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Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Wetlands...in a Parking Lot?


Welcome to Waterside Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday...the day when we are encouraged to share our favorite photos of "watery" and outdoorsy things. A great big thanks to both Barbara Jacksier @ barbarajacksier.blogspot.com and Susan @ asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com for hosting these fun posts.


While on a mission to find subjects for my paintings, I came across
a wetlands area, smackdab in the middle of a parking lot.
Thankfully, whoever designed this massive area reserved for cars had the foresight to leave this bit of nature for all to enjoy. On this particular morning, the pond was teeming with wildlife...10 varieties of wading birds, ducks, coots, and turtles. There was a family of osprey nesting in a tree and I'm sure that somewhere in the march grasses, a gator was hiding. (Gators are in almost every Florida pond!) It was a glorious day!






Below is a bird which captured my attention. He posed for me for several minutes, then turned to give me a different profile. I sometimes wonder if these creatures actually know I am photographing them. They always appear to be moving around so I can get their "best" side. The turtles, however, seem to sense my presence and race for the water. I'm not particularly interested in "shooting" a gator...the fake one from last week's post was more than enough for me!


And here is the rough beginning of his "portrait".
There's still much to do! I'll post the finished project when it's complete.















In the meantime, here are a couple of my bird paintings from our house collection...













This guy was actually scratching himself...
I have the photo from which this painting evolved hanging in my bedroom. It's one of my favorites!








This lovely is "Bubba the Egret" ( one of my earliest attempts at painting birds)... He reminds me of the beggar at the Casa Tina restaurant in Dunedin. Each day, Bubba comes to the backdoor alley entrance, begging for food. He's quite partial to fried pork... I find that rather interesting because Casa Tina specializes in vegetarian cuisine! Shouldn't they be feeding him tofu?

Please visit all the other Waterside Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday posts. There are always beautiful things to see and to inspire...

I hope you enjoyed visiting the wetlands and my paintings. It is truly a pleasure to read your comments and thoughts.
Jane

20 comments:

Lou said...

Jane..
How delightful!!!
love your paintings!
Thanks ever for sharing!
♥ smiles!

beachvintage.com said...

How lovely to see all this bird life in the suburbs.

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Hi Jane
I just love your paintings.. how clever you are!!
Just wanted to thank you for your fabulous comment over my way.. it really made my day and made me laugh... too cute... I'm not really a mermaid... i like pyjamas too much.. hehe Was hoping to do another waterside wednesday ..but home late from work.. maybe tomorrow I can..
Thanks again for visiting..and hope to see more of your paintings soon. Julie

Anonymous said...

Hi Jane,
I love your bird photos and you are a beautiful artist.

I have a pond in my backyard, well all the other neighbors call it a lake. Anyway, I get to see all kinds of wildlife. We love to sit on the backporch and watch all the birds, ducks etc....Now the GEESE...I can do without.

One Shabby Old House said...

I love your creations and your writing my talented friend.
Hugs
Becky

Shellbelle said...

I love your paintings! I am bound and determined to learn to watercolor this year, we have so many wonderful subjects here in Florida.

I also love Casa Tina's, but I know that doesn't surprise you, I love just about everything in Dunedin!

Have a wonderful day my dear!

Barbara Jacksier said...

Oohs so many pretty birds in real life and real art. Love them. I've been photographing shore birds lately, too. Maybe they will be my next week's Waterside Wednesday post. Thanks for joining in.

claudie said...

Hello Jane
Nice to meet you.
I have to say when I looked on your side bar, where you show a picture of Crescent Beach.. I had to look twice. When we lived in B.C. we lived by a beach with the same name. It was one of our favorite sunny spots. I see it's in St. Augustine. Do you know Mrs. Magpie from The Quintessential Magpie, Sheila? She's from there. Lovely lady.
Anyway, I adore you paintings. You have captured true beauty.
Happy OW
Love Claudie
xoxo

Drawn to The Sea said...

Wetlands in the parking lot; genius. Love the paintings, and Bubba too. I think all Bubbas eat fried pork, btw ;-)


Pleasant day,
~Julia

Elaine said...

Jane, what lovely pictures of the wetlands birds. Your paintings are so beautiful too. I'd love to be able to do that!
Elaine :)

Ebie said...

Hi Jane, such lovely captures of the birds, and you have a great talent. The paintings are beautiful!
Ebie's Watery Outdoors

Lori E said...

Your paintings are really nice. They would look perfect at a seaside home. Good luck in getting there.
We have some amazing herons in our area.

ellen b. said...

How very cool each and every one of these photos! I love Herons...

Eileen said...

Great photographs!
Great paintings!
Really beautiful art here!
Thanks for sharing it all.
All the best,
Eileen

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

What wonderful paintings!! I love birds.

erin's art and gardens said...

hello there! so nice of you to stop by and leave me such a warm and sunny comment! wetlands in a parking lot eh? there is beauty everywhere if we just take the time to see....i too love the egrets! started painting them after a trip to new orleans. love there graceful stature and white feathers. your paintings are fun and whimsical...love your loose and colorful cheerful style. you lucky gal to live 4 miles from the beach!! my dream! we will be vacationing in panama city beach this coming week and my camera is ready for many photo ops! can't wait! all the best and nice to meet you! erin

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Hi Jane, your outdoor photos are so intriquing. We have a few wetlands our way, however, I've never taken pictures of them. Your talent for painting is incredible. I hope things are well your way. hugs ~lynne~

Moore Minutes said...

What a unique post topic...so fun to see wetlands because I'm very unfamiliar with it.

Thank you for telling me about UpperCase living. I actually have heard of it and I love the ideas of phrases and words on walls! I hope to add some of that soon.

nannykim at spindle cottage said...

Very cool...what I love around here in SC are the blue herons.

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

such beautiful photos and paintings!

Yes, that is a unique place to discover some Wetlands! Hopefully, no gators though!

Blessings & aloha!