Merry Christmas! A sand snowman on Siesta Key!

Florida Landscape Painting with Spoonbills!
This is a 5x7 inch on stretched canvas I am putting up on eBay with a starting bid of .99¢  at 11:30am EST,  Christmas Day. 
Hope everyone has a nice Christmas!  :) 
Yep!  A Sandman/Snowman! Gotta love those tourists!  ;) 

Sea Angel Art Doll

Thought about a tutorial after I had already started, but the plain, white, stuffed Angel dolls and the whole back story can be seen/read on the URNAngel website. http://urnangel.com/

                                                    

Gift of one ‘YOU ARE AN ANGEL’ Doll to an individual in the Las Vegas community, generally through an agency serving foster children, homeless families, hospital patients, etc. If you are interested in starting a gifting program in your community, email your request to community@urnangel.com.

#1. Painted the face and wings with white gesso to seal the fabric. Let dry and paint on the face & wing color, (I chose gold).

#2. Needed to make her a fishy tail so she could swim fast if need be!   I marked a dot up from the center bottom of her dress and used button/carpet thread to cinch in the sides of her fin and knotted it and then wrapped the thread under the the center bottom around to the other side and through all thicknesses on the original dot/mark I made. Pull this tight to cinch up and separate her tail fins a bit. Knot 3xs for security!  ;)

#3.  Next I drew on her arms hugging her pet seahorse, then painted the whole thing, front and back. BTW,  there are two dolls here, one on front and the verso so when she is hanging by her ribbon loop, she will never be swimming backwards! Green Eyes on 1 side, Brown on the other  ;)

#4. I tacked on boa feathers for hair, added a GLOW Angel tag for her and sparkled up her scales with some glitter here and there and there, and there, and there....U can never have too much Bling!

PS.  If you would like this SeaAngel, the information for the charity is at http://urnangel.com 

URNAngel.com (You Are An Angel)

Key West House 8x24 Painting

Key West House is an Original Painting 8"x24 inches tall ready to frame or not!  ;)
Proceeds of this eBay auction are going to Andrew Thornton to help defray mounting medical bills.
Andrew is a jewelry designer / artist diagnosed with cancer.
More about Andrew here:  http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/
To make a direct donation via paypal, here's his PPal:  ardenttie@yahoo.com

Evening Rain

18x24"

Too soon the sun is high in the morning sky,
the fog has risen to help make this evening rain.
The wind begins to pick up and the rustle of plants and trees steal the soft sounds of the swamp.


18x24"   on stretched canvas ready to frame or not.
$300.  free USA shipping.

Oil Spill - hindsight , NO MORE OFF SHORE DRILLING, PERIOD!

Twenty Years After the Exxon Valdez: A Conversation with Natalie Fobes
Liam Moriarty (2009-03-05)
Listen Now
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The oil tanker Exxon Valdez aground on Bligh Reef and pouring oil into Alaska's Price Williams Sound, March 25, 1989 ©Natalie Fobes www.fobesphoto.com
SEATTLE (KPLU) - This month marks the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska's Prince Williams Sound. Seattle photojournalist Natalie Fobes covered the spill for National Geographic magazine and was one of the first outsiders on the scene. KPLU environment reporter Liam Moriarty spoke with Fobes in our Seattle studios.
copy/paste this link to listen: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1477009§ionID=1

Susan Shaw: The oil spill's toxic trade-off | Video on TED.com

Susan Shaw: The oil spill's toxic trade-off | Video on TED.com

Wounded Warrior Project

Wounded Warrior Project
Soldier Ride Miami, FL to Key West, FL

January 12-16, 2011
Miami – Middle Keys – Key West, FL

We invite you to be part of this important event that brings together wounded warriors, cyclists, families, volunteers, and people from all over the Miami and Key West area. All funds raised go to support Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsoring Soldier Ride Miami, FL to Key West, FL offers enormous visibility and positive affirmation with a cause that changes lives. If you or your local business shares a commitment to supporting our wounded warriors and wish to sponsor this event, please contact us at soldierride@woundedwarriorproject.org.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

More Information

For more information about WWP and who we serve go to woundedwarriorproject.org.

Coral Sea Paintings - last two

"SEA TURTLE" 12x12" and #5 of the Coral Fish Set.
"JELLY FISH" 12x12 . It GLOWS in the Dark like Mad!
Ebay auctions being run by Florida Coastline to help the Gulf Oil Disaster clean up.
Starting bids are $50 . she has a BIN (Buy It Now) price of $99. Once a bid is placed,
that option is no longer available and I can guarantee you I would NOT sell these myself at that low price. It is ONLY for the Gulf Cleanup.

Florida Coastlne accepting donations for Gulf Cleanup training

Florida Coastline

BP tell us that they provide the training online. It is a 4 hour certificate. So it does not get you the level of safety you need.
We would like to raise the funds to pay for anyone who wants the training but can not afford to pay the fee.
Went to the claims center in Naples. They will not pay for the class unless you are a BP employee or a ... See Moregovernment agency wanting to train staff. Most of the officials I spoke to do not trust BP and do not want to take a chance. The fee is actually $150 less than the lowest 40 hour class we can find. The online classes do not insure total understanding of the Hazmat protection wear and who knows who is actually taking the test. Too many variables. We recommend the FEMA classes online they are not as safety related and are more to do with procedure. We want people to be safe in the clean up...period.
(above is quoted from Florida Coastline FaceBook page.) Check out their eBay listings....if you can't volunteer, maybe you can give a small donation to help pay for volunteers who cannot afford the tuition.

ECO Awareness -Treasure Our Oceans

"Little Yellow Trunk Fish"
12" x 12" original on stretched canvas.
100% of proceeds go to Florida Coastline to help pay for hazardous cleanup training for volunteers.
FREE shipping with a starting bid of $50. Listed on eBay Here:
http://tinyurl.com/29khkyn

Solution to Fighting Oil Disaster in the 21st century?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oFjTWs_FWY

What's really going on- Gulf Disaster Media Blackout

http://www.gulfemergencysummit.org/ Gulf Emergency Summit .org

Join Hands on June 26th 2010 at a BEACH near you

http://www.handsacrossthesand.com/

What is Hands Across The Sand?

Hands Across the Sand is a movement made of people of all walks of life and crosses political affiliations. This movement is not about politics; it is about protection of our coastal economies, oceans, marine wildlife, fishing industry and coastal military missions. Let us share our knowledge, energies and passion for protecting all of the above from the devastating effects of oil drilling.

A Message To The World

In the next two days Hands Across The Sand will go International. Any country will be able to plan events on this website. This is a peaceful gathering of the people of the world. Planning an event is as simple as this: Go to YOUR beach on June 26 at 11:00 A.M. in your time zone. Form lines in the sand and at 12:00, JOIN HANDS. The image is powerful, the message is simple. NO to Offshore Oil Drilling, YES to Clean Energy.

The Movement Started In Florida

In Florida on Saturday, February 13, 2010, a statewide gathering against offshore oil drilling occurred. Thousands of Floridians representing 60 towns and cities and over 90 beaches joined hands to protest the efforts by the Florida Legislator and the US Congress to lift the ban on oil drilling in the near and off shores of Florida. Florida’s Hands Across The Sand event was the largest gathering in the history of Florida united against oil drilling. Thousands joined hands from Jacksonville to Miami Beach and Key West to Pensacola Beach, each against oil drilling in Florida’s waters.

Mission Statement

1. To organize a national movement to oppose offshore oil drilling and champion clean energy and renewables. These gatherings will bring thousands of American citizens to our beaches and cities and will draw metaphorical and actual lines in the sand; human lines in the sand against the threat oil drilling poses to America’s coastal economies and marine environment.
2. To convince our State Legislators, Governors, Congress and President Obama to stop the expansion of offshore oil drilling and to adopt policies encouraging clean and renewable energy sources. America needs legislation that creates tax incentives and subsidies to encourage the growth of clean energy and renewable industries for America’s future.

An Opportunity of National Importance

Now is the time for America and our leaders to join hands and steer our country’s energy policy away from our dependence on fossil fuels and into the light of clean energy and renewables.

Join hands with us and draw a line in the sand against offshore oil drilling.

Say "NO!" to ALL Offshore Drilling

The Pelican's Food Supply

Just 10 miles from the nesting grounds of one noisy colony of brown pelicans, more than 3 million gallons of oil are lurking. That threatens species already decimated by the disappearance of marshlands.

Complete Story Here: http://tinyurl.com/2fdzf98

Oil Spill, Ecosystem, Water Supply, Global Warming

The FULL POST here: http://www.news-press.com/article/20100504/GREEN/100503069/1007

The oil spill and wildlife

• WHAT: Citizens who spot affected wildlife should contact the Deepwater Horizon Response Line

•WHERE: Call 866-557-1401. To report an oiled shoreline or request volunteer information, call 866-448-5816.

The Effects of Oil on Wildlife

• Birds and other marine life can suffer from the effects of an oil spill. Even small spills can severely affect marine wildlife.

• Oil spills have different impacts on wildlife and the surrounding environment, depending on the type of oil, location of the spill, species of wildlife in the area, and timing of breeding cycles and migrations.

• Oil coats animals’ bodies with a thick layer that may become stickier over time and adhere even more.

• Some fish are attracted to oil because it looks like floating food. Sea birds, attracted to schools of fish, may dive through oil slicks to get to them.

• Oil that sticks to fur or feathers, can cause:

• Hypothermia. Birds also lose body weight as their metabolism tries to combat low body temperature.

• Marine mammals lose weight when they cannot feed.

• Poisoning of young through the mother. For example, a dolphin calf can absorb oil through its mothers milk.

• Birds become easy prey, as they are less able to fly away. They may become dehydrated and starve.

• Birds sink or drown because oiled feathers weigh more, and sticky feathers cannot trap enough air to keep birds buoyant.

• Damage to the insides of animals’ and birds’ bodies, for example causing ulcers or bleeding in their stomachs if they ingest the oil.

• Poisoning of wildlife higher up the food chain if they eat large amounts of other organisms that have taken oil into their tissues.

• Damage to the lungs of marine mammals and turtles, congestion, pneumonia, emphysema and even death by breathing in droplets of oil, fumes or gas

• Damage to marine mammals’ or turtles’ eyes, which can cause ulcers, conjunctivitis and blindness.

• Irritation or ulceration of skin, mouth or nasal cavities.

• Suppression of a marine mammal’s immune system, sometimes causing secondary bacterial or fungal infections.

Source: Australia Maritime Safety Authority; visit www.amsa.gov.au/marine_environment_protection/

Anhinga Drying Out

I've been working on this for about 7 months! haha! Thought I would try & finish it up.....I think it's finished, well, for now anyway. 24x30".
Listed some more Artist Trade Cards for .99¢ on eBay. These are Original Paintings, not prints.

Original Art Trade Cards

I got the chance to view my artwork on a few other computer screens and noticed the colors were not right... and so in an attempt to give would be collectors a 'sample' of my work I am offering ACEO (artist's trading cards) on Ebay with a starting bid of .99¢
For decades, these cards were once only traded between artists, but now are being sold to collectors as well by many artists.
They are the size of baseball cards and a very collectible and affordable way to collect original art.

Investment Collector - Caveat Emptor

Let The Buyer Beware. http://tinyurl.com/yd5x4cg
(click on the blog title to find out where this art is being hawked)

We spent a large amount of money on various overpriced, and now also forged art, with worthless appraisals. Here's their story:
http://www.fineartadvocacy.com/articles/dali-parkwest-ripoff.php

I've been working on business things, (YUCK!)and have no finished paintings to show, so here's an old one. It's an 8x10 on canvas panel from my artist's samples.

Workshop with patrick Kirwin

Just finished up a week long workshop with Patrick Kirwin at The Paint Factory in Orlando.
This is my painting. What do ya think? LOL!

Here's a link to Patrick's site:
http://www.patrickkirwin.com/

Farm & Ranch Freedom

The Voice of Independent Agriculture

The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA) is leading the fight to save family farms and individuals from expensive and unnecessary government regulation. Help us protect our food supply and our liberties!

The National Animal Identification System ("NAIS") poses a serious threat to all farmers, ranchers, livestock owners, and companion-animal owners, whether they are organic or conventional, small or large, involved with animals for business or for pleasure. If it is made mandatory, every person with even one horse, cow, chicken, pig, goat, sheep, or virtually any other livestock animal on their premises will be required to register their homes and property into a database and subject their property and animals to government surveillance.

link to website is on the right "Farm & Ranch Freedom" to read the WHOLE story.