Take a break from your busy schedule and take a dip in the beautiful refreshing waters of the Gulf.
12×16 Oil on canvas
I recently had the opportunity to take a painting class with Dorothy Starbuck
She taught the class how she paints waves. It was a great learning experience for me. I was transitioning to oils and having issues with technique, so I got a lesson in oil painting and a lesson on how to paint waves.
I love to paint clouds (Florida mountains) and believe I have found my second favorite thing to paint, waves. I have completed 2 paintings with 2 more on the way.
Enjoy!
11×14 canvas panel, oil
Silly Sister Fun makes me giggle every time I see it. It brings back such great memories of hanging out with my twin and getting into something fun.
It is great to have a sister especially a twin . This painting evolved from a distance memory of one Halloween while we were attending the University of Florida. Looking for an inexpensive costume, we braided our hair and wove bent coat hangers thru them to make the pigtails standout. We dressed in silly matching outfits, drew large freckles on our faces, had a shot of Tequila and proceeded to the college parties. It was great fun until some frat boys decided that they could mess up our hair. ARgh!
This painting is titled “Portrait of Pru” (26″ x 24″). Her real name is Prudence. She is a great high energy rescue dog, and a massive handful for Danny and Bri. The painting depicts her at a very restful, sober moment, which may not exist in her reality. She is like your child that will never hold still for a photo.
So… did I mention invention? I am currently frame challenged, with that heavily weighing on my mind (we should all have such horrible problems), I decided to paint a frame. The painting and frame is one piece of wood. I painted a bit of a 3-D affect and added some bronzy, gold leafy, decorative frills and voila a frame. I just need to attach a wire and it is ready to hang in the most persnickety of homes.
Thanks to all that followed us on our journey. We arrived home late June and it took me some time to adjust to being back home. There were many reasons for us deciding to come home but the biggest deciding factor was Luke had become concerned about hurricane season. Oh Lordy, I am so glad he decided we should go home, otherwise we would have spent our summer running from storms.
I have mixed feelings about being home and during quiet moments pangs of
Big Sky II – Look East from dock
wanderlust creep into my thoughts. The winds are calling but I have found that,”there’s no place like home”. I sincerely thank my friends and family for all of their visits and support while we were cruising. We discovered that it takes a village to keep a boat moving continually forward. I love my village.
We met so many interesting folks along the way. The places all seem to run together but it was the people, the sunrises/sunsets and the weather that standout in my memories.
We have now been home over 4 months. Luke is reemployed and I am painting. I feel so fortunate to have been able to take our journey on Nice Lady. I am also fortunate to have a home to come back to.
If you ever have the opportunity to take an extended vacation somewhere out of your comfort zone, do not hesitate – GO!
US – Me and Luke. Self portrait.
A little ditty I painted for our bathroom. I used a Tetrad color scheme of Blue-Green, Blue-Violet, Red-Orange, and Yellow-Orange.
I love doing this type of painting. So much fun to just play with color and try to capture an emotion or moment. So, what is this painting saying?
We are now in Gulfport, Florida just outside of St. Petersburg. May 1st we started heading back home. We may be back by July 4th, we never know where we will be or when…
We have been to many wonderful places and seen so many beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
I have decided to just post a couple of photos and when we get home I will complete the story. Using WIFI is a must and we only have limited access. I hope you have enjoyed our journal, someday I may tell you the rest of the story. 🙂
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- Ozzy enjoying the cruise up the ICW
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- Hangin with the Big Boyz
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- Cruising to the Ockeechobee
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- Cumberland Island
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- Warm Day in Georgia
Some of you have already seen this article. I never got around to posting it here until now.
After posting a note on facebook about my onboard studio, my friend, Joan Vienot, was contacted by Plein Air Magazine. They asked her for my contact information because they wanted to do an article about me. It was a fun experience. Below is the link.
Thanks Joan for making me famous!
Enjoy. Brenda
I seem to always be behind with my posts. The days just slip away. I am going to keep this short and catch up to current day. (maybe not so short) Ha ha
March 20 thru April 18 – Titusville Municipal Marina
We arrived in Titusville after a few days at anchor. We have been having engine troubles so decided to stop here for repairs. Also, I am due for a dental implant so I decided to have that scheduled while at this marina.
After researching dental surgeons with the help of my sister, Anita, I chose Christopher Williams. This process required 4 visits over a month. He usually does more followup but we are leaving town. Excellent surgeon and staff. If you ever need any dental surgery, contact his office.
I am a total scaredy-cat when it comes to dental work. I had all of the work done with only local anesthesia. Dr Williams and his staff were very compassionate and understanding, they also arranged my schedule so we could leave town sooner. Dr Williams provided me with a letter of explanation and all x-rays that I could take to another dentist when I get the final crown attached. Excellent and professional all the way.
Anita Webb, my sister, lent us her car while we are in Titusville. This allowed us to go to the dentist and explore the area for future relocation. Most generous!
Anita asked if I would paint over the paintings she has in her family room. I accepted the challenge. I finished one, which we named Land Ho. This is the image of our first sighting of the keys as we crossed the Florida Bay.
While I am spending time in Orlando, Luke is busy repairing the engine, replacing the muffler and hoses and taking all of the required education courses to maintain his insurance adjusters license. It was a very busy month for both of us.
Ozzy is back with us now and is adjusting well to marina life. He barks a lot and loud at anyone one or dog that he has not met before. We have a squirt bottle we use on him if he does not stop. He was somewhat wet the first few days.
We had family dinners and all went sailing. It was great to have everyone together.
We will be heading north soon. I have decided that I will remain extremely flexible on our future schedule. Our plan changes daily with the wind and life’s requirements. So, we never know when or where we will be. It is an interesting lifestyle.
More mañana… ;D
Wind, wind and more wind. Too much of a good thing. Anxious cruisers are making last minute preparations just in case a weather window opens to move on. We are lined up like horses at a starting gate nervously awaiting the bell.
March 8, Wed
The highlight of my day – Yoga. Then a walk to burn off some of my nervous energy.
March 9-11
Preparations to leave continue.
Dinghy motor pull cord shredded and was replaced. Diesel Don was kind enough to help Luke with this.
Saturday evening we attended the Marathon Seafood Festival with Will and Sonia off of Allora. Sonia and I bought a few Turkish towels, then we all got our fill of seafood. It was a pleasant evening spent with friends before we go our separate ways. Will and Sonia are leaving Monday going to Ft Laud before heading to the Bahamas. Scout (Beth and Stan) will be connecting with them in Ft Laud for the crossing. At the end of the evening we said “see you laters” and returned to our boats.
The boating community is actually somewhat small and you always run into someone you met along the way. The community is extremely helpful and giving. At some point we all need assistance, none of us can cruise along in a bubble without a helping hand.
We will miss our friends from Boot Key Harbor, but we know that we will see them somewhere along the way.
Storm following us out of Boot Key
March 13-14, Departing Boot Key Harbor heading for West Palm Beach
We are off and running! The Gulf looked like a sailboat interstate as we all left Boot Key.
It was a glorious morning and perfect weather for sailing. The sunrise was incredible. We pulled up anchor at about 7:30a and arrived at West Palm 24 hours later. Since we had arrived earlier than expected, we decided to continue up the ICW to Stuart and find a marina. We tucked into Loggerhead Marina. By the time we got to the marina, we were exhausted, but never too tired for a good hot shower!
This passage was my first experience in the Gulf Stream. Oh My! The swells were like rolling hills, you walk up one side then slide down the other. Very interesting. The current in the stream increased our speed by a few knots. We were traveling at 8.5knts, much faster than our usual 5.
The incredible color of The Deep Blue Sea – 500 Feet deep
March 15 – Stuart – Loggerhead Marina
John and Anita, our friends from Canada, had just returned from the Bahamas. They are storing their boat in Indiantown and were close enough for a visit. They came to Stuart and we went out to Giuseppe’s. It was a pleasant evening and visit with friends.
March 16 – Stuart – Loggerhead Marina
Laundry and chore day. Later Tom and Linda Thomas came for a visit. We had a great time catching up on friends and family. We ate at the marina, which is exceptionally good.
March 17-20 – Traveling north
We continued our journey north through the ICW. Anchored in Ft Pierce along with Living Live and Tranquility, two families from Canada,sailing the Great Loop. The next two nights we stayed at Coconut Point, 20 miles south of Cocoa. We stayed two night due to the high winds.
We started getting air bubbles in our fuel filter, so we spent some time replacing o-rings and filters. No change still getting bubbles. So, I would think who cares about a few little bubbles. WELL… the engine does. Good lord, the engine dies or at least revs down significantly. Usually not a big problem as long as another boat is not passing you or you are going through a bridge. Unlike a car, if the engine dies you soon lose the ability to steer the boat and you will drift with the wind, waves and current.
We decided to press on to Titusville. We made it safely, however, the engine did die on us a few times.
Titusville Municipal Marina is a tidy, well run operation. We will enjoy our stay here.
Brenda Osborne 