Little Cup, 5x7

I paint by natural light, and this was done on a gloomy day. I need to set up a warm light and do another one of this cup. There is so much to keep learning about art. When I see a fantastic artist like Qiang Huang saying he is still learning, I don't know whether to feel better or worse, because I am far behind Qiang on the learning trail. He will be coming to teach a workshop here in November, so I want to absorb all I can from him.

On Da Beach, 8x10

First, I did not make up this scene. This is how it really looks in this spot on Elbow Cay. This is the view from a restaurant, On Da Beach, that has the most incredible coconut pie ever. It's not like what I'm used to. It's dense, and has a different sort of crust, and I wish I had a piece right now. What could be better than coconut pie and this view? Ahhh...

Elbow Cay House, 5x7

This is from a trip to beautiful Elbow Cay in the Abacos Islands. My daughter and I explored the whole island in a golf cart. No cars are allowed on the island. It is a peaceful, awesomely beautiful place, with turquoise water surrounding it. When you paint the water it never looks real, nor does it look real in person, with its impossibly vivid color.

White Ibis, 5x7

This is my first right-and-left-handed painting! I used my right hand a little. Very awkwardly. My Sinistra series is almost over. I can't believe how much I've improved in the past week. Next thing you know I will be tying my own shoes like a big girl. Speaking of big girls, if I don’t get some exercise soon…yikes. Had good intentions about walking every day, then it rained...then it got very cold...and I'm a wimp.

Beach Palms, 5x7

Went to Vero Beach with four members of my painting group, Pieces of 8, and had a great time viewing the gorgeous seascapes exhibited now at the art museum. Another treat was the sculpture outside--giant watermelon, pears, tomatoes, lemons...fun! We had a camera session at Rock City on the way home. That's a nursery with beautiful gardens and pots. This inspired me to paint palms when I got home.

Lonely Sea, 24x30

Sometimes I just lose my mind. Three weeks to go until I have use of my right hand again (I hope) and I decide to paint a large seascape. I went to the beach, the tide was out, the rocks were showing, I got all inspired...and I found this just exhausting to paint. Then I was committed--I didn't want a painting started with the left hand and finished with the right! I'm happy with it anyway, and glad I did it.

Waterlily, 5x7

This week the challenge for the Pieces of Eight was presented by Denette. We all had to study a color photo, then put it away and paint from a black-and-white version of it. This was a great study of values, and it was a lot of fun.

Airshow, 5x7

Sometimes a painting names itself. I knew the name of this one the minute I saw the photo. When you are trying to get shots of birds in flight on a sunny beach with a digital camera, you don't know what you've got till you get home. Imagine my surprise when I saw this one. I couldn't wait to paint it!

Florida Scrubjay, 5x7

Still painting birds, and after seeing the doctor yesterday I know that I will be painting lefthanded for four more weeks. My bone was broken in the joint and needs some more healing time. I got out of the cast and into a very unattractive splint, but it is smaller and I can move my hand a little more. Two important sayings to live by: (1) Watch your step. If I'd watched mine, I wouldn't be going through this.

(2) Mind your head. When I lived in Bermuda there were a lot of low doorways that displayed this caution. When you think about it, you really should mind your head and take extra good care of it; after all, it does house your brain. And if you have half a brain, you'll watch your step too. Unlike me.

Junk Dish, 5x7

The challenge for our painting group last month was to paint these five disparate objects. Try as I might, I could not come up with a way to tie them together, so I threw them in a little dish and painted them that way. I am pleased with the result, seen here.

My challenge for the group yesterday was for them to paint with their non-dominant hand. It was an opportunity for them to share my pain. They all did a great job, just amazing. They found out how tiring it is to work the other side of the brain. It's supposed to increase intelligence, but apparently it does nothing for the absent-minded professor aspect of my personality.