Michigan in Fall

 

 We went to Michigan a few years ago to visit our relatives . Took lots of pictures while visiting the parks we used to go to. MI is a riot of wildflowers in the fall. I painted this with pastel then did a larger piece  in acrylic.

Bahia Beach,FL

 

 

This was a beautiful day at Bahia Honda Beach between Marathon and Big Pine Key in Florida. I took pictures and painted this a few years ago but this time I did it in pastel. We haven't been back there since hurricane Irma. I heard the campground we went to has been sold to a resort firm. Oh well. Now that Fort Myers, where I live now, has been devastated by Ian, I'm sure the same thing will happen to the beach area here.

 

St Augistine

 

We went to St Augistine a few months ago. It's the oldest city in Fl with an long history going back to the Indigenous people and Spaniards. We took the trolley the first day, getting off at the spots of interest. I like historic cities that do that, don't you. You see more attractions and and the drivers share interesting  information about each site. The architecture is very European.
 

Off I75

 

I see these wetlands every time I drive up tp my sister's house in Sarasota. I painted this from memory which is something I think I can't do but I guess I can. I'm going to try to do more of this. It's just a matter of thinking positive.

6 Mile Cypress 3

Pastel on board. A nice quiet spot in a pond in 6 Mile Cypress park. I go there by my self to sketch and take pics. Lots of wildlife even an alligator.

 

Algiers Beach

First post in a long time. I had my knee replaced in March and it took awhile to get back to normal. Didn't even think of painting for two months. Then all I could think of was how I couldn't think of anything to paint. But I'm back to it now.

This was Algiers Beach on Sanibel island. My plein air group went there last week and had a great time.  We even enjoyed the Gulf for a while after our critique. BUT it was damned hot. Too hot to be standing outside painting!

 

Alex's House

 

 

This is my neighbors house. It took me months to finish this painting and this was my second attempt. The first try was on gessoed masonite and the overall finish was very slick and shiny. I didn't like it so I redid the exact painting on canvas. I learned two things. Always paint on canvas and it's a lot harder to copy exactly a painting you've already done. Won't do these things again.

1809 Butterfly St

 

Beautiful morning to paint in Downtown Ft. Myers. This House is on a back street near the Butterfly house. But I forgot to get the name of the street.

Castaway

This cottage was at a colorful resort on the beach at Sanibel Island. All the units were different colors. It was there for seventy plus years. But, no more. These were a sad casualty of hurricane Ian. Many places like this including Ft. Myers beach are gone. Sad sad sad. We are big regular beach people, part of the reason we came here seven years ago, but we haven't been able to go since the storm.The beaches are mostly closed due to damage, debris or bad water. I can't wait for them to be back. 

Hospital Garden

 

 Haven't posted since last October. I thought it was much longer than that. I've done a lot of painting but have not been able to finish much. Why??? That's my big question. But I'm on a kick to finish everything. And I''m working on new things all the time.

This was painted on a beautiful morning at the Gardens at the Naples Hospital. Truly a gift for the patients, employees and the public. Tried to capture the quiet morning light but I don't think it was successful.