Swiftly, silently

One of my bucket list things to do is to swim with turtles and photograph them underwater. 

It would be absolute heaven for me! 

I have learned a lot about turtles over the years, primarily while working with share the beach. www.sharethebeach.com  My husband and I are part of a large group of people that volunteer their time to walk 22 miles of Alabama Beaches every day from May until the end of August. Each person is responsible for either a mile or half mile walk while looking for nest activity. Share the beach has also been instrumental in getting the ordinance passed in Gulf Shores to help our momma turtles get to the sand easier to lay their eggs. Just a short time ago, I would have to drag chairs, umbrellas, shower curtains and just plain garbage out of the surf in Orange Beach, AL. The walks are pleasant now, because the people are required to remove everything from the beach in the evening. Anything not removed by the owners are confiscated by the night time beach patrol. 

I have seen the area where the tents, toys, chairs and other assorted items are 

piled to the heavens it seems! 

Why have we become such a careless, throw away society? 

There are people that think if I throw it down, it just disappears. 

We are on track as humans to have more plastic than fish in our oceans by the year 2050. 

We are already eating the by products of plastic that have found their way into our food chain.

We need to train ourselves and our children to take care of our earthly home.

It is after all, the only one we've got! 

Thankfully though, we no longer trip over as many items left on the beach 

while making our predawn walks.

There are less nests on Orange beach this year in our section. I don't know if it is global warming, the amount of people on the beaches at night, or some other unforeseen problem waiting to raise it's ugly head.

In the meantime, we do our small part, waking at 415 in the morning twice a month to 

walk the beach , looking for nests..... On average each nest has about 100 eggs. Out of that, 

one, 

yes just one

 may survive to adulthood and a nest of their own. 

Swiftly, silently Acrylic on canvas 12 x 12

Day 7 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2018

Cephalopod II

Yet another?  

I'm sure you're thinking, too many octopus!

Yes another one!

This spring we went to Melbourne Florida for our first long trip to do a show. God was definitely with us on that trip! Chris and I had loads of fun, camped within WALKING distance of the first show, and after holding my breath on Saturday, success! You see, it was my first time to present my work this far into Florida and I was really nervous. I had also volunteered to teach a workshop for kids during the show on Sunday. Saturday was beautiful and clear, with lots of people coming into the booth exclaiming I've never seen anything like this! While that felt really good, there were no sales at all. I proceeded to pray for my peace of mind if there were no sales. I told God you always take care of me, so I'm not worried. (in my heart I held a secret, though not to God, I really wanted to cry!) I am learning more and more to turn over everything to him and not enter the rocking chair of worry! 

(I know I'll never get anywhere!)

Later that afternoon a couple and their daughters came back and were looking at my large octopus piece that they admired earlier in the day. The mom came and told me they were going home to think about it and I said that is understandable as it was one of my most expensive pieces. Just as she was leaving, another couple came in exclaiming, "Look at that Octopus!" She looked at me and after a quick discussion with her husband came in and produced her card to purchase the piece. After handling the sale, I told them they were the first sale of the day. They were both shocked. I thanked them profusely and went on with the rest of the day with NO more sales. 

Sunday dawned as another beautiful day in paradise. We both did not anticipate many sales that day, but counted our blessings because yesterdays one sale just about paid for the first half of the trip. 

That day with God's help we DOUBLED our sales from the previous day. It was an all day sales day, with Chris handling by himself a large sale while I was teaching the children's workshop. Our entire trip for the twelve days was paid for and I could relax as far as money was concerned. 

However, it left me with some HUGE holes in my inventory. 

We had sold every last Octopus I had in stock!

And almost every turtle!

The next week found me scrambling to find canvases to paint that were smaller and as such, faster. Days spent at the campground when we were not being tourists, painting. 

I painted 8 little octopus, 8 tiny shrimp, and 3 12 x 12 turtles as we were almost out of turtles too!

Lo and behold, the little canvases were a BIG hit, with us selling out of octopus and shrimp. In fact, everything I had painted that week found homes on Amelia Island, Florida. Both shows were wonderful, we had a great time, and hopefully we'll go again! (they were both juried shows, and there is no guarantee of acceptance even if you have done the show for years!) I myself have been wait listed for our local National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores once. 

(I gratefully accepted a spot the next day when they called too!)

Anyway, stories aside, yes ANOTHER octopus. I absolutely LOVE painting them because of their fluidity and movement. I PRAY you don't get tired of seeing them both large and small 

dear followers!

Cephalopod II, Acrylic on canvas 12in tall x 4in wide.

Day 6 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2018

Retail $45

Octopus found!

"Octopus found!"

If you have read the blog in previous years, you may have read about Oscar the Octopus.

In the mid 1960's we lived in the Philippines for at least a year. I was in first grade when we arrived at Christmas time. I got a toy box chock full of Matchbox cars and other toys. Somewhere there is a photo of me sitting in the toy box, unwrapping presents as my parents watched. You see, at that time, matchbox cars came in  a BOX! Small little boxes, and each car was different. My parents wrapped each car separately ! Lots of tape and wrapping paper. I sadly don't have the cars any more, but I did repaint the circus theme on the toy box with a barnyard theme when we had our first baby. I still have the toy box that is now over 50 years old.

Back to the octopus..........

My parents were divers and they would bring home shells and occasionally fish to put in our saltwater tank. I loved the clowns we had and one day, my dad brought home a tiny little octopus that was slightly bigger than my 6 year old hand. We put the octopus into a 5 gallon bottle that water came in and added water from our tank to help it adjust. He also added a water bubbler to the water for oxygen overnight. I looked into the hole, fascinated with the creature swimming below in the bottom. I already was in absolute love with him! I announced to my parents that I was naming him Oscar. I reluctantly went to bed, imagining the beautiful arms swimming all around the tank. 

First thing in the morning, I ran into the room and found him on the floor, outside of the bottle we had placed him in. He was a dried up bit of death to my young eyes and I took it hard. "Mommy why can't we just put him back in the water and let him swim?" Mom explained that he was gone and no longer alive. I was not a happy camper and my parents learned a hard lesson about octopus and their escape antics. My dad never brought home another one! A caveat though, Oscar is immortalized in our bathroom tile  at the end of our tub. I carefully pieced together a beautiful memorial to the octopus lost so many years ago.

"Octopus Found!" 12x4, Acrylic on canvas

Day 5 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2018

A means of escape

This was a loooonnnnggg day of painting!

 I actually spent 17 hours on one way back in the beginning(2009)!

I am glad I've finished him though.

 This guy was actually sketched out before we left for our Florida trip back in late April. This is one of those things inspired by life in general. I received a package in the mail and there was this wonderful accordion cardboard. When I stretched it out, it looked like a net to me! So I kept a couple of pieces for use in the studio. This is the second time I have painted a crab escapee and the net is the worst part, seeming to take forever!

 This is also one of the frames built by Chris and stretched by me. It is one of the ones that he "experimented" with, making it beastly heavy! He tried a new way of cutting the lumber so they are thicker and so much beefier. I've begged him not to build them like that ever again. When we pack for shows, this size goes into a large bag that has straps encompassing it for stability. I usually carry at least 6 of this size, so the bag is cumbersome at best with these thicker ones inside!

I am a bag hog, I am quick to admit as I can never pass up a new large duffel.

Chris is also on the lookout as well, and we recently picked up one that will fit the 16x16s nicely. 

This larger bag i previously mentioned is actually for strollers and I would love to find another one! 

One step bag laying around anyone?

Chris is helping out someone that looked at our Gypsy camper wagon recently. The couple was not sure if it would fit in their yard, but they loved it. They asked instead if he could help rehab a shed in their backyard for sleep over guests. It will be a beautiful addition to their stunning cottage in Fairhope. They are also discussing a piece of art for their coastal cottage. The project is taking longer than he thought it would, I think! Almost like work! In the meantime, my new frames sit in the shop, awaiting assembly. He tried putting them together the other day, but the nails kept curving every which way, making him upset. So he tabled the project for now. No worries, I have 8 12x24s waiting to fall beneath my brush. 

"A means of escape" Acrylic on shadowbox canvas. 24x24 

Day 4 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2018

Retail $325

Keeping a watchful eye

"Keeping a watchful eye" is one of many shadowbox canvases to come over the next few weeks. My loving husband builds them for me now as the company that used to make them has stopped. I have not been able to find them anywhere else. They are a saga in themselves. Originally they were available at Michaels , one of my favorite stores to shop for supplies. They always offer sales and coupons to entice you in to their store. I shop there often enough that they know my name, and ask if I need help with carts. I always try to find the best price for canvases so I can keep my prices at a reasonable level. 

The summer these appeared, I was fascinated with them. I was already putting paintings in a shadowbox frame, (also from Michaels) but the process of getting the unfinished wood frames, painting and distressing them was long and hard to store. The first year, I used them I had to have about 40 shipped from California! I had just a couple of years before, stopped using frames at all because my budget and  taste in frames was not the same as the buying public. As I said, I was fascinated with these shadowbox canvas, but at the time they were pricey. I longingly waited for them, hoping they would go on sale. Fall show season started and after a successful National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, AL, I headed to my local Michaels to buy 4x4 canvas. I could not believe my eyes when I found them on clearance! $9.99, $10.99, and $11.99 ! The price was an absolute Godsend , AND I had the funds to purchase them! I bought all 22 they had in stock and brought them home to paint over the course of three weeks before Peter Anderson in Ocean Springs, MS. That weekend, we had one of the most successful shows ever, selling over half of them during the weekend. My husband asked if there were any more available and I shook my head no. I had already been looking online and was disappointed to find no one else made them. He said I think I can make them and I was one happy camper from that point onward. He started creating them and so the canvas stretching began in earnest. When I first started, I used a handheld stapler and it was a long time to make them. He offered to buy an electric stapler and I jumped at the chance. However, the electric one proved to be a disappointment indeed! I went through two of them, fussing and fuming at having to pound in the staples with a hammer after applying them with the stapler. We then invested in a stapler that uses an air compressor and hose. It was a successful venture and the stretching became easier, but still a lot of work! Each canvas starts as 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 lumber. Chris rips the wood to a certain angle and then begins the process of cutting the lumber into the pieces to create the frames. This is a thoughtful process, requiring him to do reverse cuts on the inside frames. He then begins building the frameworks. Each canvas is a frame within a frame, held in place with blocks of wood. Every now and then, we have a hiccup, like the time we made 15 x 15 frames instead of 16 x 16. (He claimed it was an error on my part, as I did not catch the mistake until I had stretched them!) We have also made custom sizes for commissioned pieces. A few months after we started building them, they showed back up at Michaels . I bought several, going so far as to order 12 of the 24 x 24 s on sale and having them shipped to my front door! Needless to say, I am more than a little grateful that he is capable of making them for me to stretch and offer for sale. 

The canvas are also so fun for me to paint! I love the in and out aspect of them, wrapping the painting around the canvas sides. This year, I may start adding color to them and see how that is accepted. As an artist, I am always trying to make myself better and offer items that are fresh and new. Like the Sepias, the shadowboxes look like they're here to stay!

"Keeping a watchful eye" Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24 shadowbox

$325.00 

Day 3 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2018

Calamary , Calamari, or Cephalopoda?

When I looked this up just now, I thought the spelling was different. 

I've always seen it spelled Calamari and it was always octopus. 

The dictionary also refers to it as squid. 

It may be time for me to get a new dictionary!

Anyway, years ago I tried Calamari as a child in the Philippines. My parents scuba dived in 

Subic Bay (Sp?). I loved to go on the dives because I was allowed to go out on the boat with them. I would swim in the outrigger arm area of the Banca boat as Tony followed my parents diving below. My mother would frequently show me something from the bottom while she swam upside down. I played in their bubbles and had a grand time! I would point out things on the bottom and Tony would free dive down to retrieve them. I still have the shell he brought up just for me!

I also got one of the worst sunburns of my entire life after swimming for a long time one day. I had to lay on my stomach the entire way home because my back and shoulders were blistered with what was probably a second degree burn. This was also the night my parents bought me 3 black velvet paintings of Batman, Robin, and Donald Duck. I don't remember  much else after that, my 7year old self was so happy to get the paintings the burn seemed so far away.

This was the days before sunscreen and before I realized what a day in the water could do to your back! Not that I learned my lesson though, many years later on our first cruise to the Bahamas I got another one. I snorkeled all afternoon and got a burn that left me with a crisscross pattern on my back for the rest of the summer! (No blisters though!) Lesson learned hopefully. I wear a shirt now when snorkeling in the heat so I don't have a repeat performance! 

Back to the Calamari. My mother and I considered this a special treat, especially when ordered at Rousso's restaurant downtown. They had the absolute best tasting, fried just right, so tender, and a hot plate full. We ordered a plate one night and offered some to the ladies at our table. The majority of them made a face and said never. Mom and I greedily ate the entire plate together. 

Marinara sauce made it perfect.

We were both kinda glad no one wanted to share! The one part I could not eat however were the whole baby ones. Mom loved to eat those with great relish. I've only found one other place that had really great Calamari, one of the casinos in Biloxi. It was on the buffet and they had very little left. When they replenished the buffet, I had a treat of hot tasty tentacles. 

Maybe that's why I love to paint octopus so much, so many happy memories!

They never fail me and always are sold quickly. I painted 8 of them in between shows while in Florida and sold every one! I've painted them 3ft x 5ft, 12x24, and 6x6, with many sizes in between. 

This guy is 4x12 inches and can stand on a table or be hung.

"Cephalopoda" Acrylic on canvas, 4x12 inches

Day 2 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2018

The beginning

               I am sitting here typing this, and yet, I cannot comprehend that another year has passed since I began this wonderful journey of daily paintings. I actually began this blog on July 1, 2009 with Middle Bay lighthouse. There have been 900 paintings so far, and this year will bring me to a thousand pieces of art on the blog. I have created numerous pieces more than this, dear reader and I am still amazed that I get to create art for a living! 

Today marks the 183rd day of the year, with 182 before and 182 after.  The exception is a leap year.

It is also 100 days before the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama in mid October. Today also happens to be our youngest daughter's birthday and I have had a long day of reflection, listening to Classic Bollywood music on Pandora. Indian music is beautiful, diverse, and lively. 

This day has been long, creating and stretching shadowbox canvases. These canvases have become something I am known to carry, and my collectors eagerly anticipate the new years crop. 

This year has been filled with adventures too numerous to count! Wait listed for our local Arts & Crafts Show in Fairhope, Alabama, I got in at the last minute and ended up having a pretty great show despite the rain. Speaking of rain, we had a wet spring with several shows lasting only one day because of weather. I've lost money, I've made money, but most of all, I've had fun creating, selling and going to new places! I finally made a large swing into Florida for two nationally ranked shows during late April and into May. I must say they were amazing and we plan to return next year if juried into them. All of this was done with my sidekick and husband of almost 40 years. Chris also had his first show with me on Dauphin Island with his wood turning. He supports me by building canvas frames and is also a pretty awesome builder of campers for us! The Florida trip was highlighted by the first trip made in our new Gypsy wagon. Gypsy Gal proved to be extremely comfortable and really a great conversation starter! I've also been fortunate to have been selected as this year's National Shrimp Festival Poster winner for Gulf Shores as well. My year has been busy with another rather large project that has been almost 2 years in the negotiating and creating! Officially completed in April of this year, I can't wait to let the cat (or should I say fish) out of the bag!

More on this later, hopefully before the National Shrimp Festival in October. 

This 100 days will prove to be interesting to say the least!

Our youngest daughter is having her first baby in September and I will be traveling to India for a month! This will be during the 100 days~100 paintings 2018. So I will be blogging from 

New Delhi, India! I am also teaching this summer for 2 more art camps. I've already completed 4 weeks of fun, fun, fun! So needless to say, there may be some children's projects sneak in here as well! I am also giving away another painting to a lucky winner valued at $195.00 or less

after I am finished!

Are you ready?

100 days~100 paintings 2018 is about to begin!

Octopus fun! 12 x24 $175.00 Acrylic on canvas,

Day 1 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2018