Umbrellas, 5x7 Oil

These umbrellas are at a restaurant called Squid Lips on the river in Melbourne, Florida, and I enjoy seeing them when I drive over the bridge. I like the pastel chairs too. I just finished a big project and I really enjoyed getting back to the daily painting. Before I committed to being a daily painter, I saw it as daunting and wasn't sure I could keep up. Now it's just part of the rhythm of a day, although it is still daunting. A sensible daily painter would not paint a complicated scene like this one. I'll learn eventually.

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Egret in Grass, 8x10

This is another Everglades picture. I hate to be trite--how many bird paintings have you seen with this pose? But he gave me his profile, so what was I to do?

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Mary's Cheesecake, 5x7

Our painting group, Pieces of 8, celebrates birthdays a little differently. The Birthday Person brings the dessert. This ensures that no one's birthday is forgotten, and also provides a nice subject for our painting project of the day. Mary's Blueberry Cheesecake was delicious.

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Spoonbill, 5x7

This is my favorite bird. It is beautiful, yet has a funny face that is a big spoon. There are a lot of contradictions like that in the bird world--like the albatross, so lovely, so graceful in the air, then it crash-lands and waddles away. 

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On Da Beach, 8x10 Original Oil

 

This is the view from a restaurant on Elbow Cay in the Bahamas. The eatery is called On Da Beach, appropriately, and the coconut pie is incredible. There I go talking about food again.

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Cassadaga House, 5x7, Original Oil

Cassadaga is a quirky little Florida town that was settled as a Spiritualist Camp. People flock here for psychic readings, and the whole place is very quaint, but I especially liked this little house. It is so typical of the depression-era houses in small towns all over this state.

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Airshow, 5x7

This looked so much like the gull was showing off for the little audience perched on the wires, and I didn't change a thing from my actual photo. Sometimes it pays to turn around and look away from the ocean.

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Red Cupcake, 5x7

Enough of the cupcakes already. I want to paint a pie! Today, along with the Pieces of 8, I painted healthy vegetables, then tonight I cooked them and ate them. Still want to paint a pie, though...

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Siesta Key, 8x10

I'm starting to look like a tourism site for Florida. This is gorgeous Siesta Key, near Sarasota on the Gulf Coast. The sunset was a disappointment the night before, too cloudy; however, the next morning the overcast sky created this effect at sunrise. The white beach turned pink and lavender with golden puddles.

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The Only Oil Here is on the Tourists, 5x7

Apparently a lot of people think oil is on all Florida beaches. It hasn't gotten in the Loop Current yet, so we are clean here in Satellite Beach (east coast) and in Miami Beach, this painting's location. Come on down, the water's fine...so far.

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Summer Meadow, 5x7

Summer in Mt. Rainier National Park is an astonishing experience for a Flatland Floridian. It is absolutely one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. I highly recommend visiting the Pacific Northwest, where everything is lush, verdant, and big. Where else can you whale watch, walk through a rain forest, and hike up snow-capped mountains? And no alligators!

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Forest Dweller, 8x10

Mangrove forests spawn other life, both flora and fauna. This epiphyte looks right at home.

Lone Palm, 4x8, Original Oil

There we were, my husband I, watching a show about creatures of the wild attacking people. Suddenly Hap said, "What--it's a snake!" and he wasn't looking at the TV. There on the floor 15 feet away was a snake. It was about two feet long, appeared to be non-poisonous. I kept an eye on it while he went to the garage and got an edging tool and sneaked up behind it. Then there was the problem of what to do next, after it was pinned to the floor. I got a garbage bag and held it down while he scooped the snake in. We have no idea how it got in, but I am so creeped out right now. How long were we cohabiting with this thing? Hm? Ick.      

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Picnic Cupcake, 5x7

These were among the goodies devoured at the family barbecue in Arlington, VA last weekend. We had a variety of culinary experiences all week, and a highlight was the Peanut Soup at the Red Fox Inn, circa 1728, in Middleburg. In spite of all the eating, my Wii reports that I lost 4 pounds. So there.

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Flying Mints, 5x7

I like the plain black background for these brightly colored candies. Our painting group, Pieces of Eight, has been painting a variety of sweets lately, which is a lot of fun.

Just got back from Virginia, where I visited with my family and had a wonderful time. Had breakfast at the Middleburg Country Inn with owner Joanne, and what a lovely place that is! Every breakfast comes with a slice of her special lemon cake. The Inn is right in Middleburg and is a gorgeous place.

Do I seem obsessed with food?                                                   

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Breakfast Time, 8x10

Another of the variations of color and light from our beach. Early morning is a good time for colorful scenes, as well as a good time to catch lots of birds in action.

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Cafe, 6x8 Original Oil

This was a plein air painting done in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne.          BUY NOW

Ballard Park, 8x10 Original Oil

Nice memories of a day spent painting en plein air.                                   BUY NOW

Waders, 5x7, oil

Both mangroves and birds are so important to Florida's ecology. I just hope the oil stays away.

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