Patchwork River, 16x20 Oil Painting Landscape on Canvas

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The Pieces of Eight were hiking in the woods on an artists' retreat and came upon this peaceful scene. This was in North Carolina, the same mountains where we went whitewater rafting and bonded over a near-death experience. Below is my drawing commemorating that scene.

Carol, Donna, Denette and I were airborne. We were The Flying Grannies.

Water House II, Original Oil on Canvas Seascape North Captiva Island Florida

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When we stayed on beautiful North Captiva Island, Florida, we passed this scene every day. I don't know why this house is in the water, but I like it. We kayaked from across the bay to here one day, and I got pictures of the other side and painted it also (below).

Water House (Sold)

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Snowy Farm, Christmas Greetings, Oil on Canvas Landscape

I haven't painted too many snow scenes, so found this one in the archives. This is the Pennsylvania farm where our daughter and her family live. We look forward to the day that they live closer to us, which would be especially nice at this time of year. If we had our way, all our children would move here right now!

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Salt Spray, Seascape Original Oil Painting, 8x10

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This was painted on a bright sunny day when the air was clean. Unfortunately, right now we are afflicted with Red Tide, and every time I go outside it makes me cough. Dead fish litter the beach and some intrepid volunteers have been out picking them up. It's a very unhealthy situation. We used to have lots of tar on the beach from oil spills. I prefer that. At least I could breathe without coughing.

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Ibis, 6x8 Oil on Canvas Panel, Wildlife Art, Daily Painting

I've been painting a lot of flowers lately, so here's a little change of pace. These birds were at our wonderful Brevard Zoo in Melbourne. To quote the zoo website, here is how it all started:

It began as a small group of people...
A small group of people with a big dream; building a zoo. A world-class zoo that would serve as a conservation hub where people could gather to learn about animals. A place to escape from the urban world and get closer to nature, to be reminded of the diversity of the life with which we share this planet.

Now we have a state-of-the-art zoo with rhinos, giraffes, meerkats--it's an amazing testament to what community effort can do.

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Sunrise on the Beach, 8x6 Original Oil on Canvas Seascape

 

Watching the sunrise on our beach is such an awesome experience. In a turbulent world, there is so much peace on the other side of the beach crossover. It's nice to change the noise of traffic to the soothing sounds of the waves.

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I Phone, Therefore I Am, 5x7 Oil on Canvas Panel, Businessman with Phone, Figurative Art

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I did a series of people on phones, and this man was included. We can't see his face, but we know he is all prepped to receive calls and texts; just look at his grip on that phone. 

On a completely different subject, I am appreciating Charles Dickens and Jane Austen even more lately. It seems that all the more newly-published books I have picked up lately have drunk or crazed women as their protagonists. Some are both drunk and crazed. It is starting to wear thin. Could we have some memorable woman to look up to? I don't need the heroine to be perfect; she wouldn't be realistic if she didn't have some flaws--but could we have someone who doesn't eat business cards, see dead people or drown herself in booze every day? Any recommendations?

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Waterfall, 11x14 Oil on Canvas, Smoky Mountain Landscape Painting

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It's amazing what you can find a few steps off the road in the Smokies. This was a magical place, with mossy green rocks and falling water. I love my home at the beach, but those mountains call to me now and then. This is a signed original, ready to frame.

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Oil Painting, "Little Hikers," 8x10 Painting of Children at Silver Springs

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The Pieces of Eight had a wonderful art show and sale Saturday and we met so many nice people. It was a great team effort. I had to say goodbye to my "Little Hikers," above, my painting of children at Silver Springs. I have to say that people interested in art seem to be the nicest people, and it is invigorating to be able to share what we have worked on in our studios all year long.

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Hot Air Balloons, 8x10 Original Oil Painting, Skyscape on Canvas

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I decided I wanted to just paint clouds. When I was done it looked like it needed something more, so I added hot air balloons to punch it up. I'm happy with the result, but I think the balloonists had better head home, because the weather doesn't look so good.

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Autumn Tree, Landscape Original Painting, 6x8 Oil on Canvas Panel

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Since I live by the beach, I get very excited when I see Fall colors. This tree just seemed to glow. We were in upstate Pennsylvania, staying on a farm. What a different way of life from flip-flop-wearing, easygoing Florida. 

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Little Foxes, 6x6 Original Oil Painting on Stretched Canvas, Wildlife Painting

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This picture was taken in Alaska, and these cute little guys were so sleepy they barely reacted to me taking their picture. I like the way they appear to be smiling and have such contented looks on their faces.

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Onion, 5x7 Oil on Canvas Still Life

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This was fun. The Elio Camacho workshop inspired us to do 30-minute paintings with our painting group this week; yesterday in my studio I limited my time to ten minutes, and this was one of the paintings I did. I had a piece of canvas that was painted black and had a few spatters on it so I painted on that. I think I will do more food paintings with ten-minute limits. This is such good practice for me to loosen up and have a more spontaneous feel.

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Wading at Sunrise, 10x8 Oil on Canvas, Seascape on Beach

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Sunrises in Florida are glorious. The blues, purples and golds are astonishing, and I tried to capture that in this painting. This bird was just ambling along, looking for breakfast and enjoying another beautiful day by the sea. Need I mention that sunsets in Florida are also glorious?

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Northwest Sundown, 6x6 Oil on Canvas, Farmland at Sunset

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After a perfect day with my family in Washington state we were returning home and saw this lovely sunset. Here in Florida the sunrises and sunsets are magnificent, but the Northwest has some good ones too. 

And here's something we don't have in Florida--this is the view behind my sister's house of the magnificent Mt. Rainier.

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