Behind the Scenes

I recently created a special piece of art as a donation to the National Marine Life Center in Buzzard's Bay.
Much of the funding for the center comes from donations and fund raising events. Their biggest annual event is the Mermaids Ball. This is the one I created the special art for....so it's a mermaid of course!!
As a special treat for the donation, my husband & I were given a little "behind the scenes" tour of the facility by Kate Shaffer, the animal tech. We were able to go into the "hospital" section where the rehab is done and meet some of the patients in person!
Some of the wonderful critters were a bit difficult to take a "still" photo of as you might imagine. So, I decided to take a few quick videos!!
Here are videos of the seals...this is Mary Arnold and these two fellows are Barclay & Belmont.
The loggerhead turtle who's name is Tide was sooo beautiful. If you click on the "green" text, it will take you to the videos. Keep in mind...these are not movie quality by any means...but will give you a feel for these beautiful creatures and what we were so lucky to have seen.
This facility has great plans and the hospital section is still undergoing construction of bigger & better things in order to care for larger creatures such as dolphins & pilot whales.
If you like the idea and would like to help them in their efforts...there are numerous ways you can do this.
Kate...thank you for the tour and all the information. We appreciate all the good work being done!

Swimming in....

The sealife is swimming into a new season. With summer (hopefully) right around the corner, the sea creatures are filling up the art room.

This seaturtle, 18"x24", is the latest in that collection. Always a challenge to do the first one of anything. It's like having to build the first road map for future pieces. Once the first one is created, it does get easier to some degree with each one of a similiar design.

Yes...there are more new sea creatures ready and waiting for paper...soo....off I go!!! Gotta be ready to jazz up the galleries walls with new and wonderful art.

No Shadows

I know...today is Groundhog Day and it's all about the groundhog. Seems he saw his shadow...again.

Well, I'm personally ready for spring to arrive....so, instead of a groundhog and his shadow....I've got a little turtle and his reflection!!!  To me, this says springtime and sunshine!!
I've never understood why a dark dreary day that hides his shadow means an early spring. Seriously....wouldn't a bright sunny day that creates shadows and reflections be a better sign??
One of those things that make you go hmmmm.....

The Grandturtles

Well...finally got to meet the "grandturtles" today. This is how my daughter refers to them, being the first pets she's gotten since moving into her own apartment. I must admit...they actually are kinda cute. I brought them some "freeze dried shrimp" and scored some big points with them for that!

I went up to visit really so that I could drop off the Mardi Gras paper artwork piece I'd done for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation fundraising gala/auction. It was just a nice bonus to get to finally meet the "kids".

I think I'm going to hit a milestone tomorrow and finally make a decision on the real estate agency to work for. It has certainly been an eye opener the last week and a half, interviewing all the many local agencies. Yes...I pretty much did the interviewing. It is truely amazing how many agencies contact you almost the moment you pass the exam for your license. Everything from tons of mail to phone calls asking you to come and talk with them. I went to quite a few....enough to get a real feel for just how varied they are. One might think that it's all very similier.....nope. Each office has their own way of working, their own rules and expectations, and their own vast amounts of money that they plan to deduct from you before and after you start making any...lol

Sooo....it's time to just do it. I'm not gonna make anything while mulling it over.....so tomorrow I jump in with fingers crossed!