Alla Prima Portrait: Jimmy (Acrylic 20 x 16)

This morning I went to the First Community Congregational Church to paint portraits again. Today's model was Jimmy. Jimmy was one of the Haitian Americans who came to the Congregational Church every Saturday to have their worship service instead of Sunday. It seemed to me that they were on their own and was not affiliated with the Congregational Church. Maybe the ethnic community simply rented the site. It was interesting to witness their special cultural traditions during the religious worship.

They have obviously preserved quite a bit of the traditional rituals. Everyone who came to the church was dressed up including children. I loved to see the ladies' dresses, especially their headdresses or simply a kerchief wrapped around the head -- very stylish. At first, a lady, who was evidently with the children's church, offered to pose for me. I was so happy that I told her I would pose the portrait in my blog and she could make a copy of it. Unfortunately, for some reason, she said she didn't want her portrait posted online, so she quitted sitting for me. At that time, Jimmy said he was willing to pose. He was a very patient model and a cool guy.

En Plein Air: House on Stakes (Acrylic 12 x 16)

The house is 18989 Parkinson Road, Alva, Florida. This morning, I got an impulse to explore this country road when I was driving on N. River Road (Highway 78). It was near the end of the road.

Since childhood, I have always been amazed by the idea of living in a house on stakes. The first time I saw houses on stakes and became interested in them was when I was a little boy and went to my hometown Hangzhou, China. Geographically, it was to the south of the Yangtze River and the countryside was like a network of waterways with rivers, lakes, and creeks all running into each other. The main tool of transportation for the farmers was always the boat. There were many small towns in the country and they were the places where farmers bought commercial products and sold whatever they produced in the country to get some cash money. What fascinated me in those small towns was the houses which were mostly built with one side on the dry land facing the street and the other side on stakes over the river. 

I thought at that time I justified to myself about this kind of architectures with practical reasons. The streets in those ancient towns were very narrow, not made for motor vehicles. Space was precious on the street, so it made sense for the houses to be built on stakes, especially when every family had a boat for transportation and they could have their boats sheltered under the house like Americans having a garage built for their cars. 

However, when I saw houses built on stakes in Florida, I couldn't quite understand the rationale behind it. There is no shortage of land here. Most people don't seem to use the space under the house as a garage but just to keep their junks. Maybe it is a more economical way to get extra space. Or is it for the purpose of keeping away the heat from the ground? I don't know. I'll do some research to get the answer. 

Alla Prima Portrait: Antonio (Acrylic 20 x 16)

Portrait Studio Day! Today's model who sat for use at VAC is Antonio. He is a photographer. I believe Antonio has sat for us a few times. He is very paintable.

En Plein Air: Florida's Preserved Land (Acrylic 10 x 17)

This is a very commonplace view in Florida. In fact, there are properties which are, especially around cities and towns, not yet developed state properties. The one in the painting is on Edward Road.

En Plein Air: The Frame House Next to the Country Diner (Acrylic, 10 x 17)

I didn't go far this morning. On my way to Highway 80, I happened to get into the Diner's parking lot. At first, I was interested in two motorbikes. By the time I had set up, the two bikers came out of the Diner and rode away. Then I noticed the frame house with an RV and a pickup, partially in the shade. So I decided to paint them together.

Alla Prima Portrait: Don (Acrylic, 20 x 16)

This morning I meant to paint something but rural scenes for a change. I went to the downtown flea market. Maybe it was too early; there were very few people there. After that, I went to the Veterans Memorial Park. Still, there was no much going on. Therefore, I decided to go to the Community Congregational Church. Since there was a food pantry today, I saw quite a few volunteers there. Finally, I decided to paint a gentleman named Don, who was working in the back room of the church giving away bread. When there was no one coming for bread, he sat on a pew by the window. He was very cooperative. I found the painting process was very smooth today. I didn't even bother to change the brushes. Simply rinsing in water, I continued working with the brush in different colors till the size of the brush was unable to accommodate the space I needed to cover.

Alla Prima Portrait: Airieana (Acrylic 20 x 16)

Today's model for our Portrait Studio was Airieana, a high school sophomore. I know you would say she looked like Lauren, the last week's model. It is true. I guess we have so many high school kids recently as our models because our Center is having some summer programs for school students.  

En Plein Air: Veteran Memorial Park (Acrylic 10 x 17)

I went to the local Veteran Memorial Park this morning and made the sketch there.

En Plein Air: July Clouds (Acrylic, 16 x 12)

It seems now the weather is typical Florida summer with the temperature hovering around 75͒--93͒. In spite of the humidity, there are always some sea breezes.  Regularly we have on the daily basis an afternoon shower or thunderstorm. I went this morning to the Sweetwater Landing Boatyard to paint the clouds.

En Plein Air Sketch: Two Donkeys by the Barn (Acrylic 12 x 16)

I turned right onto Herzog Rd. from Highway 80 this morning. As I drove a little farther, I noticed on my right a few donkeys were enjoying the shade by the barn. There was quite a distance from where I was and it was difficult to paint from the road. Fortunately, the road ended in about 200 yards and branched out into three different country drives in a fan shape. The one on the right happened to parallel the fence of the donkey farm and down the driveway, I could see a good spot from which I could paint the donkeys. I knew the drive was already part of someone's property. I tried to find its owner to get permission to be there, so I drove down the drive till I saw a bungalow house with some trucks parked outside. I knocked the door and even hollered, but no one answered the door. I realized there was nobody in there because through the side glass window I could see a sight of renovation with the ceiling fan spinning and all the windows cracked open, obviously in an attempt to ventilate the air. So I helped myself to the place. I parked my car on the road shoulder and began to set up. I knew animals would not stay in the same position for long, so I rushed through the painting. It took a little more than an hour.

Em Plein Air: Veterans Memorial Park, Downtown LeBelle (Acrylic 20 x 10)

The Veterans Memorial Park is located at the intersection of Main St. and Nickpockee Ave. downtown LeBelle, by the picturesque Court House which is the kind of architectural style people here usually call Spanish revival. I went there this morning mainly to paint the Court House but found it interesting to paint from this angle.

En Plein Air: Tractors Left in the Fields (Acrylic, 10 x 17)

I tried to explore some new scenic spots this morning, taking roads less traveled like Pine Ave. off Highway 80 in the hopes that it would lead me to somewhere on the Caloosahatchee River but in vain. At least, I ended up at the Maloy Hay Company fields. When I noticed some machinery left in the fields, I stopped the car and immediately set up to paint. 

Alla Prima Portrait: Lauren (Acrylic, 20 x 16)

Portrait Studio Day. Today's model is a young girl named Lauren, who is the daughter of Kim, one of the staff at Punta Gorda VAC.

Alla Prima Portrait: Linda and Toby (Acrylic 20 x 16)

This morning, shortly after I pulled out my car and hit the road, I noticed a warning on my dashboard saying "Low Tire Pressure." "Uh-oh," I said to myself. "It must be yesterday when I was at Owl Creek Boatyard and somehow I got a nail or something in the tire." So, I made a U-turn and drove directly to the Walmart. I waited there for more than an hour and it turned out to be just low tire pressure and no nails were found. It was late, so I decided to go to the First Community Congregational Church to see if I was able to find someone to paint. Luckily, they had the food pantry in the morning and quite a few volunteers were working there. After I asked around, Linda said she was willing to sit for me but her pet Toby should be included.

En Plein Air: Time for maintenance (Acrylic, 12 x 16)

I went to the Owl Creek Boatyard this morning. A boat happened to be hanging there on the lifter. Without too much thinking, I settled to paint it.

En Plein Air: The Hawkins' Residence (Acrylic 9 x 12)

I couldn't help but go to Taylor Road again this morning. Even though I could not see the outdoor staircase from that angle, I still like the composition with the house partially shaded by the colorful trees and a pond and a jetty in the foreground. Put all together, it was so quiet there. 

When I was about to finish the painting, a gentleman came. He first went to the house and obviously, he came to check out the Hawkins first. He must be one of the family's friends or neighbors. Then he stopped by where I was toiling. As he was approaching, I asked, "Am I trespassing?" "Yes, you are," he answered. "And you shouldn't be here." I apologized for my trespassing and introduced myself by giving him my card. Then he said, "I think you are a good person." However, having said these words, he precautiously took a picture of me with his cell and then left me alone.

Ala Prima Portrait: Alisha (Acrylic, 20 x 16)

Aisha sat for us again today for the Portrait Studio.

En Plein Air: Two Trees (Acrylic 10 x 17)

I drove westbound along N. River Road (Highway 78), this morning. After passing the Fichter Creek, I turned right into a country road in an attempt to find something paintable but in vain. When I was back on the roadside of the highway, preparing to get into the traffic, I notice on my left a car coming out of a street named Taylor Road. Suddenly I got an impulse to check it out in spite of the fact that there was a tag of No Outlet under the road sign. The road led me to a beautiful place on the Caloosathachee River. There were three houses: big, medium and small. The big house was kind of modern. The other two were wooden houses. I especially like the small one, very cozy and stylish with outdoor vase and staircase. There was on the railing a sign saying: The Hawkins Are at Play. There was a gravel road circle in front of it. I had never seen such a spacious lawn on the river bank. I saw a golf cart parked near a house. No wonder they took such good care fo the lawn.

I knew I was trespassing, so I stopped my car on the gravel drive circle. I walked over to the small house and holler to find the owner. After a while, I decided there was no one inside. Therefore, I helped myself to the property. I went to my car to get  out the painting kit and set up to paint.

En Plein Air: Terry's Drive (Acrylic 10 x 17)

I went to Terry's place this morning. It was very quiet. The corner of the fence stood out against the glaringly bright roof of his father's garage. 

En Plein Air: Colorful Harns Marsh (Acrylic 10 x 17)

It is a quick sketch which took only an hour and a half.