Running a little late today...I have been contemplating what subject I want for my next Apalachicola River/Bay Painting...think I have decided on some pitcher plants.

I was looking at a photo I made awhile back, I believe from Owl Creek, a tributary off the Big River (Apalachicola), of a Florida swamp lily. Very neat looking flower on that plant. I am posting the photo here, as well.

I googled up info on the plant and was surprised to learn that they can actually be taken and transplanted to a your home or wherever you like and are relatively easy to grow.

Some more info I found was:
"The Swamp Lily is a herbaceous perennial native to the
southeastern U.S (Fig. 1). that rises from a 3 to 4 1/2-inch thick, fleshy bulb. The linear, leathery leaves grow in a rosette. These glossy leaves are bright green and reach a length of 1 to 4 feet. White or pink-striped flowers sit atop a succulent, cylindrical flower stalk that is 1 to 3 feet tall. A 6-inch-long floral tube bears 6 petals and sepals, and rosy stamens that are tipped with yellow emerge from the throat of this tube. These striking, fragrant flowers appear in the spring, summer and fall seasons of the year. The fruits of the Swamp Lily are lobed seed capsules that are 1 ½ to 2 inches thick."

Pretty Interesting.

Anyway, I am posting a painting today I entered in the fair back in 1991...it took 1st place in the professional division, BUT, it IS only a fair. Its a painting of a Hooded Merganser, a very handsome drake with his head gear "inflated".

I first recall seeing these ducks swimming on a mine hole, (and no, that is not land mine)...in La Camelia, a land we leased for deer hunting on which old strip mines had filled with water after the area had been mined.

The raft of ducks were swimming about a hundred yards out, and their hoods were very obvious, from even that distance. I would sit there, prior to getting out of the vehicle to go hunt deer, and just watch them through the binoculars for several minutes each day.
Eventually, I looked up the birds and identified them as the Hooded Merganser. Afterwards, I painted one or two...Here is one, and it may be purchased for 120.00.

I believe the image area dimensions are about 10"x10". If interested, you can contact me. This is not an item in the series of Apalachicola River paintings.

Time to go for today. Its a beautiful day outside! :)

SOLD

I've posted a 4"x 6" watercolor on Arches cold press paper, of an Apalachicola National Forest road sign and surrounding forest of slash pines.

The time was immediately following a thunderstorm and the sky was filled with moisture laden clouds, and the roads wet.

The sign indicates the direction to an old landing past which flows Kennedy Creek, which in turn, meanders through tupelo and cypress swamp on its lazy journey out to the Apalachicola River.

The road in is white sand, and on either side is lined with the plant and animal life which inhabit the Apalachicola National Forest.

The original painting is for sale for 65.00, matted and framed.

A short account of the subject matter of the painting is written on the back of it. 13.00 of proceeds from sale of this original will be donated to Apalachicola Riverkeeper organization via PayPal.

The Plan

Photo of Tupelo Trees off the Apalachicola River
I am aiming to get my Painting A Day series of the Apalachicola River and Bay launched on October 20th.

This series will include scenes painted in watercolor and/or acrylics in a small or miniature form, for example; 5x7, 2x3, 6x9, etc, etc taken from, primarily, personal photos I made whilst spending time along the Apalachicola River and Bay, and its tributaries.

I will, at times, along the course of this 365 day art-venture, sometimes veer from the main path and opt to randomly display, on any given day, a portrayal of another item of subject matter which will not pertain to the primary series focus, the Apalachicola River.

I plan on having some small contests during this time, which will enable those interested to win a painting. I have yet to conjure up the outlines and rules for said contests, so one must be patient!

Included on this blog will soon be the daily painting image, usually at the heading of the blog, which will be for sale, or be auctioned on EBay. 20% of the proceeds from sales of any paintings depicting Apalachicola River/Bay material will be donated to my friends at the Apalachicola Riverkeeper organization.

The Apalachicola River ecosystem needs help and this is the organization to support in those efforts.

Its a beautiful day outside.