Sunsets and wild flowers

I am finishing these in the wake of a visit to MFAH, which had an exhibit featuring the watercolors of John Singer Sargent. His work is so joyful that I wanted to emulate the feeling.  I noticed that his watercolors are very sketchy and look a little unfinished around the edges.  I often get carried away trying to complete every frond and leaf.  

Texas Hill Country Art

So--it's okay to stop, and a crime to go too far. 

These acrylics are a mix of Blick  studio acrylics, Liquitex basics, Winsor and Newton Galeria paints--mostly the greens.   

Swamps

I'm learning to paint Louisiana.  It's trickier than you might think.

Fall Fall

My friend Blair wanted something in her office that reminder her of happy childhood memories.  That meant scenes like those above!  I really wanted to add an alligator, but it didn't seem to fit. 

Swamp Paintings

Painting Louisiana

My friend Katherine has asked me to paint some swamp pictures for her wall at work. This will be her"Serenity Now" space. So I'm having to learn the look of a soothing swamp! Here are the results so far:

I'll post more as I finish up.

Odd Trees

Some of the trees here are different because of the climate, such as these pines:

Others, like the kapok, used in Indonesia to make everything from furniture to insulation, are exotics. 

http://www.stjohnbeachguide.com/kapok.htm

The strangler fig is also a distinct tree that reminds me of jungles, ruins, and the futility of trying to slow nature down. 

Another Sunset

Inspiration

Sunsets always make me want to grab the paintbox and get to work.  No matter how the copy falls short of the Creator's glorious display, I want to capture that moment in time when the sun sinks.  Especially if it's sinking over a sea with brooding clouds on the horizon. 

I'm sure this is some kind of metaphor for the brevity of human life, the enjoyment of living in the moment, or some such. Not sure. If it were possible to capture each beach scene to sustain me for days at the desk! 

I'd like to tell my students: save your money, see the world! There is so much beauty.  But your eyes have to be open.  

There! At-home sunrises aren't bad, either.  

Key West Inspiration

This island off the coast of Florida is a lure to the sea.  Everywhere you look, palm trees sway, colorful shops and cottages brighten the town, and pale aqua water begs for company. 

We've eaten breakfast at Blue Heaven, dinner at Sunset Pier, supper and Kelly's Grill.  We've shopped at Earth....something. I forget. The art is wonderful.  There are those street artists offering character sketches, tiny tile prints with palms, and also more serious art galleries where the Caribbean scenes are still fun but overlaid with Van Gogh type interpretation. Or a side of Monet. 

Then there are the wall murals. 

I love these giant sculptures placed on Higg's Beach.