Paradise, Oil on Canvas 7x5 Florida Painting

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This is my second painting of this spot. This is a small 7" by 5" painting of North Captiva Island, a place that is as good as being in the Bahamas. No cars, just golf carts, and gorgeous scenery. No bridge to the island, either. Life there runs on Island Time. Ahhhh.....

Carmen

The Boring Photo Challenge, 7x5 Small Daily Painting

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I painted this little oil painting in response to a challenge on the website DailyPaintworks.com. The challenge was to paint from a boring photo. That is a really good thing to practice, because I have lots of boring photos; however, I used the one they posted. I began with a black background, which helped add a bit more drama. Below is the boring photo.

Carmen

Summer Sunrise Oil Painting on Canvas 24x18 Ocean Art

I decided it was time to paint something larger, a dramatic sunrise. I live across from the ocean, so there's no reason not to paint a sunrise. 

When I'm not painting I seem to be gardening more and more. I've come to realize that I am an Overgardener. By this I mean that I get so carried away planting things that I create a garden that I can barely take care of. This is not my fault; it is what my family calls "The Chulie Gene." My grandmother, who the whole world called Chulie, had a nursery, and she knew everything about plants. This gene runs through the family, and if you ever see my daughter Suzanne's posts on Facebook about her plants, you will know what I mean. She can grow vegetables, something I fail at. I specialize in weeds and flowers, both of which are thriving in my yard.

Carmen

Finding My Roots, 8x10 Pen and Ink Drawing on Paper, Smoky Mountain Scene

I love twisty, wandering roots. These were spreading over a ledge in the Smoky Mountains, and I have to say that it was quite meditative drawing them.

Carmen

Storm's Coming, Original Oil Painting 30x40 Seascape with Birds

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One thing about living by the ocean: you can see weather from a long way off. This time of year storms swoop in, blow wildly, drench everything and move on. Since I'm a gardener, I call this perfect weather. Rain has magic that no amount of sprinklers can equal.

Carmen

Little Tourists, 8x8 Original Oil Painting on Gallery-Wrapped Canvas

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I took a lot of pictures in the Smokies, especially in the great spot known as The Sinks, but this last one was the one I knew I would paint.

Carmen

Royal Terns, 7x5 Original Oil Daily Painting on Canvas Panel Beach Art

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I love these birds with their cute little hairdos. I have jumped right from the mountains to the seashore in this blog, having returned home after almost three weeks in North Carolina. The contrast is drastic, but I love both places. Each is beautiful in its own way.

Carmen

Lake Junaluska Original Oil Plein Air Painting 5x7 on Canvas Panel

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This beautiful spot is near Waynesville, North Carolina, and it was such a pleasure to sit and paint there. There is a rose walk on one side that is planted with a huge variety of roses--an exotic sight for a Floridian. It was my idea of a perfect morning.

Carmen

Homeward Bound, Last Journal Entry

On the way home from North Carolina we stopped at this barbecue place. The little girl sitting next to us was so cute, with her puffy pony tails and gold beads in her hair. Notice the loaf of bread. A loaf of white bread was on each table; or, as they say in my home town, "light bread." It was a buffet, with unique pricing.

Carmen

Lake Junaluska Journal, Adventures in Remodeling

We just returned from a big trip to North Carolina, helping our friends remodel their second home. It was very ambitious and involved bringing a huge double wide refrigerator upstairs and another one downstairs--two flights--and tearing out and installing a kitchen. Flooring was laid throughout, wiring and plumbing moved, ceilings scraped, doors and windows moved, and everything painted.

It only took 200 trips to Lowe's and two to the Buttered Biscuit, where the biscuits are 10 inches tall.

Below, two movers were hired to move the fridges and the one in charge constantly berated his helper, Joel. Even when carrying a refrigerator up the stairs, he never stopped talking.

This garden was a few steps away. 

 We took one day off to go to Clingman's Dome in the Smokies.

  

 My motto is: When you can't take another step, stop and paint!

Blowing thistles on Clingman's Dome

A lot was accomplished and there were many sounds of moans, groans, laughter and singing throughout!