Marsh Island Tug

This tug boat was one I photographed while boat riding with my husband on the Vermilion River south of Abbeville, Louisiana.  Huge as it is, it's an inland waters tug boat.

A little tidbit of information:

Marsh Island is an uninhabited low-lying marshy island of a little under 100 acres in Iberia Parish between Vermilion Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. This island is mostly treeless and contains the Marsh Island Wildlife Refuge.

Here is an aerial photograph of Marsh Island, LA (copied and pasted from Google Maps)

Street Sweeper

Hi Everyone,
I haven't painted much this week because I had knee surgery (scope).  It's been a struggle but I'm getting better every day.  I did manage to produce this tiny 8 x 8 painting of a street sweeper.

I was walking around downtown Lafayette, Louisiana taking photos in the early spring when I spotted this street sweeper doing its thing and snapped a couple of quick shots.  I don't know why but I always get a little thrill when I see these machines working a street.

I tried to keep this painting loose and concentrated on having fun with it.  Can you see the man in there driving the sweeper?

"Street Sweeper"

8 x 8 - oils

gallery wrap canvas

The Crosby Tarpon

This studio painting is of an old workboat, The Crosby Tarpon, who sadly is being laid to rest and sold for scrap metal.  I painted this boat from a photo taken of it docked at the scrapyard located in Morgan City, Louisiana.

These massive boats always intrigue me.  I often wonder what their stories would tell about where they have been, what they have seen and the stories of the workers who have traveled on them.  It makes me sad to see one go, but I guess everything has an end sometime...out with the old and in with the new.

"The Crosby Tarpon"

14 x 18 - oils

This artwork is for sale and can be purchased on my website: http://mariarandolph.com/workszoom/1840711

Bowl of Oranges

I setup this still life in my studio and didn't finish it up until a few months ago.  I don't setup and paint a lot of still life paintings but I enjoy them when I do.  I love painting fruit!  I don't know what it is about fruit...maybe because of the uneven shapes and variance in the color and textures.  I chose this little bowl because it has some warm earthy colors in it and I have placed it in some of my other paintings in the past.  The bird statue also throws a little twist in there that I like.

I took a workshop at the Lafayette Art Association from Qiang Huang about a year ago and setup my still life using some of the techniques I learned in that workshop.  If you have a opportunity to take from him, don't miss the chance.  He is an excellent teacher and explains in detail about composition, lighting and color mixing.

"Bowl of Oranges"

11 x 14 - oils

This painting is for sale and can be purchased through my website:

http://mariarandolph.com/workszoom/1842349

Home on the Vermilion River in Abbeville, LA

I took a photo of this house while wandering and scouting out the streets of Abbeville, Louisiana.  I was actually headed down the street to take a picture of a work boat docked across the river when I noticed this house.  There was something mysterious about this house that drew me in.

"Home on the Vermilion River, Abbeville, LA"

18 x 14 - oils

Antique Shrimp Boat

This boat painting was from a photo taken on the Vermilion River near Intracoastal City, Louisiana.
This old boat looks as though it had a huge gaping hole in the side and was in desperate need of repairs.

Between shrimp seasons, the shrimp boat owners dock their boats where they can perform maintenance and repairs on their boats.

"Antique Shrimp Boat"

12 x 12 - oils

Lunchtime Walk

This painting was from a photo taken in Apalachicola Florida, of a worker having a walk after his lunchtime break.
I loved the mood of the place with the old boat in the background that was probably washed up on land and thrown up against that building during a past hurricane.  As I took the photo, behind me was some sort of warehouse, possibly a shrimp processing facility, that I assume he was working at the time.

  "Lunchtime Walk"

14 x 18 - oils

Deepwater Tug

This painting was from a photo taken of a Deepwater Tug docked along a canal in Morgan City, Louisiana. I love these massive and powerful boats.  The amount of power and weight they move is so fascinating to me.

Wikipedia states that "The engines are often the same as those used in railroad locomotives, but typically drive the propeller mechanically instead of converting the engine output to power electric motors, as is common for diesel-electric locomotives."

"Deepwater Tug"

18 x 14 - oils

This painting is for sale and can be purchased on my website...www.mariarandolph.com

Carpe Diem! Gelato-Espresso Bar, Lafayette, LA

This painting was started en plein air and finished in my studio.  I spent the day this past spring with a friend painting in the downtown area of Lafayette, LA.  Carpe Diem is such a lovely Gelato & Espresso Bar.  The afternoon I was there painting, artists gathered and played music outside.  It was such a delightful experience being in the area, enjoying music and visiting with people passing by.

"Carpe Diem!"

14 x 11 - oils

Annual Lafayette Art Association 6 x 6 Fundraiser

It's time again for the Lafayette Art Association annual 6 x 6 fundraiser to be held Sunday, September 27, 2015.  Ticket sales began August 4, 2015 and can be purchased at the Lafayette Art Association, 1008 E. St. Mary Blvd., Lafayette, LA (337) 269-0354.  Office hours are Tuesday thru Friday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. CST.  Please call the office for more information.

This is such an exciting occasion each year!  Buy a ticket which gets you in the door but also entitles you to choose a 6 x 6 painting when your number on the ticket is called, thus "Buy a Ticket Take Home A Painting".

This year I decided to paint a few of the local iconic establishments in Lafayette.  Below are the paintings I have donated for the event:

Agave Mexican Grill & Cantina

Downtown Lafayette, LA

6 x 6 - oils

Antler's Restaurant & Bar

Downtown Lafayette, LA

6 x 6 - oils

Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe

Downtown Lafayette, LA

6 x 6 - oils

Twelve artists were asked to paint a 12 x 12 for a silent auction which will also be going on during the event.  I was one of the artists invited to donate a painting (see below).

"Waiting and Watching"
12 x 12 - oils

We have a lot of talented local artists who have donated for the event.  It should be a fun time!   

Waiting and Watching

This artwork was painted from a photograph I took while on vacation in May of this year. We stayed in Cape San Blas, Florida but visited Apalachicola while there.   The photo is of a cove in Apalachicola where the working shrimp boats rest after their runs.  There were several pelicans perched up on pilings, taking a break and waiting for food, I imagine.

"Pelican Perch"

14 x 18 - oils

This painting is for sale and can be purchased on my website, www.mariarandolph.com.

Tug on the Vermilion News

I'm very excited and honored my painting "Tugboat on the Vermilion River" has been purchased and will be featured on this year's Bayou Vermilion Preservation Symposium poster.

"Tugboat on the Vermilion"

The mission of the Bayou Vermilion Preservation Association, as stated on their website, creates awareness of our natural environment by providing education and outreach to the general community about ways to conserve, protect and enjoy the Bayou Vermilion Watershed."   (A watershed is an area of land that drains into a lake or river.)

They work in conjunction with other local organizations to promote beautification of our Vermilion River that runs through our area.

This year's symposium, September 10-12, 2015, will be promotion of the Vermilion River as a usable waterway for commerce and for people to enjoy nature as a whole. More information is available on their website: www.bayouvermilionpreservation.org

Working Boats

I recently visited Apalachicola, Florida and being near the coast I automatically search for shrimp boats.  I found one or two docked in town by the bay.  While in a gift shop I visited with a charter boat captain, Pam Vathis of Reel Memories Charters, and I asked if she knew of any place I could take pictures of shrimp boats.  She guided me to what she called the "Working Boats".  These working bay shrimp boats were docked along this inlet canal near the bay resting until their next day's run.  Because I was on vacation with my husband, I didn't paint very much but I took a lot of reference photos for future use.

"Working Boats"

20 x 16 - oils 

S D Morgan Tug & Shrimp Boat

While out painting shrimp boats with friends one day in Intracoastal City, Louisiana, a tug boat showed up to move one of the shrimp boats out of its resting place and down the canal.  Shrimp season was closed and the owners of these massive boats were taking the opportunity to make repairs on their boats. Shrimp boats were tightly lined up on both sides of this canal, two abreast.

I was in awe watching that tug boat maneuver in and pull out this huge shrimp boat.  The water at the end of the canal where I was standing was shallow and churning as he moved this massive boat around and down the canal.

I took a few reference photos and painted this from my studio.

"Tug and Shrimp Boat"

12 x 12 - oils on gallery wrapped canvas

* This painting is for sale and can be purchased from my website www.mariarandolph.com.

Thank you for your interest in my art...

Forgot Something

This studio painting is from reference photos taken while in Intracoastal City, Louisiana one evening at dusk.  These oyster boats, I am told, head out at about 4:00 in the morning and fish all day to return at dusk.  Their catch, loaded in large burlap sacks are loaded into trucks for delivery.  I took a bunch of pictures of their fascinating work life.

This oyster boat was heading out and looks as though the captain jumped off to run and get something when I snapped the photo.

"Forgot Something"

14 x 18 - oils

**This painting is for sale and can be purchased from my website:  www.mariarandolph.com.

Thank you for your interest in my art....

The Pumpkin

I headed out with Lucy in tow to search a for boats in Delcambre, Louisiana.  It's difficult to find a good angle to paint where you are not trespassing or in a major traffic spot.  I rode around and stopped to ask permission at the "No Trespassing" wholesale Shrimp processing plant.

There were a variety of boats docked across the canal.  Right across the way was a boat called "The Pumpkin".

"The Pumpkin"

14 x 11 - oils on canvas

SOLD

It was hard to find a shady spot to paint, so I setup my umbrella, but I was standing in the rocks and the ground was very hard, I tied it onto my tripod and kept Lucy close so we could share the shade.

Lucy hanging out in the shade.

Thank you very much to the nice couple who purchased this painting for their Florida home!
Happy Painting!

Miss Kimberly II, ICY, LA

A couple of weeks ago I headed out with my painting buddy, Denise, to find and paint shrimp boats in Intracoastal City, Louisiana.  This is the 3rd year we invade upon the little canal to sneak in sessions of painting boats.

Located in Intracoastal City are these massive offshore shrimp boat giants docked up and down the canal near a shrimp and ice plant.  Usually when we paint in this area 6 or 7 boats are docked here.  I was elated and amazed when I rounded the curve and found about 30 boats parked in the area.  These boats were all crowed in together, two abreast all up and down the canal.

It is between shrimp season, so the boats are docked for a few weeks while the owners and crews make repairs, paint, and get ready for the upcoming season.

While we sat there painting we watched an awesome boat maneuver.  One of the inside boats wanted to get out, and the boat on the outside needed to be moved.  Evidently, the outside boat engine was having some sort of problem and the canal was shallow on that end, so a tug boat was called.  The tug pulled this huge boat out sideways and backed up with it down this canal between all these other boats....AMAZING to see.  Glad I wasn't painting the boats they moved...he he.

Below is my completed painting.  Green boats were a huge challenge in the landscape for me.

Miss Kimberly II

12 x 12 - oils on gallery wrapped canvas

*This painting is for sale and can be purchased through my website...www.mariarandolph.com

St. John's Cathedral & Cemetary

I headed out last week to meet my painting buddy, Denise Broussard, in Lafayette, LA for an afternoon of painting.  We decided on St. John's Cathedral and I was particularly drawn to the back of the Church with the graveyard beyond the iron fence.

St. John's Cathedral & Cemetary

10 x 8 - oils on canvas

*This painting can be purchased on my website www.mariarandolph.com

Okay so of course I have a story about this cemetary.  The cemetary lies behind the church and is next to Cathedral-Carmel School.  

When my father, who was one of eight children, was a young boy in first grade he and his older sisters would walk to school every day through the graveyard.  My dad was very afraid of the nuns who taught school at Cathedral. He talked his older sister into letting him hide in the graveyard every day so he didn't have to go to school.  She agreed.  Every morning she would drop him off in the graveyard, sneak out of school at lunch time to check on him then pick him up on their way home from school.  This went on for almost a year.

How did he get away with this for so long you are probably wondering.  Well, with 8 children and work, things must have been really hectic in their household.  His older sister signed his report card and when the school finally called his parents they all got caught.  He ended up having to repeat the first grade and was in a whole lot of trouble.  

At some of our family functions, my aunts used to tell the story and laugh about how T-Man (his name was Manuel) swung from the graveyard for almost year until they got caught.

Sans Souci Gallery Painting in Downtown Lafayette

I met a friend for a quick painting session in Downtown Lafayette.  We met at the Sans Souci park and decided to paint from within the park.  I decided on a view of the corner with the little Sans Souci Gallery artsy sign hanging out front.  I love what the gallery has done to the old building.

Sans Souci Gallery

12 x 12 - oils on gallery wrapped canvas

*This painting is for sale and can be purchased from my website www.mariarandolph.com

As always when painting outdoors there are many challenges to be had.  The greatest one I experienced today is that there was a parking spot in the driveway of the gallery that several people wanted which would have totally obstructed my view of the scene.  I asked them to please not park there and they ALL graciously moved.  Thank you to all of those people..:)

Years ago, this building was once was an old bookstore called "Sans Souci Bookstore".  It was painted white, and in really bad shape.  My Dad was into photography back in the day and he snapped a picture of an old man sitting on the steps of the bookstore.

Keller's Bakery

I headed out to meet a friend for an afternoon painting in Downtown Lafayette.  We decided on Keller's Bakery and because of the weather, thought we would not paint but just sit and sketch...then the sun began to peek through.

I setup and was about to start painting when the sun began beaming through and I was in the direct sunlight, so I moved and hid behind a building across the street from Keller's.  

Our husbands were coming to meet us later to enjoy dinner at a local restaurant so I didn't get to complete this painting on site; it was completed in my studio.

 Keller's Bakery

12 x 16 - oils on canvas

This bakery is an icon in Lafayette and has been around for many years.

Below is an excerpt from an article about Keller's Bakery on the Lafayette Travel website.  For then entire article go to: 

http://www.lafayettetravel.com/food-tours/kellers-bakery

Keller's Bakery

Hardships befell the Keller family as they settled in south Louisiana in the late 1800s after fleeing from France. Keller’s Bakery was opened shortly after, in the 1890s, by Jean-Pierre Keller. They have had multiple locations over the years, from New Orleans to Abbeville, but the only two remaining locations are both nestled in the Lafayette area. Many of the recipes they use today that have been passed from generation to generation are unchanged, some dating back over a hundred years.
At Keller’s you’ll find the traditional sweet treats and delicate pastries you’d expect from a French bakery, but you’ll also find savory filled pies featuring some of the most prized assets of the region, crawfish. Keller’s sells some of the best King Cakes in the area and once you’ve had one, you won’t want to wait a whole year for another. Keller’s busy season lasts from about October through June and their pastries play an integral part in holidays for many Louisianans throughout the south. Stop by Keller’s Bakery while you are downtown and see what the tradition is all about.

Owner: Kenneth Keller
Address: 1012 Jefferson St., Lafayette
Phone: (337) 235-1568
Website: www.kellersbakery.net
Hours: M-Closed, T-Sat 6am-5pm, Sun 7am-2pm

Shadows on the Teche

I'm very excited to have been selected as one of the 30 artists to paint in the Shadows on the Teche juried competition fundraising event the week of April 11-18, 2015 in New Iberia, Louisiana.  How exciting to see so many artists painting together for this fundraising event! If you are out and about, please stop by to say hello.

Below is the event article from the Baton Rouge Advocate:

Plein Air art contests, demo set to benefit Shadows-on-the-Teche

Advocate file photo --Thirty artists have been chosen for the inaugural Shadows-on-the-Teche Plein Air Competition from Saturday, April 11, through Saturday, April 18.

Advocate staff report

NEW IBERIA — Thirty artists have been selected for the inaugural Shadows-on-the-Teche Plein Air Competition, scheduled from April 11-18 at the Shadows-on-the-Teche Visitors Center.The list includes artists from across the state, one from Minnesota and one from Ukraine (though living in New Orleans): Richard Abraham, Hilari Baranco, Ben Bensen, Denise Broussard, Chuck Broussard, Susan Clark, Ronnie Collins, Ronald Cutrera, Tony Cutrera, Darnelle Delcambre, Claude Ellender, Oksana Fogg, Bob Graham, Carol Hallock, Peggy Hesse, Ken Hopel, Kay Jeansonne, Harold Letz, Joyce Linde, Kaori Maeyama, Margaret Melancon, Renee Mitchell, Mary Monk, Louis Morales, Rock Perkins, Maria Randolph, Ann Sutton, Garth Swanson, Peg Usner and Gwen Voorhies.Artists will meet at the Shadows Visitor Center on April 11 to have their blank canvases marked with the official Shadows Plein Air dated stamp before heading out into the town and surrounding area to paint. There is no limit on the number of works they can produce between April 11-16, when they will submit their two best to be judged by New Orleans-based plein air artist and instructor Phil Sandusky.The works submitted for judging will be exhibited at Clementine Restaurant in New Iberia for the gala/auction on April 18, where competition winners will be announced and prizes awarded. These paintings will be sold by live and silent auction with Scott Angelle serving as guest auctioneer.Tickets for the Plein Air Gala/Auction are $50 per person and are available at the Shadows Visitor Center.On April 16, Sandusky will provide a public plein air painting demonstration. On April 17, interested artists of all ages can participate in a Paint Out in the Shadows Gardens from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Works will be judged and awarded ribbons and be put on display at the Shadows Visitor Center.Proceeds will benefit art classes at the Shadows-on-the-Teche in memory of its late owner, Louisiana artist Weeks Hall.For information, call (337) 369-6446 or email shadows@shadowsontheteche.org.

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Tugboat on the Vermilion River

My husband and I often go riding around taking pictures (he indulges me), so I can have pictures to paint from in my studio.  We were down south of Abbeville, Louisiana at a place called Bancker Grotto.  The grotto is a memorial park whose grounds are along the Vermilion River.  There is a walkway that runs along the river from the grotto to the adjacent graveyard.  It was getting late, sun was setting and the mosquitoes were getting active so we were hurrying through when I spotted this tugboat coming down the river and snapped a few quick shots as it passed.

"Tugboat on the Vermilion River"

12" x 12" - oil on gallery wrapped canvas

*This boat painting is for sale and can be purchased on my website (http://mariarandolph.com/workszoom/1726801)

Shelby Keefe Workshop in Lafayette, LA

Shelby Keefe was at the Lafayette Art Association for 4 days of  workshop fun.  Shelby is an award-winning impressionistic oil painter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  She is a colorful fun-loving person and her great personality flows into her beautiful paintings.

Workshop #1:  March 19-20 for a studio workshop titled "Who Says You Can't Create Beautiful Paintings From Photographs".  Participants were introduced to some wonderful techniques and 3 fun days of painting.

Shelby workshop days consist of her demo's in the morning, breaks for lunch and participants return to paint with individual instruction.

The next 2 photos are the paintings I created for the 3-day studio workshop:

Workshop #2:  March 21 for a downtown Lafayette Plein Air Workshop.  The day started out cloudy with a chance of rain, but it cleared up by mid morning.  I never thought I could get so excited to see the sunshine!  The morning was filled with watching Shelby demo followed by an afternoon of participants painting with individualized instruction.  We had about 13 people painting all set up on both sides of the street spanning a city block.

Lafayette's downtown area is surprisingly busy.  I enjoyed visiting with people strolling by to see what we were doing.

Below is the painting I did for this day.

Two Ladies Painting

We tried to pack in and absorb as much information and technique possible...and she had a lot to offer.  If you haven't had the pleasure of taking a workshop from Shelby Keefe, you are missing out! She is a wonderful teacher with a lot to offer...check out her upcoming workshops.

We enjoyed sharing with Shelby some of our cajun culture like eating boiled crawfish and a trip to our downtown alive festivities...wish she could have stayed longer...maybe next time.

Sunday Ride

This painting was painted from a photograph I had laying around.  It's been around so long I actually forgot where I took the picture.  These two people look like they are enjoying a beautiful afternoon ride in their antique car.

"Sunday Ride"

8 x 10 - oils on canvas

Steen's Syrup Gift Shop

This was a studio painting I created from a photo I took of the Steen's Syrup Gift Shop in Abbeville, LA.  I have childhood memories of that yellow can of Steen's yummy syrup on our breakfast table. Steen's Syrup has been making syrup since the early 1900's.

"Steen's Gift Shop"

8 x 10 - oils on canvas