Sarasota Paintings
Wow, Sarasota is fun and gorgeous! I had such a fabulous time and just couldn’t get enough of painting, I could have really stayed longer. I also learned a lot about painting in the wilds on the Myakka river. The number one rule is NO wearing sandals, the fire ants think that you’ve brought a buffet just for them! I spent a lot of time in sandals (resulting in little yucky welts all over my feet..) and no matter how hot it is, spending all of that time jumping around and scratching is just distracting! I also learned to always bring a bathing suit. It’s so hot right now that even going swimming with the gators seems like a good option for cooling off. The other thing is that I had to give up my romantic notion of being out alone in the silence of nature. The birds were cackling so loud sometimes, with the gators chiming in with grunts, that it was like being in some kind of animal city, it really got that loud. At one point a snake slithered by, passing right under my easel. I seemed to be in the midst of an animal super highway, and they seemed to take no note of me. It was wildly fun and exciting.
Live Oak and Elderberry, Myakka 8×10″ oil on panel
I saw this tree while out walking on the river and just had to paint it. Even though a scene with the actual river in it seemed like the thing to paint, this tree with its deep shade and moss seemed to really capture the place for me.
General Store, Old Miakka 7×11″, Oil on Panel
F-250 6×8″, Oil on PanelThe last painting I want to share with you kind of completes what I see as the group of Myakka paintings. I was thinking about this painting all week, but was too intimated by all of the chaos in the woods to attempt it until the last day. I almost gave up on this one as I was painting, overwhelmed by all that is going on in those woods. Butkept at it and just told myself to squint down and to try and see the pattern of darks and then those wild bright lights standing out. I’m glad I stuck with it and next time I will jump right in instead of thinking about it so much before hand!
Thank you for reading, I know this was a long one, but I am excited to share these paintings with you. You can see more paintings on my website by clicking here. You can also buy any of these paintings directly from the website by clicking on their title in the email or by contacting me at kellyaskey@gmail.comYou can share my work with someone you know by having them subscribe to receive the email newsletter here..