M is for Mermaid

As the crow flies, I only live about six miles from the beach.  Of course, to drive there - it takes about 20 minutes, and that's only if there isn't much traffic.  Southwest Florida can be very congested during the winter "season", so this less populated time of year is a great time to have a visit on one of our very beautiful beaches.

Sometimes I take a sketch book and doodle, and sometimes I don't. But I always take the camera, because I never know what I'll see.

I never did see a mermaid...or a merman...

But I can bring one to life in a little painting.  This is my usual quickie watercolor with ink on postcard size heavy watercolor paper.

Excitement in the Garden

Nope, I haven't seen a UFO in the garden.  But one can hope!

Little story:  I usually meditate on the balcony off the bedroom at around 10:30pm or so every night.  The balcony faces the huge preserve that we live against.  Last year I came to notice a light out in the preserve during the time I was meditating.  It was clear out there and it showed up from time to time, not on a set schedule and it never moved.  Then once I saw it moving!  I strained my brain trying to figure out what it could be, because no way is there anybody out there.  We're not "suppose" to go in the preserve, never mind there's no paths, it's pitch black out there at night, there's diamondbacks galore and of course other potential dangers including bear, boar and panther.

Well, this kept happening and I couldn't figure out what it could be and I teased my husband that we have "visitors".  

After the summer was over our HOA put a paragraph in the newsletter reminding us that we are not to go in the preserve and that local teens had been found to have DRAGGED A COUCH out there (unbelievable!!!) and made a sort of fort in a clearing!  

Wow!  That is determination!  I can't imagine dragging a cooler out there let alone a couch.  So anyway, that is what inspired this little painting on postcard sized heavy watercolor paper with watercolors and ink.  

I actually did see a UFO once up north...

Zentangles

I had never heard of a zentangle before and now that I've discovered them - I'm an enthusiastic fan!

They truly are a meditative form of art.  I lose track of time and forget everything except making the patterns.  It's very relaxing.  

People make absolutely beautiful and complicated zentangles, just google them and you'll see wonderful examples.

This one I did with a Sharpie on a piece of sketchbook paper.  For some reason it morphed into hair, I didn't have any plan when I started working on it.

Here's another one I did the same night.  This really isn't representative of anything.  It just came out of my mind like a jumble, and I think that's probably about right, lol!  

I think I might try one with different colored markers next...