What a Challenge!

Today at the Sebastian River Art Club, was Peni Baker's "Three-Hour Challenge Painting" day.  There was about 20 of us painting feverishly trying to finish a painting in three hours.  Well, actually, we were doing more talking and eating than painting ... but most of us did finish--or close to finish--our paintings.  We are finding that it is a great exercise in getting the job done.  And many wonderful and diverse paintings went out the door today.  Oh, and we had turkey soup, potato soup, grapes, melba toast and tomato relish, cheesespread and delicisou crackers, mini cupcakes, home made cheesecake, fresh coffee, candy, grapes and pizza.  Lots of people streamed in and out, and a good time was had by all.  Below is my painting.  It is a copy of an old Flemish painting, "Boy with a Hat" by Michael Sweerts, 17th Century.  I was so taken with his face I just had to paint him.  Since it's long been in "Public Domain" it's ok.  It's quite exciting to see a face looking back at you after just three hours.

Acrylic adaptation of "Boy in a Hat"
17th Century painting by Flemish Painter Michael Sweerts

Judy Burgarella
Blogger

Lots to see today, Sunday, June 3rd, 2012

I guess since this is "Art by Burgarella" I should be putting some of my art up when I post, so I'll start by what's first in the alphabet on my hard drive.  "Afghan Girl" was a little 5"x5" painting I did for the Artists Guild Gallery's "Cinco de Mayo" show a couple of years ago, where all paintings were $55 and were 5"x5".  Of course this famous face was taken from a photo in National Geographic, and the painting eventually made it's way to be known by the actual photographer, which was a thrill and ironic coincidence for me.


"Afghan Girl" Sharbat Gula in 1984, from National Geographic June 1985 cover by Steve McCurry



Sharbat Gula, 2011

Every painting has a story.  This is Sharbat Gula today, 27 years later, you can see what the ravages of time has done to her, coupled with an extremely hard life in Afghanistan which is the plight--and worse--for most Afghan women.  Actually, she is still a beautiful woman, but you could tell those eyes have seen things we in America can't even imagine.  Glad to be a woman in 2012 in America.

Now to the more pleasant news at hand.  Today was a day to remember, as I finally saw the spoonbill that the neighbors have all seen at the water's edge in our beautiful canal.  Unfortunately though, I ran into the house, grabbed my camera, brought it outside and the lens got condensation because of going from cold air to the hot muggy outside air.  But this fellow was really a beautiful pink--actually anything that pink must be a girl.  Anyway, she took off and the pink underbelly and underwings were stunning, such a thrill watching a big bird like that, pink as she was, flying right by me down the canal.  The picture below is awful and does not show the beautiful pink color

After weeding all morning before the sun got hot, Bob and I drove to get mulch, and on our way home we saw "Woody" the resident woodstork on Schumann Drive.  The owner of the house, Jim, came out and we chatted for a while, him telling me all about the birds who come to his house, sit on his bench under the living room window peering in waiting for him to come out.  What a sight.  Everyone stretches their neck going by that house.  There are so many doodads, animal statues and chochki things out front under a huge oak, I believe these big birds think they belong there among the litter of critters.  But Jim pointed out that Woody had broken his leg clean in half with the bone sticking out the top--you could see it.  Happened 2 weeks ago--gator he thinks--and Jim has been feeding the poor guy since then--baloney which is his favorite food.  No agency will take him as long as he can fly, and he can.  He's stolen my heart, and you can see why below.  I willl bring food next time I drive by.  Wish I could take him home and make him better.  You can see his foot is facing backwards, poor thing.  Such a cute little guy.  (Little--he's about 3' high!)



"Woody"--notice his broken leg

 The hibiscus I planted down by the edge of the dock is paying us back with a spectacular display of red hibiscus.  So far this plant is carefree, and does not show signs of neglect--yet!  Just another little "jewel" to admire today.

Hibiscus

Below is not tonight's sunset, but it was beautiful, along with the full moon that was rising on the opposite side of the sky.  But below is a typical sunset over the Indian River Lagoon that I took from a friend's house some time ago.  I just may paint this sunset as a sunrise into the Vero Beach mural, which is almost finished http://www.verobeachmural.blogspot.com/ - take a look.



Typical sunset over the Indian River Lagoon, Sebasitan

  Well, that's all for today, dont' know when I'll get to it again but hope you enjoyed the pretty pics.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger