En Plein Air: Steamy Canal (Oil, 11 x 14)

It was a bright sunshiny morning. A little chilly, though. On my way to Owl Creek Boatyard, at the intersection of E16 St., I saw the canal was steaming like boiling cauldron. I have been long noticing this phenomenon in Florida winter. The air temperature begins to drop after midnight. By the time of sunrise, it comes to a point lower than the temperature in water outside and all water bodies in nature become like a sauna tub. I had had the idea of painting it for long, so this morning I stopped on road shoulder and set up to paint it.

Alla Prima: Dolores (Oil, 20 x 16)

A week ago when I was painting Helen at Winkler Court Nursing Home, a lady sitting in a wheelchair on an oxygen-supporting equipment was with her. She claimed that she wanted her portrait painted, too. My friend Kirsten told her that it had to be some other time. Later she asked me if I could do her a portrait as well. I agreed but didn't say when.

Two days ago when it was pouring the whole day and I knew I could not go out to paint en plein air, I called Kirsten if i could come and paint the lady. She said she was not working that day, so we agreed I go there today to paint the lady.

The lady's name is Dolores. During the time of painting, she told me she was adopted from New Jersey. When she grew up, she married a Seminole Indian who passed away not long ago. She insisted not to use the oxygen system because of the tubes on her face in spite of the fact that I told her she could use it till I told her to take off.

Alla Prima Portrait: Eric (Oil, 20 x 16)

It was VAC's portrait studio day. The hall was pretty crowded. We had two models. One was Eric, our fellow artist Fran's son. The other was Cathy Robinson, who had actually arranged for her friend to pose for us. However, right before the studio began her friend called saying she was unable to come, so Cathy had to sit in her place. I had already set up for Eric so I didn't want to move even though Cathy would rather I painted her.

En Plein Air: Wildness Not Far (Oil, 8 x 14)

The place is the end of Wheeler Road. I believe it belongs to Hendry County. I should have stopped working on it in less than an hour. However, when the sun came out from behind the clouds, I tried to adjust the change in color and, as a result,  I overkilled it.

En Plein Air: Breakfast (Oil, 12 x 20)

I tried to get to Hickey Park this morning, but I exited at the wrong place and was forced to drive along a narrow country road with a funny name of Zeligro. I was thinking of finding a place spacious enough to make a U-turn when I came upon a cattle farm. I saw quite a few cows were eating at a hay pen while others were grazing leisurely around. Therefore, I simply stopped and set up to paint them.

Alla Prima Portrait: Helen (oil, 20 x 16)

I went to Winkler Court Nursing Home this morning. My friend Kirsten was on duty. She had already made arrangement for me with Helen, a nursing home resident, originally from Brooklyn, NY. The site was pretty spacious, in a hall near the entrance. There were in it a grand piano, some easy chairs and coffee table. I pushed Helen's wheelchair to the window and added a spot light I had with me. The process went smoothly. Her portrait didn't take quite two hours.

When I was finished, Kirsten said, "I want to show the portrait to those guys, so we went to the cafeteria where about two dozens of seniors were eating. Kirsten yelled, "Hey, guys. I want to show you this portrait. Do you know who she is?" Everybody claimed, "Helen!" And I got a lot of compliments. Helen liked it, too. She said I did her hair justice.

Alla Prima Portrait: Bo (Oil, 20 x 16)

It is Punta Gorda VAC Portrait Studio day today. The model is a nice lady named Bo. To quite a few people, it was their first time this year, like myself.

En Plein Air: An Overgrown Country Road (Oil, 6 x 12)

The place is the intersection of 7th Pl and Wheeler Rd, on the outskirts of the town. Obviously the area was prepared for its expansion in size. However, ever since the realty market crashed, very few people have come to buy property and live here. Most of the developed roads became overgrown and deserted due to little traffic.

En Plein Air: Cloudy Morning (Oil, 9 x 12)

It was a cloudy morning. The sun hid behind clouds and peeped only through cracks. I went to the canal nearby and did a quick sketch which took only 45 minutes.

En Plein Air: Foggy Day (Oil, 8 x 14)

Back in Florida. I went to Harns Marsh this morning, to warm up for myself. It was a heavy foggy day. The whole thing took only 45 minutes. I've got to hurry.

Recent Sketches