Busy Relaxing- Siesta Key

Acrylic on canvas

20×60 triptych

A Colorado landscape artist will likely have paintings of mountains and aspen trees. A painter from the southwest might find themselves painting cacti. As an artist focused mainly on landscapes, living in Florida, there is an expectation to see beach scenes.

We live less than an hour from the coast. On an average year, we might make it to the beach once or twice. While millions vacation in Florida, we long for mountains, hiking in the woods or cooler northern temperatures. We tend to take for granted the familiar, what we see every day. While I do enjoy painting palm trees, I long to see changing leaves in the fall, tulips and cherry blossoms in spring, and a landscape that has some changes in elevation. So I try and have new eyes, and appreciate what’s around me.

I had no desire to paint beach scenes, sun setting with pelicans and a few palm trees. I was inspired when I saw a series Teil Duncan Henley did of the beach and poolside. What was highlighted wasn’t so much the surf and sand but the human elements of enjoying the beach. There is so much color at the beach, from the umbrellas, buckets, towels, surf boards, chairs, swimsuits. Nothing is understated.

Teil embraced what we add to the picture. Rather than trying to get shots without people, I decided to embrace it too.

I had to pick up a painting on the west coast of Florida. So we stopped by one of the most popular beaches in the state -Siesta Key Beach. The day was overcast, and love bugs were everywhere. However, the beach was packed with people. I took some pictures to work from. I usually leave people out of my painting, not this time. However, I kept the style loose, more focused on shape and color than making anyone recognizable. I decided to do a triptych to allow for a wide angle view. Hopefully will take in the beach a few times this summer and get some more photos.

Flagler College at Dusk

24×30

Acrylic on canvas

Standing in the gardens outside Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, you can turn in a circle and take in what we’re three magnificent hotels. Casa Monica, hotel Alcazar (now Lightner Museum), and the Ponce de Leon Hotel (now Flagler college.) It’s as if you’ve been transported to Spain a few hundred years ago.

I loved the lights on at night that add to the magic of the scene. This is the third painting I did, each depicting on of the hotels at sunset.

As I’ve been painting I’ve been learning by experience how much time of day, seasons, and where I’m standing can affect a scene. What was familiar during the day becomes mysterious at night, shadows change, street lights and lights from cars change the coloring. A small grouping of flowers might go unnoticed or dominate the scene depending on the point of view taken. Life is the same way. I might experience a variety of emotions about the same circumstances. Looked at one way may be totally overwhelming and another perspective brings peace. My challenge is when I’m feeling like things are impossible to be able to have the mental and emotional flexibility to see things from a different light. Friends can help look at things more objectively.

Recharging

Mead garden #2

24×24

Acrylic on canvas

How many devices do you have that need charging? Phones, watches, tablets, computers, batteries all need a power source and all conveniently show us how much battery life remains. Plug in the device when needed and it recharges, bringing it back to full power. With all our inventions and technology you’d think they’d have come up with something indication when humans need recharging.

Daily we need rest, our bodies tell us when we are tired. However just as is to be able to recharge emotionally and spiritually. We may spend our days caring for others but become drained if we are not looking taking the time to care for ourselves. There are many different ways one might reduce anxiety and practices that help one reconnect with God. God set a pattern in Genesis, an example for us to keep. Work, then rest.

I enjoyed the garden walking around, and caught still more as I stopped and looked around. Yet sitting down, being still even for a few moments allowed me to catch my breath and appreciate where I was. Taking in a park brings refreshment, helps charge my battery. Are you running close to empty? What do you do to recharge?

Regaining Paradise

Mead garden #1

Acrylic on canvas

24×24

Lately, I find myself painting different garden settings. It made me wonder why we are drawn to gardens. I like the variety and color found in gardens. I’m also drawn to how a man (or woman) attempt to organize, cultivate, and groom nature. We love the wildness of nature, the flowers and plants a garden provides. Yet we take pride in bringing it all together in a space. Sitting or walking quietly in a garden is refreshing and can be a reflective time.

I find it interesting in the creation story found in Genesis we find that God places man and women in a garden. Not a house, or on some great vista. It was in a garden that their needs were met. Food, fellowship, shelter, and purpose all contained therein. There was a choice, and then doubt and broken trust. This lead to broken fellowship, sadness, and expulsion. God promised to make it right, to fix the brokenness, and He has and He is. Perhaps that is why we are drawn to these spaces as they are faint reminders of paradise lost, and give hope for paradise restored.

My husband had the day off so we went to Mead botanical garden in Winter Park. We enjoyed the variety of flowering plants, winding paths, lily-filled ponds and wonderful trees overhead. I like the trellises and benches and other reminders that man has been here and is welcome to enjoy.

Casa Monica at Dusk

24×30

Acrylic on canvas

When I visited St Augustine I was taken by the architecture of Flagler College and the Lightner Museum and learned they were formerly hotels built in the 1880s. What I didn’t realize was the Casa Monica was built around the same time and has its own history. It looks newer, more pristine yet still having the same style of the Spanish Renaissance. The newness comes from a remodel in the 1960s that covered the poured concrete with stucco. More renovations happened twenty years ago when the building was bought by Kessler hotels.

Originally the hotel was built by Franklin W. Smith, who built his house Villa Zorayda with the New poured concrete method. When Smith ran into financial difficulties Henry Flagler bought the hotel. It was connected by a bridge to the Hotel Alcazar (Lightner museum) at the turn of the century until the hotel closed with the Great Depression. At one point later it housed a courthouse.

As I was reading about the history of the hotel the phrase time stands still for no man came to mind. The building has remained, yet it’s gone through many changes over the decades. As time and history progress, it brings change. The challenge is to learn, and grow, improve as changes come.

Courtyard with Koi Pond

36×36

Acrylic on canvas

This is my second painting of the courtyard for the Lightner Museum, formerly the Hotel Alcazar. A covered arched walkway surrounds the courtyard with small shops, offices and the museum off the courtyard. The building is four stories high of poured concrete that was mixed with shells found locally. Palm trees reach toward the sun and a koi pond with a bridge sits in the middle of the space.

The surroundings feel peaceful and protected. A bit a sanctuary in the middle of town.

When I think of refuge I think of a place like this, secure, high walls of protection with beauty inside. We all seek refuge, in our job, finances, family, our faith. What does refuge/security look like for you?

The Ponce-St. Augustine

24×48

Acrylic on canvas

Driving around where I live you see a lot of new construction. Suburbs expanding, cranes working on new buildings and highways. History predating the 50s seems hard to find. It’s newer, bigger, better. I’m thankful to live in a place that’s growing and thriving. However, I also find it interesting to explore places and buildings that have stood the test of time.

St. Augustine is a few hours away and as the oldest, European continually occupied city in North America offers some history. The Castillo de San Marcos fort is a national monument that peacefully changed hands several times over hundreds of years. Over a hundred years ago, Henry Flagler co-founder of Standard Oil company (with John D. Rockefeller) hoped to transform historic St. Augustine into a winter getaway for wealthy northerners. He was interested in the poured concrete construction method used by Franklin Smith for his Moorish style home Villa Zorayda. Flagler’s The Ponce de Leon Hotel was completed In 1888 in the Spanish Renaissance style. After decades of use and glamour, The hotel referred to as The Ponce, was closed in the 60s and became part of Flagler College.

Looking around I felt a bit like we were at Hogwarts from Harry Potter. Love the arched porticos, and the tall towers, the courtyard with the frog fountain. There are plenty of architectural details to add interest and charm. It fits in the surroundings as the nearby Lightner museum and Casa Monica resort were built in similar style around the same time. These buildings stand out. They have stories to tell. They have a beauty that’s been preserved and restored for new generations to enjoy. Next time we visit I hope to take a tour and be able to further explore these places.

Along Avenida Menendez – St Augustine

24×48
Acrylic on canvas

White strung lights adorn many of the buildings and trees in the old part of St Augustine around Christmas time each year. They add to the beauty and charm of the buildings and street. We arrived as the sun was setting one night and found parking on a side street. We walked along enjoying the scenery of this old town. It was chilly for Florida and a brisk breeze came off the water. None the less, we enjoyed exploring and seeing buildings that belong to a different time.

This is the first in a new series of paintings depicting St. Augustine, Florida.

The town has a long history and there are many buildings with interesting details. This was taken near the Bridge of Lions facing Avenida Menendez avenue. The fort Castillo de San Marcos finished in 1695 is at the far end of the street. Lights wrap each palm tree and horse-drawn carriage awaiting tourists. Sailboats bobbed in the water of the Matanzas River.

Have a favorite place? Share it with me!

Courtyard of Hotel Alcazar

24×30
Acrylic on canvas

As a child, I loved the book “the secret garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I loved the idea of a hidden away garden, a secret place full of life. Ask any parent and they will confirm children love making secret hideouts and can happily spend a day making a fort from cushions and sheets. Something in us longs for private sanctuary.

My family took a short trip to St. Augustine, Florida. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement within the borders of the continental United States. It was fun to explore the narrow streets, take in the fort and other historic buildings. While searching for a bathroom we discovered Hotel Alcazar. It was built over a hundred years ago, and it now contains various shops and a museum, and an inner courtyard. Surrounded by an arched portico, the courtyard has palm trees, and other plants as well as a coy pond with a bridge. It’s own secret garden. A little place of peace and beauty to rest.

Sunrise/Sunset series #12

20×20 inches

Acrylic on canvas

I joked around with my husband that instead of storm chasers we were sunset chasers. It was a cloudy day, so we took off just before sunset, driving a few miles to a spot where there was water and palm trees. We took a bunch of photos, one of which was the inspiration for “Orange Sunset at Lake Hart.” As we drove back the sky and clouds continued to change colors and we pulled over for a few more shots.

At times I will leave out lights and power lines from my paintings. In more simple compositions I enjoy the leading lines they bring to the piece.

Why do we chase beauty that is so fleeting? Why does taking in a beautiful sunset so something for our soul?

I think it’s because we are created for more, beauty reminds us to have hope.