Sunday, May 31, 2009

Egret Painting, 8x10

This is a small egret painting of the same bird I painted back amongst the mangroves. I wonder how big an egret's egg is, compared to a chicken's egg. Have you seen what passes for a large egg in the grocery stores these days? Where do they get these things? Bantams? When I was young and financially challenged I used to buy cracked eggs from a little stand. Imagine that. Nowadays cracked eggs mean you will probably get salmonella, but those eggs were so fresh, I guess that’s why no one got sick. And they had two yolks. Every egg was double-yolked. Yes, double the cholesterol! Little did we know that the incredible, edible egg yolk would become the food eaten only by those who scoff at danger. Let me see you make a deviled egg without them.

Monday, May 25, 2009

The Teal Pond, 16 x 20


I know the color of the water doesn't look real, but for some reason it really is a teal color, I know not why. This is a pond on a horse farm belonging to a lovely family in Ocala. Spring had just sprung, so the trees were an unreal color also, so the painting comes with the caveat: I didn't make up these colors.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

I Have a Little Shadow




My muse was apparently on vacation this week, so I was left to run errands and work in my yard, which is now abundant with papayas, all sorts of flowers, beans, tomatoes, white eggplant, peppers, and a salad table. The salad table is waist-high, on wheels, 54" x 30", and we are harvesting all different kinds of salad greens from it, with (very important) no bending. Love it. All this gardening always reminds me of my grandmother Chloe (nicknamed Chulie). She was a master gardener, and I can't dig a hole in the dirt without thinking of her. This painting came from my archives (circa 2005) and is a watercolor of my granddaughter Rachel Chloe, who was named after Chulie. We were waiting for my flight at the Montgomery airport and she became fascinated with her shadow. She was very young, and is now a beautiful 17-year-old.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Egret in Mangroves


This one is 20 x 24 and it made my brain hurt. It's very complex and easy to lose my place. I love the subject, though. Mangroves are an integral part of the ecosystem here, and they are anchors of the shoreline as well as host to all manner of living things.
Yesterday my Peeps and I (ladies of the Pieces of 8) installed an exhibit of our paintings at the Melbourne Airport. The exhibit is enhanced by the sculpture of Joe Thompson, who makes art from skate wheels, forks, pliers and other found objects.
Mother's Day was lots of fun, and involved a nice surprise from my daughters: two giant blue planters. We all have that "Gotta Garden" thing we inherited from my grandmother, and I can't wait to get started planting those big pots with gorgeous flowers.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Jungle Garden


This garden is a place of peace and serenity. It's so nice to look at when I am sick of hearing the news, with many headlines beginning with the word "Gunman." I am so tired of Gunman. He is wreaking havoc and causing bloodshed. And 24-hour news wants us to know about every horror on earth. They have to fill that time with something. The garden represents the good things God gives us; growth, renewal, beauty, and peace. It's such a pleasure to paint it.