"Miss Josephine"

"Miss Josephine"

3 x 2 mini pencil drawing, framed $25

Josephine, in all her glory, with plumed hat and puffed sleeves! Who is she? Your guess is as good as mine! This is a quick drawing with colored pencils and framed in a cute little gold frame. Perhaps milady would like this on her dressing table?

Umbrella in the Park

"Umbrella in the Park"

3 x 3 acrylic mini on easel $25

SOLD

Christmas is over and maybe I will have a few more hours to paint now! I still have company and we are sight seeing Florida and trying to not complain over the COLD WEATHER here! I had time to do this mini, only 3 inches by 3 inches with a park bench and umbrella and tropical foliage. The sun is out, though, and today promises to be warmer. I hope you are staying warm in your part of the world!

12 Days of Christmas--Favorite Painting Count Down

"Favorite House"

18 x 24 acrylic, framed $400

This is the final favorite in my painting count down. It is an old house that evokes memories of the past. Even though it is in Spring, it still looks like a wonderful place to celebrate Christmas, doesn' it?

I want to thank everyone for looking at my blog, which I started last March. I have tried to post a new painting daily or one I am working on. At Christmas, I have found it hard to get a lot of painting time, but will resume after the first of the year, painting with a new energy! I think all artists make a new year's resolution to paint more and better! It keeps us focused!

I am taking a few days, now, to spend with my family and company and to celebrate Christmas and New Years, so I will resume posting shortly. I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, filled with good health. May your wishes come true, your dreams be fulfilled. Egretta

12 Days of Christmas--Favorite Painting Count Down

"Granny's Treasures"
19 1/2 x 24 1/2 watercolor SOLD

This painting is one of my very favorites, probably because of the challenges in it, as well as the subject matter. The items are from my family, which I do treasure. The challenge was to paint the cathedral quilt beneath the glass wash board, making the white pitcher reflect the different colors , and other reflections and shadows. It looks a little less vibrant here than in real life.

I hope it stirs memories in you, too. This painting is number two and tomorrow will be the last one in my count down. It is looking a lot like Christmas, isn't it? Hope you are having fun!

12 Days of Christmas--Favorite Paintings Count Down

"The Shepherd"

16 x 20 acrylic on canvas, framed $450

I like the details of the sheep and the shepherd, the pleasantness of the shepherd's expression; a man who clearly loves his flock. It reminds me, especially at this time of year, of the birth of Jesus in the lowly manger and the fact that He is our Shepherd and we are His flock and that He cares for us!

I hope you have much happiness during this Christmas season. This painting is number 3 in the count down!

12 Days of Christmas--Favorite Paintings Count Down

"Textures of Nature"

16 1/2 by 22 1/2 watercolor, matted and framed $500 SOLD

What makes this one of my favorites is the contrast between the delicate flowers and the bark of the tree. It was so much fun painting the textures. I did a lot of dry brush work in this, as you can see if you click on it for a closer view.

This is painting number 4 in my count down to Christmas!

12 days of Christmas - Favorite Paintings Count Down

"The Grapefruit Eater"

egg tempera on panel, SOLD (from private collection)

My favorite today is this egg tempera which is rich in detail and color. Click on it to see it better.

This is number five in the count down!

12 Days of Christmas Favorite Painting Count Down

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"Regal Swan"

8 x 10 acrylic on canvas SOLD

This painting was done also from a beautiful photograph by a fellow blogger. You can visit his blog at http://marksvegplot.blogspot.com/

I took some liberties in the colors of the water, playing up the regal aspect of the colors. I love the shadow of the bird's neck on her body. This painting reminds me at Christmas of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker and Dance of the Swans.

This is number 6 in my Count Down! Keep Looking!

12 Days of Christmas--My Favorite Paintings count down

"Majestic Mallard"

8 x 10 acrylic on stretched canvas SOLD

I painted this recently using a fellow bloggers great photograph. I loved the colors in the water, the swirls and reflections. Check out his blog to see lots of very nice photography and interesting garden and cooking comments. It is http://marksvegplot.blogspot.com/

This is number 7 in my count down! Keep looking!

12 Days of Christmas---Favorite Painting count down

"Springtime Mallards"

11 x 14 acrylic, framed $300.

This is the 8th painting in my favorite painting count down til Christmas. Last spring, I painted it after watching these three ducks in the canal. Always together, the males seem to guard the female. I love the rippling water and how their feet can be seen through the water---I always love to do reflections, too.

I am counting down my favorite paintings I have done this year, up to Christmas Eve, so keep watching! Thanks for checking out my blog and I hope your Christmas preparation is going great and you are having fun!

12 Days of Christmas--Favorite Paintings Count Down

"Sandhill Cranes"

22 x 34 watercolor, framed $500.

Sandhill Cranes are such regal, interesting birds that I see here in South Florida all the time. Usually there is a youngster with a pair, who mate for life! The baby bird in this painting is very young and will later change in color as he grows. I like the watery background and focused all the detail on the birds. This is the 9th painting in my Painting Count Down!

Merry Christmas to all!

12 Days of Christmas---Favorite Paintings Count Down

"Days End"

18 x 24 egg tempera, SOLD

Counting down my favorites--this is number 10. It is an egg tempera, which is so interesting to do, layering the paint in thin layers. It is dusk and the farmer is deep in thought, perhaps about his cattle or his garden. The old basket beside him holds potatoes he has dug. This is a painting that calls for you to look at it a long time, studying the shapes, colors, light, etc. but also the subject matter. I hope you like it, too!

Our count down of favorites continues tomorrow!

12 Days of Christmas--Favorite paintings--Count Down

"Quilter and Pin Cushion"
18 x 24 egg tempera on masonite, framed $600

She's a woman who has seen many years and many things. Her face is etched with wrinkles and her eyes show wisdom. Painted from a photo of a quilter at a quilt show in Appalachia, this is one of my favorite paintings I have done. I love working with egg tempera, layering, using a sponge at times and then using a thin brush for details. The pin cushion and post on the right balance the figure on the left. I like the composition and the colors. Click on it to see the details. What a nice gift this would make for Christmas! There is still time, but only if you hurry. Keep warm! Eleven Days til Christmas!

Twelve Days of Christmas--my favorite 12 paintings

"Carolina Wrens Building a Nest" $500

16 x 20 acrylic on stretched canvas, framed

This painting has won an exhibition prize.

For the next 12 days, until Christmas, I will be posting each day one of my favorite paintings. I'm starting with this one, which tells a story of a busy little couple trying to build their nest in my father's old garden boots! This story is sort of true, as the pair of wrens build their nest each year somewhere on my back porch. I placed Dad's old work boots out there to entice them, but no! they chose a flower pot. My imagination could just see the male trying to get the leather shoe lace into the nest, while his mate waits patiently with her twig! I love these old boots, as the memory of my Dad is there---I can just see the way he stood in the placement of these boots and in their form. Click on the photo to see details.

My photography skills were not so good, as I took this photo inside my studio and there are so many windows that the flash reflects the light too much in spots.

This painting is my pick # 12.

"Fluff, the Christmas Cat"

"Fluff, the Christmas Cat"

6 x 6 acrylic on gesso board $40 SOLD

Watch out, Christmas tree! Here is Fluff with all the reflections of the Christmas lights in his big blue eyes and he is ready to check out the ornaments and climb the tree! Like a child, he is ready to investigate this new thing of fascination.

I am sure some of you "cat mommies" have had this happen! Click on this painting to see the hair details and an interesting backgroud done with paper towels!

Decorative Tole Painting

Watering Can and Porch Tray

Acrylic on metal decorative tole painting $50 each piece

Occassionally I paint on metal in a decorative way, so these are matching pieces painted especially to decorate someone's outdoor space or for a sunroom. I once did many art shows with decorative pieces, but I really prefer fine art painting, so I don't do many of these anymore. I painted these to resemble vintage fabric patterns. The colors are soft and the background is cream. Not too late for a Christmas gift!

Page from Sketch Book

This is a couple of pages from my sketch book, a drawing with a watercolor wash. I am so busy with Christmas shopping, wrapping, decorating and baking that very little painting is getting done right now. I do try to do something every day, either a sketch or work on some things I have started. A friend owns this old car, and it is such fun to ride in it!

I hope you are enjoying this season of the year, too!

" Victorian Bouquet"

"Victorian Bouquet"

3 x 3 acrylic on stretched canvas, with easel $30

This tiny painting would be special on a dresser in Madame's bedroom! It is just a bouquet, painted loosely in nice soft colors, and looks very old-fashioned. The vase sits on some crochet lace, so it is a feminine little painting. It comes with its own little easel, which is natural wood, but could be spray painted white or a pale color of your choice.

"Dracena "

"Dracena"

6 x 6 acrylic on canvas panel $40

There are two beautiful dracenas or Ti Plants in my front garden and I trimmed off some leaves and just thought how beautiful they were with so many different greens and reds. So of course, I brought some leaves into the studio and just had to paint them!

I have talked so much about the beautiful warm Florida weather, but guess what! We are to get some freezing temperatures, so I may be out in the garden covering up some plants tonight!

"My Kentucky Home"

"My Kentucky Home"

18 x 24 acrylic on canvas, collection of the artist

This week, I am working on Christmas decorations and reminiscing about growing up in Loyall, Kentucky. This is a painting I did for my parents a while back and in the Spring when all the dogwood trees and azaleas were in bloom. The town is small, surrounded by mountains as you can see in the painting. This house was remodeled in the late 1950's. We moved in it when I was 2 years old, about 1942 and I believe it was a Sears Roebuck house. If you aren't familiar with that, a Sears Roebuck house was one that was mail ordered, arrived to your town on a train in a box car, and it was like a kit with everything you needed to build a certain model house. It looked like a craftsmen house in the 40's and was not new when we obtained it, so I am not certain when it was built. Anyway, it looked completely different then than it does after the remodel. The little gray building is the coal house, later the garden house. I know it is winter now and some of you are having snow, but you can enjoy a little Spring by looking at my Mom's garden.She took such pride in her plantings and in the Spring many people stopped by to take photos of her azaleas and dogwood trees. Sweet memories!!

"The Duke"

"The Duke"

Pastel Sold

Yes, this is The Duke, and well he knew it, too. A pastel of a very smart little Boston Terrier. Many people want pet portraits for Christmas---but I have finished doing commissions and prefer now, in my older age, to do just what I want to do!It is lots more fun!

"The Corner Store"

"The Corner Store"

8 x 10 print from acrylic painting $30

My brother called me the other day and we began reminiscing about our growing up years in Loyall, Kentucky, which is in the famous or infamous Harlan County Kentucky. The corner shown here is a print I did from an old photo taken about 1958 or maybe even earlier. I added the car, which I think is a'58 Chevy. I graduated from Loyall High School in 1958, and one of my classmate's husband asked me to paint The Corner Store for his wife for Christmas a few years ago. When he met her, he had a car like the one I put in the painting. If you click on this painting you can see two girls standing by the side of the drug store and one of them became his wife.

The Corner Store was the meeting place of all the kids in town and we ate many a chili bun there, sundaes, and cokes! Mrs. Stanaford, the proprietor of the drug store made the best chili I have ever tasted and I tried for years to get her recipe, to no avail! She is still living and looks exactly the same as she did in 1958! ! Next to the Corner Store was the Loyall theater where you could see a double feature plus cartoons and a serial for only 15 cents if you were under 14 and 40 cents if you were over that. What a bargain! Chili buns were 15 cents, cokes a nickle. Is this aging me??? Well, I digress.

I had prints made, with permission from the owner of the painting, and I have a few if you happen to want one. This would make a very inexpensive Christmas gift if you happen to be from the area of Harlan County Kentucky! Or even if you, too, experienced a small town with a drug store meeting place!

Now! DRUM ROLL, PLEASE. It is time to announce the winner of my painting give away!

The names of all followers were put in a hat and one was drawn out by an disinterested party and the winner is KAREN. Thank each of you for being a follower and I wish all could have won, but I will be having another give away in future, so please keep looking. I appreciate all of you.

Karen will receive her painting "The Yearling" soon and also a book by that same name. Thanks again to all who look at my blog.

"Santa's Helper?"

"Santa's Helper?"

5 x 7 acrylic on canvas $30

SOLD

"I dare you to take away my hat", says the cat! However, he looks a little pensive, so I guess he knows it won't be his for long! Well, he is only a young kitty, so we really don't expect him to behave! And Santa must have a hat!

"Quail House"

"Quail House"

18 x 24 watercolor framed $400

The only inhabitants around this old house are the quail flying up in front of it. They are sort of camouflaged the way quails are in the wild, so you may have to click on this to be able to see them well. The old house is full of memories; a pioneer family who could never afford to paint the old home place. I reminese about several children playing in the dusty lane and a garden in back of the house. I suppose it was full of many happy memories. I enjoyed painting the weathered wooden boards of the house and the tin roof.

"The Market"

"The Market"

7 x 8 1/2 acrylic on paper $50

This abstracted market place view has some India ink washed in to define things and that is why you see the jet black in this composition. I simplified shapes, even the people. Be sure to click on it for a close up look.

Only two more days left until the Painting Give Away, so if you haven't signed up as a follower, and want to be entered in the contest, better hurry!!A dis-interested party will be drawing a name out of the pot and I will announce the winner on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Thanks to all who look at my blog. It is very encouraging to me!

Hi Everyone,
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and have enjoyed Black Friday as well. I stayed in all day, resting from such a big day yesterday. We had a good day yesterday, full of fun with grandchildren, food and games. I was very tired this morning and have been getting some Christmas decorations out this afternoon. I will probably take a few days to do some decorationg and work in my studio getting things organized for those who want to drop by and visit and pick out paintings for Christmas gifts. So if I don't post for a couple of days, you will know why.

There are only a few days left before I give away the painting, "The Yearling" to one of my followers. So if you haven't signed up as a follower, please do so and you will be entered in the contest. I am giving away the book by Rawlings called "The Yearling", too and it is a great book, written by a Florida lady.

Hope your day is a fine one!

Little Sketch

"Cottage Floral"

5 x 7 watercolor pencils sketch $25

I'm posting a rather quick sketch of an imaginary cottage with hibiscus flowers in the foreground. Watercolor pencils are fun to work with and you can blend them and do precise work. I would like to do some and take more time---maybe do lace. That would really be fun!

I am getting ready for company for Thanksgiving and have lots of cooking and cleaning to do, plus after Thanksgiving, I will be taking appointments for people to come to visit my studio, watch me work and look at my paintings. So I have much work to do to prepare for that! Mainly I will be cleaning out and making room for painting racks to display painting on. When it is looking good, I will post a photo of it. So I may not post for a few days, but stay tuned.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends and to all my International friends, have a wonderful week as well!

"Old House and Zinnias"

"Old House and Zinnias"

18 x 24 watercolor, unframed $250

I always love painting weathered boards on old houses---such a variance of color! In this painting I did not want the color of the zinnias to over power the nuance of the house, so I made them subtle and focused on the petal and leaf shapes. I love the color of the leaves in the foreground.

Time is flying by and Dec. 1, I will announce the winner of "The Yearling" painting plus the book by that same name. If you want a chance to win, please sign up as a follower. Easy and fast, just click on Follow on the right column here and Google will tell you what to do. Only takes a minute and you could then be the winner! Thanks for looking at my blog.

"The Banks of the River Seine"

"The Banks of the River Seine"
7 x 9 watercolor with pen sketch NFS

Hi, my show today went well. I sold 2 larger paintings, 5 smaller ones and some cards,so I was happy and gave out lots of cards with my blog spot on them. I haven't got to paint today, though, so I am posting a sketch which was done in Paris along the River Seine. It has sort of a strange perspective, but was hurriedly done and just for future reference! My daughter and son-in-law surprised me with this wonderful trip to Paris and we had a major great time. We even went to the artists' quarters in Montmartre and sat on the sidewalk and sketched. I took tons of photos and have sketches to work from. It was my "dream" trip!

Getting ready for a show---my studio

Hi everyone, Here is a view of my crowded studio! I spent all day yesterday sorting through paintings getting ready to take some to a show. When you can only take a few, you have to decide which ones you think are likely to draw the most interest. Not an easy task----you invariably look back and think, " I should have taken so and so"......

After this show, I am going to give my studio a good re-organizing and clean it out, making room so that people can make appointments with me to look over my work and buy for Christmas. So my plan is to do that Mon.-Wed. of next week. It is time to think about Christmas gifts and I surely have a lot of paintings to offer!

It is time for you to think about them, too! What could be more thrilling than to own an original painting?Also, now is a good time to sign up as a follower. Click on Follow in the right hand column and sign up so you will be entered in my free painting give away!

Hope your weekend is wonderful!

yo queiro, los amigos

"Chihuahua"

3 x 3 acrylic on stretched canvas $25

Now here is a little dog with a big attitude! The only dog in my long life that has ever tried to bite me was a chihuahua! I am always wary of these little nippers, even though most are very friendly. A tiny dog with big ears in proportion to the rest of the body, originating in Mexico and I am told that they will eat veggies as well as meat! So here is the perfect Christmas gift for some Chihuahua lover! Comes on a little easel, too.

"The Old Bait Shop"

"The Old Bait Shop"

17 x 22 1/2 watercolor on Arches paper $200

The old bait shop fell down soon after I painted it! It was leaning in this painting! Nothing left but a memory. It was on the rim canal of Lake Okeechobee, an old building, whitewashed and I'm certain full of memories. Old Florida has all but disappeared and many people collect art depicting the scenes of times past.

The Yearling"

This is the painting I will be giving away December 1st. Just thought I would remind all those who look at my blog and haven't signed up as a Follower to do so and be entered in the contest to win this painting. Just click on Follow and choose a password. It only takes a minute, is safe and secure and you can then comment on my work plus be eligible to win this painting plus a book, The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. It is a terrific book---I couldn't put it down when I started reading it! It was written a long time ago, but is timeless---about a young boy who raises a motherless fawn. A movie was made from the book years and years ago.

Keep watching my blog; I will be posting fresh paintings this week. Hope your week is going well!

"Pooch, the Pom"

"Pooch, the Pom"

3 x 3 acrylic on stretched canvas $25

Such an excellent little dog, the Pomeranian. Several of my friends have a Pom and they are so intelligent and sweet. I think the intelligence just shines through their eyes, and that is what I tried to capture here. These little canvas paintings are a good starting point for collecting art!

Hey, You'd better hurry and sign on as a follower to my blog so you can be entered in the painting give away Dec. 1. Look on older posts to see the give away painting which is called " The Yearling.". Also I will give away a wonderful book by that same name. It is easy to sign on as a follower and only takes a moment. Just click on Follow in the right hand column.

"Regal Swan"

"Regal Swan"
8 x 10 acrylic on stretched canvas $125 SOLD

First, I would like to thank Jane Willis for allowing me to paint from her beautiful photograph taken on holiday in Turkey. (See http://marksvegplot.blogspot.com/ . If there was royalty in birds, I think the swan would be king and queen! They are so regal, graceful and romantic. Just seeing one makes you have visions of peace and love! Painting this was a humbling experience. How can you show the grace and elegance? I opted to make the water deep purples, blues and crimson--not as dark as the photo, but using the colors that suggest royalty. I love the shadow on the swan's back. I took some artistic liberties, but an artist painting from photographs tries not to just copy the photo, no matter how wonderful it is, but to add or subtract what is needed to make it her own, to make it express the mood she sees in the photo. I hope you like this--your comments are welcome!

"Victorian Tea Pots"

"Victorian Tea Pots"

11 1/2 x 23 1/2 egg tempera on panel, framed in gold frame $500

Click on this to see the beautiful crocheted lace runner someone made. It was so much fun to paint it, and took quite some time! This is the perfect painting for a lovely dining room or tea room. It is soothing and feminine.

It won't be long until Dec.1 when I will be giving away the painting "The Yearling" (see older posts), so be sure to sign up as a follower if you haven't already done so. Plus, I will be giving the lucky winner a book ,"The Yealing" which is such a wonderful book. Click on Follow in the right column and Google will tell you what to do. Only takes a minute! Thanks!

"Purple Gallinule"

"Purple Gallinule"
24 x38 watercolor on Arches paper $300

This huge painting is unframed, but framed it would make a bold statement in a large space. I have often observed this beautiful bird walking on lily pads, using its very long toes. It constantly jerks its head and tail and makes a squawking noise. There are dark colored ones and then the purplish/blue ones and are commonly called the "Coot". Look in my painting how he (it is a male--you can tell by the coloring) walks on the lily pads!

"Panda, Panda"

"Panda, Panda" sketch from my sketchbook NFS

Hi to all of you who are looking at my blog, and a big Thank You for looking! Today's post is just this little sketch with watercolor from my sketch book. I'm working on a portrait that is very time consuming plus a couple of other smaller paintings and my studio is getting in dire need of some straightening and organizing, so for a few days I may be just posting from my sketchbook! I find that if I get things disorganized, it makes me less creative--perhaps because I am then worrying about what needs to be done instead of what I want to do! Anyway, I hope to get things organized in a few days and finish some of the paintings I'm into. I always have many projects going at once. Still, my thoughts are spinning on new paintings to do, new projects. What a great life it is!

"Raggedy Ann and Andy"

"Raggedy Ann and Andy" sketch from my sketchbook---not for sale

My studio is full of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls! It is not my doing! A few years ago, I asked friends and family to help me gather up these cute little dolls so that I could put them on a Christmas tree and donate it to Hospice in their Christmas fund raiser. The response was over-whelming! I made a six foot tree filled with dolls and at the silent auction it raised $350 for Hospice. However, I had some dolls left over. And still people are bringing me Raggady Ann and Andy dolls. I hope they quit soon, as I am over run with dolls. Maybe I will do another tree or donate them. Anyway here is a sketch done with a pen and enhanced with watercolor.

Cheerful little red heads---I hope they make you smile!

"The Grapefruit Eater"

"The Grapefruit Eater"
18 x 24 egg tempera, framed SOLD (FROM PRIVATE COLLECTION)

This painting was done a few years ago, but I wanted to show it on my blog. It was done with egg tempera, which is powdered pigment mixed with egg yolk. It is very durable when cured and requires no varnish. The paint was applied in thin layers building up the darks. It is time consuming, but well worth the effort. Click on it to see details and you can actually see the layering in places. I love doing egg tempera, but have to have a lot of time to complete one. I will be doing more, though, so keep looking at my blog.

Don't forget to sign on as a Follower and be entered in my painting give away contest. It closes Dec. 1st., and it only takes a minute to sign on. Just click on "Follow".

"The Dachshund"

"The Dachshund"

3 x 3 acrylic on stretched canvas $25

Here is the sweet little Dachshund sitting in my portrait as calm as can be, which true to life, they can be, but I know for a fact they like to alert you if anyone is at the door! My neighbor had one who was a good watch dog and loved to bark! It is so much fun doing these little 3 x 3's and I put them on a little wooden easel, so they are great for gifts. They take up very little space, but are a good way to start collecting art.

I think everyone should have some original art in his/her home. Why buy expensive prints or computer generated pictures when you can have a piece of art created by an artist?

"Cardinal"

"Cardinal"

8 x 10 watercolor, framed $45

I'm showing a close up of this cardinal and hope you will click on it to see more of the details. I didn't photogragh the complete border which is green like foliage and has words written all around that say," The World is Filled With His Glory". Often when you see beautiful birds, you think of God and the wonder of his creation.

This watercolor is framed in a simple gold frame that you can either sit somewhere or hang.

To enter my painting give away contest, all you need to do is sign up as a follower. It is easy. Just click on Follow and choose your password and you are there! The painting "The Yearling" and a book of that same name will be given away on Dec. 1st.

"Majestic Mallard"

"Majestic Mallard"
8 x 10 acrylic on stretched canvas $125 SOLD

There is no duck prettier than the Mallard! I want to thank Mark Willis at http://marksvegplot.blogspot.com/ for allowing me to paint from his beautiful photograph he posted on his blog. The color of the water is so captivating with the duck's coloring. I just had to paint it! Of course, I took some artistic liscense---one does not try to replicate exactly a photograph, but the essence is captured and I am pleased with this effort. I hope you like it, too. Your comments are welcome.

"Waltzing Duo"

"Waltzing Duo"

5 1/2 x 5 1/2 watercolor $60

THE STORY BEHIND THIS PAINTING:

My mother was a teacher and she received gifts from her children at Christmas. One year she received a huge bottle of "Blue Waltz" perfume , bought at the dime store, from one of her school children. It was the strongest, loudest perfume you can imagine and "cheap", too, and she would never wear it. Well, my brother and I were teens at the time and he had a very heavy date one Sat. night and was primping and combing, etc getting ready. So I sneaked out the big bottle of "Blue Waltz" and headed for his old car! I opened the hood and liberally dashed perfume all over the motor, then did the same inside the car, under the seats. I waited in the shrubs outside to see what he would do. He came outside all polished and in a sport coat, all slicked up and good looking, and I waited in the shrubs! He saw me, ignored his little sister and opened the car door and got in. Boy, he was out in a flash, yelling at me "I'll get you for this!" He dashed into the house, back in a jiffy with two eggs. I took off running as fast as I could go through the alley and all over the little town we lived in, with him right behind me with the two eggs. It didn't take long for him to catch me and cram the two eggs into my hair, yolks, shells and all! That was just one of our teen pranks!

So yesterday I got a surprise package in the mail. It said Vermont Country Store. What could it be---I love surprise packages! I opened it to find two little bottles of "Blue Waltz" perfume and a note from my brother, "Here is something you have wanted all your adult life"!I am still laughing! I just had to paint them (don't have the nerve to open them up and take a sniff).

If I did, you could probably smell it on this blog!!!Ha, Ha. Maybe this painting will stir up some memories for you, too.

To enter my Painting Give Away, sign on as a Follower. The painting called "The Yearling" and a wonderful book by that same name could be yours. Contest ends Dec. 1

Thanks for looking at my Blog! Thanks to my new followers! Egretta

"Great Blue Heron"

"Great Blue Heron"

3 x 3 acrylic on stretched canvas $30

SOLD

This painting is quite a contrast to the last Blue Heron I posted on April 30th. Go to older posts and check that one out! This painting is only 3 inches by 3 inches and the Blue Heron posted in April is 21 x 39! There is quite a bit of difference in the price, as well!! If you are looking for a small gift for someone, the little painting is perfect. It comes with a little wooden easel and looks great in a shelf or on a desk. Click on it to see the details.

"Dance of the Pearls"

"Dance of the Pearls"

9 x 11 acrylic on paper $85

You may ask, " What was she thinking---how was this created?" Believe me, as much goes into creating an abstract as in creating a painting of a recognizable subject matter! I began working with some box shapes using various shades of blues and purples. I tried to get variety in the shapes in their sizes and placement. There was not really a pre-conceived idea or plan. As I worked, the ideas began to flow and I added lines for interest, as well as one large circle. I needed a punch of white so I did the small "pearls" and flicked some white splashes into the dark shape on the left. I was thinking of balance and interest then. I adjusted some colors, washed over some with other colors until I felt I had an interesting piece of art. So what do you think? Click on it for a view of details. It is great fun and a challange, as well, to create an interesting and pleasing arrangement of art elements that the more you look at it and study it, the more you see and the more you enjoy it.

"Watch Out--Here Come the St. Bernard"

"Watch Out--Here Comes the St. Bernard"

3 x 3 acrylic on stretched canvas $25

Here's another mini painting! This was fun to do and I think I captured the woeful eyes of this Saint Bernard pretty well! This painting comes with a small wooden easel as well, perfect for a gift for someone or even to gift yourself! And the good thing is that this Saint Bernard won't eat you out of house and home!

It is only a month now until my Painting Give Away. To enter the contest, just sign on as a Follower.

"Brown Pelican Drying Wings"

"Brown Pelican Drying Wings" SOLD

3 x 3 acrylic on stretched canvas $30

How much fun can one girl have painting? I never suspected how interesting it would be to paint these little miniatures I have been doing. This is only 3 inches by 3 inches. It comes on a little wooden easel, perfect to sit on a desk or bookshelf. Also, how pretty it would be to have a wall display of, say, 6 or 8 or more of these little works of art. Collecting them would be great, and I know there are many artists who do miniatures. Look for them on the internet and you will see how very reasonable my prices are,too.

Brown Pelicans are all over Florida, except perhaps the north west coast. Every now and then you can see them inland, too, around intercoastal waters. They are actually gray, but the brown color is on the neck when they are breeding. Beautiful birds! It was fun painting the details on so little a canvas.

Don't forget to sign on as a Follower and be entered in the Free Give Away Dec.1

"Amaryllis "

"Amaryllis"

3 x 3 acrylic on canvas $25

I'm posting another little 3 x3 painting, perfect for a desk or bookshelf. Each one of these little paintings comes with a wooden easel, too.

The Amaryllis is a bulbous lily and I took a photo of a bloom at Heathcote Botanical Gardens last Feb. They bloom in late winter, bearing several large funnel-shaped flowers at the top. I see plants forced for Christmas. They are fragrant, too, and at Heathcote they are planted in large groups---very pretty. I hope you enjoy these little works of art! They are a great way to start collecting art at reasonable prices. Your comments are appreciated.

"At Summer's End"

"At Summer's End"
5 x 7 watercolor famed $45

In most climates, sitting outside in the sun with colorful flowers around is about to be a thing of the past. Fall is taking care of that is a lot of places. Of course, here in Florida, we have sun the whole year, and flowers, too! In fact, we have more flowers now than in the hottest summer. It was about 82 today I think, but is supposed to get into the 60's tonight. Beautiful!

This little watercolor is framed in a pretty carved white frame that can sit on its own or be hung on the wall.

I'm just waiting for lots of people to sign up as a Follower and have a chance to win the painting I posted yesterday.! where ARE all you guys???? Also, I would love some comments about my paintings! Thanks for looking.