Update finish and sign Useppa Mooring: Worked on the landscape this weekend, diminished and signed it.

I would like to sell this one for $95.00 without frame. If you are interested contact me for shipping.

Took it easy this weekend after painting our pool cage. There were rusty bolts and stains I could not remove. 6 hours. Whew! Saturday I was able to attend a half day retreat about an hour north of here on the Myakka River at the Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Retreat Center. The order that runs it has a parish in Alton, IL so I get to talk about the STL region with them. Here is a photo from a walkway:

This week I hope to work on three canvases I started months ago, two abstracts in progress and then draft a couple of new ideas on to canvas. Oh yes, I forgot, also working on a still life sort of, sea shells laying on the sand. 

Listening to discs I recorded over the past couple of years, homemade, but that I lost when they wiped my Apple last month. Apple only backs up in the cloud items purchased through them, apparently. Will know better next time I have to go through that process. It reminded me how much I liked The Dave Clark Five, The Four Tops - Reach Out is still great, Paul Revere and The Raiders, Toad The The Wet Sprocket - All I Feel, love it; Porcupine Tree, Younger Brother, Vince Gill - You and You Alone...

Firming up my plans to visit Denver, KC, COMO, STL in September. 

Buying Not Selling Today: Well, we went to our favorite resell consignment shop and there were three art pieces that have been in a booth for at least a year. With the season over, however, the owner had all items marked down 25% so I took advantage of it to purchase the following...

This is a small carving, signed, from a Mexican artist, a fun piece. Then below, is a 9 8 oil on masonite by Malcolm Tervo who painted plein air in the Western states, graduated from U of Wyoming in 1971, so a little older than me. His wife also is an artist. Unfortunately, if I have the correct news article in Washington, he drowned in 2014. There is an inscription on the back of the frame to Mary Ann Sledge, "enjoyed the Southern accent" and dated 1986.

And, this is a 3 x 7 watercolor. I can not make out the faint signature, something like T Paulsann. It was framed in Marlton, NJ. 

I found another (there are countless numbers) interesting example of greatness in sports, something, someone who can do what no other can pull off. I am not a follower of Sidney Crosby of the Penguins. Nevertheless, this photo in SI caught my eye. Of all the players on the two finalists in the Stanley Cup, he is the one who you would mark, follow every move, surround him so he can not  hurt you...notice his placement as he creates an impossible shot - somehow he is alone behind all of the Predator defense, just him and the goalie. Only the superstars can do it.

I did a final update on my Mile Marker 360 (Southbound) adding some highlights. It is now finished. Ready for sale! Maybe if I could find the owner of Southbound...

Lastly, it has been lamented that there are no great Chinese restaurants in FTM. We heard that was incorrect and visit Ginger Bistro last night. How wrong were the naysayers. GB Very, very good. We shared Duck Fried Rice and I had Sizzled Grouper in Ginger Sauce, Whoa! The remaining fried rice was once again delicious today for lunch out near the pool. Go There.

a new media today

Fun Day: attempt a new media today, drew my favorite orange fish in ink, then used for the first time watercolor pencils to color and accent. It was a fun drawing, 10 x 8" on 65 lb paper. Sold immediately. Maybe I can do a series of fish or a related Florida theme using the same technique . 

Reading: 7 Keys Of Great Painting, and a study of Winslow Homer's New England surrounding and the influence of the coast, as well as the Florida waters in his subject matter.

Listening: I continue to transcribe my LPs on to disc so I can sell by LP collection, which will total of about 300 albums, some played only 2 or 3 times so they are in great condition, for the most part. I am about 30% through. So today it is The Byrds Greatest Hits Vol II; Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys GH Vol II; and Super Jazz - Al Hirt & Pete Fountain. Tomorrow scheduled is Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me, Toulouse Street, and Living' On The Fault Line; Eric Gale - Multiplication, and two Boston LPs. 

Artwork: added an element into my abstract Beige which could be really effective, can't wait to see more, and if that works, will add something to Blue.

TWO NEW PAINTINGS: 10 X 8 OIL ON CANVAS BOARD

This first one is the culmination of another work started in my plein air class last March in Naples with Morgan Samuel Price. It is a boat on a canal perpendicular to Mile Marker 360 and the restaurant/marina, south of Naples proper. 

I am often asked "How long does it take to complete a painting?" If we just look at the painting, not the prep, site visit, sketch or photo, etc...it depends. The above took a long time. Many re-writes, so to speak. I could tweak it more but time to let it go. Below, I did in two afternoons. I wanted to accomplish that. From a photo from a visit chronicled in an earlier blog on a cruise to Useppa Island among others sites. It was hot, windy, quiet. I just looked out on the small boat moored to a tree on the shoreline and said "That is a painting". (To myself). 

Listening to Radio Paradise, an eclectic station in my bookmarks, right now playing Mohave 3 - In Love With A View...honestly! This view will work. Now playing a great alternative classic by The Cure - Pictures Of You. See what I mean?

Getting ready for Greg's visit, due in from overseas shortly. We are signed up for 2 1/2 day sailing lessons through Outdoor Sailing, a nationally known school HQ'd right here in FTM. And, working on a 2 week trip later to see Mizzou-Auburn, with Greg and Dom. Right now thinking of flying into Denver, driving across Kansas, visit in KC, then at least a week in STL. Since we moved to FTM most trips have been quick, in/out to accomplish some task. I want to take time to visit my many friends and family in STL. Wanted to add Albuquerque, but logistics won't work this time. Maybe I can make that later, make it a painting trip. 

Be sure to visit my website: claudelylesartworks.com to see more of my work. Remember, much of it is still for sale. Talk to me and we will arrange a price and delivery.

Progress: my entry into the June show for the Art League of Fort Myers resulted in the Peoples Choice Award. Votes were cast by the public during the June Art Walk event in Downtown Fort Myers. Probably won because I brought my family and told them to vote for #21 if they wanted a ride home :). I think it is my best piece yet, not my favorite, but my best piece. It is a product from my workshop this Spring in Naples. But, that is past, now I have to paint some more. Need to sell some more. 5 pieces sold so far, two were my most recent pieces at the time.

Spent some time this morning updating an earlier piece from my New Mexico landscapes finished in 2012. They were my first usage of acrylics. I am still amazed I did not win even an honorable mention in the Senior Olympics competition that year!!!! How could they do that to me? I won an HM the previous year. Someday I will let it go, but I never entered another work.

Used some lessons learned from my outdoor painting workshop earlier this year. Listening to Lou Rawls Greatest Hits and Tangerine Dream's The Seven Letters From Tibet - from realism to expressionism in music, right?