Well, I mercifully ended an attempt to paint a palmetto at Delnor-Wiggins Pass SP from my workshop in March. Could not get it to work, after at least 8 hours and gobs of paint. Sanded it down, wiped off most of the paint, will re-use the canvas board later. First time in a long time I had to give up.

Meanwhile, trying to finish a boat scene from the same workshop.

Added four prints from my college days to Art Loupe website; these were completed in the Fall of 1972, yesterday were re-matted and framed, ready to hang. If you would like to purchase for $89 framed, numbered, and signed, let me know; they are the remaining pieces, one left except for Reclining Nude of which there are two. These are etchings, a couple have aqua tint grounds.

Great water tour yesterday through the Edison Ford Museum. We met on Captiva Island (40 minute drive ) at the McCarthy Marina. About 40 members/staff boarded at 10 AM and off we went to Cayo Costa State Park, then floated by the six fishing shacks on piers off Pine Island. Fishermen netted fish and kept them in ice houses until boats picked them up and carried it to Punta Gorda. Moreover, they could board here rather than drive the 50 miles to PG every morning and again at night. If the drive was interrupted, there would be no one to harvest the fish. Then lunch on Useppa Island at the Collier Inn. Some photos below:

It is a private island, no cars, just a couple of fire trucks, no bridges. only members are permitted access to the island (or Captiva Cruise guests). Lunch buffet was pretty good, they roast their pig for the pulled pork. Last stop was Cabbage Key, a VERY refreshing Gin & Tonic. It is basically a truck stop for boaters and fishers. Finished up back at the marina, and an afternoon slice of the famous Orange cake at the Bubble Room. They provided a short program on the history of the restaurant and building. Fun place.

Lastly, finished Naples House,  8 x 10 oil on canvas board, started during my workshop in early March with Morgan Samuel Price. I finished it in the studio. I struggled, but learned a lot. Two more to go from the class.

As promised, finished an 8 x 10 oil on canvas board. This was from a morning walk in Bell Tower Park. They have since removed the fencing so this is kind of a collector's item.

Alright, Alright, painting again. I had prepared the base for two new abstracts anticipated to be similar to my recent Black, these are Beige and Blue. Today I applied the geometric shapes and started to lay down the white or black base where I anticipate applying the more nebulous color and shape formations. We'll see.

Over the weekend I watched 7 short videos from Daniel Edmonds out in the Denver area on technique and process and 4 by Alyson Stanfield more on the business/motivational aspect. AND, watched an inspirational 90 minute DVD on Van Gogh - I don't know about you, but when I see his paintings, I just want to run to my studio and start painting, something, anything, color and composition, brush strokes, the prep drawings in ink... He was not very good starting out, could not decide what he wanted to do before he became all in, and really had to work on his perspective. It worked out. I did not realize there are 860 oil paintings. I have to get to work!

Saturday, I stopped by the farmers market that had U Pick 'Em tomatoes. Oh my, I forgot how good tomatoes are when picked fresh and eaten within a day or two. The Florida growing season is backwards from the midwest in many ways and right now there are rows and rows and rows over on Gladiolus Dr of ripening tomatoes, nice size, firm, and best of all - tasty; not like the washed out slices you are served in restaurants.

In retirement, there, I said it, I have taken on 1/2 of the pool upkeep, the cleaning side. Today was my first successful vacuum and brushing. Looks crystal clear. We recently switched to salt water and are happy with that. I will test it shortly after my walk or bike ride :)

So, back to painting - I want to finish 4 small pieces this week and move on. I have four others started, shaded drawings I can build on. Then, thanks to Vincent, I want to try to draw every day, just like in school. I need to learn the Florida shapes, trees, sand, rocks, etc.

Lastly, I think I will enter one painting in June's show at the Art League of Fort Myers, the 8 x 10 Delnor-Wiggins Pass SP oil.

Saw this cartoon in the local paper, for all my climate change fanatic friends following Fahrenheit follies...all credit goes to Scott Adams.

We have had visitors for the good part of two weeks. Loved it. Also, sold two paintings to a family in Colorado, my Morning Fort Myers (beach) and Black, a recent abstract that quite a few really liked. I hope to continue a series, I have primed two canvases, one Beige and one (Cobalt) Blue. Looking forward to starting those. I need to complete three started in my Workshop in March, Naples House, a boat on a canal at MM360, and a palmetto in Delnora-Wiggins Pass State Park.

8 x 10 oil on canvas board

16 x 20 acrylic on stretched canvas