Iguana Make Art!

Here is a fun journal page that I just finished.  I am still working on the Fabulous and Free Art Challenge on Facebook.  Challenge 24 was the prompt "Sublime Stencils."

I had already made a cool background by putting either gesso or gel medium through a stencil for a dimensional effect.  Then I painted a watercolor wash over that in rainbow shades.

I loved the look, but was stumped on what to do with it until I got my inspiration here in Florida.  As I mentioned in a previous post, there are lizards everywhere here...including iguanas.  

I painted a piece of paper in dark colors with watercolor, drew an iguana shape on the back, and cut out the shape.  Then I just glued it over the background to create a negative shape.  I did not try to use specific parts of the stencil design, but am pleased with how the stencil designs help form the iguana.

Today after Charlie's radiation, I surprised him with breakfast at a French Cafe and Bakery in Sarasota called C'est La Vie.  His appetite is off, and he does not eat much except in the morning.  We enjoyed crepes and potatoes and baguette.  It is a nice place with a warm atmosphere, nice art, and great waitresses.

And here is today's sunrise.  The day started out just beautiful, but rained this afternoon.  That's okay...we're still getting over the visit with our kids and granddaughter last weekend! A good afternoon to stay inside and veg.

Sunrise, Sunset...and a Rainbow

Every morning that we drive from Ft. Myers to Sarasota, we leave before dawn.  I am not a morning person.  I do not like getting up at 5:00 AM.  But here is one little gift every morning...a sunrise over the Peace River near Port Charlotte.  I like to think of it as a gift of peace for my soul.

Almost every evening, there is a gorgeous sunset reflecting in the lake behind my brother's home.

And the other day, there was a rainbow in the sky...ending right over the Dattoli Cancer Center.

My soul is grateful for these gifts.

A Beautiful Day

I guess you cannot expect the US Government to launch an Atlas Rocket every morning to entertain us on our morning commute, but the sunrise was once again beautiful to behold.  It usually starts to get colorful just as we cross the Peace River...fitting!  And Venus was shining above.

We got some good news at Dattoli Cancer Center today...starting next week our start time is 8:00 AM rather than 7:40.  We'll take an extra twenty minutes of sleep!

Charlie was finished before 8:30 this morning because we got there early, and we headed right to Lido Key Beach in Sarasota.  What a difference since Tuesday.  The red danger flags were flying then, as there were bad currents and rip tides.  Today the Gulf was like glass.

The lifeguards were doing practice drills today.  Right in front of us.  If they had asked for volunteers to be saved, I would have raised my hand!

I have been watching for dolphins ever since we arrived in mid-August.  Today we were rewarded with many dolphins feeding off-shore.  I could have watched them all day.

On weekdays when we go to the beach in Sarasota, we pack sandwiches in the cooler and eat on the beach.  Some of the gulls are very aggressive trying to eat people food.  I have had my sandwich stolen out of my hand twice.  Today this guy landed right in my lap.  Of course you are not supposed to feed them.

Tonight is the beginning of college football season.  Are you ready for some football?

Some Artsy Things

Still down here in southwest Florida, keeping an eye on the storm named Erika to see which track it decides to take.  

I brought my watercolor palette with me and fooled around with a sunset picture recently.  If you haven't painted for awhile, it helps to do some warm ups.  I consider this a warm-up because I recently did a similar painting of a marsh sunset.

Here is a nice surprise inside a ladies' restroom at The Crab and Fin Restaurant on St. Armand's Key, Sarasota.  The stall doors are painted like dresses on hangers or manikins.

Here are two more artsy things from the Ringling mansion.  I love the compass rose made of mosaic tile.   It is outside on the walkway leading to the mansion.

And here is another window facing the marble tile patio.  It looks like patchwork to me!

Every morning we get up at about 5:00AM and leave before 6:00.  On the way to Sarasota we see a sunrise almost every day.  God's own artwork!

Beautiful beach weekend

If you have read my blog at all, you may know that I love the North Carolina mountains...but if you drive three hours south instead of west, you come to my other favorite location...Sunset Beach, North Carolina, the last beach in the state before reaching South Carolina. We took a little walk Friday morning...in winter coats. It is always breath-taking to walk down the long boardwalk across the dunes and see the Atlantic appear before us.

Although we had lingered on the deck over several cups of morning coffee, I was surprised to still see traces of sunrise in the sky, and silvery reflections on the water.

Charlie and I were the only ones there Thursday night and most of the day Friday. We walked all the way to the jetty.

The birthday boy was king of the hill as he climbed up on the rocks.

The kids enjoyed playing in the sand on the beach the next day.

Wish it could have warmed up a bit, but it was gorgeous and sunny. Good kite-flying weather!

The beach was mostly deserted except for the occasional dog walker and lots of shore birds.Not much trouble finding a spot on the beach. This view is facing Ocean Isle Beach to the north, with its giant eyesore condo building sticking up like a sore thumb.

I have lots more pics and will share a few each day.