Mystery Bird, 6x6 Oil on Canvas

I am not sure what this bird is, and if anyone knows, please let me know. He was hanging out in the Everglades looking so cute, I just had to paint him. I donated him to the Lagoon Fest to be held in October 2014 to benefit Oyster Restoration for the Indian River Lagoon.

I read in the paper that a large number of pelicans and manatees have died here on the Space Coast, and it's likely because of the sorry condition of our waterways. The Banana River and Indian River are polluted by runoff from pesticides and fertilizers, and this is good for no one. Our river used to be full of clammers and I never see them any more. I don't think a green lawn is the priority here. I think I should have pride in the sorry-looking lawn we're sporting these days. I'm looking at it in a whole new way.

PURCHASE

Wetlands, 8x8 Oil on Canvas

This is a typical scene in the Florida wetlands, an area that is a big draw for birdwatchers, or as they say nowadays, birders, from the verb to bird (ha ha).  Sometimes nouns changed to verbs sound pretty funny to me; however, birders don't just watch these days. They record, report, photograph, study, and have conventions, and Florida has lots of interesting birds for them to bird.

PURCHASE

Fuzzy Bear, 8x8 Oil on Canvas

Aren't bears both cute and terrifying? Since there was a fence between the bear and me, "cute" applied. If no fence, "terrifying." I did meet a bear across a stream in the Smokies once. I was trying to take a picture of some rhododendrons, and he ambled out of the bushes on the opposite side of the stream. I did not stick around to get the bear picture, as we were in a convertible and a quick getaway was in our best interest. He didn't look at me in any threatening manner; in fact, he appeared rather bored with my appearance and just strolled into the stream as I was skedaddling away. "Skedaddle" is such as useful word for that sort of situation, isn't it?

PURCHASE

Pool Bird, 10x10 Oil on Stretched Canvas

This bird looks like he's standing his ground, no matter what comes along. He's actually doing what all birds of his sort do, looking for fish. This is gallery wrap canvas, and all sides are painted.

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Girl in the Butterfly Garden, 8x10 Oil on Canvas Panel

How much fun is a butterfly garden? This one had every color of butterfly, including green. The girl's pose really struck me, it is so typical of a young girl.

PURCHASE

The dreaded political ad season is upon us and I am disgusted already. I would like to refer politicians (especially those who claim to be saintly) to Proverbs 6:16-19:

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:

haughty eyes,

a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked schemes,

feet that are quick to rush into evil,

a false witness who pours out lies

and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Poppies at Brookgreen, 10x10 Oil on Canvas

 I love poppies, and these were abundant at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina. They surrounded a long reflecting pool and were so beautiful against the dark background of the water. This is painted on a deep stretched canvas. Look at the photo below to see why I love my iPad. It's wonderful to paint from.

PURCHASE

Denette, Cindy, Me on Surfside Beach

Shadow Dancers, 8x6 Oil on Canvas Board

This was my entry into the Daily Paintworks Shadow Challenge. I had already planned to paint this from a photo I took at Brookgreen Gardens, SC. Sometimes it's just about the shadows and the design they make.

PURCHASE

Beautiful young people are accidents of  nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.

 - Eleanor Roosevelt

Just a Little Pear, 4x4 Daily Painting

This is a perfect companion piece to my painting, "Just a Little Apple." I had such fun painting these loose little daily paintings.

PURCHASE

Below is the sight from my front yard this morning as Space Shuttle Discovery flew by on top of a jumbo jet, on its way to Washington DC. My camera battery chose that moment to die, so I used my iPad. It's an emotional goodbye for the Space Coast.

Radishes, 8x10 Oil on Canvas Board

I'm so dull-witted today that I can't think of a clever title for this. I'm wondering if the ringing in my ears constitutes "white noise?" Anyway, I loved painting these radishes. They have so much color and personality. Look at that hairdo.

PURCHASE

House of Blue, 5x7 Oil on Canvas Board

Apparently I'm in my Blue Period, having painted a blue frog, a blue birdie, and now this. I was in Larry Moore's plein air workshop and we were at Ballard Park yesterday, a gorgeous location on the water in Melbourne, Florida. Well, what a day! There was a regatta of little sailboats as well as a pirate ship. Out of the pirate ship came--what else? a pirate, in full regalia. Larry immediately began painting a portrait of him, and it was wonderful. Oh, and the pirate had--what else? a parrot. You never know what you'll see around here.

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Larry Paints a Pirate with a Parrot with Painterly Perfection

Pear on Red, 4x4 oil on canvas

I can't seem to settle down to any large serious paintings during the Christmas season. There is just too much going on. It doesn't seem like Christmas here in Florida, since it was 85 degrees yesterday. That is just too freakish. I can remember being very cold in December in Florida, and in fact, it got to 29 degrees in 1989. The palm trees and orange trees froze. That's hard to imagine today.

Merry Christmas, everyone, and many blessings in the New Year.

PURCHASE

A Kiss is Still a Kiss, 7x5

Candy kisses are the cutest candies ever. They just have a perky look, with their jaunty little paper ribbons coming out of their heads. If they had heads.

SOLD