This painting is one of my abstract narratives. Titled "Channel Markers" in my mind it is about confusing or mixed messages. The overabundance of information and misinformation make it hard to choose a correct path. So sometimes you just have to let your lucky stars guide you. This painting is smaller 11 x 14 inches.
"Bright Island Day" is the latest painting in my new abstract series. I call them abstract narratives. Short stories unfold for me as I paint them. This painting started out very differently than you see it now. As I added and subtracted images the story started to happen and when the story ended the painting was finished. In my mind this painting tells the story of an idyllic island that has a separate reality from the rest of the world. Because of the blue water and sky all around, everything shimmers. The size of your house doesn't matter and at night you tell you children stories. Of course that is just my story, this painting could be telling you a completely different story and that's okay.
My sons sent me two lovely Maine lobsters for my birthday this year, so there I was, having a wonderful Maine lobster on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Ever since, I have been wanting to do a lobster dinner painting, I call it a dinnerscape. It is 16 x 20 inches $425.
I have recently started edging my paintings rather than framing them. I'm not in the framing business and what frame works in one home won't work in another. So I thought I'd give you a look at the edges. You could hang the painting as is. It has a nice clean look, you see the whole painting and it doesn't cast a shadow on the painting like many frames do. Or, you can easily remove the strips and add the frame of your choice. Plus, here is a look at my cute cat, Mango.
Well, this painting is finished. I've finished the edges with wood strips and put on the varnish coat, which is why the color looks uneven in the photo. You can see the sheen. And I have sewn on buttons that I made out of clay. The handmade buttons really add a unique touch.
Here is a look at the buttons.
And another look. And I am still struggling with a title. The painting is now hanging in the gallery, 7 Artists Key West. One man walked in last night and said, "Nice Shirt", maybe that should be the title, oh well, it will come to me. Price $1,900 size 40 x 30 inches. Now I have decided on a title "RELAXED FIT".
I have been making some mugs recently, it has been awhile since I've made any. This time I am making them large and in assorted colors. $28 each
It has been years since I've made any mixing bowls so these were very fun to do. So far I've made them in my "sealife" pattern and in the papaya and pineapple pattern. $64. each
Here is a side view. 
Well, this piece is nearing completion. As you can see I have added a background. My initial intention was for the background to be the same as the postcard shape with the palm tree. But when that went in it was much too strong, so I kept knocking back the color until I thought it was right. I have also worked on the shirt patterns. What is left to do? I still have to work on the buttons. I am thinking about putting real buttons on it, but I will paint buttons on too. And I have to punch up some highlights. And of course think of a title, sometimes that is the hard part, because titles are very important. I see some sort of "Aloha" in this painting's future. Aloha is one of my favorite words.
I wish I had taken some earlier photos of this painting. It has gone through several incarnations. You can see here that I have completely obliterated the background and now have to start all over on that. The foreground (shirt) is not going to change too much more. It's not finished but the basics are done. I usually like to work on the foreground and the background at the same time in order to get harmony between the two. But my background ideas just weren't working so I decided to let it go for a while. Now I've made a decision about the background and I'll start that today. I'll get it roughed out and then I will continue to work on the background and foreground at the same time until it is finished. By the way, this painting is large 40 x 30 inches. 
