Five for two

If you're friends on Facebook with me, you may have already seen this painting today.

Today at Freedom Festival I posted early this morning photos of my tent and walls.

These guys were on the back wall of the tent.

They were also the first painting to sell.

Oh my!

(One of two most expensive pieces in the booth!)

Thank you Father!

I was getting admittedly nervous though as they did not sell until about 2 hours into the show.

So, from about 8:30 to 11:00 crickets.

I was questioning my sanity about doing this show again.

But it was my best ever one day show in my show history last year.

Last year, everyone was upset about the National Shrimp Festival getting cancelled again.

The mayor of Orange Beach was particularly upset and managed 

to roust up a show in less than two weeks.

So, with no Shrimp Festival, a lot of people came to the one-day show.

Then they expanded this year to be three days instead of one.

The Art portion of the show this year is only two days Friday and Saturday.

Friday morning the crowds were very light.

Lots of tourists going home Saturday were at the show.

Five hours later, toward the end of the first day we had two more sales that rounded out the day.

Let me tell you, I was praying a lot about what was happening.

Mostly praying about peace as with my morning sale, my show was paid for and then some.

I was seeing other artists not so fortunate.

Hopefully Saturday will be better with sales scattered through the day and worth all the hard work.

Carpe' diem!

Another aside about the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores next week.

I had a gentleman come in my booth and tell me he heard that it wasn't happening.

I was a little taken aback and set him straight.

Rumors flying are not cool.

I messaged someone on the committee and told him what I had heard.

He sent back a face slap emoji.

I told him indeed.

Just so you know folks, there is a National Shrimp Festival 

happening next week in beautiful Gulf Shores, Alabama.

October 6th-9th, 2022

The biggest party on the Gulf Coast!

I'm looking forward to the show, although two booths of 

completely different styles of art will be a challenge.

I think I'm ready, almost....

5 days until set up 6 days until the show!

Eeeek!

Five for two, Acrylic on multi canvas, 36 x 60 inches

Day 95 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Feeling crabby

Feeling crabby.

Yes, I was admittedly feeling very crabby this afternoon.

After weeks of getting ready, today was set up day for our first show.

It was a battle from the beginning.

First, the tent roof was tight after not being used for several months.

Then we just haven't put it together, so we had to remember how to put it together.

It's a pop-up tent, so it should be easy, right?

Not so much. 

We love this tent because of its ability to withstand wind.

However, trying to set up in the wind is a problem. everything is a kite.

The roof, the wall covers, and my covered Flourish walls all became sails in the wind.

The weather said the wind gusts would be up to 29 mph.

They were definitely not 29, but closer to 40.

We put up the frame and roof.

When we added the walls, the tent began to move in spite of about 200 pounds of weights.

I became extremely nervous and asked Chris if the show people had any sand bags available.

The answer was no.

He immediately turned into my knight of shining armor.

He walked to the parking lot at the rear of the show and found two old sandbags.

We put these on the windward side of the tent.

It was still moving.

He then showed up with pieces of concrete to weigh down the other legs.

I finally felt comfortable enough to put the artwork onto the walls.

We got finished in about three hours total.

We still have to put on pricing and hang an outdoor wall with steampunk prints.

I'm excited about this first show!

Feeling crabby, acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 16 x 16 inches

Day 94 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

The escapee

I love painting octopus!

So much fun with all the legs.

I'm also careful to make sure there are eight legs when I paint them.

A great use for a shadowbox.

Today is the calm before my storm of shows starting with 3 in a row.

I am excited to see what happens!

We are pretty much packed and ready to go.

Although I'm sure I will be making lists and checking them off before we leave.

Set up in the afternoon.

Thankfully all we have to contend with is wind.

Hurricane Ian is currently battering the state of Florida.

This storm came in on one of my favorite areas. 

All the names they keep naming off, Coya Costa, Ft Meyers, Naples, Tampa, Cape Coral. 

I have camped, shown, and played all over the areas that are now affected.

I am praying for all of them, as we are still full of memories from Sally.

Ian is no Sally.

He is a monster with a huge surge.

I've also had to make a decision, depending on the damage in that area.

I've been accepted to two shows on the East coast, while I was waiting to hear from the ones on the West coast.

One was in Naples, the other was at Cape Coral.

I have a sinking feeling neither of them may happen now as they are both in January.

Supply issues, and repair contractors, electrical repairs may all make a show in January an impossibility.

I'm adopting a wait and see attitude for a couple of days.

In the meantime, I paint!

The escapee, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 16 x 16 inches

Day 93 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

The Sentinel II

Another day, another painting!

I have been able to breathe today.

Hurricane Ian seems to be headed in another direction.

Unfortunately, that means someone else is going to be hit.

That place seems to be one of the areas we go to do shows.

Also, one of my favorite places in the keys may be deluged again.

The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida has been there for over 25 years and does marvelous rescues of all types of sea turtles.

They sustained pretty nasty amounts of damage the last time the keys were hit.

So many friends, and collectors down that way!

I am praying for all concerned in the path of this horrendous storm.

In fact, I am praying for all of Florida. and others impacted by this monster.

Meanwhile here, the weather has turned to a truly gorgeous fall.

For the first time in months, we've had the back door open all day.

The dachshunds love it, because they can run in and out at their pleasure.

I've pretty much packed the show for this weekend, but I may add one more piece to the mix.

Tomorrow is another day!

The Sentinel II, Acrylic on Shadowbox canvas, 12 x 36 inches

Day 92 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

The Sentinel

I just love painting birds.

They are such fun with all their feathers.

I enjoy adding texture to my paintings with lots of brush strokes.

I also typically pray while I paint, lifting others up with each stroke of the brush.

Today I am praying for those in the path of hurricane Ian.

The forecast keeps changing, and with it my nervous energy increases.

Nervous energy translates into more work done.

I have packed for the Freedom Festival show, with a few more pieces 

to be added as the week progresses.

I have also packed most of the steampunk for the National Shrimp Festival.

Ten days until the set up for that show!

Ten more days, we'll be camping, setting up, and getting ready for the biggest party on the coast.

Two booths, 6 walls to hang on, two completely different styles of art, 

prints and originals for one booth (steampunk), all originals for the other one (marine life sepias).

It's going to be a headache during set up, but hopefully we can do it without snapping at each other.

Powerade in the ice chest, snacks , and lots of love!

We also pick up the Audubon show on Tuesday the 4th in Mississippi at 2:30 pm 

after a reception for the Cruisin the Coast.

Wednesday the 5th is set up day for shrimp.

It's going to be an interesting week next week for sure!

Now, hurricane Ian just needs to fade away........

Prayers for Florida....

The sentinel, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 12 x 36 inches

Day 91 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Invaders of our shores II

Invaders indeed!

We are waiting on an invader to come into the Gulf of Mexico.

This invader is really not welcome anywhere along our coasts.

This invader?

His name is Ian.

This is a hurricane that seems to have its sights on Florida.

Wisely, the governor has put a good bit of the state under a state of emergency.

For now, it is slated to go into the big bend of the state.

My first show, Freedom Fest is just when this thing is supposed to be arriving.

Even though the show is in Orange Beach, Alabama this storm is rather large.

So far, our weather forecast is predicting the winds to be gusting 

up to 79 mph during set up on Thursday.

I am predicting that the show organizers are watching carefully.

We probably will not do set up until Friday afternoon, losing one day of the show. 

The winds are probably still going to be about 45 mph.

I think they may make it a one-day show for Saturday only.

As an artist, I am somewhat protective of my works.

I have been known to pack up the artworks when weather is predicted.

I will also wait to set up.

A couple of years ago, there was a storm system coming into Destin, Florida.

We were getting ready for set up for the show.

We made the decision to wait until the next morning.

There were other artists were thinking the storm was past us.

They started, fighting the wind.

A couple of them set up but lowered their tents.

It did not help them from the tents collapsing under the pressure.

One of them had to find a new tent for the next day.

This made us realize we needed a better-quality tent.

We ended up with an Extreme X7 tent.

The framework is tremendous and is extremely well built.

It proved itself by performing well during Arts & Crafts here in Fairhope.

We survived wind gusts of close to 70 mph.

I am grateful I invested in it for sure!

This invader however is a fish.

Another not so welcome invader.

Invaders of our shores II, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 16 x 16 inches

Day 90 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022

 

Invaders of our shores I

Invaders indeed!

The lionfish explosion happened as early as 1985 off the coast of Florida.

They can consume more than 100 species of fish, competing with our local fish for food.

Lionfish reproduce year-round!

Each female can produce two million eggs per year.

That divides out to almost 17,000 eggs every three days.

They are voracious hunters, mostly at night.

Their spines, which are venomous make them have no known predators.

They can also live up to 30 years!

They are native to the South Pacific and Indian ocean regions in warm waters.

Their native range is from Malaysia and Western Australia, north around the southern edges of Japan and South Korea, around Australia's eastern coast and New Zealand, as well as throughout Micronesia.

(Sourced from National Marine Sanctuary Foundation)

What a species!

I've heard they are a delicious, delicate whitefish.

Every place we've tried to get them, they are sold out!

Someday I'll eat them.

Ask at your favorite seafood restaurant apparently, they're readily available from divers.

Today was spent putting wires on paintings and varnishing.

Some packing too, as the paintings are starting to attack me in the studio!

Invaders of our shores I, Acrylic on shadowbox canvas, 16 x 16 inches

Day 89 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2022