Colorful inspiration

I was wandering around blog land and I saw a beautiful use of pink and blue together in a loose flower painting and decided to use those colors as a basis for series of my own summer flower paintings.  I broke out my dollar store fake flower collection and got to work.  This is the result.  If you have time please check out the inspiration at True Colors.  Scroll down to her June 18 post.  You will be glad you did.

All of these paintings are 15 x 11 on Arches paper.

Should your car match your house?

Well the answer is YES! if you are The Studios of Key West.  TSKW (as they are know) is in the historic Armory building in old town Key West.  This cultural mecca  recently aquired a Rick Worth painted and tricked out van to give the building added curb appeal (as if it didn't already have it).   It's a real feather in your cap to own a Rick Worth painted car.  Rick doesn't have his own web address but his work can be seen at Lucky Street Gallery and he has a opening there on July 1.

I wish I could say that I painted this en plein air, but it has been raining to beat the band this week, so I did this in oil from a photo I took.

"Taking it to the Streets"  oil NFS

Back in the Day

This is just a quick story about the recent change in my header photo.  Why the Blue Heaven building you are wondering?  When I arrived in Key West in 1985 I was looking for a studio space, my cute little house was only about 600 sq ft so there was no work room.  This building was around the corner from my house and it had a small cadre of artists renting studios and living spaces.  See that little window on the ground floor above what looks like a bike rack.  That was my space, very small and dark, one window facing the street and one door.  The rent was $75 a month.  I can't really remember why, but over the years, the other artists went away and for years  I was the only tenant.  Then the building was rented to aspiring restaurant owners and the building became a lively happening place once again.  Long story short the restaurant owners bought the building, the neighborhood became trendy, the restaurant decided my space would be perfect for wine storage.  I was in that small and wonderful space from 1985 to 1996.  So I had a twinge of nostalgia when I was doing the painting.

All those memories.

2016 update:  I look at that wonky little watercolor and I'm almost embarrassed by it.  But then I think, it shows growth, how cool is that?

Recent firings

This is an order of Key West Mugs and coasters that went to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville web store.

 I had a few left over to take into the gallery - 7 Artists Key West

 The fish flops in front (blue) were a special order.

 This tray and bowl are a special order wedding present.  Aren't they a lucky couple.

 New palm bowls.

Platters to match.

A trifecta (of sorts) just in time for the Belmont Stakes

 Watercolor

 Acrylic

Oil

I just wasn't ready to be finished with the harbor image so I did it twice more in acrylic and oil.  I think I  like the watercolor best.

Double your fun

 I went on a sailing excursion recently with the Key West Art Center.  Our group had an end of season (tourist season) get together before our snowbird members headed north.  It was great fun and the sunset was awesome.  We left from the Key West Historic Seaport on the schooner Wolf.  Above is the view while we were leaving the harbor.

I got to enjoy the experience twice by continuing my watercolor series of favorite local places by doing several paintings from the above photo. This one is the "keeper".  But I do wish I had made my darks a little darker.  I'll have to give it another go.

The skies were very stormy and the clouds were a lovely lavender.