80 - Eight Oh

7X5 acrylic on canvas

79 - Micanopy

7x5 acrylic

One of my favorite paintings, and most popular - the daisies.  Just a colorful, expressive, little burst of energy and light.

78 - Freddie

6x6 on hardboard panel - sold

Out all the sweet little snowmen I had, this is the only one that sold at the open studio on Saturday!  Plus I have commissions to do more!  I think he's just silly enough that he's not scary, and certainly nowhere near as hideous as the "real" Freddie.  Kind of like the Grinch I guess. 

77 - Attitude

10x20 acrylic

This one goes way back, but he'll always be a favorite.  I caught an adolescent Mr. Doodles as he was just about to practice crowing.  It was a magical moment. 

76 - No More Bully

6x6 acrylc

75 - Apple Pen

8x8 acrylic on canvas sold

One of these days I'll post a pineapple on here that isn't sold.  I can't keep them in stock.  Not sure why everyone loves pineapples, but they sure do.  I don't why I started painting them; just saw one a few months ago, and thought - hey - I'm going to paint that.  Everyone I paint sells almost immediately.  I am certainly NOT complaining.  

74 - Gratefully given

8x8 acrylic 

73 - Stolen Angel

8x10 acrylic on canvas sold

72 - Decorations

5x7 acrylic on canvas

One of the little guys sold in St. Augustine this past weekend.   Being in St. Augustine is always a pleasure.  It's not far too far from where I live, it's shock-full of history, things to see and experience, and it provides an amazing amount of inspiration.  Although it does also hold some bitter-sweet memories for me, I will always be fond of this town.  The Thanksgiving weekend show is fun and I am treated well by both previous and new collectors.  I was happy to share this little tree with a new customer. 

71 - That's a wrap

4x5" acrylic

70 - Thankful

 7x5 acrylic on canvas

It's Thanksgiving Day 2016.  It's a good time to stop and think about things I'm thankful for.  I try to do that regularly, but this day gives you a good excuse.  Geesh - this made me think about my dad who in his old age wants everyone to verbally express their thankfulness before dinner - awkward for all of us.  Obviously, his intentions are good, but all of us hate it.  Anyway, so let's see.  I'm going to limit it to ten things and in the order for which I'm thankful.  1. My sons. 2. My family 3. My friends 4. My brain.  5.  My health 6. My home 7. My job 8. My opportunities and desire to paint 9. My genes 10. My animals.
My turkey is in the oven.  Mimosas are on their way.  It's going to be an awesome day with our little family.

69 - Warming Trend

7x5 acrylic on canvas

68 - Frank

6x6 acrylic on hardboard $30

I had the best time with these little snowmen.  I could paint them for days.  (Don't worry - I only painted three).  Most of us artists are always challenging and pushing ourselves.  We work perpetually to do better, to learn more, and to see things in a new light.  But then sometimes you get to just have fun with something like Frank here, where it doesn't matter if he's shaped right, or if one of his arms is longer than the other, or his nose is crooked.  It just doesn't matter.  He's just a cute little representation of a joyous time of year when carols are sung, decorations are hung, hugs are given and received more frequently, and twinkling lights are seen near and far.  He's Frank and not Frosty, but that's another story. 

67 - Times Flies

6x6" acrylic  on hardboard panel $30

The saying "times flies when having fun" sure is true.  I had 3 days this weekend to catch up on things after two weekends in a row of shows.  Moving furniture and buying art supplies on Friday took up that whole day (when you live rurally, everything is a major expedition).  Saturday and Sunday I hit it hard.  When I looked up from painting, it was noon; then it was 3:00. . and so on.  Time literally flew by, and it was because I was having so much fun painting, and things were going well.  Unfortunately, I didn't get near as much done as I had hoped to.  This snow guy was one of the few things finished.  The fun thing about painting snow people is that you can do whatever you want - because they are made up of your imagination, and whatever you can find, in the first place. 

66 - Shimmer

7x5" acrylic

65 - Deleted

6x6" acrylic

One of the paintings sold in Gainesville first of the month.  Little paintings go fast - which means more work for me!  Keeps me out of trouble.  Will be painting lots more of these little guys. They are a blast to paint.  Maybe I'll go eat some this weekend and get some new shells to inspire me.  :)

64 - Shine Bright

10x8" acrylic sold

Every human being wants to cultivate a good life, for themselves, for their families and for their children. Every person wants to feel love, feel connection, have purpose, be heard and understood. Our definitions of what that means may differ, but our basic human needs do not.

The power to create the kind of life you want, to be the kind of person you strive to be, to give to the world the unique gifts you have, sits today in the very same place it was two days ago, two months ago, two years ago. It sits with you, it always has, it always will.

No person, party, organization, church, government or other can give that power to you or take that power away from you. Some want you to believe this isn't true, they just want you to hand over your power. Never hand it over, never. Not even for something shiny.

Every day brings changes, challenges, victories, defeats, new ideas, new actions, a new version of you and a new world every morning when you wake up and take a new breath. It's a good thing. It's not always an easy thing, sometimes it feels like a dreadfully crap-awful thing, but we're adaptable creatures and the truth is that we thrive on this stuff.

Today, I stand more resolutely than ever before to be an unrelenting source of love and light in the world. To create, and give, and receive and love with all I have. I will not be stopped. Tomorrow I will stand even stronger and love even harder and shine even brighter than today, because of whatever challenges today brings. I don't know what the future holds in store for me but I'm certain of what I hold in store for the future.

I love every last one of you. You are precious, you are dear, you are worthy and you are powerful. Don't ever forget it, don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise, don't ever give your power away by believing it isn't so. Now go out there, love hard, shine bright, and be so awesome that hardly anyone can stand it.  - Klee Galligan Perez  11-10-16

63 - Shape of my Heart

4x4" acrylic sold

This was my very first sale in Gainesville this past weekend.  Some shows I sell no hearts; this show I sold all that I had.  This has been a tough week; on the other hand, I feel a new beginning since the election has finally come and gone.  Onward I say!

62 - Imagine

6x6 acrylic

61 - To the Sea

10x8 acrylic - 2015

60 - Some Beach

10x8 acrylic 2015

Another sold painting. . . *sigh. . . . I'm not complaining about the fact it was sold; just that I can't seem to get any new work ready to show you.  I'm working hard.  My living room painting is almost done.  I will tackle the sun room next, but hopefully it won't be as labor intensive as the dining and living rooms were.  Then. . . . then - on to the kitchen.  But in between, there WILL be new paintings. 

59 - Time flies

16x20 acrylic 2013 sold

I'm still trying to finish painting walls and ceilings, and finding little time to paint canvas.  So far I'm having a really hard time figuring out when I'm going to start this painting a day thing.  Luckily, I have been painting regularly for quite a few years, so I have lots of things to post.  I'll keep them coming, and one of these days they will be new.   Painting walls does give me a lot of time to think and create in my mind, and I'm looking forward to a new look and attitude in my work very soon.

58 - Walkin' Around

 

7x5" acrylic on canvas panel - 2015 - sold

I'm still working toward a goal of a painting a day, but to be realistic, I'm thinking that I might have to postpone that goal until 2017 because with fixing up my house, the approaching holidays, a busy show month in November, and a birthday party for my mom right before Christmas, I have a lot to do.  But for now - here's a little ditty from last year.  Just some cranes who are always out and about around the house and in the pastures.

57 - Uplifting Rush

8x10 acrylic - sold

I sold this little painting almost exactly 2 years ago in Bluffton, SC.  I know this because there were pictures surrounding it that clued me in.  I had snapped a picture of the show itself, and just down from me I recognized the booth of my friend, Ron Brethauer.  Bluffton, yes - and was that actually 2 years ago?  Yes, because I didn't do Bluffton last year (2015), and not only that, but Ron tragically passed away September 2, 2015, so he couldn't have been there. 

Indian Grief Prayer:

I give you this one thought to keep -
I am with you still - I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the sweet uplifting rush,
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone -
I am with you still in each new dawn.

56 - Boney fingers

7x5" acrylic

palette knife painting - sold

I'll be teaching a workshop on Saturday in Spring Hill, and looking forward to hanging out with some wonderful like-minded folks who love the arts!  We might paint palms, we might paint fish, or shrimp or crabs, or boats, or all of the above!  We'll just see what the day brings. 

55 - Way Behind

7x5 acrylic

I'm getting so far behind. . . A promise to myself and to my supportive fans that a post every day - or almost every day would be forthcoming.  I believe that was in July, and this is post 55.  I'm not an mathematician but I'm pretty sure more than 55 days have past since then.  Shoot!  Well, like most things in life, there's no going back, there's only moving forward and trying to do better, and that I shall.  I have lots of good excuses, like I'm trying to fix up my house which needs a tremendous amount of work, and in doing so manage to spill not one but two full trays of paint on the wood floor, which means stopping and cleaning up wasting lots and lots of time; then breaking an outdoor pipe and having to, of course, stop everything to run to the hardware store to get the things to fix it.  Then of course, there's more wasted time in looking for my tax return that I had printed out and not yet mailed, looking for my sweet dog, Jenny, whom I had accidentally locked in the workshop on one of my trips carrying stuff out there to store. . . . well, you see - lots of excuses, but mostly just disorganization.  I'm working hard toward more organization and will get there in time. . . time. . . so little time!  Thanks for your patience!  :) 

54 - Seriously

16x20 acrylic

I use that word a lot. . . seriously.  Sometimes it's seriously?. . . . and sometimes it's seriously!!  Not sure why it just seems to fit so many situations.  But this guy is serious.  Don't you think?  And, seriously, a bear was in my yard last night!  Pushed down two fences, and destroyed a perfectly good metal garbage can that had the pig's food in it.  And. . . .Yogi didn't even eat the food.  Seriously?  After all that? 

53 - Sand, prime, paint, repeat

30x40" acrylic - sold

I'm posting some pretty old paintings now because I am busy repainting the interior of my house.  A lot of the trim was painted with oil paint which means it has to be lightly sanded and primed before painting with latex.  I've had to move furniture, which in the case of the dining room means moving an old handmade pie safe that is heavy in the first place, but also full of dishes and things.  I had to remove most everything to make it light enough to move a little bit.  So my house is an absolute mess right now, and I can't stop now until I finish, so there is really no time to paint.  I hope to be at least somewhat back to "normal" by the end of next weekend.