Dreaming of Weeki Wachee

Cool Morning in Weeki Wachee, oils on canvas board, 9" x 12"

On my last morning at Weeki Wachee I had special company: a young red-shouldered hawk perched on a branch directly on the other side of the river from me for well over an hour while I painted, giving me ample opportunity to photograph him. He was trying to warm up in the sun, I suspect, and scouting for a meal. It was a chilly morning, just above freezing, and the dry air barely misted over the stream. Just as I was finishing my painting, the hawk finally took off and circled around several times with his typical "Keer-keer" cry.

Now that I'm back in Maryland winter, I dream of Weeki Wachee and Florida. How I would love to be like our migratory birds and spend my winters in Florida!

Goodby to Weeki Wachee

Golden Afternoon on the Weeki Wachee, watercolor, 14" x 11"

 I painted this watercolor through two different afternoons, finishing on our last day on the Weeki Wachee River. It was time to start packing for the long trip back home, my palette was clean and oils were packed away. The chill of the morning had warmed to a lovely afternoon, so I lingered on the sun-washed deck as the afternoon shadows lengthened, wishing I could stay forever... I like to think my sketch evokes something of Winslow Homer's watercolors of Homosassa. The golden light of sub-tropical Florida enchants us artists throughout time. Good-bye, Weeki Wachee. I hope we will return soon. 

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6/26/09 - This painting has been selected to be in the WCA-DC Southeast Regional Show to be exhibited at the Edison Place Gallery in Washington, DC during September of this year. It's going to be a great show, don't miss it!