I see you!

I see you! is one of the paintings created at the National Shrimp Festival on Friday October 14th. I am really having a good time at Shrimp Festival and am looking forward to the next couple of days as well.

Friday was nerve wracking because I had not even made booth fee by the end of Thursday. This year is made even more trying with the addition of a license for the city of Gulf Shores that has added to my expenses.

Friday morning dawned with me in high hopes for a better day and making booth fees. The day passed with cards sold, and one giclee' totaling only about $80.00. I was not optimistic by late afternoon and was trying very hard to keep up a brave front. During the day, I had painted three paintings and wanted to varnish them. I tried to remove myself from the crowds and after spraying 2 of the works was asked to stop as it was blowing into the food booth several dozen feet away. I was crushed, no income to speak of, and now I could not varnish either. It took me a while to recover, give it all to God and put on a smile because my nerves were shot.

We stayed after 6 pm and the night crowds started to pick up. I was still trying to put faith in myself and the fact that God always, Always takes care of me, but I was beginning to waver. We finally had a customer that had purchased at Cathedral Square Gallery come in and become delighted with the shell minatures. After a few moments she had decided to purchase the group of 5 paintings to put between a doorway and wall. At the same time, another woman walked in and fell in love with my large Nautilus. She had just arrived, and wanted to look around asking how long we would be there. I told her she could have first right of refusal if she would give me her number and I would hold the painting until 12 on Saturday. We told her we would be there until 7pm (about 25 minutes) and she rushed away. We started packing for the evening and she rushed back in and said I'll take it, I love it and I want it, so I am not going to wait.

Within 30 mins I had made booth fee and finally was in the the black. Now the show is looking more promising with hopefully Saturday being a big day! I know better than to doubt that I will be taken care of by the master. He has a plan, although sometimes we wonder what is he thinking! I was tested Friday, hard! I am so glad I passed the test!

I see You! 12 x 12 acrylic on canvas

Dock Invader

"Dock Invader" completes the 100 days~100 paintings series! This watercolor is part of a demonstration for a student that is fishing up her class in watercolors. I have really enjoyed teaching her and I hope she has enjoyed the classes. In answer to several requests, I will begin teaching in November. Details to follow shortly!

I am still toying with the idea of daily painting and blogging still. It may not be a painting a day, but it will be lots of paintings because the sepias are selling rapidly. I also sold Rosetta's Jubilee I and II this week. It is still kinda sad when a painting leaves the studio, but there will always be more! Rosetta's Jubilee will live on as well as they are now in print. I have no less than 5 new prints to offer at the Festival and am looking forward to the results.

We are set up for the National Shrimp Festival as of this afternoon. The tent goes up easy as you please now. (Especially when you set it up that morning while checking poles and roof supports.) I am using the aluminum poles with the top and sides purchased a few years back. We use these poles because of the significant weight difference between the two. (One is Steel the other Aluminum) Our neighbors seem to be nice and there is an excitement in the air down at the gulf. The booth placement was extremely tight and we stayed to help our neighbor with a new tent that was very similar to ours. We also stayed in case there was a problem with the booth placement. The area where we are has several booths in a row and exactly 10 feet in which to place our little corner of the planet. My booth number is 119 in the fine art division. Maybe I'll see you there!

Dock Invader 9 x 12 watercolor on paper

Toe the Line~detail

"Toe the Line" is my attempt to paint something for the Alabama Fans in my life. I am always trying something new and different and this one will prove to be achallenge I am certain! The canvas measures 36 x 36 and actually has three elephants total, They are rushing out at you and will be a combination of color and sepia. Sepia works perfectly for the elephants and will be a beautiful work to leave my studio!

"Toe the Line"~detail acrylic on canvas 36 x 36

Rustic Crab

Painted while teaching this week for Paint and Pals, this painting was worked on during the class. It is not quite finished because I helped the rest of the group. We had 17 people and no two crabs were alike! It never ceases to amaze me that my students will all start out with the same drawing but never end with the same image. Color choices, brush strokes, techniques all are different and make for an interesting evening of teaching! I will never tire of teaching and love to watch the people that come leave pleasantly surprised that they have a painting that they can hang and say, I did it myself!

Rustic Crab 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas

"Crab Invasion II"

"Crab Invasion II" is another in the sepia series to leave my brush and the studio. I will never tire of painting crabs and with a neighbor like Rosetta, I will never be at a loss for subject matter. That reminds me, she said she was going fishing! There will be more to paint!

This painting represents day number 97 in the series!

"Crab Invasion II" Acrylic on Canvas 10 x 10

Crab Invasion

"Crab Invasion" has similarities to one of the paintings completed recently. Rosseta's Jubilee. I wanted to see what they would look like in the sepia series, so here we go!

This one was painted at the Grand Festival in my booth.

"Crab Invasion" 10 x 10 acrylic on canvas

Who's got Attitude?

Painted during the Grand Festival, "Who's got Attitude?" is one of many crabs to leave the end of my brush. It probably won't be the last either. Our coast gives artists many reasons to paint the local creatures and areas that surround and never ceases to astound me.

This painting represents day 95 in the 100 days series. I am still painting and am looking forward to the next challenge that arises from the studio in Fairhope.

"Who's got Attitude?" 4 x 12 acrylic on deep edge canvas