Sarasota Shadows

Well well, while at the Sarasota, FL chalk festival a few years ago, (it is now held in Venice, FL) my eyes wandered while hiking about in the heat and noticed some great shadows on a condo building across the street.  Art is art right?  Took a quick picture, and more.  I manipulated the colors a bit and came up with Sarasota Shadows, 10 x 8, wrapped canvas.  Kinda fun.  

Partially Submerged  Acrylic on WC paper   10" x 10"

To wander away from my usual train of thought…    I took out the paint, brushes and at one point just picked a color, colors really, that made me happy and put them down just as they wanted.  Or maybe as I wanted.  Someone pointed out later that day that I was wearing almost all teal.  I hadn’t even realized.  Anyway, it was fun.  And I kind of like it now.  Fun is good.

Warm Meadow

It’s that warm feeling of the bright summer sun on your shoulders again.  Walking along on a grassy path, in between where you left and where you’re going, sometimes you get that magical sense.  It’s a combination of the wonderful fresh air, the warmth and the smell of grass, earth, trees.  

The big things, big rocks, trees, are made up of special little things.  The trees have gnarled bark, or, sometimes cool light grey bark with little dark bumps.  It may have moss on it or ants, or spider eggs.  The big rocks are often amazing.  Once I found a whole bunch of boulders with crystals and dark colored inclusions in them forming strata and odd shapes.  This stuff is free.

We live day to day and see the amazing beauty around us.  We may try to save it with pictures.  The pictures maybe should only be reminders to fully place ourselves back in that spectacular moment, place our minds back in the actual time with all its shock, joy, gratitude, euphoria - a glorious feeling.  Thank you for our Earth.

Aware  Acrylic on WC paper 10.5" x 7.5"

Sometimes the look on our face deceives onlookers.  We might just be thinking about some little thing, but our face may look stern or overly serious.  Our natural face is not a smile.  But then often our faces give away our inner thoughts or intentions when we don’t want to.  Palm reading of the face.

This is right off the easel.  I had to fight with it a tiny bit right at the end.  It's funny how some paintings just roll off the brush and others give you a hard time.  Most are pretty cooperative.  They usually demand a deal of looking and last minute little fixes.  I'm happy with how this turned out.

We don't know if he is lost, just camping or on a rescue.  He looks serious about it though.  This may be a favorite. 

Buffalo River Rock            (WC 5.2" x 7" unframed $40)

Have you ever had the absolutely amazing pleasure of finding, exploring, sitting along a trout stream?  At first the beauty of the whole scene overtakes you.  The warm sun is shining on your shoulders.  It’s warm and feels good. The sound of the stream lures you in.  The sun glistens off the riffles of the water as it flows along around the rocks and debris.  

You look closely for hiding creatures in the water.  Looking, you see the colored stones on the bottom.  There’s some plants too.  You search.  You look.  Are there any fish?  You know there are but you can’t see them.  Then the sun and water and trees and leaves, all of it, overtakes you again.  Does everyone know how wonderful this is?  Do they know about it?

Watching, always watching.  Having just undergone the threat of hurricane Irma, I was certainly watching.  Approaching hurricanes in Florida have a strange effect on the residents.  We, those who work at home at least, cannot not watch for news.  It's quite paralyzing if the threat is substantial.  So many here have had damage or hurt.  

I evacuated, thinking my life was certainly in the balance.  I felt sorry for the imminent loss of everything I owned and for the people who would lose so much, and thought of my family and rebuilding.  Calling a neighbor who stayed, I found out that, in the end, I had no damage, and, a miracle, did not even lose power.  

Back home now, everyone here is asking how each other made out and sharing stories of sharing and caring.  The spirit of a can-do attitude is everywhere.        

Ion

Ion, an inspired painting.  Acrylic on WC paper on gallery wrapped canvas 16" x 12".  Canvas painted grey, fully sealed and varnished - ready to hang.  $384

Where do you live?  Home is always comforting, in so many ways.  Sometimes there are things we don't even think about that give us pleasure.  After a trip or vacation, after all the "putting away" and "catching up" is done, the comfort of home is great.    I took the picture for this painting because I really liked the clouds.  I probably didn't do them justice but they were just outstanding.  Then, I considered doing my painting and realized that I just loved the whole scene.  It's just home, but just terrific.