Hurricane Gift, 10x8 Original Oil Painting, Florida Beach

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I call this "Hurricane Gift" because even a terrible storm can yield something beautiful. This driftwood was on North Captiva Island, Florida, and was the result of a hurricane years ago. Now the island is recovering from Hurricane Ian and debris is everywhere after that hard hit. Their lush growth will return, just as it always does.

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Camp Holly, 11x14 Original Florida Oil Painting

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I took this photo from an airboat as we were returning from an excursion on the St. Johns River. It is an attraction for people hoping to see alligators, but this is not the season. We saw only one. Camp Holly is a popular spot, and has been since 1923! Can you imagine how wild it was around here back then? 

Painting this was like putting a puzzle together, and by the time I was done I felt I had been back there for a long stay.

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Portrait of Hap, 1980s Graphite Drawing

 

One thing I am most thankful for at Thanksgiving is my husband Hap, the best husband a woman could have. This drawing was done in the 80s, while listening to What's Love Got to Do With It, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, and Billy Jean. 

Those were the days. (sigh)

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Portrait of Leigh

What with being out of town and then dealing with results of the hurricane, I haven't had time to finish my recent painting, so I am pulling this from the archives. It's a graphite portrait I did years ago, and one of my favorites. 

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Mother Teresa and Other Tender Things, Graphite Drawing

 

I drew this years ago when I was taught this technique by the late Louise Cherwak. In the center is my son at age three, all happy because a butterfly landed on his chest. Unfortunately, this drawing was stolen from an exhibit at Brevard Community College. Thank goodness I had already made a print, or it would have been even more devastating. 

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Birdie, 8x10 Original Oil Wildlife Painting

$155

I am told this is a Chickadee. I thought he was irresistibly cute, and he is the first thing I have painted since my bout with Covid. I started another painting a couple weeks ago, but wasn't feeling that well yet. Before I got very far into it I realized it was a "scraper," a painting so disappointing that I scraped it off the canvas. I am very happy with this one.

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The Other Florida, 12x12 Original Landscape Oil Painting

 

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I had plenty of time to study the landscape as we  recently traversed Florida on Hwy 70. This is the Florida of my childhood; pastures like this and orange groves. Sadly, there aren't very many orange groves these days.

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Halie at the Pool

This is a memory of my granddaughter years ago. Now she is in her twenties, and I miss the hours playing with her and her sister in our pool. 

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Red Tanager, 8x10 Original Oil Painting

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Not much to tell, was just in the mood to paint a little bird.

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Mother and Child, 11x14 Oil Painting

This mother and child were getting ready for a wedding. The photo inspired me to paint it, and when it is dry I will send it to Lisa, whose family is pictured. I haven't had an inspiration in a while, so this got me moving.

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