Oil Painting, Anna Maria Reverie, 5x7 Seascape Daily Painting

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Even though I just came from North Captiva Island, this painting of Anna Maria Island was started before my vacation. I finished it today and I'm looking forward to painting more of N. Captiva next. Both places are beautiful and the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico are very different from our surf here on the Atlantic. 

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SALE: 20% Off, Oil Painting Still Life, Radish Bouquet, 6x8 Oil on Canvas Panel

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I'm offering this little still life for 20 percent off and free shipping. I love free shipping, don't you? Most of my original oil paintings are on sale until December 20. 

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Oil Painting, Orange Blossom Special, 8x10 Oil on Canvas Panel by Carmen Beecher

I grew up in Central Florida, where the orange was King. There was nothing like walking through a grove in bloom, with the lovely sweet smell of blossoms filling the air. Most adults in my town worked in the citrus industry, including my grandmother, who would walk the half-block to the packing house every day during the citrus season. She had the world's shortest commute. She also had a small orange grove, and in our yard grew avocados, limes, tangerines, loquats, and cherries. I wish I had those things now, especially our huge avocados. We didn't even know what guacamole was back then.

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Sunrise on the Dunes, 6x8 Original Oil Painting, Seascape with Sunrise by Carmen Beecher

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Florida sunrises are amazing, and seem even more so during thunderstorm season. We get all sorts of weather phenomena this time of year, and the rain is a welcome relief from the awful heat. Our pool was 90 degrees the other day, but after the rains it is 80 degrees. A big difference!

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Little Hikers, 10x8 Original OIl on Canvas Panel of Children at Silver Springs State Park, Florida by Carmen Beecher

$150, Click to Purchase

These little girls were intently looking at a turtle in the Silver River at Silver Springs State Park, Florida. With so much of Florida's environment harmed by growth, abuse, and mismanagement, it is very heartening to see pristine beauty well-cared for by the conscientious rangers at this park.

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Cow Love, Animal Painting, Original Oil on Canvas, 8x10

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This scene of maternal love was on a farm in Pennsylvania. Mama cow actually had an ear outlined with huge burrs, but I didn't care to add that to the painting. 

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Autumn Tree, Landscape Original Painting, 6x8 Oil on Canvas Panel by Carmen Beecher

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Since I live by the beach, I get very excited when I see Fall colors. This tree just seemed to glow. We were in upstate Pennsylvania, staying on a farm. What a different way of life from flip-flop-wearing, easygoing Florida. 

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Landscape Original Painting, "Autumn Tree," 6x8 Oil on Canvas Panel by Carmen Beecher

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Since I live by the beach, I get very excited when I see Fall colors. This tree just seemed to glow. We were in upstate Pennsylvania, staying on a farm. What a different way of life from flip-flop-wearing, easygoing Florida. 

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Carmen Beecher: Beach Birds, 11x14 Oil on Canvas Panel, Seascape

This has been an interesting project because I used cold wax as my medium. I painted much of it before going on vacation, then added the foreground birds when I returned. Cold wax is very interesting to use and I am still experimenting with it. It has a soft look, and when painting over a layer that has dried it is very easy to wipe away any mistakes. Wax on, wax off. 

It also makes a nice final varnish and you don't have to wait months to do it. It is not recommended for stretched canvas, though. A rigid support is necessary to prevent cracking.

I realize if you're not an artist this is about as interesting as reading the Tax Code.

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Flower Girls, 11x14 Original Oil Painting on Canvas

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Sometimes a photo just cries out to be painted. What is sweeter than flower girls at a wedding, waiting in anticipation to play their part? 

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Italian Man, 8x10 Original Oil Painting, Venice Scene

This man was waiting for a train outside Venice and the light was shining so beautifully on him. In spite of my digital camera having that delay before being able to snap the first shot, I did get the picture before our train pulled out of the station. 

I hope I see Venice again before I shuffle off this mortal coil. What a beautiful and unique city.

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Mango High, 6x8 Original Oil Daily Painting, Fruit

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It is mango season and there are so many mangoes right now. For those of us who love them it is a glorious time. I was in Bradenton recently, standing under a tree that had dropped mangoes on the ground. Gorgeous fruit just lying all around. Way, way up in the tree were these beautiful collections of fruit, and I especially liked this one because of the lone ripe mango among the lavender ones. So, the title "Mango High" can be taken two ways. 

Here's a tip I learned last week about cutting and peeling mangoes: make a cut around the fruit, all the way to the seed. Use a glass or a cup (easier with a cup, holding it by the handle) and scoop the fruit out of the peeling. Do it firmly and you will have no waste. Then chomp on the seed and get the pulp all over your face like you usually do. Mango high.

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Lotus Buds, 6x8 Oil on Canvas Panel

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I was far from home while doing this painting, and I managed to leave my white paint home! I dealt with it by subtracting color with my turps. This produced a very dark painting, as my canvas was not white, but a toned neutral color. When I got home I mixed more color with white and finished my lotus buds. I like the way they stand out now. These lilies were at Palma Sola Botanical Garden in Bradenton, Florida.

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The Little Birds, 6x8 Original Oil Daily Painting Seascape

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This is a very typical scene on the Space Coast of Florida. Before I cross over the dunes I never know what color the water will be, what size the waves will be, or how many birds there will be. I only know that a peaceful feeling comes over me--unless it's stormy, and I like that too. Clouds and waves do all kinds of interesting things when it's stormy.

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Northwest Road, 8x6 Oil on Canvas Panel, Landscape Daily Painting

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This is a happy memory, from when our nephew, who is quite the outdoorsman and photographer, took us to remote places in the Cascades that tourists don't know about. What an exhilarating place to be! Washington is an absolutely fabulous state to visit and I can't wait to go back.

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We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us.

- John Muir

Thundercloud, 10x8 Original OIl Daily Painting Skyscape by Carmen Beecher

$125, Buy Now

I love to paint stormy weather, and this thundercloud looks like it wants to produce a tornado. Florida does have exciting weather, but no hurricanes for the past ten years. I think I prefer hurricanes to the harsh winter conditions up north right now.

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Mary's Roses, 7x5 Original Oil Daily Painting by Carmen Beecher

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These roses were in celebration of my friend Mary's birthday, and I have wanted to paint them ever since; however, roses are a daunting subject. These were white, but had a surprising amount of green in them. I was going to paint the other day and got as far as putting the canvas on the easel, but had so many interruptions that I didn't get back to it until today, two days later. It gave me a long time to think about whether I was doing the right thing in painting on a black canvas. Today I plunged right in, and I am really happy with the result. 

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Datura, 6x9 Floral Original Oil Painting by Carmen Beecher

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This beautiful flower was blooming in Silver Springs State Park. I was peacefully painting the river while the glass bottom boat floated by, as well as the occasional kayaker. We artists took many pictures of the huge Angel Trumpet (otherwise known as Datura) plant.

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