Struttin' his Stuff - Giant Blue Heron

Blue Heron - Strutting, 6x6, oil, available

 I did 3 sketches from life of this Blue Heron, as he hung around the beach in Pensacola FL a few years ago. He just kept walking back and forth and up and down! One sketch I cannot find, it was pen and ink- very different from this pencil sketch and the other is much like this one below, except the legs are too short in it. :-0   Finally did this small oil painting. It was intended to be submitted to the Randy Higbee 6x6 show in December, but it wasn't where I wanted it to be by the deadline. I have had this post sitting here as I tried to find the pen and ink drawing, but alas, I have given up. 

The colors of this bird, though 'blue,' are really quite varied. Such an elegant creature!

pencil sketch

Plumeria

Plumeria, 12x24, oil on linen,  available

While staying at an AirBnB on one of the keys off of Sarasota, Florida, this lovely Plumeria greeted us at  the bottom of the stairs from our apartment. I am intrigued by how organic life is and the patterns created. The greenery felt like it was in motion to a tune I couldn't quite hear. I so enjoyed painting this for that reason. It made my heart sing as I worked. The flowers were like a second, softer melody. More support than out front. As I write this, someone playing the piano came to mind and how one hand can play one part while the other hand doesn't something different yet supports the other. I always look for patterns while composing a painting, but never before had one produce music!

Save the Date - Holiday Show - Dec 4, 2021

 

Reflecting

 

Reflecting, 24x24, oil available

 

Here is another fresh off the easel. As often happens when I am working on so many simultaneously, a few come to completion about the same time. This one I relate to in that I can sit and watch water for ages, be it the gulf, a brook, a lake or the ocean. Yet it seems like a short time only has passed. Even though I am more likely to walk a beach, I am often pulled to just sit still in silence, watching and listening. I saw this man doing just that one evening and the skimmers flying by just added to the story.