The Shane Joseph - Lafitte Skiff

Here is another shrimp boat skiff from Lake Arthur Louisiana, The Shane Joseph.  The net system on these smaller boats are very different from larger boats.  The skiffs have an L-shaped net system and the larger offshore boats have 2 straight boom net systems, both drop down for fishing.

I've been trying to paint chunks of the boats on square 12 x 12 canvas.  I think it adds more character/interest to the painting. I have painted about 8 of these and I think it helps me to repetitively paint the same subject matter.  I like the way they look hanging together as a group.

"The Shane Joseph Lafitte Skiff"

12 x 12 - oils on gallery wrapped canvas

Artist Note:
I've been trying to make the nets look see through.  My process has been to paint what is behind the net a little darker than I would normally paint it.  I've used thalo blue, veridian, alizarin and raw umber mixes to achieve the color of the nets then lightened with white.  I brush the paint over the background using very very light strokes with the side of my brush to try to resemble the light see through nets.  The loaded brush barely touches the canvas.

Happy Painting!

Lucy Anna

I don't paint a lot of animal portraits, but in saying that I have completed a few including some pet commission work.

This is my sweet baby, Lucy Anna Randolph.  Lucy turned 1 year old in February and has been a total joy in my life.  She is a beautiful miniature schnauzer we bought from Cajunland's Miniature Schnauzers and is so sweet and so smart, its scary.  Lucy doesn't know she is not human and I'm not telling her.

She loves to go painting with me and gets so excited, she can hardly wait to get in the car.  Anyone who has followed my blog knows what kind of attention she gets when we are out and about.

Can you guess why?

Lucy Anna

10 x 10 oils on gallery wrapped canvas

The Shrimp Boat Cabin

This was a portion of a Shrimp Boat I painted from a boat docked in Lake Arthur, Louisiana. Lake Arthur is a beautiful area, especially around the lake.The shrimp boats docked in this canal were mostly bay boats/skiffs used in more shallow waters.  These are much smaller than the huge boats I've painted from Intracoastal City, Louisiana.

As I walked by this boat the light striking the boat and the way the willow hung down blocking my view just a little really caught my eye.  With the air condition running and the curtains drawn I imagined a weary fisherman inside taking a nap after a busy morning.

Shrimp Boat Cabin

12 x 12 - oils on gallery wrapped canvas

Until next time...

Volkswagen Beetle Parked in the Flowers

This old Volkswagen Beetle is the same car I painted the rear of earlier.  It was actually sitting on a trailer when I took the picture.  When I passed by the yard a couple of days ago it was gone.  I wonder where to...

The trailer was not very attractive so I edited it out and opted to put the car in a field of yellow flowers instead.  I choose to imagine she is resting in a field of flowers.

"Volkswagen Beetle in a Field of Yellow"

8 x 8 oils on gallery wrapped canvas

I've been painting indoors in my studio lately and my heart is longing to paint outdoors.  I love to be in nature...to be outdoors painting but the temperatures have been in the lower 90's and with our high humidity, it feels even hotter than it is.  Guess it will be a long hot humid summer in South Louisiana.

I added pinks in the sky to help break up the blue and add contrast since the car was blue and I like it much better than a blue sky.  I used a mix with prussian blue for the car color.

Happy Painting!

Lunch in the French Quarter

This little cafe was painted from a photo I took in New Orleans during one of my trips there.  I live about 2 hours away so its a great day trip for me.  These people were having lunch at a cafe somewhere in the French Quarter.  I was stopped in traffic when I spotted these people and just took the shot from the vehicle.

"Lunch in the French Quarter"

11 x 14 - oils on canvas

This and other paintings you see on this blog may be purchased on my website.

www.mariarandolph.com

Until next time...

Versailles Exhibit

My solo exhibit went up today at the Versailles Center, 102 Versailles Blvd., Lafayette, LA (corner of Versailles Blvd. and St. John Street).  This building is a satellite exhibit area for the Lafayette Art Association of which I am a member. You can view the exhibit during normal workday business hours.

There are 57 framed original oil paintings in the exhibit, all for sale.  It will be up until the end of September. Included in this body of work are plein air and studio pieces of landscapes, florals and boats.

Here is the very nice security guard who works here.

Versailles Center (Exhibit on first floor)

If you have a chance to stop by and check it out, send me a message and let me know what you think.  I would love to hear from you.