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!