ORIGINAL BEACHSCAPE PAINTING FLAT LIGHT DUNE

Hey Friends  Just listed this small (8x10) painting on EBAY.  You can check it out and place a bid RIGHT HERE.

This was painted on the spot this past June at Nags Head.  I set up under the beach house to keep from getting a sunburn.  It was a fab day.

Loved it

Loved it

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Trails

Ormond Beach, Florida

Hey Friends,  If you have ever been to this gorgeous part of Florida you know what it looks like and it does not include Palm Trees like this !

I used my privileges and moved my gorgeous host' tree to the ocean edge.  Don't quote me, but I think the reason palms don't grow this close to the ocean, is the hurricanes?

While I was in Ormond this past June, I painted several small panels that I'm saving for the DLP's 150 Challenge.  We will start showing those this Saturday the 12th at the famous "Lynchburg Art Festival" at EC Glass Hi-School.

Anyway, this pert little palm is for auction on Ebay.  CLICK HERE.

I've changed my tactics on Ebay a little.  I no longer start bidding at .99 .  I start bids at a price to cover the materials.  If I can't sell them at material cost then I will paint over them.  Also adding a "Buy it now" price so you don't have to wait for the auction to end.

I didn't see you in Lynchburg?

Happy Trails

Sunset at Myrtle Beach

Hey Friends,  One more from the Myrtle Beach series right after Christmas 2013.  Started in Jan. not finished until last week.  Life can get in the way at times.
Would love to do a nocturne but I'm pretty sure it would be bit boring with all the blues and grays being so close in value.  Will try some day.
This is an ebay auction so check it out here.
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Happy Trails
Travel Well

Day 22 "Popcorn Thief"

Hey Friends,  A pretty little gull (I thought it was a girl because it was so petite) stole a popcorn from my sisters hand as she was pulling back to throw it.  Sis let out a squeak, funny.
She is for sale in an Ebay auction, CLICK HERE.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Day 18 "Hoovering # 3"

Hey Friends,  A silly little sea gull for Day 18 of  Leslie's Challenge.  I've got at least one more gull to paint, probably more.
This tough old bird is at auction in Ebay, CLICK HERE to check it out.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Day 13 of 30 Days "Beach Butts"

Hey Friends,  Did not think it would happen so quick.  Running out of time, running out of paintings.  But that's what has happened.  This past week was busy with family stuff and not feeling so swell, as in NO SUN depression.  So I'm cheating a bit.  This was painted some time ago and the photos were taken in the Tampa, Fl. area. 
I wanted every painting to be from the trip to Myrtle Beach.  I have about 5 in various stages but none dry enough to scan.  They should be dry enough by tomorrow, so then I'll just carry on.
Click here to go to the EBay auction.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Day 12 of Leslie's 30 Day Challenge

Hey Friends,  Day 12 has rolled in, almost half-way.  This was painted from the photos I took in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Yeah and a lot of imagination.   Wish I were there now.
Click here for the Ebay auction that starts at a penny.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Day 11 - 9"x 12" Oil for Saeta's Challenge

Hey Friends,  Another day on the beach.  Another day in Paradise.  Don't I wish !  It is 15 degrees as I type this.  I want to go to the grocery store but I don't wanna go outside.  What a wussss.
Painted this one after I was home from Paradise.  Using some of the 500 photos I took.  I didn't quite capture how high the waves were.  But I like it.
It's in my Ebay auctions, Click here.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Day 10 of Posting Original Paintings for Leslie Saeta's Challenge

Hey Friends, Another of palms, same spot as the painting posted 2 days ago.  Just about the same weather conditions so I stayed on the porch again.  Every one was at the beach, shivering but Happy !  I felt the need to practice a bit with the oils again.
She is listed in my Ebay auctions starting at a penny.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Day 8 of the Challenge

Hey Friends,  Yep, Made it 8 days !  This is a 6" sq. canvas panel.  I prepped it with leftover oils a couple weeks ago.   I like working on a textured surface.  These palms were in the yard of the Whitacker House in Myrtle Beach, SC so I moved them to the oceans edge.
Click Here if you want to win this little babe for yourself.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Day 7 of the 30 Day Challenge

Hey Friends,  Still chugging along.  I believe I took about 400 photos of the birds on the beach at Myrtle Beach, SC.  We would feed them popcorn and pretzels.  They came in a big burst.  Almost made the sky disappear.  This guy is really embellished with the colors.  I've got a couple more drawn out and ready for me to paint (today I hope).
This birdy is available in an Ebay auction by clicking here.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Day 6 of Leslie's 30 day challenge

Well here it is Day 6.  I remember the other challenge seemed to drag on forever and was over quick as a wink.  Time is a funny thing.  We never have enough of it and we wonder where it went.
Just like the week we spent in Myrtle Beach....Where did the time go?  I only got a handful of paintings done, certainly not enough for this challenge.  But I think I'll get ahead this week because it's negative degrees here in SW Virginia and I certainly don't want to go outside.  I'll just sit here by the wood stove and paint.   She (above) is up for auction in Ebay.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Day 22 of Leslie Saeta's Challenge

Hey Friends,  I must be honest,  this piece of work has not been shown before BUT I didn't paint it yesterday.  I made this about a month ago.  There now you can chastise me.  I made a post here on my blog sometime ago, I will attempt to link to it so you can see that I made the stamps for all of these critters.  I did enjoy carving the stamps and thoroughly enjoyed creating a design to fit them into.  So please leave a comment, tell me what you really think of this.
You can also check some close-ups in my Etsy shop.   Click Here.
Happy Trails
Travel Well

Commission Work

Hey Friends,  Just showing you what I'm working on at the moment.  A wonderful couple has commissioned me to paint a fun piece for their lake house bathroom.
Above are some items to inspire me.  If anyone knows me well, then they know my favorite themes are tropical.   I would paint palms all day if anyone wanted them.  The bathroom walls are the color on the paint can, AQUA, my favorite color of all.
Obviously fish is the main subject.  And bubbles.  Lots of bubbles.  Should be fun !!

Tonight is the First Fridays Art Crawl in downtown Roanoke.  I'm hoping to go and hoping it doesn't rain.  The sky has not done anything but rain for days and days, maybe weeks.  Water, Water everywhere.
We shall see.  I especially want to see the NEW gallery called "Wonderland" on Campbell.  I'll give a report tomorrow.   See you all downtown !

Happy Trails
Travel Well

New Ideas !!

Hey Friends, I know it's a bit odd - me posting twice in one week but........I had a couple of ideas (yeah-that's odd too!) and was wondering what others thought.

Yeah, I'll probably do this anyway 'cuz I'm a bit hardheaded. I thought of 2 new series for paintings. First is the "Good Dog" series. My daughter had to put her dog "Ebony" asleep last week and then I saw a collar with GOOD DOG cross stitched on it and Boing a tiny lightbulb came on. So the Dalmation mix above is the first, testing the waters, so to speak.

I like it a lot and I've already painted my daughters dog too. It's not dry or I would have scanned it, to show you. I can see the fun coming up !

The second idea I thought I might call "BEACH BUTTS" or is that too crude? A friend gave me a couple photos of her boys from their last beach trip. I like the way it turned out. I have a hard time painting loose so it really stokes the old fire when I accomplish loose brush work. I ran out of the studio so I wouldn't keep fiddling with it. I drive myself crazy being such a noodler.

I can already picture a couple of paintings with babies I know.

So tell me what you think and have a wonderful weekend.

Happy Trails.

WINDY DAY

Hey Friends, I'm listing this painting in my Etsy. Again this is acrylic on MASA Rice Paper. I would love to know what you think of this technique or this effect. I'm crazy about it but I'm known to love stuff nobody else likes. BTW-this rice paper makes beautiful lamp shades.

Now I think I'll spend a few minutes figuring out how to post someone else's work here on my blog. It may never see the light of day but I really want to show you some of the work my Team members from Virginia do. I'm talking about Design Style Guide.

Happy Trails.

BEACH NO3

Hey Friends, Artists know they should paint what they love, the things that really inspires them. So with that in mind, I painted another beach scene. Using the same photos I've used several times. In this painting I felt like adding some figures. Some humans enjoying the sun and water as much as I would, if I only had the time to go.

This is painted on masa rice paper with acrylics, one of my all time favorite techniques, which I learned from Vera Dickerson years ago. You can find 8x16 giclee/reproductions in my Etsy shop by clicking here.

Happy Trails.

SISTERS ON A FROLIC

Hey Friends, Here is the newest painting I've listed in Etsy. This is painted on Masa Rice paper with acrylics. This rice paper is a true joy to paint on! If you haven't given it a try, don't delay. It's my favorite. This paper can be preped in several different ways. My favorite is to crumple and stain with inks or liquid acrylics-gives it a batik-y effect.

I think you can depict any surface on this paper with realistic effects or fantasy. I believe the word is organic. Don't you think it lends it self well to capturing the beach sand and the ocean? I've done several portraits on Masa and loved the human characteristics it lends. The veins, the pores, the scars. and the wrinkles.

Happy Trails.

OCEAN BREEZE

Here is a happy, summer painting for you. Remember the last time you were at the ocean's edge? That wonderful breeze and all the seaside sounds! The feel of the sand and the sound of the waves? It's been way too long since I saw and heard the ocean. Hoping I get to visit the ocean in Florida sometime in Dec. this year. If you want to own this little reminder (it's 10"x8")just CLICK HERE for info on Ebay. Thanks for stopping in.

SOUTHERN BREEZE

I used an old photo I took on a trip to St. Thomas years ago. I took a lot of photos and I love to paint the coast so I'm sure there will be more to come! Thanks for stopping by and constructive comments are always welcome - Would love to hear from somebody! If you would like info on purchasing just CLICK HERE!!!! HAVE A GREAT WEEK