Another Week, Another Storm

Lilac Greeting Card

5" x 7" Watercolor

Now, we're watching Gustav (and getting some rain and wind from him) - and, Hanna's right behind! You gotta love Florida during Hurricane season! The one cool thing about Hurricanes is that you can watch it come toward you, and get some sense of when the bad weather will hit and just how bad it will be! Can't do that with Tornadoes! Of course, since I'm planning to do First Saturday, it will probably be raining and I won't be able to do my sale. That's ok, as long as the following weekend is clear for my brother and other family to visit.

Beach Scene Greeting Card

5" x 7" Watercolor

I've been painting some greeting cards today - just for fun (and maybe to sell, too). I finally got the lilacs right! I've been trying to paint them forever. And, I even like the little beach scene, too!

Morning Glories

10" x 8" Watercolor

Some of my fondest childhood memories center around the beautiful Morning Glories that my mother used to grow. I seem to remember them climbing up the clotheslines poles -- anyway, I always loved them, but for some reason, I was never able to grow them myself!

Miss Penny

9" x 12" Watercolor

The last of the Eaton Menagerie has now been painted! Miss Penny was a hard one to paint, since she is a short-haired tortiose shell. She is also (sometimes) the hardest one to love! I got her from the Humane Society when she was a little over 1 year old. She and some other animals were dumped in a crate at the shelter, and she was pregnant. Unfortunately, all her kittens died. When I was in the pet store and saw her, she came into my arms and purred and loved, so she had to be mine!

But, that demeanor was not to last! She became skittish and detached, and was always the kitty in trouble - her particular olympic sport is to knock pens and anything else that will roll off the counters and tables, and then play hockey with the item until either the dog chews it to death, or it rolls somewhere where it will never again be seen!

She's been with me for almost 4 years now, and finally, she is beginning to come to me for pets and purrs (on her schedule only!) without bites. Sometimes when I look deep into her eyes, I wonder just what happened to her in her earlier life -- I don't think it was kind.

Butterfly Dance

11" x 15" Watercolor

Fay is finally a memory, and the sun is actually shining as we speak! It is rather hot and muggy, though -- but at least the rain is gone for awhile!

This painting is in the style of the Dragonfly painting. Bold background color, texture with salt - and I hope I captured the luminosity of the wings (we used saran wrap for some texture there). I like these, but I'm ready to do some more "loose" paintings!

While I was out with Barney today, a beautiful black & white butterfly kept flying all around me! It was so heavenly!

Fay, Fay, Go Away!

"Beach Day"

16" x 12" Watercolor

Man, even Hurricanes don't last this long!! Although Fay never made it to Hurricane status, she has continued to pound our state with rain for this whole week. We're finally getting some of the mess today - lots of rain, threat of flooding, etc. Hopefully, it will be over by Saturday evening. Then, I'm sure, there will be another Tropical Storm brewing. So it goes, until November!

Free Painting!

9" x 12" Watercolor

Did something make you smile (or laugh) today? Tell me about it - and maybe win this painting! All you have to do is click on "Comments" and let me know about your smile today! I'll draw from all the comments posted by next Sunday, 8/24. Here's how to comment: If you are already a blogger on this site, you know how -- but if you aren't, click on "Comments"at the end of this post, then add your message, along with your name and email address (everyone needs to do this so I can contact you when you win!). Then, click on the "Anonymous" button and follow the instructions. If you can't make this work, just email me at nbeaton@bellsouth.net, and we'll go from there!

I'll pick the winning comment on Monday, Aug. 25, and contact the winner. Good Luck!

Here's what made me smile today:

Miss Penny was in the window in my studio while I was painting. The window is almost floor level, and outside was a very busy squirrel! (He spent quite a lot of time searching for stuff, and was almost touching the window) Since the windows are tinted, the squirrel couldn't see the cat - and the cat was about to hurl herself through the window! I tell ya, if it weren't for the animals around here, we would be verrrrry bored!!!




Fay update - as you all probably know by now, she never became a hurricane, and has pretty much petered out. We'll still get rain and little winds tonight and for the next few days, but nothing scary. I'm grateful.

Dragonflies and Fay

8" x 10" Watercolor

Great class today! I loved painting these abstract dragonflies! I also am going to do some butterflies in the same manner -- how fun! This might be a good idea to use for painting some greeting cards. Hmmmmmmm.

For tonight, all eyes are on Tropical Storm Fay. Supposed to be upgraded to a Hurricane later - and we still aren't sure where it's going to make landfall. We're hoping that since it will only be a Category 1, it will dissapate easily when it hits land, and by the time we feel it, the winds won't be too bad, and maybe we won't lose our power. Fingers Crossed!!! We still remember too vividly the week without power during Hurricane Francis -- not a pretty sight! We now have a generator that hooks up to the circuit box that will keep our fridge, tv, ceiling fans, lights and water on. But, let me tell you, the heat and humidity will still be stiffling. Stay tuned!

Another Sunset

8" x 10" Watercolor

I love painting these sunsets with palms. The hardest part is trying to get the background to read properly. Once it's laid in, there's not much you can do to change it. I tried not to overwork this, but I'm still not happy with the sky -- I think it looks too striped. I really wanted it to flow from one color to the next. Maybe next time! But, that's the fun of watercolor -- you can always make more!!

Nubble Lighthouse

8" x 10" Watercolor

Boy, it's great to have friends!! My friends, Bill & Janet, travel all summer long - and come back for the Winter. This painting is of a photo they shared with me of Nubble Lighthouse on Cape Neddick, at York, Maine. I took a few liberties with it - but was glad I could practice rocks again today!

New Class

11" x 15" Watercolor

Donna and I went to a new class today and it was quite fun! Everyone does the same painting, and Marilee (the instructor) demonstrates all the way through it. We learned a lot (like making rocks with credit cards!) and thoroughly enjoyed the class. Can't wait till next Monday!

From Maryland to Monterey

11" x 15" Watercolor

My friend, Donna, came over today to paint with me. We had such a good time! She has the most amazing photographs - and she let me borrow some to paint! The painting above is from one of her photos taken at the Maryland shore.


The painting below is from a photo that my daughter sent me of the Monterey Coastline. I'm pretty happy with the both of them. Imagine that! (But I am missing my classes with Pat - she always sees something that I don't that needs to be fixed!)

8" x 10" Watercolor

Loose Park

8" x 10" Watercolor

Today, I painted another image from all my "Loose Park" photos that I took when I was in Kansas City. I'm beginning to be happy with this style of painting. Even though it doesn't have enough "white space" for me, it's becoming comfortable for me.

More Bookmarks

I finally finished more bookmarks! I've been working on them for awhile --just couldn't seem to come up with enough "vertical" options. The larger ones are a good size for hardcover books, and the smaller ones fit well in a paperback. I'm hoping they sell well during First Saturday!

I was hoping to start another class yesterday, but the instructor called, and couldn't have the class. So, I'll go next Monday and hopefully learn something new!

Another Drippy Day!

All winter and spring, we were in such a drought - we BEGGED for rain! Now, it won't seem to stop! I guess we better be more careful what we wish for! Oh well, it makes me want to stay in and paint. This is another "loose" painting from a photo I took on the Intercoastal Waterway in North Palm Beach. Not as colorful as the previous ones, but I do like the way it looks.