More Florida Paintings

Paintings of The Forgotten Coast

Greetings!
I wouldn't be surprised if there is absolutely nobody checking my blog anymore. It has been so long since my last post, I know you have become weary of hopefully checking and then disappointed when there is nothing, nothing, nothing. And you gave up on me. Don't blame you.
But I am back! Come back! This is what I have been up to. All these paintings are of Apalachicola, Florida. An incredible old oyster, sponge, and shrimp harvesting town, with a rich history and with the friendliest people you could hope to meet.

Last of Florida

Here are the rest of the paintings from Florida. Pretty soon they will be on the website, along with other new paintings.
The portrait is of my host, the generous, gracious Richard Carrell. He and his equally generous, gracious wife, Judy housed me while I was there painting. The cottage is the childhood summer home of Judy. I painted that picture (and the portrait) as gifts for them.
I hope all these Florida paintings prove to show my experience there. A little pain, much sweat and hard work, and much celebration. I was taught so much by my fellow artists and by the wonderful folks I met there.

More Florida Paintings

Yes, even more paintings from Florida. Mary Erickson and I went out to this remote cape, Cape San Blas, to paint. It was so gorgeous, wild and untouched. The sand in this area of the Gulf Coast is like powdered sugar. Amazing. The next day, it was back to Apalachicola, where I saw this great old truck. I loved the cemetery in Apalach too. I think the cemetery painting describes how hot it was there.

Florida, Day Four

The Arizona Chemical Plant in Port St. Joe, FL emits an odor that lives somewhere in between rotten hot dogs, boggy marsh, and burnt light bulb. I painted this picture of the factory stewing in this odor, still Florida stickiness, with fever from sunstroke. I couldn't have been happier though. Well, maybe if Mark was there.
That morning I painted another salt marsh scene.

Florida, Day Three

I'm pretty sure these are the paintings I did on my third day in Florida. It was this day that because of my horrific sunburn, my feet and ankles swelled to the diameter of softballs, and I had to squeeze my feet into my clogs. *OUCH*
We painted in a cute little town called Wewahitchka, where they make tupelo honey. Yum. The church is the old Presbyterian church that used to be the Episcopalian church. I went around the back because I didn't like the light on the front, and saw the nice architecture there. In the morning I went to the Dead Lakes, and did this study of Cypress trees and the boggy lake. This area was very spooky and beautiful.
I am still on such a high from my experience in Florida. I hope I can keep this feeling going!

More Florida

Here are some pictures of Richard and Judy Carrell's gorgeous house in which I had the pleasure of staying. One is the view of the Gulf of Mexico I had from the balcony of my room. One is the view of the exterior of the house from acroos the street. One is of the amazingly decorated interior! Wow.
Also, the paintings I did on the second day of painting. First, a painting of the salt marshes as seen from the side of the highway. Perhaps a scene which will not be there next year due to development. So sad. I learned that landowners can 'fill in' the marsh, home to elegant birds and many other wild critters, and build a house, hotel, or restaurant there.
Second, a shrimp shack/plant structure near the marina in Apalachicola. I loved the cool noontime light on the white walls, and how the only natural thing was way in the background. And, of course, the truck.
Third, the salt marshes there at sunset, with the muted dusky colors.
I painted that day from 7am to 9pm, and I was so jazzed, but still slept like an exhausted log with no dreams.

Florida Light

Florida has a different light than Maine or California. Florida's light is bright. BRIGHT. It is clean, cool, and very bright (sunburn).
Here are some paintings from the first two days of my painting trip. The intersection is right where I was staying. The beach house and 'Purple Bar" are from the town, Mexico Beach. All these paintings were down while standing on the side of the road. I was almost killed by so many big trucks, fire ants, and no-see-ums.
I did not have a car, so my roommate, Mary Erickson, an amazingly great painter, was so kind to drive me around with her. We became fast friends. I admire her work, her wisdom, and her generosity.

Back In LA

Well, I am back from my trip to sticky, hot, beautiful Gulf Coast Florida. To recap, I was invited there by Richard Carrell, whom I met on Monhegan last summer. I was painting, sitting on the dirt road, a picture of hollyhocks when he spotted me, liked my work, and thought I would be perfect for his idea of a Paint-Out in Florida. I accepted.
Before I went to Mexico Beach, I stayed a couple of days with my Father in Leesburg, which is so pretty. Here are pics of my time there. Notice the gator and the great blue heron. So cool! My Dad and his wife, Shirley, have wonderful neighbors, Gary and Shirlee, and they took us out on their boat through the canals. All I can say is WOW! Turns out that I love the landscape in Florida. I didn't get too many mosquito bites, and only saw one live palmetto bug. I did manage to get the World's Worst Sunburn, which I will discuss in another post. Sun poisoning is no fun!
I painted 24 paintings, and sold 9! After expenses and a 50% commission, I just about broke even!

Clouseau and Florida

Clouseau was sleeping like this the other day. He was like that for a good couple of hours. I was giving him a belly rub, and then he just fell asleep like that.
I am leaving for warm sunny Florida tomorrow morning! I have to leave warm sunny California! I am so excited because I have never been to Florida, and because I will be staying in Leesburg for a few days with my Dad and his wife Shirley. After some fun there, they are dropping me off in Mexico Beach, FL, where I will be painting for a couple of weeks. My Dad and Shirley are then driving up to New England for the summer. So I won't be posting anything until I get back! Miss you!