Final Bike Photos, (maybe)

There was a photo shoot for the bikes yesterday, isn't she pretty!

I'm like a proud parent here.

Notice the star hand grips

I had to put Key Lime pie on it.

Love the yellow rims.

Now the bikes get ridden in the Fantasy Fest Parade tomorrow night. I am having a surrogate rider. Then it goes to the Restaurant Store to be viewed until the auction. It will also be in the Christmas parade and I think I will ride it in that one. While it is in the Restaurant Store it will have a "buy me now" price. I do not know what that will be yet.

Charm School

When I am talking with visitors to Key West in our gallery, if they say it is their first visit, or they ask what they should see, I always tell them to get off the main street and walk around in the residential neighborhoods. And I repeatedly use the word charming to describe the town's architecture and small lanes. For the commission piece I posted about last week, I spent the whole day walking around old town Key West seeking out that charm. This little house on Thompson Lane just fit the bill, but it wasn't the image I wanted for the commission piece. So this week I have painted it by itself, just for fun. I made a decision to bump up the charm to the next level in this painting. I used sweeter colors and more fluid brush strokes. I am very happy with the result and have decided to enroll myself in the "charm school" of painting for a while and wander down all the lovely little lanes it leads me.


This painting isn't for sale yet because I want to use it as a visual reminder of what I am trying to achieve in my next paintings. But I am considering having prints made.

The bike is put together

I went by the bike shop n my way into the gallery this afternoon to see if my bike had been put together yet, and there it was! What a relief, it looks great. These are not great pics because it was in a row with other bikes in a small space, but later this week I'll get some photos of it all by itself.

Great show at Gallery on Green

A friend of mine, Andy Thurber, had his opening last night at Gallery on Greene, here in Key West. The work is wonderful, it really has the Key West spirit. If you are in town do yourself a favor and check it out.

Gallery on Greene

Bicycle frame finished and delivered.

Front wheel assembly.

Chain guard and main frameFenders

More fenders

My bike is covered in Key West post card like images and is titled "Greetings from Key West" I can't wait to see it all put together. So more on this later.

A Contest of Sorts

This painting is a jumble of some Key West Images, and was painted as a possible commission piece. A business contacted the Key West Art Center and said they were looking to purchase a painting by a local artist that was evocative of Key West. They would purchase the original painting and would also want giclee prints of the painting to give away to people they are bringing on a cruise to Key West in January. So the Key West Art Center asked its members to submit paintings. Today the paintings have to go to the photographer and the business will get a CD with all the images. I don't have my hopes up on this but, I have ended up with a good size painting. 24" x 30"

"Island Coffee Queen"

Some sparkle-y things.

Well, I can say it has been awhile since I have posted to my blog, and it is not because I haven't been working, I have. But most of the work has been the nose to the grindstone kind of thing. The reality is that not every minute in studio is full of wonder. My main focus has been clay these last few weeks and the clay work is very process oriented. Pieces only get finished after all the steps have been completed. It is not for those who constantly require instant gratification.

But things are finally getting finished. These Christmas ornaments came into the gallery today. There are palm trees and flip flops all with added glitter for fun and sparkle. Fantasy Fest (our biggest event of the year here in Key West) is right around the corner and the town will be bursting at the seams with people, so it seemed like a good time to get these done.

I have also been working on painting a bicycle for a fund raiser for The Studios of Key West, a local arts organization. 40 bicycles are being painted by Key West artists and will be auctioned off in February. Between now and Feb. the bikes will be on display around town and ridden in a couple of parades. My bike is going to be on display in The Restaurant Store. I'm trying to have my bike finished by Oct. 20. It is almost done and I will post some photos.

Also going on the Key West Art Center, a non-profit art center and gallery, of which I am the president this year, is about to start their season. I have been planning the season along with other board members. Our first meeting is this Thursday and I am giving a short workshop on how to write an artist statement, something we encourage all our artists members to have.

I hope you all have been well. It has been a fabulous fall so far here in Key West. We had lots of rain for a while (while all those storms were out there) and everything is green with lots of tropical flowers. I've put in my tomatoes and have lots of blooms and one small tomato starting.

Well, more later.

Pottery ornaments

Palm trees, $14.00

Flip Flops, $24.00