Unwelcome visitor

Lionfish are definitely not welcome wherever they go.

They are an invasive fish that has taken hold in much of our Gulf of Mexico.

Just a scant few years ago, Chris and I took our first trip to the Florida keys.

There already were rumblings about the lionfish invasion.

Organizers were encouraging Divers to spear them, and chefs to cook them.

I've heard they're quite delicious, but I have yet to find a restaurant that 

actually, has them or is not sold out.

The divers have become adept at spearing them and can bring in income by selling them to fish markets.

At least that is what I have heard.

As you can see from this map provided by a U.S Geological Survey, 

the lionfish is almost covering the entire Gulf of Mexico.

They were first reported officially off the coast of Florida near Dania Beach, Florida in 1985.

The Geological survey only begins in 1993 and as you can see, they have managed to travel quite far.

It is thought that they were introduced from aquarium hobbyists, possibly hurricane Andrew in 1992, but most likely they were stowaways onboard water ballast from large ships.

When the ships emptied their water, the fish were contained within.

They have become prolific ever since.

They are an apex hunter with no known predators.

That is, except for us!

We can eat them, when we can find them to eat.

We now have another hurricane that will impact our area.

Not a direct hit, but we probably will still feel the effects from the wind pulling moisture from the Gulf and crossing over us in the process.

We can only pray that Erin will take a turn more north into the Atlantic, missing the U.S. entirely.

As for us, probably lots of rain on already soaked soil.

My husband is my rock.

Chris knows I have been trying to figure out a frame that I could use for some lovely 19.5-inch wood circles I bought months ago.

After an hour trying to find anything, I did find a frame that would be made for $38 online.

Now that may sound bad to you, but to me it's just another art supply.

It costs money to make money in art.

Anyway, the $38 frame had a $79 shipping fee!

I can't handle that.

Today Chris asked if I wanted lunch and go look at a local large chain variety store to see if I could find a frame for these four circles.

After traipsing the store for almost an hour, we found nothing.

We decided to go to Lowes.

Lowes actually had tabletops in unfinished wood, but Chris would still have to router out the center.

"Let me build it. Let me see what I can do."

I just don't like causing him more work....

So, we came home, and he went to the shop out back.

A short while later, he brought in one of the circles with a beautifully cut frame encircling the edge.

"How is this?" He asked.

"Perfect! I'll just have to fill in the holes" I replied.

Later he went into the shop and produced 3 more, 

except these were wider and didn't have nail holes at the top.

Turns out, his mind was working overtime and this time 

he nailed them from the back instead of the front.

No worries, he had the putty to fill the holes on the first one, and it's already done.

I just have to sand them, Paint Kilz on them, and paint them white.

Needless to say, I'm excited.

Beautiful things are happening here at the Raccoon Retreat Studio in beautiful Fairhope, Alabama!

Unwelcome visitor, Acrylic on wood, 12 inches

Day 45 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Excuse me!

"Excuse me!"

I imagine this Loggerhead coming up on a human and cutting his swim short.

Yet another of the rounds, they are making me really happy with my progress.

Each one is unique and beautiful.

The pricing is going to be tricky though, as there are several different sizes ranging from 11 to 24.

I'm pondering the lower tier of 11s and 12s will be the lowest priced ones at $195.00

Next would be the 13s, 14s, 15s 16s in the mid range at $295.00

Lastly, would be the 24 inch ones at $395.00

This means the majority of them would be at the $295.00 price point.

These prices enable me to have some wiggle room during a sale of multiple pieces.

We'll see, shows are coming up fast.

 I've been invited to another one on Amelia Island the first weekend in November, 

but I'm going to have to decline.

I would love to do the show, as it is honoring the Right Whales.

I just can't afford the time away from the studio after Mattie Kelly.

I may be having to build up inventory and that is very difficult to do on the road.

It would also be a grueling trip to Amelia and back on a quick turn around.

I don't do quick on a 400 plus mile trip.

When we travel with the trailer, we take our time and people can just go around.

We don't do 20 but we don't do 80 either!

We average about 60-65 when towing the trailer.

We also love back roads and have seen some of the most beautiful areas in Florida this way.

We also have seen quite a few prisons on one road in particular!

We still laugh about the "prison road".

I've also explored saving some of the 24 inch rounds that have not sold previously.

The pirate octopus is one of them.

I am working on one that had a Great Blue Heron on it and 

will soon be dimensional, as well as all white. (The original rounds had a worn beach frame)

It will still be a Great Blue, and I love it so far!

"Excuse Me!" Acrylic on wood, 12 inches round

Day 44 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Traffic jam

Oh the joys and headaches of getting ready for shows!

There are days I feel like these turtles, both coming and going!

Don't get me wrong, I love what I do.

I also love meeting all of you!

I already know about all the shows for fall and even some of the spots I'll be at those shows.

National Shrimp Festival~Double booth on end just like the past couple of years.(Look for the flags!)

Mattie Kelly~End booth, typically toward food trucks

Peter Anderson~Near Government street Market on Government street. (Near Dr Buntyns old office)

Three Rivers Covington Booth 433 Near Black Flower in between Gibson and Lockwood

So nice to know ahead of time to let collectors find me again!

I'm very excited for all the fall shows.

I am preparing hard for excellent presentations at all of them.

I endeavor for each show to have new works not seen at other shows.

This is why I paint so many paintings during the summer.

That, and I was created by my Creator to create!

Oh the joys of creating.

I get excited knowing there are collectors looking for more pieces, and new collectors finding exactly what they want and need to beautify their space.

I'm also happy with the new works and the way they are progressing.

The booths will be filled with beautiful art, lovingly created with the Holy Spirits help.

Each new series I have started have been the result of prayer and listening.

I was a very colorful painter, but after hearing numerous people say; 

"I don't know if that color would go on my wall"

I literally was in the back of my booth beating my head against the tent.

I begged ,"God tell me what to do, am I painting the wrong thing?"

I distinctly heard, "You're not wrong, just go neutral."

Neutral

I took pride in my colorful pieces.

I tried the neutral "sepias" on new shadowbox framed canvases.

They were very well received and I sold all of them.

I then pushed to have an entire booth wall full of them and they were also well received.

I was still painting color though, albeit a bit toned down.

Within a couple of years it was time to step up again.

"Okay God, What's next?"

The neutral pieces were selling well, but I knew it was time for a new challenge.

I had a really good National Shrimp Festival and went to Michaels to purchase 4x4 canvas.

To my surprise, the Shadowbox canvas I had been watching all year were on clearance!

I bought all 22 they had in stock.

I painted them, took them to Peter Anderson.

I sold half of them in a weekend.

I was on to the new thing, but now Michaels was not carrying them any more.

"Okay God, help us figure this out"

A few months later, I was at a show and my husband quietly said, "I think I figured out how to build them." I said "Good! I figured out how to stretch them."

We have been team building them for years now.

Chris has redesigned the canvases, giving me a wonderful challenge to paint with the offsets he builds.

So, shadowboxes, then offset shadowboxes.

After that, people kept asking for bigger works.

"How God can I do this without carrying a large canvas?"

The bigger pieces had to be easy to carry.

I figured out multiple canvas was the answer.

It enables us to carry a 3ft x 5ft piece in a single bag.

It's made of one 12x36, 2 12x24s, and 2 12x12s.

I sold the first two I painted at the first show I took them to in Florida.

The multi canvas pieces were begun before the photographers started doing it.

I now do even larger ones that require 2 custom built canvases to make it, it measures 40"x80"

It is a 16x40, 2 16x30s, 2 16x20s.

We've had a few years of multi canvas works and I'm still painting them.

"Okay God, What next?"

I went to Hobby Lobby to get canvas and here were these beautiful round 

wood pieces for making signs.

I instantly saw paintings on them.

They were on sale, so I bought a few.

They ended up being a great seller, but this year Hobby Lobby discontinued them much to my sadness.

Fortunately, I had a few left and have been able to locate some different style rounds in wood.

Enter this year.....

"Okay God, what next?"

I had a vision of the rounds with dimensional pieces added to them.

I took two to a spring show and sold one.

The other one didn't sell, but we kept asking people what they thought about them.

They loved them and so here we are.

I can't wait to see what God sends next!

Can you?

Traffic jam, Acrylic on wood, Dimensional 24 inch

Day 43 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Killers from the deep

What an incredible few days it has been.

A trip to Saraland to stay with our daughter, Jessica as she was having a surgical procedure done.

I stayed with her at the surgical ward during her surgery

I then brought her home later that day.

She was quite swollen and needed help navigating, getting medications, and ice packs round the clock.

Then came the night.

She seemed pretty well settled at 9pm so I made sure she had drink, ice packs, and medicine.

I tried to sleep, but this mama radar went off about 2am.

I went to check on her in their media room, she was attempting to sleep upright to keep down swelling.

I asked if she was okay, and she said yes.

I asked if she needed more ice and that was a yes as well.

I got her ice packs, put the used ones in the freezer.

I tried to go back to bed.

No sleep for the weary.

I read my Bible, did my devotionals, and started the day.

It was officially Archers birthday! 

  

Each birthday since my grandchildren were born, I have painted a piece for 

each of them every year on their birthday.

Archer now has quite the collection! (13 to be exact)

It started on the day he was born with a crab.

Over the years, he has gotten a lion, a gecko, a turtle, a rhino, a painting of his dog "Wolf",

a sailfish, a dolphin and turtle together, a monkey, and now Killer Whales.

He read what I wrote about them and saw my painting earlier this 100 days.

He mentioned he might want one in a sewing drawer, but his pieces are all white backgrounds.

As you can see, he was both happy and surprised.

Happy birthday Archer!

"Killers from the deep", Acrylic on Canvas, 6 x 24 inches

Day 42 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

Momma and babies

Here's the babies in a different light. 

I miss my black background for them.  

These little guys are on three different levels. The bubbles and one turtle at the top. Two of them are about halfway between and then the rest are flat to the wood. I really enjoyed making this piece for you to enjoy!

"Race to the beach." Acrylic on wood, 16 inches.Day 40 of the 100 days-100 paintings 2025

Todays Sea turtle "After the beach" was a joy to create.

After they're cut out, it is a simple matter of preparing them by sanding, painting the edges, gluing blocks of wood to them, nailing them, then filling the holes.

Then I get to paint background and the piece itself. I enjoy my artist life, especially when I can help when needed because my business is flexible.

Race to the beach & ,After the beach, Acrylic on wood, both 16 inches.

Days 40 & 41 of the 

100 days -100 paintings 2025

All I've got...

All I've got...

This is all I managed to paint today.

I spent all day in the studio with the exception of a lunch break.

I have "set ups" for several paintings, including the one with the baby turtle pictured in my hand.

As you can see, it is small.

Because of its tiny size, it was a challenge to paint.

The set ups take a while to draw because they have to fit within the framework of the painting.

So, an entire day of drawing, researching my swipe files, and drawing.

After lunch, I needed a nap because I woke up at 4 am.

After the nap, we went on a dog ride because that's what they do every day.

I went back to the studio for a bit, then realized it was time to cook dinner.

Dinner cooking and clean up took two hours.

I was happily going to the shop to cut out the wood pieces I designed today.

A text from India changed that in an instant.

When are you coming to India?

Have you booked tickets yet?

Chris and I took the time to book the tickets for December.

I finally went to the barn at 8:15.

I happily cut pieces until I came back in at 9:21.

I

Painted

One

Whole

Baby

Turtle

Today.

That's it, because life gets in the way.

Well life, and children, and grandchildren.

We've bought tickets to India!

All I've got..., Acrylic on wood, 3 inches

Day 39 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

 

Manatees and Completions

This is todays painting of the chubby mermaids.

Manatees if you will.

Always a wonderful animal to see, these gentle giants are in constant danger of boat strikes.

Herbivores they eat the grasses that can also get torn up by boats.

So many people just don't realize they are a close inhabitant of our coast.

This piece is one of the smaller ones, measuring only 11 inches.

Still a fun piece to paint!

Here is the completed turtle with the background added.

I was finally able to get into the shop and cut them all on my scroll saw.

Always a crowd favorite sea turtles are some of my best-selling pieces ever.

This guy is 16 inches round.

Finally, the background added for the manatee painted yesterday.

I love how they almost are like bumper cars when in the water, gently floating into one another.

Still need to sign this one I see though!

Each day is a new challenge, and a new solution found.

God gave me a very creative spirit and most of the time I can find solutions for issues that arise.

One issue right now in the studio is the sheer number of paintings.

I need to erase, varnish, and put hangers on them.

Then they will be packed away until the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

That reminds me!

Here is the show schedule if you want to see them in person.

I always love a sweet hello!

Loran Chavez

Fall show schedule 2025

*Annual National Shrimp Festival

Gulf shores, Alabama

October 9th,10th, 11th, 12th

9-5pm

*Jubilee Festival

Daphne, Alabama Lott Park

October 17th & 18th

9-5 Sat. 9-4 Sun.

*Mattie Kelly Festival of the arts

Destin, Florida

October 25th & 26th

9-4pm

*Peter Anderson Festival

Ocean Springs, Mississippi

November 8th & 9th

9-4 pm

NOTICE Peter Anderson typically held first full weekend in November.

2nd weekend this year because the Thunderbirds are doing a show on the first weekend.

*Covington Three Rivers Festival

Covington, Louisiana

November 15th & 16th

9-5pm Sat. 9-4pm Sun. 

Manatees and Completions, Acrylic on Wood, size varies

Days 36,37, & 38 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025