Everglades Bird, Giclee Print, Various Sizes

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I've seen these birds just casually stand there while an alligator cruises by. I guess they know they can take off quickly if necessary.

This painting is available as a giclee print on stretched canvas, in various sizes and prices.

Carmen

Sketch Journal: Savannah, Georgia

My sister and I just had the most fun a book lover can have; we attended the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Discovery Show. That's a long way of saying booksellers, authors, publishers and associated others getting together and networking about books. I did more writing in my journal than usual, because I wanted to remember the authors I heard; the occasional little caricature helped.

The first thing we did was visit the Bonaventure Cemetery, where the Bird Girl on the cover of the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" used to reside. Because of tourists making a nuisance of themselves, some even defacing objects in the cemetery, the statue was moved to a museum in the historic district.

The Lady Chablis, also notable in the book and movie, died September 8th.

Carmen

So What's the Problem?

 "Hot Cubans"

Etsy deactivated this painting titled Hot Cubans from my Etsy Shop and they are, quote, "making sure it meets their policies." I wish they'd tell me what the problem is, because I don't get it. Since it was a Cuban restaurant in South Beach, I thought the title was funny. Every Floridian knows about hot Cuban sandwiches, but maybe someone in the Midwest doesn't. There could even be a triple meaning. There they are, dressed in black, on a hot Miami street. And yes, they were nice-looking guys!

Carmen

Cleared for Takeoff, 10x10 Collage on Canvas

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I like painting spoonbills, and when I really want to challenge myself I do a collage spoonbill. I think just picking out the pieces in magazines and figuring out how to use them effectively is a lot more work than laying down oil paint.

This is on gallery wrap canvas and needs no frame.

Carmen

Sketch Journal: North Carolina

These are scenes from my journal of the recent Pieces of 8 artists' retreat to North Carolina. We happily sat on rocks and sketched a waterfall, and we didn't mention to Donna that we passed a large example of bear scat on the trail. Ignorance is bliss.

Carmen

Storm's Coming, 30x40 Oil Painting on Canvas, Seascape

This painting will be on display in October-November with the Pieces of Eight art exhibit at the Fountains of Melbourne.

I love painting weather. The skies here are just amazing, no matter what the weather, and if you live in Florida and run out of things to paint, just look up!

Carmen

The Last Azalea, 3x4 Oil on Panel, Small Floral Painting

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The reason for the name of this painting: we toured Bok Tower Gardens and the camellias and azaleas had finished blooming; however, in my wanderings I found this late bloomer. I have always thought of myself as a late bloomer. I started my government career a bit late, and upon retirement I threw myself into my art career full-time, but very late. I can relate to this flower, the last azalea.

I did this one backwards; I had a beautiful gold frame and wanted something dramatic to go in it. That's not how it usually works, but I like the result.

The little squiggly things at the bottom of the painting are Spanish moss. That's how it looks up close.  My teacher Elio Camacho would call that "licking the painting." I like it though--it looks a bit fancy, as befits such a fancy flower.

Carmen

Castaway, 8x10 Oil on Canvas Panel Plein Air Painting

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It was a beautiful day at Castaway Point on the Indian River. There is an artist online who calls it the "Plein Air High," and that's the perfect description.

Carmen

The Little Birds, 6x8 Original Oil on Canvas Panel, Seascape Daily Painting

 SOLD

This is a very typical scene on the Space Coast of Florida. Before I cross over the dunes I never know what color the water will be, what size the waves will be, or how many birds there will be. I only know that a peaceful feeling comes over me--unless it's stormy, and I like that too. Clouds and waves do all kinds of interesting things when it's stormy.

Carmen

Stepping Stones, 5x7 Oil on Canvas Panel, Smoky Mountain Scene

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I enjoy the play of light and shadow on the stepping stones in this brook. What a pleasant place this was! 

Five of the Pieces of 8, our artists' group, were just in Waynesville, North Carolina for an artists' retreat, and we were reunited with our member emeritus, Cindy Michaud. A wonderful time was had by all, and we came home inspired to try some new things with our art. My cold wax medium has already arrived.

Carmen

Oconee Sunset, 8x6 Oil on Canvas

$89
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This was pure luck. I saw a good sunset coming on and rushed to the shore of Lake Oconee, Georgia. This heron posed for me so nicely amid the pink and purple water. This particular sunset went through many stages of unrealistic brilliant colors and reflections.

Carmen

Beachscape, 14x11 Oil on Canvas, Florida Beach Scene

$165, Buy Now

I usually paint from the beach looking at the ocean, so this is a departure. I am looking from the ocean to the shore. I like the palms standing like sentinels over the beach.

By the time this post is online, I'll be hiking in the Smokies, one of my favorite places in the world, with some of my favorite people in the world. Heaven!

Carmen

Rainier Meadow, 10x8 Oil Landscape Painting on Canvas Panel

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The Pacific Northwest is so beautiful, and so different from my home state of Florida, which is flat as a flitter and doesn't have gigantic trees. Our country has as diverse a landscape as could be imagined, and it's one of the things I love about it.

Below is the original and my painting.

Carmen