It's Here! The Pleininator by PoE!

Not sold in any stores! The solution to the plein air artist's every need! Yours for only $29.95!

Features:

- Hot and Cold Beverage Dispenser

- Flip-down Viewfinder & Value Scale

- Paper Towel Holder

- Citronella Candle

- Brush Holder

- Headlamp

Order now and receive a free clip-on spray mister in lavender or eucalyptus while supplies last! 

The Incredible Edible Egg

Periodically, the Pieces of 8 have a 'challenge' in which we all paint a certain object. This time it was to just paint an egg. What an amazing thing an egg really is. People are always trying to give eggs a bad name (too much cholesterol!), and they have even invented fake eggs, but don't you think God really knew what he was doing? Here is this perfect, smooth, egg-shaped food.  (You try to think of another word to describe the shape.) It can become a chicken, or it can become Eggs Benedict. A perfect plan, if you ask me.

P.S. Watch for the Pleininator, coming soon!

The Solution to the Artist's Plein Air Needs

Artists, do you ever get tired, hot, bug-bitten and thirsty while painting outdoors? Then get ready, because the Pleininator is coming!

What We Did Last Night

There we were, 7:45 at night, in full couch potato pose, when the lights went out. Now, I'm a modern woman. I have paperless billing from Florida Power & Light. Guess how hard it is to find their phone number by the light of a flashlight with weak batteries. Forget using the five phone books we get (why? why so many?). The print is too small to see in weak light (How about one phone book with large print?). My husband remembered the hurricane-ready hand crank lantern in the closet, so while I called FPL at the very annoying 1-800-FREE-411, he commenced to crankin'. See how in the picture it looks like Hap has no hand? That's because he is cranking the lantern very rapidly. We also found the headlamp/magnifier, which I promptly put on. We sat on the sofa and attempted to read. This caused us to make the decision to just go to bed and give up on the night. The newspaper this morning informed us the lights came back on at midnight. We made the right decision. I feel quite refreshed.

Misty Beach, 5x7

I was walking on the beach in the morning and saw this misty scene. I usually have to be looking at something to paint it, but I concentrated on memorizing this scene, then came home and painted it. There is never time to rush home for the camera, because the light changes in seconds.

Venice Sunrise, watercolor

I love Venice. It is unique among cities, and painting it gives me great pleasure. This little watercolor was fun to paint.

Now, in my last entry I mentioned that lady trombone players may look less than graceful. Lo and behold, last Sunday I attended a concert in which a young woman looked mighty cute in her heels and dress, playing her trombone for 90 minutes with the band in the Air Force's Tops in Blue show. Tops in Blue is a fabulous show that travels all over the world. It is made up of all Air Force members who take a year off to perform, and they are each so fabulous, they could be stars in their own right. It's a high-energy show, and they perform every night in a different place. Oh, and it's all free. They are great ambassadors for the Air Force.

Three Pears

During our jolly good artists' retreat in North Carolina, we stayed indoors one afternoon and had fun painting these pears. This was in keeping with my personal creed, Paint It, Then Eat It. Delicious.

Coming Soon: The Pleininator.

Cassadaga House, 5x7

Cassadaga is the most interesting town in Florida per square inch. It's a tiny little community that was formed as a Spiritualist Camp, and it is inhabited by psychics. There are many Victorian-style homes, contrasting with this modest little house with its deserted air. Many homes have signs saying "Psychic" out front, and there is an old (and creepy) hotel that is reputed to be haunted. The tiny community of Cassadaga has a feeling of being from another world, and another time.

Cheesesteaks and Prison

We went to Jersey for the weekend for my mother-in-law’s 90th birthday. We had the whole South Jersey/Philly experience: a drive through an old neighborhood with many Italian restaurants and front stoops where much of the music was born that baby boomers still enjoy; original Philly Cheesesteaks at Pat’s Steaks; a meal in a typical diner; and a tour of the Historic Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. Al Capone and Willie Sutton were housed there, but the place dates back to the 1800’s. Just had to share pictures of the place with you, those crumbling walls were beautiful.

When we arrived back in Orlando Airport we saw a guy in a Zoot Suit, wearing a fedora. He was with a pretty girl with an Andrews Sister hairdo, a 1930s dress and high heels. Her bags were vintage suitcases, the hard brown kind, covered with travel stickers. She said they just like to dress that way. My camera was packed away, darn it.

The Point, 5x7

There is so much going on that my head is spinning, and that is a good time to paint an abstract. It looks like I'm going off in all directions, but I'm just having fun. There is a more realistic work still on my easel.

The Masters' Pieces, an exhibit by the Pieces of 8, is in the VanGo Mobile Museum, which provides the Artreach program to children in Volusia and Flagler Counties. The traveling exhibit links original, regional art to world art and culture to create interactive, educational programs. The program has served over 6,000 children since its beginning in October 2008. We are really gratified to be part of this outreach to children.