"The Boyz" (Ibis)

The mascot of the University of Miami is an American White Ibis. The ibis was selected as the school mascot because of its legendary bravery during hurricanes. The ibis is the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane hits and the first to reappear once the storm has passed. Miami's sports teams are nicknamed "The Hurricanes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibis

This group of Ibises makes the rounds on our lake each day. There are twelve of them. I call them “The Boyz.” Ibises often nest with Herons and share the lake with them and several other varieties of birds. I think they are trying to show us how we can each be different and still get along with each other. The Ibises are really interesting, if you look close. I became so intrigued with them and how gregarious they are that I am doing a series of paintings on them. This is the first one I completed this week with several more to follow. I'll post them as I complete them.

"Bon Voyage"

After returning from our sojurn up north, this year, I stepped out back to admire the beauty of a passing thunderhead cloud and the sudden appearance of a jet liner that was dwarfed by the immense and ominous cloud. I feared for the safety of the passengers and hoped they were in good hands.

We had a great trip up north seeing family and friends but mom died this year while we were there. I got to say goodbye to her before she passed but maybe I should have also said  .........."Bon Voyage."

WVA Family Reunion

I painted this one to show a family reunion in West Virginia. This particular one is at Uncle Rodgers house in Dawson WVA and is held the first Saturday in August each year. The house is in the mountains on a beautiful knoll. As I painted the various parts of the picture including us coming over the mountains in our RV, the family Blue Grass band in the garage, and the children playing, I began to realize there were more in attendance than those physically there. I painted them in the clouds and the mountains. You'll have to look carefully to see them though just as you do in a real sky with real clouds.

Self Portrait

I painted the self portrait for several reasons. I wanted a better self representation than the Photoshoped lion I have been using for my social networking sites including Facebook and Myspace. I wanted a somewhat serious look in a painterly fashion. The painting is not what I want you to see but what is. Most of the time I am neither smiling or frowning but just observing.