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...

Anything Amazonia!

Well, it's true - I love anything from the Amazon.  

Here's some Poison Dart Frogs that have had me enamored with their bright, beautiful colors.

I drew them with a pencil, outlined them in ink and then used colored pencils to finish.

I just used one of my sketch pads.  Quick and easy-peasy.

Grandma Cleavage

Well, what can I say - except that my mind is filled with regular odd thoughts, and odd images.  Blessed are the weird, right? Haha

This is such a bad photo - I took it with my little Nikon Coolpix and didn't work very hard at getting a decent shot.

This acrylic painting came into being after watching an episode of Family Guy where "Grandma Cleavage" was mentioned.  Then I thought of who would be the "model" for such an egregious image - and George's mom on the TV show Seinfeld came to mind.  

Now, I certainly don't want to get in trouble for portraying that this particular look is unattractive or undesirable in any way.  

In fact, I'm probably headed this way myself some day...

It's just what I see out there - along with many other looks, and some just stick in my mind more than others.

So, that's it - this is an acrylic on an 8x10" stretched canvas.  She has a wonderful home with a lovely lady in New Jersey that proclaimed "Grandma just arrived!  She looks just like me!"  

Now, that made my day!  :)

Dreamcatcher

I like to do nature crafts - every once in awhile.  Which I do consider art.  Here I've made a Dreamcatcher from stuff around the yard and some items from my art studio.

I used sticks from the ficus hedge out back and settled on a triangular shape, since I couldn't find any bendy sort of sticks to form into a circle.

I haven't woven anything since summer camp, many moons ago, so I'm not surprised my weave was a bit loose.  But I've learned now to keep it tight as I wind around making the web pattern.

Also used some feathers that my brother found in the woods for me, a beautiful pink shell I found on the beach with a hole already in it for hanging.  And then just some leather strips, burlap, some tie dye fabric and some fringe from an old hammock.  

I didn't really think about it, I just threw together whatever I had around that looked like it'd work.  And yes, I'm part Hippie, haha!

Happy Vernal Equinox

A very Happy Spring Equinox to all my northern hemisphere friends!  And a very Happy Autumnal Equinox to all my southern friends!  

Here in Florida we didn't have spring, it skipped ahead already to summer!   It's been hot, but at least the humidity isn't around yet.

Anyway, I did this watercolor on heavy watercolor paper last year for the first day of spring.  Someone asked me why the girl had to pull up the roots on the flowers - oh, that cracked me up.  I hadn't even realized that's how I painted it and I have no idea, why - I guess I thought the painting needed some brown in that area to balance it out.  

Goes to show how painting helps take me out of myself  to where I just feel and not think.  And that's a good thing!