Three days.......

Ghost crab III Day 64

Unbelievably , the past three days are a blur!

I received a phone call from our oldest begging for help on a birthday project for a friend next weekend.

I went and helped on Tuesday and Chris joined me at the house.

Chris puttered in the yard, getting small projects done with our grandsons zipline and rock wall.

I did what I could with our daughter Jessica, sewing primarily.

After the day, Chris and I went home in the evening.

I sewed several yard of ruffle for the mermaids at the birthday party for Saturday.

I went back the next day,(no Chris in tow) Wednesday with more sewing on the docket.

I realized that Jessica did not know about duct tape not sticking to cardboard and it really threw a monkey wrench into our plans, because the other products would not stick as well.

We stepped back and figured out a solution.

Things are getting done, just not as quickly as we both would like.

The mom and child are delighted with the projects so far,

A giant clam shell.

4 mermaids.

A coral reef.

Backgrounds provided by my grids that will be sold afterward.

(more on this later)

Anyways, a busy two days with two ghost crabs thrown into the mix!

Ghost crab IV Day 65

Neel's kitty Day 66

Today's painting!

This cat is our grandson Neel's favorite when Christina reads him the book in India.

He invariably tries to kiss the cat!

When I asked Christina what she wanted for Neel's birthday painting, she said the cat.

And so, here he is....

All 6x6 inches of him.

I hope he likes it!

Today is Neel's first birthday. 

It's hard to believe that one year ago Chris and I were both in India, 

celebrating the birth of our 2nd grand!

Today's September 5th was totally different!

I found out about some free stretcher bar frames at our Foley Habitat for humanity restore.

Chris came back from walking the dogs, and I asked if he wanted to go on an adventure!

We deposited money at the bank, then headed to the store in Foley.

We got there before they opened, but the frames were in a huge pile out in the back.

We had brought the truck, and started digging.

One of the women that works at the store said take what you want, just restack what you don't.

We said sure, no problem.

Lots of shallow frames, but we can stack them with glue and nails and they will be a nice deep edge.

There were a few deep edge ones, particularly three very large ones!

We quietly dug through the wood, stepping carefully around the palettes of  frames.

Before we left, there was another artist that showed up and started his own pile.

Another artist talked with us while in the store inquiring where the stretchers were.

Our truck was full!

We then headed to the fastener store to get something for Chris.

We also went to Hobby Lobby to pick up a roll of canvas to start stretching.

We ended up getting lunch at Calverts too!

A very fun morning.

We got home, emptied the truck and Chris headed inside for a nap.

I decided pool time was in order, so I cleaned the pool and then chilled a bit.

When Chris came out, I came inside and got a shower before heading to the studio.

Chris modified the bars on the biggest stretcher bars slightly, 

giving them an edge that will allow some spring when I paint.

We stretched the canvas together, making new folds at the corners.

The canvas took 1/3 of my canvas roll I had just bought!

There is a piece 21 inches by 6 feet that was cut off and will be used later.

That's a LOT of canvas. 

It will be gorgeous though, I have plans for life size sea turtles!

BTW, it measures 3 ft 7 inches by 5 ft 7 inches.

Not the biggest I've ever done, but pretty large, especially in my studio!

I have a good sized studio, but the ceilings are angled inward, making large pieces difficult at times.

I then painted the kitty this evening after dinner.

WHAT a wonderful day!

Three days, Acrylic on canvas, Ghost crab III, Ghost crab IV, Neel's kitty

Days 64, 65,  and 66 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Geez! The weekend got away from me!

We had friends come down this weekend with their baby girl!

Paintings done for the past three days, just not posted!

We went to the zoo, the beach, the splash pad at the park, and Mr Gene's Beans.

All in all a fun weekend helping the young ones relax some. 

The tiny house was a hit again too!

Here ya go!

The poured backgrounds continue with this one.

I loved punching up the highlights so the seahorse would show up against the background.

My best friends daughter also came into the studio, fascinated with the poured paint!

So we dove in and created for her to take her beach pieces home. 

Lots of paint, so I have several canvases to paint on as well.

I pray you're not tired of the backgrounds, I promise there will be some with some beautiful blues soon!

I must also get on the shadowboxes as they are the best sellers.

19 of them await my brushes sooner rather than later!

My wonderful husband also spotted me some money up front to be able to purchase canvases on sale for Labor Day. The pricing was really good, the selection not so much!

It's a good thing that I still have a very good supply on hand of the larger ones...

You see, my husband calls me a hoarder of canvas.

He says I have too many on hand, but when they're on sale for 70% off and I have money....

He knew today I am tapped out of funds, before my next show at the end of this month in Daphne, Al.

If I am a hoarder, he's an enabler!

I love him so much, I think I'll keep him!

I had a great time with the ghost crabs as well.

Or are they sand crabs?

I don't know, I just know I don't like them running across my feet at 5:30 am  while looking for turtles!

I am scared I am going to step on and crush one of the little guys one day.

They run faster than the sandpipers!

Fun to watch, and even more to paint!

Anyway, the day is winding down, I am still praying for the people affected by hurricane Dorian.

The Bahamas have been hammered for over a day now!

Fortunately the USA seems to be going to be spared a direct hit on the East coast.

At least not as a Category 5.

I can only imagine the Bahamas right now.

The things I think about in my studio, praying for others with each brush stroke.

Seahorse, Ghost I, Ghost II, Acrylic on canvas, 4x4 inches

Days 61, 62, & 63 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

The young upstart

The young upstart is another of the poured background pieces.

In case you can't tell, I am in love with this method!

The backgrounds are adding another dimension to the pieces that is so fun to watch happen.

My husband watched me do the pouring the other day on these brown, grey, 

and gold pieces and even he was fascinated!

It's so hard to imagine covering the backgrounds of so many canvases in so little time.

Much like the bubbles in watercolor, there is very little control in how the pieces will turn out, 

but it is still a fun process.

Today found us driving across the bay to pick up pieces from a show at Southern Art and framing.

I love the girls that run the gallery, and they are always easy going.

I was very surprised though when we walked in to see a few pieces have actually sold!

There were empty hooks from at least 4 of my elongated canvases from the spring.

There is also a possibility of a shadowbox sale as well.

All is good in my Art world!

We also visited my Aunts at the nursing home.

 They were delighted with the visit and I was equally delighted to see them. 

Both of them are very dear to me and we don't visit often enough! 

I must make more of an effort to go over there. I brought them a copy of the Sandpiper post and they loved it as well. I also gave them each a print of the Jesus vision painting that my Aunt Margaret had after her accident two years ago. I was very nervous about painting it, but she was absolutely delighted with my results. I will not, and have never have claimed to be a portrait painter, but the piece turned out lovely enough for her. They both loved the prints I brought them in the nursing home.

We talked a lot about my Africa mission too!

Aunt Margaret is progressing beautifully after her stroke a little over a week ago, talking is hard, but she is determined!

The trip to Mobile was an adventure to say the least.

There was a  major accident on I-10 on the bayway. When I saw the car, I prayed for whomever had been in it. The car appeared as though there may not have been a survivor and sure enough I found out later that the woman was thrown from the vehicle and drowned in the bay. I am praying for her family and the trucker that hit her by accident as her car was disabled on the side of the road. 

I know I would be devastated if I caused someone to die, even by accident.

Because of this accident, all traffic was bypassed onto the causeway, causing major traffic jams.

Even though we spent several hours in Mobile, we went North and over the "Dolly Parton" bridge to get to 225 to go home. 

The sea turtle is today's painting!

The picture below is just a small part of the turtle team at the excavation of the green turtle nest last week.

I am in a blue hat and Chris is behind me to the right. (My left)

We are a happy bunch, but sad turtle nesting season is over tomorrow!

The young upstart, Acrylic on canvas, 4x12 inches

Day 60 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

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

Today is a two for one!

Today is a two for one because last night Chris and I went on a date instead of posting.

I finished the painting of course, just did not post the turtle that was completed.

We went to go see "Overcomer", the new Christian Movie that just came out this past weekend.

It did really well this weekend, I think it may have surpassed their expectations.

The movie is really worth going to see, very heart wrenching and humorous at times.

The story line was good, and as usual the acting was very well done.

This little turtle was so fun to paint.

I really enjoyed him a lot!

The paintings are flowing now, much easier now and quicker.

The seahorses were a blast to create!

I love them and painting them was a breeze.

I do love these poured backgrounds as well, they make the transition easy from pour to completion.

The gallery owner was extremely excited to have me put them in the gallery too!

Time will tell if they sell, I know I'm excited to see the results of the fruits of my labors.

"Sea turtle flying" & "Seahorses together", Acrylic on canvas, both are 4x12 inches

Days 57 & 58 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Octopus Changing II

Another octopus!

I am really enjoying these little works of art!

I hope you are as well!

The days are going by so fast now, my show schedule is coming together nicely too. 

I am in the studio every day now, getting back in the groove after my Africa mission.

The routine is simple for me, get up, greet the husband, get coffee and read the bible.

If I don't start the day this way, it feels disjointed and "off".

I love starting my day with God's word speaking to me on so many levels.

My Scripts & Strokes class pieces are coming to me as I read the word as well. The small group starts September 9th for me and I am excited about the new series of paintings we are going to create.

New people to meet, old friends to greet!

I am looking forward to this semester at Celebration Church.

Any way, back to the studio!

My friend Linda Scott joined me today with a large paint pour. She is curious about the process and we both learned a lot about the beauty that is a poured background. She brought 6 canvases, we mixed paint and I got out extra canvases just in case. 

Glad I did! 

She ended up with a lovely bunch of extra 4x4s and three 4x12s.

A grand total of 18 canvases covered in beautiful colors and so quickly.

She is nervous about painting on top of them though!

I will have to guide and push my friend down that road as well.

Love ya Linda!

I also took several of the new pieces to the Artists gallery in downtown Fairhope today.

I was nervous myself about the gallery owner liking them or not. 

Mind you, I am still true to my realism, but the abstract backgrounds are very different.

I needn't have worried.

She is in love with them!

Here is what my space looks like after dropping them off today!

The wood turning is my husbands. He has started a  new series of bowls with lids. 

We are both curious to see what the new pieces will do in the next month.

I have a lot to do this week as well. Shepherds place is in the morning, I love working with the seniors!

Thursday morning we walk for turtles the last time this season.

Chris also gets a tooth pulled that morning too!.

I get to drive to Mobile after turtles to pick up pieces from a show at Southern Art and Framing.

A busy day!

A blessed week!

Octopus changing II, Acrylic on canvas, 4x12 inches

Day 56 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Octopus changing

I simply love to paint these guys!

They are so fun to paint on these poured backgrounds.

The backgrounds seem to give a movement and beauty to the pieces.

I am having a great time painting them while Pandora plays in the background 

filling my studio with music and giving my brush a beat.

I can only pray you are enjoying the series as much as I am!

Today found us going to church, our son coming over for a visit, and new lights in Chris's Workshop.

Our son is an electricians mate in the Coast Guard Reserves and he is quite handy with our electrical needs. He put a meter on his dads truck and determined that the fan was the problem with his AC. $60 later for a fan, and that was repaired. Our son also got his wife one of Chris's new wooden bowls in exchange for the lights in the shop. It was definitely a win for everyone involved.

I love having adult children now, our relationships are on a whole new level!

They are fun to be with, and I think we did an all right job as parents.

At least they don't mind being with, working alongside, and talking to us!

All in all, a wonderful day.

Octopus Changing, Acrylic on canvas, 4x12 inches

Day 55 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019