WHIMSY, NATURALLY

 

This is Leoma Lovegrove's  art studio and gallery in the nearby village of Matlacha.          You can read  more about Leoma here on her web-page. She's  exhibited worldwide,  and is famous, at least locally,  for her slightly off-kilter whimsical creations.

 

(Please scroll down for Nature Notes and Wild Bird Wednesday.  The pelicans in the first collage below are not the wild birds -- or the nature -- that I'm linking to for those memes ;>).

 

My friend Kathy and I were there to take a painting "class" presented by one of those Art and Wine studios that are so popular these days.  This one was held off-site from the company's main studio and it was in the backyard of Leoma's studio.  The  acrylic art you make at these events is one step up from paint-by-number -- the leaders walk you through the process step-by-step.   (Everyone in the class paints the same picture.)   This time, instead of a classic painting, we  copied one of Leoma's whimsical ones -- a colorful pelican.  

 

 

We had so much fun -- even without the wine, which was not allowed at this off-site class.  (Since it was held in the morning, we wouldn't have wanted it anyway, so that was fine with us!)   

 

 

 

I'm sure nobody has forgotten what a real pelican looks like, since I post about a hundred of them every year!  But just in case here is one of our recent sightings.   They do kind of lend themselves to whimsicality, don't you think?  

And now another (real) bird.   Last week I included a picture of an osprey nest taken from the boat.  At least one commenter wished she could have seen a closer view.  So here are some ospreys we saw on the same day that we painted the pelicans:

 

 

Our husbands had managed to amuse themselves around the village while we created our masterpieces.     After class, they pointed out the nest on the top left -- they had been watching those birds try  to coax their nestlings to fledge.   But I couldn't wait around to try to get some action shots because by that time we were all hungry and tired and ready for lunch.  

And then, almost right outside of the restaurant, we spotted an active osprey nest and another bird  in a nearby tree.     (I didn't notice the plastic bag in the nest until we downloaded the pictures.  That upset me and I hope it doesn't cause trouble for the birds.  I left the picture in as a reminder not to discard plastic.)

 

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Linking to: MOSAIC MONDAY (thanks to Judith); OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY (thank you Lady Fi, Arija, Gattina, Sylvia, and Sandy); NATURE NOTES (thank you to Michelle); and WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY (thank you Stewart).  

 

 

 

Comments

[JennJilks]

These are gorgeous! I must go check for OUR osprey!

[Pat]

Slightly off kilter is a good thing, right?
Wherever you go, you always find cool things to do and see.

[Annie]

Happy to see you, Sallie and congratulations for you painting ! Beautiful colors !

[Ramblingwoods]

My Mother loved her painting classes....Looks like you had a great time Sallie..Michelle

[Marie-AZ]

What a wonderful, whimsical artsy place! And great shots of the osprey as well!

[Halcyon]

Love your paintings! I have always wanted to try one of those wine/painting classes. I'm afraid I wouldn't have anywhere to display the art though, as I'm sure mine would not come out as nice. ;-)

[Margy]

I enjoy drawing and painting, but I'm not very good at it. I tend to do better with crafty projects. - Margy

[Dianne]

I do like your paintings. Surpeised you did not paint eagles!

[Gayle atMuldoon]

Cute pelicans and the osprey is awesome.

[karen]

Fabulous :-)

[Debbie]

oooh sally, you so get me!!!

[David Gascoigne]

I will be looking for your work in the finest galleries in the land!

[Barb]

What a whimsical studio! Will you hang that Pelican in your new apartment to remind you of FL? What big eyes that osprey has.

[Chandra@GreenComotion]

Hi Sallie,
The Lime Green fence is certainly eye-popping.
You both have done wonderfully in your painting class.
FWIW, I give you A+!
Have a Happy Day!
Peace :)

[Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers]

You know when you go into a yard with all those lovely colours that you're in for a spot of whimsy! Your paintings are great, and I agree that the pelican does suit that style of painting. Looks like you had fun!

[Wil]

That must have been a wonderful event! Painting together even without wine(lol) it is great. Pelicans are fascinating birds, which is also very popular in Australia. It was there that I saw a lot of them.
Thanks for sharing and for commenting on my blog.
Wil, ABCW Team

[Linda]

I would LOVE, LOVE, Love to visit that wild and fun shop!

Linda

[Donna@Gardens Eye View]

Oh I love that spot with all the bright colors...I would have to buy so many things for my garden!

Donna@GardensEyeView
and LivingFromHappiness

[Penelope Puddlisms]

If ever there were a whimsical creature, a pelican would be it. What fun … the paintings are not really the same and are as distinctly unique as the artists.

It is troubling how many plastic bits there are everywhere in the landscapes to confuse the critters. I am glad you left that picture as a reminder that such carelessness has unwanted consequences.

[Hootin' Anni]

Love, love, LOVE the pelican paintings!!!
And heck...I see nothing wrong with a bit of wine in the a.m. [have you ever gone to communion in the morning? Well, I guess it ISN'T wine is it? Grape juice. But the idea of a glass of wine any time of day, there's nothing wrong....only one life, live it fully! My motto is "It's five o'clock SOMEWHERE, lol]

[Mary Howell Cromer]

That had to have been such a fun time. Well done too!!!I would love to attend one of our artsy places and do one of ours. Happy week to you~

[Sara - My Woodland Garden]

Such a happy and fun and beautiful post, Sallie!
Thank you for sharing!

[Andy]

Every once in awhile we come across a place that is rare and unique. This is one of them.

[Phil]

I have to agree that pelicans are whimsical. Its something to do with that unlikely looking bill and the way they become accustomed to humans.

Conversely, Ospreys are not at all whimsical, just magnificent creatures.

You asked how I keep track of the birds I see? Well a page a day pocket diary is one of the best ways I know. If you mean counting then most of it is all down to experience and comparison. On the other hand I have been birding longer than I care to remember.

[Amy]

Looks very colourful in the top photo, my grandfather was an artist/painter so I admire those who do the same :-)

[NatureFootstep]

ver y nice exhibit. :) Would have loved seeing it :)

And my wish, the closeup on the Osprey nest. Love to see them. Is that a plastic bag? It looks like an animal.

There is an Osprey nest about 30 km from where I live but it far off on the other side of a field and with difficult area to cross if you want to go closer. It is hard to see even with a scope. But I have to go there soon to see if they have come back yet.

[Ruth]

That osprey looks imposing. I feel like she is saying "Do not mess with my chicks." I recently saw a lot of them in Baja California. They are so pretty.

[Penny]

What fun that must be, Sallie. I enjoy (okay, I love) whimsy and what finer place that such a great studio setting. Thank you for the close-ups of the osprey. Magnificent.
I see, all-too-often, plastic bags and other such things dangling from nests. It always makes me sad.

[Eden Hills]

Love the bright colors in the first image. Great captures of the birds.

[Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti]

I enjoyed a painti g class like the one you went to with my daughter a year ago, Sallie. We painted autumn trees. It was fun, and we did have the wine ;)

Good to see the ospreys and chicks flourishing!

[Lavender Dreams]

How neat to get to see these photos of Leona L.'s backyard! It's so funny...I sent my sister a notecard today from a set of her's that I got at Beall's. I have a blouse with one of her designs, too. The one of a shell. I love her jewelry and bags too! Those pelican paintings are FUN! Hugs!

[Jesh StG]

Are you on the left? Anyways, both ladies did a great job! Birds are not the easiest subject to begin with! I heard from the Art and Wine in Sacramento, via my daughter. But in Southern California it's not known:)
Don't know, if you need a reminder, but here it is, to please add SEASONS with one of these cheerful photos to the link list this week - thank you much! Hope to see you there before Wed. evening:)

[Sondra-SC]

Great job on the painting!! You will enjoy that for years to come...Love the osprey photos they have awesome dramatic eyes don't you think?

[Ruby]

It certainly looks like a lot of fun!
I like the alertness you've captured in the osprey shots,it's always interesting to see them close up. Enjoy your week Sallie!

[Judith @ Lavender Cottage]

The area of Matlacha reminds me of a hippie's paradise of artisans. There used to be a similar type place in Toronto. We've had lunch at a couple of restaurants along the strip but it is so busy along there with little parking.
The painting class sounds like fun, do they have them in February?

[Photo Cache]

There are so many offering the painting night at a cafe/restaurant nowadays. I'm intrigued.

[DeniseinVA]

Always love the pelicans Sallie, and these photos are great. It was nice to see you and your friend with your pelican artwork, which I also liked. That must have been a fun class. The osprey shots were outstanding too.

[Bob]

Beautiful collection.

[artmusedog and carol]

Wow! The delightful colors and creations on your blog today are much appreciated as Cape Ann MA had snow yesterday and snowing again today ~ Winter is back!

Beautiful post and very creative photos and presentation!

Wishing you peace in each day ~ ^_^

[ellen b]

Your paintings turned out great! That osprey is a beautiful bird. Glad you got some close ups! Hope you have a good week!

[TexWisGirl]

oh, very much like your painting!!! yay!

[Hildred Finch]

Painting Pelicans, - what fun you do get up to! Love them... And the actual bird pictures, too. I saw hawks the other day, up on the mountain. No eagles or osprey around that day though. Shall have to go again...

[Debbie]

I LOVE the whimsy and bright colors of her studio and your paintings. I took one of the classes with friends, so fun!!!

Sounds like the boys did well birding!!!

[fun60]

That sounds like a fun morning and a great pelican painting to take home. Plastic bags are such a nightmare for wild life. You no longer receive bought goods in a plastic bag in the UK unless you pay for the bag. It means we are all getting more used to bringing our own bags when we go shopping. I am sure there will be a dramatic reduction in the number of plastic bags just discarded.

[Karen]

I love all the bright colours at the art studio! Your painting is terrific and captures the whimsy of the place very well. A lovely pelican shot, and the osprey are awesome!

[Gaelyn]

Great bird sightings. And how fun to take a painting class. Not one of my talents and I can only make mud with paint.

[Rajesh]

Beautiful painting.

[MaryBeth]

Wow what fun to go to a painting class. Ya all did good!!
Love the Osprey. they are fun to watch. I too hope the plastic causes no trouble.
MB

[Alexa T]

Lovely activity, nice experience to capture through camera lens!! And lovely massive birds, for sure! Very interesting to discover new details about them, to observe them in nature, too!
Have a great week of April!

[riitta k]

Painting is such fun!

[Eileen]

Hello, Sallie! I love your Pelican painting. Well done! Of course, I love the real Pelicans and the Osprey too. Great photos of the best. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!

[Hazel]

I just looked at Leoma's paintings of the Beatles-they are my generation and went to the school over the wall from my Grammer school! I don't actually like those interpretations of the group😊.

[Hazel]

A budding artist too! Congrats. The studio seems fascinating: I like anything out of the ordinary.
The Ospray photos are super.