October 2025

October 27, 2025

October 2025

Here we go … the month that’s been circled on my calendar for about a year …

First up: Piedmont Park paint out with the VH Plein Air Painters. We didn’t have very many artists show up to paint, but the ones who did participate are some of my favorites. There was only one incident and I really don’t want to talk about it, but let’s just say, you should NEVER paint by yourself … even in a park, in the middle of the day, in the middle of an open field. Always be in the line of vision of another artist - always. There are some really sick people in the world.

The highlight of the paint out week was guiding 20 (!) artists through a daisy painting. Everyone did well. They had fun, took home a painting and learned a little about the painting process.

I spent the following week cramming for Palmetto Bluff. There was so much to do, varnishing, a trip to JFM for frames, getting my grays colored .. ha!, preparing substrates, framing, stocking up on supplies, photographing everything, submitting inventory and accounting forms, and so much more. I had to pack for PB, but I also had to prepare for New Smyrna at the same time because as soon as we got home from Bluffton, I washed clothes, repacked and headed to Florida. Whew. A total whirlwind.

Before heading to PB, though, I met with my painting coach in France to discuss paintings and new assignments. So helpful. I am counting the days until I fly over to paint with him in the spring. It cannot happen fast enough.

PALMETTO BLUFF

This week was one of the highlights of my year and probably one of the best painting weeks of my life. When you have a week like I had at PB, the bar gets pushed so high that everything pales by comparison.

I’m struggling to find the words to do it justice, but I’ll try … Palmetto Bluff is one of the most beautiful natural resources in the US. The oak trees, palmettos, birds, alligators, marshes and waterways are some of the most beautiful on the planet. Everywhere you look there’s a painting. Morning, noon and night - a painting. The light, atmosphere and glow are off the charts. The staff, the “associates”, are stellar. They anticipate needs, think creatively and aim to please. There is no tension in the air. There is no fear in the air. When I’m in Atlanta I’m 100% on guard. My head stays on a swivel, scanning for people who have mental health issues or who are JPC (just plain crazy). You can leave your car unlocked when you’re in PB. You can leave stuff in your car. You can walk anywhere without fear - watch for gators! You can smile and say hello to people you pass along the way without fear of them doing something insane. Yes, you pay for that peace of mind, but it’s worth every stinkin penny.

And then there’s the reason I was there: the artist in residence program. What an honor and privilege it was to be invited. I sold a bunch of paintings, thanks to the hard work of the FLOW Gallery team. I love them. They’re not just people I want to do business with, they’re friends. One of them kissed me! Just amazing people. Things went so well that they’ve invited me to sell in the gallery for the next year. How about that?! I could’ve never envisioned this working out the way it did. There wasn’t a hiccup, not a blip, not a single thing that went wrong.

Scott was in hog heaven. He walked thousands of steps every day, exploring, enjoying the seemingly endless paths that weave in and around the property. We watched the sun rise and the sun set. The walk from the artist loft to the Wilson dock is just a few steps away, so most mornings I walked out in my PJs. Just me, the May River, a few herons and a sunrise like no other.

I led workshops on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Several artists were repeat attenders and I saw progress from one workshop to the next. It was exciting to see things click. Quite a few of the participants had never painted before and had never painted with pastels before. They listened and followed my suggestions and they were successful! SO exciting!

We had dinner at the River House, Buffalo’s and Octagon. If you ever visit PB, the shrimp and grits at Octagon are a must. Good Lord, it’s so good. I have to tell this story because it is the perfect example of the kind of service Palmetto Bluff offers … Our friends Amy and Justin met us for dinner on our last night. After a martini at the bar, we sat down to dinner and the server came over to take our order. She looked at me, smiled and said, “Shrimp and grits?” My eyes almost popped outta my head. I looked at her again and realized she was our server in August. Kevee! My girl Kevee! I was STUNNED. “How in the world did you remember that?” I asked. She said, “I always remember nice people.” I wanted to hug her. I still can’t believe that happened. Thousands of people have rolled thru those doors since August, and she remembered not just me but my order. Damn.

When I think back to the sleepless nights I spent, tossing and turning, trying to anticipate every need, objective and plan for this week, it was SOOOOO worth it.

Up until PB, every single art event I did was kind of a dud. I’d sell a painting or two if I got lucky, but most of the time it’s been a bunch of artists standing around looking at each other’s art and talking to one another and the volunteers in an otherwise empty gallery. This was the real deal.

We got home on Sunday afternoon, washed clothes, unpacked the car and put all the oil and acrylic supplies downstairs near the front door. On Monday morning I loaded it all up and headed south.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH

NSB is about 20 minutes away from Daytona Beach if that gives you a sense of location. Cute beach town, low key, very casual, nothing fancy at all. The paint out volunteers are precious. Just the nicest, friendliest people you could hope to work with. On Tuesday I took my 3 library paintings and auction piece over and instantly got great feedback. I’d been warned that sales were iffy, so I had zero expectations and honestly, PB was so great, it didn’t matter to me what happened at NSB.

Fortunately, I sold several pieces including my 20x16 surfboard painting, so I was fired up. I painted the iconic Dairy Queen on Old Dixie Highway. Too cute! I learned that the DQ headquarters grades all of their franchises and dings the NSB DQ because they haven’t modernized their sign. So silly. That sign is exactly why I wanted to paint it!

I also painted a cute little pink house, the lighthouse at Canaveral Seashore and a Bloody Mary at Outrigger’s.

It was a nice week. There were some days where all I wanted to do was go home, if I’m being completely honest, but it had nothing to do with the paint out, the event or the volunteers. From a painting and sales perspective, it was excellent.

On the last day of the event I decided to skip painting for the day and play hooky. I don’t know how or why I’m wired this way, but as soon as I walk into an art museum, my entire body and mind change. My blood pressure drops and I feel at home. There is something about being in a room filled with fascinating stories, interesting shapes, compositions, color, brush strokes, sculpture, BEAUTY and history that is exhilarating but also calming. I can’t live without regular trips to an art museum. I texted my buddy Kevin and asked him for a recommendation and without hesitation he said - The Morse Museum, about an hour’s drive from NSB.

The Morse Museum holds the world’s largest collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Someone should write a book or make a movie about the museum’s history. Absolutely fascinating. There are two films that the museum staff recommends you watch about the museum, Tiffany the man and the founders. Do not skip the films. They’re a little corny and dated, but the information is key to understanding the collection. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to see the works of art. Amazing!

SOUTHEASTERN PASTEL SOCIETY

I was so wrapped up in events that I completely missed an email telling me that 2 of my pastel paintings were selected for the upcoming Luminosity online show! Wowwee! First time that 2 of my paintings were accepted, so that’s even cooler. They received 566 entries and 229 were chosen. Both florals. I can’t show them to you until Nov 1 because they have these dumb rules about keeping it a secret, so you’ll have to come back later and see :)

NOVEMBER

Back to private lessons, docent tours, and leading a pastel workshop at Acworth on November 5. It’s a full workshop, and I’m grateful for that. We’re going to Birmingham to celebrate my birthday, see some art and eat at a fantastic restaurant. And then we’ll head down to New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Turtle soup and boudin balls coming soon!

OTIS WINSTON AND LOUIS

Winnie and Lou turned 1 on October 27. Two little knuckleheads! Louis is still an absolute monster. Winnie is still licking all my fingers around 3:30 - 4 a.m. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.