Gator Girl

The Kiss

Posted on October 15, 2015 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all!

I have painted The Kiss for more than a month. I chose the elements and found some reference photos in Annie Hamman’s Class. Spots, the alligator at the Audubon Zoo had just passed on and I wanted to honor his life. I didn’t rework the painting during the month, I just worked on it.

Here’s how…

It started with black gesso. It has a rich, dark, mat finish. Then I added three or so coats of black acrylic ink. If you use acrylic ink (vs. India ink) it won’t bleed through into your paint. The ink made it even darker and shinier.

I doesn’t matter too much what color you start with usually, but I wanted to limit the colors this time. Spots was a white alligator and I wanted to accentuate this throughout the painting.

I mostly paint women and alligators. Landscapes not so much. I started with what I know and like best. I think because I have spent a lot of time with my daughter’s dog, Kenobi, his personality came out in the alligator’s love for the girl.

I textured her shirt with a scrap piece of lace collar. I laid the collar down and stippled hard molding paste, mixed with green paint through the lace. I mixed paint with the molding paste so I could see where the pattern was going. I liked the green shirt, but I wanted white.

The month-long journey included enlarging the alligators front foot, changing the angle of the girls foot, shortening the logs… and lets not even talk about the sky.

I plan on framing it in some reclaimed green wood that I have saved.

The original Shotgun Angel has moved to Florida. It is so exciting! (The link is for prints.)

If you have wondered what it is like to work at home… It is mostly lovely. The usual things you hear apply. I am in the shirt I slept in, I am close to coffee and more coffee, I am doing what I love. The hard part is the pull from the house. There are always things that need doing here… laundry, dinner, bills… I like doing all of that, too, so it is hard to ignore.

Right now, I am going to go out on the porch and paint the trim. The trim is not pulling me.

Lovingly,

Gator Girl

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It was Greek, Jewish, and Gay

Posted on September 30, 2015November 6, 2015 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all,

The name if this painting is “And Justice for All”. Thank you to the Federal ruling, it has come true. I usually call this painting by the name “Justice”, but now the full title is fitting.

There is a story here. A beautiful love story.

I met the woman on the right, in 2010. She posted (on Facebook) a prompt called “22 Questions for the New Year”, by Shiloh McCloud. My husband saw it on a virtual friend’s timeline and remarked, “That is my wife’s painting mentor.” The woman on the right, Rene (pronounced like Irene), Googled Shiloh, joined her class and ultimately messaged me. Tada! We were Internet friends for 5 years.

January 2013, I started this painting.

The thing is… I had not met Rene in person. Rene had not met Amy at all. This photo is from last weekend, September 27, 2015.

I flew up to Minneapolis to attend their Jewish Wedding Celebration.

Seriously, I can’t even believe these two photos.

Rene helped me try to find two women who looked like this painting (for years). I really felt the whole time I was painting that these women were real and existed somewhere. She asked around among her friends in the bay area. I asked at a marriage equality fund-raiser. The deal was, I would exchange a print for a photo. “Do you look like these women?”.

Roughly, a year later, Rene meets Amy at choir.

May of 2015 they are married. The first time that I saw Rene in person, she was walking down the aisle to get married.

Rene and Amy walking down the isle. — Rene and Amy walking down the aisle.

Amy in sunglasses. Can you believe this?

There is even more back story if you search “Justice” on this site.

Congratulations, Amy and Rene. I am so happy you met.

From a crazy universe that arcs towards Justice.

Gator Girl

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Artist I adore… Annie Hamman

Posted on September 18, 2015 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all!

I am taking an on-line class from Annie Hamman. She was Kazakhstan born and has lived the past 16 years in South Africa. Here is a link to her website, Annie’s Website.

I don’t know when I have enjoyed an art class so much. I am picking up a few ideas to help me progress in my painting. For example, I use reference photos when I don’t know what something I want to paint looks like. Annie gathers all the references before she starts painting. OK that’s all. I don’t want to give her class away.

This is the beginning of the painting I am doing with the class.

The shiny part is black acrylic ink, the mat part is black gesso. I like the idea of starting out all black.

The alligator is Spots, the leucistic gator that just passed away at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Spots was rescued from the wild as a baby. White alligators cannot survive unprotected from the sun and predators. He lived at the Zoo for 28 years.

I am painting him outside at night. That way he will be free from the zoo, but not baking in the sun.

That’s it for now.

In love and gratitude,

Gator Girl (click here for my website:)

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Life takes over

Posted on September 1, 2015 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all!

Here it is September first. I think I am pretty organized, but sometimes I don’t get to my paint brushes.

Sometimes I get to my paint brushes, and I am embellishing giclées, not playing with a new painting.

Sometimes I have a million non-artistic errands.

Sometimes I look up and it is September first.

The painting that I started is Roller Girls. I have some of it blocked out. Here is a glimpse.

I listened to the soundtrack of Whip It, while I was painting. I love that movie. I love Drew Barrymore, too.

Maggie made me a paint brush out of pipe cleaners. It should come in handy. It is adjustable.

One of my favorite topics about Cuba is the Medical program. Cuba will train American doctors at no cost to the USA or the students. The students are given free room and board with all of their meals prepared for them, their basic medical supplies, and basic toiletries. They are even given a stipend in their last two years when they are most valuable as a resource.

I saw 4 recent US graduates from Cuba’s six-year training program discuss their experiences. One of the recent graduates is from the 9th ward in New Orleans.

I will tell you the highlights of the medical program, as I remember them.

The program is taught in Spanish. Most people go to Cuba without any Spanish. The first semester is Spanish immersion. All of the exams are oral, which teaches the potential doctors to think on their feet. When they are stuck on something, they are told to help each other. They spend a full semester without any equipment so they can learn to diagnose with their 5 senses. As for paying Cuba back, they are told to go home and serve.

Medicine as a public service is just the approach that drew many US graduates to ELAM, (Latin American School of Medicine).

“When I learned about Cuba’s health system—free, universal, and with a focus on public and global health—I knew this is where I wanted to study,” Dr. Veronica Flake of Philadelphia told MEDICC, (Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba).

“I came to ELAM because I believe health is a human right, and so does Cuba,” said Dr. Tia Naquel Tucker of Sulphur, Louisiana. (medicc.org)

Before I went to Cuba, I would have thought a Cuban medical degree was inferior to a degree in the US. Now I can’t wait until Dr. Gigi Simmons puts her shingle out.

There is no smooth transition here.

We had a tragedy in our family. Although it is sad, I feel it needs to be said. My nephew passed on August 20th. My sweet darlin’ and I flew to California to be with the family. He was 27. It’s a sad story with a sad ending.

Until next time,

Thank you for being there.

Holding you in my loving thoughts,

Gator Girl

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Studio Revamp

Posted on August 5, 2015 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all!

August. Like a warm, wet blanket. You can reach out and grab the air.

This is my audition photo to get into Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival. This is my second year applying. I am on the waiting list. I am showing you this photo so you can see the wooden frames where my art is hanging. Katy made the frames from Pinterest inspiration. We wanted something easy to put up. Possible to store without a garage. And not distracting from the art.

I am fixing up my studio so it will be ready for visitors. I think the easiest and most satisfying way to sell art will be to have people come to me. The first step in my master plan is making my studio stunning.

When we moved in this house 5 summers ago, I put everything in my studio without much thought and started painting. It is a long, narrow room with a lot of furniture. More furniture all the time. Also, Maggie and Raffi paint in here. And by paint, I mean build things out of piles of recycling.

When I got back from Cuba, I painted one long wall with flat white paint. I put two of the festival panels up very high on the wall. I was afraid it would be too busy, but it worked out better than I expected. I can rotate art easily and the panels draw your eye up. It makes the ceiling look very tall.

This is the best photo I could get because the room is only 10 feet wide.

August 1, I was the artist at Bolden Bar. It is the most beautiful venue. The downside was that nobody came. August 1 was also White Linen Night in the Arts District. I hope to go back on a busy night. It was lovely there.

Shortly, I will be painting again. I am narrowing down the subject today.

Cuba continued…

Jan is standing on the balcony of Hotel Ambos Mundos in Havana. Hemingway lived for years in room 511. Behind Jan is the Cuban flag and directly behind the flag is Che Guevara’s house.

We saw Pablo Menendez perform on the roof-top patio of his home. He is originally from Oakland, California. He moved to Cuba with his mother when he was 14. It was a fabulous night.

Until later,

Unwavering love,

Gator Girl

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Cuba!

Posted on July 26, 2015July 26, 2015 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all! I just got back from a week in Havana. My sister and I took the trip with Global Academic Adventures. We both had our concerns about going with a group. It turned out to be the best trip ever. Dr. Siri Briggs Brown (founder of Global Academic Adventures) led our group and packed the agenda with tried and true adventure. Every day was better than we imagined. There really was not one wasted minute. My sweet darlin’ did some extra work this summer and encouraged me to go on a sister trip. He puts the sweet in sweet darlin’. I am working on a way to go back to Cuba with David next summer. More on that later.

Cuba is amazing. The people were the best part. I wondered what our reception would be like after a 47 year blockade. The Cubans were happy to see Americans. So happy and hopeful to have a chance to travel to the US and have the opportunity to rebuild their infrastructure. One woman cried when she saw us in a restaurant. 3.1 buildings in Cuba collapse every day.

Cuba is picturesque, but the buildings will not last another 47 years without some supplies and money. I fell in love with Cuba. I think I could write a book… but this is a blog. I will add a little bit of Cuba to each blog for a while. I want you to know about US medical students in Cuba, the food, the cars, the economy…

Where Hemingway Stayed in Havana — This is where Hemingway stayed in Havana

He played Cuban music on the radio and honked at all the girls on the Malecón (8 km sea drive).

The hotel was built in the 1930’s. There is still a bunker on the grounds with a map of the missile launching sites and targets. I found inspiration in the colors and music. I am looking forward to being with my paints.

Gator Girl

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Moonlit Walk

Posted on June 30, 2015 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all!

Heading into 4th of July weekend. I hope y’all are having a nice summer. I think it is pretty much hot in the United States now, with a few exceptions.

My ginger-haired girl is helping her friend embark on an adventure that leads them out of the swamp. It is the first time for the little gator to see something of the world beyond his home.

On a moonlit night, she hiked up her dress, and together they walked out of the swamp.

The painting is large, 24 x 36 inches, acrylic paint and varnish on canvas.

Best wishes for a fun and safe 4th!

All my love,

Gator Girl

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Alligators have dreams, too.

Posted on May 29, 2015November 6, 2015 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all,

I hope you are enjoying the first days of summer. I know it isn’t really summer, but the kids are getting out of school around here and we are starting to get the air heating up followed by the afternoon thunder storms.

Some people have mentioned that I am painting more or faster now. The paintings are just smaller. They are smaller for the same reason I sell prints of my art. If someone likes my work, I want them to be able to afford something. These next two paintings go together (or not). They are 11 x 14 on canvas (smallish). I will sell them for $120 each or both for $225. I like a larger painting because it tells a bigger story. It took a little adjustment in my thoughts to go smaller.

I painted the canvas dark reddish-pink. Then I scraped gesso over the walls with a plastic motel key. Lastly, I “aged” the walls with some Titan Buff paint. I wanted the walls to look like old plaster.

The alligator has always had a dream of performing in a ballet. It looks like it was a huge success.

When I was growing up, I had two small paintings in my bedroom of young ballerinas. I am sure this influenced me.

This is the girl who made the gator’s dreams come true. Sometimes it is nice to share the stage.

May has been very busy. My youngest daughter moved back to New Orleans. My niece from California visited for a week. My oldest daughter graduated from Tulane Law. Maggie turned 7. Now Maggie and Raffi are both between school and summer camp. My sweet darlin’ is basically absent from home because it is the end of his school year.

If you are visiting New Orleans, I think you should make time to go on one of the tours that Christine Miller of Two Chicks Walking Tours offers. My favorite is Drop Dead Sexy. It meets at the visitor center… Marie Laveau’s tomb in St. Louis #1… and hits a bit of Storyville. She will also designs any tour that suits your fancy. Christine is both entertaining and knowledgeable.

Until next time,

Gator Girl

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Swamp Girl

Posted on April 18, 2015April 18, 2015 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all! My mini muse came through for me. I saw a drawing Maggie did in her notebook. I fell in love. The alligator was subtle. I noticed the girl first. She had no color or background, so I asked Maggie to tell me a story about the girl. She said the girl is in a long green dress. The dress is old and her hair is messy. She lives in a swamp. I asked if there were flowers in the background. She said I could paint flowers, but if I did, make it mostly green with both light and dark greens.

Maggie's Swamp Girl — Maggie’s Swamp Girl

Maggie and I generally copy each other if we like what we see. I painted a more realistic swamp background, but it made me unhappy. So I painted over-sized leaves and flowers. The painting reminds me of a page in a children’s book.

I added the eyelashes on the alligator and the freckles on the girl just like Maggie. I made her dress just a little shorter to show her toes. A friend wrote to me and said I seemed so happy on Facebook and in my blog. She was wondering if life here is really that wonderful. Well, yes. And also, I don’t want my blog to be a downer. I do struggle with waking up in the morning. I am slow to start. It takes at least 2 cups of coffee. I still have to take care of me. I have chores and responsibilities. I eat too many carbs. I need a certain amount of happiness to paint. So some days I don’t paint. I have to try not to compare my art to anyone else’s. While I was looking at realistic swamps, I ran across Adrian Deckbar. Adrian is a local artist that paints more beautiful than a photograph. My heart sinks just a little when I compare myself to others. But then I move on. Even with the ever-present road work on nearly every road, New Orleans rocks. The people are nice. My friends are interesting. I hope, if you are not there already, you find your happy place. I suggest writing down what you want, painting it, dancing it, speaking it every chance you get. There is a vehicle to get you there. lovingly,

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New Paintings Available

Posted on April 11, 2015April 11, 2015 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all!

I am here to share my most recent paintings. I am showing them in a group, because I paint 4-6 paintings and have them photographed before I sell them. I also share them on Facebook, but not everyone follows me on Facebook.

The original Distracted and Distraction are sold together. The prints and giclee’s can be sold separately.

You can purchase my paintings on-line in my Etsy shop and Where Y’Art (an artist collective).

My paintings are also in Covington at the Whimmsey Shoppe and on the corner of Julia and Baronne at the M Studio in New Orleans.

I sell prints and giclee’s of all my originals.

There ya go.

Wishing you all the best in everything!