and love.

When I was younger, I wanted to become a veterinarian to the point of doing research on the college of choice, Auburn. Little did I know that in 1976 when we moved home to Alabama I would be so close to my dream of attending college and taking care of my beloved creatures. But, life takes a few twists and turns and I abandoned the notion of becoming a Veterinarian and instead switched gears to nursing. That notion left my head when I figured out college was not for me! I had met the love of my life and married him 6 months later and have never looked back! God has a plan for me and us and we are still happily following that plan!

This painting is part of the series of Ibis I photographed in Florida on the island of Coya Costa. I hope to go back there, to walk the beaches, paint and photograph the animals that call the island home. I highly recommend it, it is indeed a beautiful place. This painting marks number 93 and is for yesterdays entry.

"Winged flight I" Acrylic on canvas 6 x 12

The hunt for Mussels

This painting began with our trip to Coya Costa off the coast of Florida in May. I have never seen so many Ibis in one place. They were a delight to watch and photograph. The water off the Florida coast really is this pretty, clear and colorful. The water was too cloudy for snorkeling so I began photographing. I got several shots of this marvelous group of birds in action. They are colorful and bright, active and apparently hungry for mussels. It is a very comical sight seeing them chase each other for the "prize" when one of the birds catches a tasty morsel!

"The hunt for Mussels" acrylic on canvas 16 x 40

You go your way.......

Named "You go your way...." because when one of the birds would turn, they would all eventually follow. These Ibis were so beautiful to watch! I had never seen them with more than one or two at a time and here was an entire flock of them. I also had never seen them surf fishing. Well, surf musseling at least. These guys were virtually unaffected by the people on the beach. They would simply walk away because they did not want to be seperated from their quest for fresh mussels. It was such a delight to see them dipping, diving and going back and forth in their hurried hunt for seafood! This flock feels right at home on Coya Costa Island off the coast of Florida. Only accessible by boat, it is well worth the trip to see the vast assortment of birds, shells, turtle nests, and fish that call the island home.

You go your way....6 x 12 acrylic on canvas

Terns Turn!

I am always surprised by the behavior of these funny little birds. Sandpipers find their way into several of my paintings, together and seperately. This guy was the brave little fellow that came within inches of my sandwich while begging. He never even hesitated picking up the small pieces of bread tossed to his eager beak. The only time he would move was if I moved too suddenly while trying to photograph him in such close quarters. I really enjoyed his visit! This painting is number 81-It hardly seems I have started at all!

Terns Turn! 10 x 10 Acrylic on canvas

Just Catchin a Wave

I have fond memories of surfing as a child, what little bit I got to do as I did not own a board. I loved the way this guy was working so hard to perfect his technique and stay on his board. His board is really a skim board and not a long board. I photographed him early this Spring at the Fairhope Beach. It really was beginning to get warm in the air temperature, but I am certain that the water was still very cold. He just could not wiat for warm weather to try out the skim board.

I enjoy watching others trying out new things. I was really pulling for the kid that was learning to water ski behind our condo recently. The father was yelling directions, but in the long run, the only way you can get better at something is to practice. (It also helps to have someone teaching you with patience!) I felt bad for her because the advice the dad was giving was weird. Somehow, she finally popped up out of the water and I cheered inwardly because I remember the feeling of satisfaction when finally "getting" something. Have you tried something different and out of your comfort zone recently? I find myself challenged on a daily basis, either with something entirely new or a new way to do something I have never done before.

Just Catchin a Wave Acrylic on Canvas 24 x 36

Looking for a meal

This guy was our subject in the USA Oil class. We learned water sand, reflections and of course the bird! The students all seem to understand the concept of painting all of the above and realize that most of them just need time behind a brush. I keep telling them that is the best gift you can give yourself, time.
That most of all is what I am getting out of this adventure. Time behind the brush. The paintings are coming even more rapidly now, almost like they are painting themselves. The downloading is a snap and cropping comes with great ease. I am really happy that I started this adventure!
When someone asks me how do you know what to paint? It is so easy! The paintings in my mind are now coming to pass, I only hope I have enough room to dry them all!. This show season will be so colorful, vibrant, playful and fun!

Skittering in the Surf

Skitter~of small animals or children, to scurry,
(fr. older Skit, to jump or dart around, of Scand. origin)

These amazing birds are Sandpipers that are quite common on the beaches locally. We also saw them down in the Florida Keys in January of this year. They run along the edges of the surf, hoping for tender little morsels that their long beaks pluck from the sand and surf.
Anyone who has followed these little birds on the beach knows the meaning of the word Skitter. They always seem to run ahead or above and around any person walking on the beach. They run with rapid little legs, casting quick glances behind them as though you were a lion about ready to pounce.
I love to paint these birds and have several in the plans file for the future. We will put one in a painting for the USA class tomorrow.
This painting is 11 x 14 Oil on canvas.