Tropical Storm

Posted on July 6, 2017July 6, 2017 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all!

We’ve had a lot of rain here. Even after living in New Orleans for 6 years, I expect the rain to be cold. In California most of the rain happens in the winter. Sometimes, in New Orleans, I make hot chocolate in my air-conditioned house and don’t realize it is 90 degrees outside.

This is “Tropical Storm”.

I like a tropical storm if I can stay inside. A tropical storm can mean a lot of wind and rain. We bring things inside that might blow around the yard.

The unsettling thing about a tropical storm is that it can turn into a hurricane. I live near a lot of people with Hurricane Katrina PTSD, with good reason.

This makes the tension rise.

I painted this during Tropical Storm Cindy. She did not develop further.

Here is some storm information…

In a tropical depression the winds start to circulate. When the winds exceed 38 mph, it turns into a Tropical Storm. The maximum wind speed in a tropical storm is 73 mph. A hurricane has wind rotation with speeds of 74 mph and above.

Hurricanes are rated 1 through 5.

1 is 74-95 mph

2 is 96-110 mph

3 is 111-129 mph

4 is 130-156 mph

5 is greater than 156 mph

Almost all hurricanes happen during hurricane season. Where I live, the season is from June 1 through November 30. Most hurricanes happen in August and September and rarely in November.

I changed the starry sky in the most recent Swamp Girl painting. Looking at the painting close-up, the sky looked ragged. I smoothed it out and added some tiny dots for stars. Painting some stars blue and leaving some stars silver made some stars look farther away.

So far, so good.

Looking forward to a sunny tomorrow,

Gator Girl

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The Threads Project

Posted on August 4, 2016August 4, 2016 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all!

My friend Kat Ryalls is on the road for the 3rd year in a row. She is one of my heroes. Each year she sells her art, sublets her house and camps out by herself. I don’t think I can explain this idea as well as Kat. Please check her website. katryalls.com. There is a link there (and here) for The Threads Project.

Driving solo.

“I have been on the road a month now, exploring, painting and trying to embrace a simple idea that I am enough. This is the idea and thought I am writing the participants of my Threads Project this summer as I mail out little watercolors and begin sewing on a large tapestry to represent how we are all threads in each other’s lives.

Over and over again as I see something new, as a color explodes in nature in front of me, as beauty unfolds in ways I could have never imagined, I keep hearing myself say as if in disbelief and wonder “this exists”. This exists. Love exists. Beauty exists. Hope exists. The gift of community exists. … But the contrast to beauty and love and forgiveness and peace also exists. Hearing news recently on the radio, breathlessly I felt myself say it as well, “this exists” in the same sort of disbelief. Yet last night I witnessed from my tent the moon light the sky with brilliance. And I’ve seen tiny little lightening bugs do their part as well. Light is far stronger than darkness.

If you would like to contribute a “thread” to the tapestry I am working on you are invited to mail me a small (~12″ ) piece of fabric, or a poem, or a note that I can sew into the work.

2902 Ursulines avenue B New Orleans, LA 70119

Once I get back to New Orleans mid August I will begin preparing for upcoming shows and markets this fall. Stay tuned for those announcements.

Thank you all for your support, for reaching out a for being so wonderful to me.

Best wishes,

Katharine”

Kat sketching.

It is nearly impossible to choose any art to place here. There is a wide, hugely wide, variety and everything is amazing. Here is a random choosing.

Kat with art.

It is with so much pleasure that I share Kat Ryalls with you.

This exists.

Gator Girl

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QR Codes

Posted on June 9, 2016 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all!

I hope your summer is heating up with lots of friends, fun and fabulousness. My sweet darlin’ and I just got back from Philadelphia where our recently graduated god-daughter is going to college in August. We are back in New Orleans for a week, then to California for a family reunion.

I wonder if I caught anyone’s attention with the title. Snooze? This blog is definitely for a limited audience.

You can make a code in 30 seconds at QR Code Monkey for free. QR Code is just a fancy name for a link. I made a QR Code to link to my website. You put these codes on anything you like… T-Shirts, business cards, gallery cards… You just don’t want to put it on a computer screen because you can use a regular link. QR Codes are easy to read with your phone. Download from any number of free QR Code Reader apps for iPhone or Android.

Business-Cards

Once you have a QR Reader app, you can read a QR Code wherever you find one. Now, you will see them everywhere.

This is the back of my new card.

Business-Card-Back

I used a coupon at Moo.com to make my business cards. Moo is not as cheap as Vista Print, but much nicer. Here is a link if you want 10% off of your first order. I feel very good recommending Moo. The paper they use is lovely to touch. They have a fun website and the customer service is nice.

Until next time,

All my love,

Gator Girl

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A Vlog in a Blog or Epoxy Resin Arty Table Top

Posted on November 12, 2015November 12, 2015 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all!

I made a pretty cool table top and I made a video of the process.

I have been thinking about editing videos for a long time. I like to watch instructional videos, so I bet you do, too.

This is my first attempt.

Here are the links to the things I found while making the table top that really work well. They are both on Amazon.

Foneso Tri-Pod/ Selfie Stick is 21.99 Prime Shipping. It holds my phone easily and securely. It also holds a Go Pro. it has a remote control.

Clear Epoxy Resin is 59.99 plus 9.49 shipping. This is a good price for a gallon. It costs more at Home Depot. 92% of the Amazon reviews give it 5 stars. I give it 5 stars. It has good directions and dries as clear and hard as glass. Measure carefully and keep the area as free from dust, hair and bugs as possible. Use a drop cloth.

The dragonfly painting is mine. The tiles are left over from a kitchen re-model.

With a loving heart,

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,

Gator Girl

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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!

Gator Girl

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A Learning Curve

Posted on March 11, 2015 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all!

Mardi Gras has come and gone (sigh). I signed up to dance with the Pussyfooters at the House of Blues for Friday. I feel pretty lucky.

GV_NOLA115_StPatricksDay_WG-1000x500 — xx

Saturday is the St. Patrick’s parade and the St. Joseph’s parade. The parades are very different from each other. The St. Patrick’s parade is in the Irish Channel in the afternoon. Friends who live near the parade route will open their house before and after the parade to offer drinks, snacks, and a bathroom. The floats throw vegetables along with the beads and toys.

The St. Joseph’s parade is in the evening in the French Quarter. My sweet darlin’ is in the Italian American Marching Club. I don’t have a photo to show you, because last time I saw the parade all the Italian men in tuxedos looked the same. I couldn’t find him.

Super Sunday is when the Mardi Gras Indians parade. This is one of those amazing things that is truly New Orleans.

So there you go. A quiet weekend after Mardi Gras.

In my art world… the original Joan of Arc was purchased for the new hospital. I am so excited to have her in a public place.

My friend just bought the original Garden Fairy aka City Park Fairy.

I am thinking that They didn’t know they were seeds is a learning painting. Learning how I feel about writing on the painting. I have liked words occasionally… in script along the side of the image, bananagrams, Pairs in Pears, a little piece of ripped paper with handwriting…

I made two more attempts to like the painting and call it done.

I printed on organza. The words shifted slightly.

I decided that I do like my handwriting, but I didn’t like the square shape. To be continued…

Raffi had an art show at his pre-school. His teacher is fabulous. When he painted part of the Sistine Chapel ceiling, he laid on his back under a table.

I hope all y’all are having a nice end of winter, almost spring.

With and open and loving heart,

Gator Girl

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Distraction

Posted on December 8, 2014December 8, 2014 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all!

Welcome to super busy December.

Jingle Parade 2014, photo by Karen Ocker

The Jingle Parade is super fun. You can tell by how many Pussyfooter’s wanted to do it. Mr. Bingle is the snowman in the middle.

Mr. Bingle is famous in New Orleans.

Among many distractions, I finished “Distraction”, my first duo painting. The women are in a coffee shop at different tables. One woman is distracted by the humming-bird hovering over the flowers in the second woman’s hair.

Distracted

I just entered them in a mixed media competition.

I used a ton of mixed media… acrylic paint, Silks Acrylic Paint, foil, paper, lace, thread, gesso, matte gel, Gilders Paste, charcoal pencil, varnish on reclaimed cabinet doors. The competition is to tell a story with your painting. Click on the logo if you want to enter.

Here are close-ups of my favorite parts. I had this lace collar since I was maybe 12. It has been in my sewing basket for more than 40 years. I trimmed it and inserted it into her sweater using matte gel.

I painted embossed paper. Then I top-stitched it on my sewing machine. Sewing on paper is one of my all time favorite activities.

It is also a great way to mount children’s art on construction paper to make a quick frame.

The hummingbird has pieces of gold and blue foil applied with matte gel. I painted over the foil about 50% to push the foil back and make it seem more part of the bird. I painted several coats of Acrylic Silks over the humming-bird.

Now, the picture of the day. I think this would be a great cover for a coffee table book.

Pussyfooter eating cereal the morning after. Clearly not ready for the party to be over — Pussyfooter the next morning eating cereal. Clearly not ready for the party to be over.

My goal in Spark this month is to paint. The other two things I am balancing December with are getting out and enjoying New Orleans and celebrating a bit of Christmas in our house every day. Balance is sometimes difficult and Spark helps.

Spreading Christmas Joy,

Gator Girl

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The Whimmsey Shoppe Opening

Posted on October 29, 2014 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all!

The Whimmsey Shoppe is at 828 Rutland Street in Covington, Louisana. Covington is an artsy town across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans.

Cool fact. The bridge is 24 miles long. It is the longest bridge over water in the world.

The Whimmsey Shoppe will be open starting November 1. The hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11-7 and Sunday 12-4.

The owner is Kathleen Peterson.

We just met and you can already tell we are BFF’s.

Cool fact #2: Our birthdays are 4 days apart and our favorite color is green.

This is the place where art meets antiques. Gator Girl Art is here with prints, giclee’s and original works of art. In downtown Covington there is no sales tax on original art. Win/Win.

Kathleen finds great stuff and makes it better. She has lots of mid-century furniture and cool new items. This can be your one stop shopping for eclectic gifts.

I hope you do everyone a favor and stop by.

With holiday cheer and unbridled optimism,

Gator Girl

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Power Tools

Posted on October 9, 2014 by gatorgirlart

Hi all y’all!

It has been a while. I think I had a virus. I hope you are doing well. I am much better.

October is the beginning of the time of year when we have to start choosing activities. Things begin to over-lap… This weekend we are choosing the Louisiana Seafood Festival in City Park.

I embellished another Expecting Grace. This one I am donating to an auction to raise money for St. Andrew’s Village in Abita Springs, Louisiana.

It is much easier to make something to sell or give away. When someone has pre-ordered, I always worry if they will like it. This one has nice depth and texture. I felt bold with the colors. So far, I am not tired of Grace. I love to spend a couple of days with her.

I am taking a little jump-start class with Cosmic Cowgirls, called Spark. We make a plan for the month. It is something we want to accomplish that takes 10 or 15 minutes a day. They offer it every month, but I haven’t signed up for about a year. My goal in October is to live my art. With a side note of using power tools. I have a habit of waiting until I can ask my sweet darlin’ to hang pictures, drill holes, cut wood… I am perusing my house, moving paintings, and using power tools to build and improve things. It has been a physical 8 days.

I made this frame from wood I bought at the salvage place.

Those mitered corners are hard. I think I did a good job.

I am re-visiting Magnolia. I hope I will be happy with her soon.

She looks much more alive. I am going to bring her hair forward over her ears a little and add magnolia earrings. I cropped and resized the two magnolia flowers on the left and printed them on paper to make her earrings.

More power tool use…

Cabinet doors prior to sanding. — Cabinet doors before sanding.

I wish I took a photo of the doors when I brought them home. They looked like they had sat in dirt of years. I washed them outside with dish soap and a sponge. Then I put them in the bathtub for a day soaking in Charlie Soap and washing them over and over.

I sanded them with my Craftsman Mouse Sander. The sandpaper is peel and stick. The sander has a little nose that gets into corners. I am going to paint on the panels. I plan on them hanging together. Maybe a woman and her flowers or a woman looking at another woman. I don’t know yet.

Wishing you abundance and joy,

Gator Girl