Some Beach

This was done plein air on Sanabel Island with the group of painters from Ft. Myers Beach Art Assoc. Since then, we have had a catastrophic hurricane here in south west Florida. My city and surrounding areas were hardest hit. Whole neighborhoods have been wiped out. All the places we painted, wiped out and beaches, also wiped out. It will never be the same. The Art Association building is gone. What will become of the vibrant art community in this area?

Koreshian State Park

 

This was a beautiful morning at a state park. I just went crazy with the paint. But I loved the process and the finished piece.

Untitled

 

Matalacha . This small painting was done with pastels on panel. I've been making my own surfaces for pastel. My dear craftsman Husband cuts thin birch plywood to size and I finish them. Several coats of gesso and a coat of Golden Fine Pumace Gel. I think it's toothier than the pastel ground which I like.

Wonder Gardens

 

Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs , FL have been there since the 1930's. They rehabilitated injured wildlife from around the area. Today they have mainly a lot of birds and  are developing the gardens more. This was a lovely garden area but it was right next to the flamingo cage. You know, that's a smell I never want to paint around again.

Untitled

 

I don't know what to call this one but I am open to suggestions. It was painted at a posh high rise in Estero which was attached to it's own marina with mega boats. Does someone use a shopping cart to move supplies to the boat??

I need to find a way to take better pics of my art. The cell phone isn't getting it color wise. Most of the photos are washed out. On Instagram also. Oh yeah, jfletch838 on Insta.

Edison's Walkway 3

 

    Haven't posted in awhile because I've had Covid. Even though I've been careful the last two years and am fully vaccinated and boosted. But, I can say it wasn't too bad. Just like a bad cold and headache. Because I have a few things at my age, it could have been much worse. Be vaxed, be boosted. That's all I can say.

   I've painted this scene several times but I still find some view I like along this stretch of the Caloosahatchee River.

  

 

Island Wines

 

Another building in Matlacha. Now it's a jewelry shop. The stores frequently change hands so it's s good reason to go back each year you vacation here.

Untitled

 

This is one of my recent pastel paintings. I haven't worked in this medium in 10 years . Some of the plein a painters I go with have been doing beautiful work and I forgot how much I loved it. The colors are always so luscious and stimulating how can you not. I have a way to go with waves and clouds but I'm diving right in and trying them.

Over Water

This is from a few months ago. I redid the bridge a few times in the beginning because I couldn't get the angle right. I like the finished painting but it's awfully green. So, maybe it isn't done yet.

 

Frills

This building is in Matlacha,FL. It's one of a few colorful shops and restaurants there. It was a fishing village at one time but now it's a tourist trap. There, I said it. During "season" down here places are mobbed. If you live here, you go in summer. It's about the only thing I don't like about here.  If we go the beach, we have to leave at 7:30am or the parking lots are filled. And since I'm NOT a morning person.......

Another Alley

This is the back of a bar at the end of Fort Myers Beach. The area is connected to the mainland by the Matanzas Pass Bridge. The view on the right as you go over looks down on the town with it's brightly colored buildings. You really feel like you're on vacation at the beach. For now. The left side view has a high rise Margarita resort going in. Ruining paradise

The Alley

                                                               

                                                            

 This painting is 18" by14". Pretty big for me. I have a backlog of paintings I have actually finished but I haven't been posting for a year or so. 2020 I think. I have so many that I have to try to start showing and maybe sell them. It's hard for me because I don't have an entrepreneurial bone in my body.  I've figured out how to archive all my old posts  and I'm starting over fresh. This is from the courtyard in downtown Ft Myers. I'm not very happy with the painting but I learned a lot on it.

Last Summer we went to Michigan to visit our relatives and go to the Dream Cruise, a big event that draws classic car owners from all over. It's usually a crazy time with all types of cars and people. But last year it was lame. It was the end of the pandemic (supposedly) and turnout was poor. We did have a great time visiting. This view is my brother- in-law, Paul's. garden. He grows tomatoes and other vegetables behind fencing to keep rabbits and deer out. In the city!
 

Number Eight

 

 

This little cottage is part of the Rock Lake Resort built in the 1940's on the north side of Fort Myers. Had fun with this one even though I am not a building painter.

Still in Florida

 

 

 Yes, I am still in Florida and I love it. In the last year, I have been painting with a plein air group from Fort Myers Beach Art Assoc. This painting is from Shangri-La springs in Bonita Springs, a resort originally built in 1921. It's a grand statuesque building with lovely grounds and a sulfur spring.

A lot to take in- I chose two windows.