Fiesta de los Muertos

Fiesta de los Muertos

(Dead Party)
6"x8" transparent watercolor

I am totally thrilled to be one of the invited artists to join organizers Chris Beck and Pablo Villicana Lara for a Halloween Painting Challenge. Chris and Pablo (with whom I share a birthday, by the way) have been doing fabulously whimsical challenges for Easter, which showcase their famous "peeps" and I have been big fans of both of their work. These two amazing artists have now extended their fun challenges to a small group of artists for this ghoulish season.... and here is my entry. Living in Corpus Christi with such a huge Hispanic influence, Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) is a big deal. Everywhere one can find skeleton cuchinas in bright colors. Even my wooden art mannequin had to get in on the act.

To view the other artists's works, please check out both Chris and Pablo's blogs where they will be showcasing all of the paintings for All Hallow's Eve...
Chris Beck: http://chrisbeckstudio.blogspot.com/
Pablo Villicana Lara: http://www.mylittlepaintbox.blogspot.com/

An Arwenian Christmas

Finally, home from winding through the U.S. up to Minnesota and back, then finished teaching a workshop, then another travel jaunt to pick up a show... and somewhere in there I was able to paint just ONE daily painting! I've finished this little Holiday painting of my studio mate, Arwen, and cards have been ordered for this season, ready to package and sell. One more trip on Monday, and I hope to stay home for a little while. I'm really dying to spend some time in the studio!

I See Fields of Green

I See Fields of Green

3"x3" (unfr) fluid acrylic on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$60

Today's tiny tidbit was done using fluid acrylics on watercolor paper. I am still playing with this medium to see how well I like it, or how often I may use this new medium. The composition was made up, but clouds were painted as I looked out my studio and enjoyed a bright blue sky filled with fluffy clouds. They kept moving and changing fast, so I could only paint an impression of them.

Red Landscape

Red Landscape

6"x3.5" (unfr) fluid acrylic on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$75

Today my Golden Fluid Acrylics arrived. I only bought a red, blue, and yellow plus a white... and decided to play with them and see how I liked the feel of them used in a watercolor manner on paper. I really enjoyed this medium! It was smooth and creamy and mixed beautifully with water. The feel was just like watercolor thinned out... and then subsequent layers produced a thicker, more intense result. I will certainly be experimenting with this more often.

Lobster Claw

Lobster Claw

3.25"x5" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$60

Here's the first painting while I recover... Carpal Tunnel surgery on my right had was about 2 1/2 weeks ago. The wound is still a bit tight and it feels somewhat awkward to hold a paintbrush, but I just couldn't wait to start my normal routine, though I have to be careful and take it slow. This Heliconia Bihai (Lobster Claw Plant) was in the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago when I was there in June.

Carpal Tunnel Surgery

Here's the result of the surgery... the right hand is just a week out of surgery and the left a month ago. It has been a fairly painless ordeal. The difficulty is in learning how to live life with one hand. Props to people who do this all of the time, because I sure bumbled around a lot. The pain was minimal - mainly at night... good drugs made sure I didn't lose sleep. As I type this (about 10 days later than the photo) I can honestly say I am amazed at what it is like painting (or holding a fork, or a steering wheel) without my hand constantly going numb. If I knew it would be this drastic, I would have had this surgery done twenty years ago when they first diagnosed me! I'm still a bit awkward with my right hand, and the wound feels a little tight, but healing is going well. I recommend the more "invasive" surgery over the orthoscopic type. Patients average much better results.

Yu-Gi-Oh Player's Mat

My stepsons came for the month of July to visit, as they do each year. And, although my Carpal Tunnel Surgery was scheduled, I decided to take on one last project before surgery. This is a Yu-Gi-Oh Players mat that my stepson, Chris, was begging me for. He selected two of his favorite cards and he designed what he wanted and I spent the week painting it. The left hand had already been operated on. I completed this the day before I went under the knife for the right hand.

Paradise

Paradise

4"x6" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$75

Today's daily painting is one I've been meaning to do for a long time. The Bird of Paradise tropical flower is one I've always loved, but never lived in a climate that these beauties easily grew. When we moved to Corpus Christi, one of the first things I noticed was three huge Bird of Paradise plants growing in the yard of the home we were purchasing. What interesting flowers these are, with their deep reds and purples. Actually, I find the leaves almost as appealing.

In Search of the Whooping Crane

In Search of the Whooping Crane

5.25"x7.5" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$125

"In Search of Whooping Cranes" is today's daily painting and is about 7"x5". This one took me probably twice as long as I usually do. I found myself smiling the entire time I painted this old guy. A friend and I went on a boat tour last winter to see the only naturally migrating flock of whooping cranes in the world. He was one of the "Whooper lovers" on board. Critically endangered, there were only 15 birds left in 1941 and they all followed a migration path from Buffalo National Park in Canada to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Corpus Christi each winter. It is a blessing to live in the part of America where so many of the critically endangered make their home.

Peony Slice

Peony Slice

3"x7.5" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$75

Since moving from Oak Park in the Chicago area in 2007, I have traveled back there each year to visit. I try to go in June when the peonys and iris' and oriental poppies are in full bloom. The city explodes with color and life early June. This was from my recent trip there.

Cookie Crumbs

Cookie Crumbs

5"x6" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$75

My parents raised me with a strong work ethic. Work first, eat second. Nothing goes to waste, but all goes straight to my waist. (heh heh). My favorite part of today's daily painting was the shadows on the cookie crumbs, and then, of course, eating the Girl Scout Cooke Pie from a deli in Port Aransas, Tx. This painting is titled "Cookie Crumbs".

Liberty and Justice for All

Liberty and Justice for All

5"x7" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$75

Today's 5"x7" tiny tidbit is titled "Liberty and Justice for All". Since 1892, when Francis Bellamy wrote the Pledge of Allegiance, the oath has been changed four times. The latest incarnation was changed in 1954, a mere 4 years before I was born. What does it mean to pledge an oath to the Republic and for Liberty and Justice for all people? To keep from this oath being such a divisive, hot topic, maybe I should attempt tounge in cheek humor and title this "To The Republic, Four Witches Stand". (grin) We find our flag all over, but do we really see it? I find it a powerful and beautiful sight when I glimpse its movement in the wind.

City Fields

City Fields

3.75"x5" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$85

What I loved most about this flower field is that it is located right in the middle of the park in the heart of Chicago's downtown loop. The Juxtaposition of tall skyscrapers surrounding this beautiful field of lavender hues was quite mind blowing. Chicago loves their intentional green spaces, and they are maintained and utilized by the citizens. My daily painting today is titled "City Fields"

Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Release

Here is a composite from this morning's Kemps Ridley turtle release. Corpus Christi / Padre Island is one of two places in the United States that the public can view these releases. I, personally, think it is a blessing to be living close to the National Seashore. The Kemps Ridley turtle is the most endangered sea turtle in the world. Of those turtles released here that survive, many come back to the island 15 years later to lay their eggs. Last year I began a painting to represent the National Seashore of the turtle release, but the day I went out there it was drizzling, no sun... no shadows, and tons of seaweed on the beach. I just wasn't happy with the way the painting was going. I'm so glad I got better reference photos today. After I heal from carpal tunnel surgery, I'll be starting this painting over again. 

Today's News

Today's News

5.25"x6.5" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$75

Visiting the Chicago Botanical Gardens, several groups of grade school children came for a school field trip. Dozens of little ones lined the floor, patiently waiting for their teachers to take them out into the gardens. These two adorable boys were so intent on looking over the maps and brochures that were handed out. I couldn't keep my eyes off of their concentrated efforts. And of course, a nod to Chicago with the Cubbie's cap! I probably could have pushed this little painting much farther and cleaned it up, but that would have defeated the purpose of my little dailys... Under two hours is all that's allowed!

3 Sisters 2

I have been traveling a lot, and just returned from teaching a workshop in the Chicago area. I have not been painting my daily paintings due to being on the road and preparing for my workshop. But I did stop one morning of the workshop and paint this daily as a warm up for the day. I am preparing now for carpal tunnel surgery, so there won't be much painting this summer during the recovery progress, but I'll post what I can!

Louisiana Iris

Louisiana Iris

9"x6" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

SOLD

There's a lot that speaks "Louisiana", but the Louisiana Iris is one of those things that speaks loudly. As a child I didn't think Iris' came in any other color than purple with a yellow tounge and that they all looked like this.

Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

4"x4" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$50

I've never seen one of these beauties out in the wild, but at the Brookfield Zoo outside of Chicago they have a fabulous aviary .. a "free flight" perching house exhibit. This Scarlet Tanager captivated me. I'm visiting Chicago in June and am looking forward to visiting the zoo again - camera in hand.

Crawfish Boil

Crawfish Boil

4"x5" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$90

You can take the girl out of Louisiana, but you can't take Louisiana out of the girl!! Today is Easter Sunday and I'm wishing I were sitting at a table full of these beauties. I'm missing south Louisiana right now! Happy Easter "all y'all"!!

Sam-Wise

Sam-Wise

5"x6" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

SOLD

My good friend in Dallas, Stacy, is blessed with this fabulous dog as her roommate. I don't think I've ever met a more "Zen" dog... Sam is the epitome of "gentle giant", a mixture of Great Pyrenees and Husky, he thinks he's a lap dog and gets his beauful fur cut each summer for the heat of the South. Dallas recently had bunches of snow this past winter and he discovered what it was like for his DNA to kick in and romp in it.

Beets and Bounty

Beets and Bountry

5"x7" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$95

Since I was out of town the last two days and didn't get to paint, I decided to do two daily paintings today. I'm in a kitchen mood today, it seems. So I've painted two pieces today that work well in any kitchen! I love fresh beets. Once one cooks them, they'll never go backed to that canned mush.

3 Sisters

3 Sisters

4"x4" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

SOLD

I love the shape of pears... lusciously round, a bit lumpy and interestingly lopsided, heavy-bottomed... and oh so sweet! Gee, it reminds me of the Sicilian women in my family.

Time For Tea

Time For Tea

5"x5" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$80

Today's tiny tidbit is dedicated to my Aunt Phenie Cannatella Jerome... she's a matriarch of the Cannatella family and when my grandfather died when dad was 6, Aunt Phenie quit school to take on a job to raise money for the family and help support six siblings. She's in her mid 80s now, and still power walks 3 miles a day at the mall! This is one of her coveted tea sets... well, coveted by ME!

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

4"x7.25" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$80

As soon as we moved to Corpus Christi, one of the first things we did was head to San Antonio and travel the route to see the missions. The Franciscans established 6 missions along the San Antonio River in the early 1700s... Five flourished... The Alamo (which was Mission San Antonio de Valero), Mission San Jose, Mission Concepcion, Mission San Francisco de la Espada, Mission San Juan. The original Convento had only nine 14 rooms, but a major reconstruction was begun by the Benedictine monks in 1861 to expand... work that was never completed.

Red Napkins

Red Napkins

5"x7" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$95

Its way hard for me to force myself to paint fast and loose... with mere suggestions of forms and calligraphic lines. I'm normally so detailed, that yanking myself away from this within an hour was tough. But I enjoyed "practicing" this quick study of the San Antonio Riverwalk.

Bay Sec

Bay Sec

4.25x7"" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$80

South Louisiana - even the air is alive! The swamps and bayous of Louisiana has its own still beauty. I used to kayak along this body of water when my family had a camp on Bay Sec off little River in Marksville.

Country Roads

Country Roads

3.25"x 7" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$65

This tiny tidbit was from a drive on some small country roads heading north of Corpus toward East Texas. I love the clean freshness of working quick, leaving mere suggestions of forms.

Shadow Walk

Shadow Walk

3"x 9" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$90

Any time I am at a hotel high-rise, I often spend my time looking out the window and making quick sketches of things that capture my interest - in this case, the long shadows. I love the birds-eye-view perspective. This was out my window when visiting Phoenix, Ariona and plucked from one of my sketch books. I left a lot of the linework in - it reminds me of my early drafting career when I did watercolor renderings for an architect.

Bench Trumpeteer

Bench Trumpeteer

4.25"x 6.25" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$60

I lived in South Louisiana when hurricane Katrina hit. Much of the mourning I went through was in the loss of so many locations that I used to paint. And I often wondered what happened to the street people, the musicians, the tap dancers... This guy was one of my favorite subjects. I used to go listen to him play his trumpet on the levee in New Orleans (for a small fee plunked loudly in his box) I decided to force myself to paint this one in a shorter amount of time than I've been spending recently... so it is quick, looser, and reduced to flat shapes. It just seemed to fit the mood I was in when thinking about the hurricane aftermath.

Standing on the Dock of the Bay

Standing on the Dock of the Bay

4.25"x 7.25" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$110

This is inspired by my love of the blue heron. The first thing we felt good about when moving to Corpus Christi is being by the shore again. I love shore birds and having the herons and pelicans so close by is most relaxing. The heron has been a totem of mine for a long time.

Saturday Morning Bluegrass

Saturday Morning bluegrass

4.5"x 6.25" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$90

I just loved living in Oak Park, a village on the west side of Chicago. Every Saturday morning there was a fabulous Farmer's Market... easily 10-18 musicians showed up for a bluegrass jam at the market... it was one of the highlights of living there. I moved back to the south in 2007, and my husband and I have traveled to back Chicago every year since moving. Though we don't miss the 7 months of winter (ugh) we DO miss the vibrancy of that city.

Fishing off Pier 60

Fishing Off Pier 60

5"x 6.5" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$90

When my 9 year old grandson came to visit me last Christmas, we went down to the marina and a shimper was feeding the pelicans. He gave my grandson several fish and he got to feed them, but seemed a bit overwhelmed with the birds storming the pier for the fish!

Canyon Rocks

Canyon Rocks

5"x 14.5" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$125

Today's daily painting took twice as long! I began it yesterday (which is why I didn't have a post yesterday) and it took me 2x longer than my usual hour I spend on my daily paintings to just do the rocks. You may notice that this is 2-3 times larger than my normal daily paintings because of the format. Today I painted in the water. I'm still not sure its complete, so I haven't signed it yet, but for now I'm calling it done!

Tuscan Farmhouse

Tuscan Farmhouse

3.75"x 5.75" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$85

One of the things I loved the most about my travels in Italy is the breathtakingly beautiful countryside. At every turn of the road, it seemed a new vista opened up with vineyards and stone farmhouses built hundreds of years before our nation was etablished. "Old" has a different connotation in Europe.

Run For The Sea

Run for The Sea

4.5"x 6.5" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$60

Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle is the smallest and the rarest of all sea turtles and critically endangered. I am fortunate enough to live near one of its nesting areas. There is a huge conservation effort at Padre Island National Seashore to gather clutche, aid in hatching, then release the hatchlings within 24 hours after hatching. The temp of the nest determines the sex of the hatchling. Conservationists raise the temperature to produce more females to repopulate this nearly extinct turtle.

Beach Walk

Beach Walk

5.5"x 7" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$75

One of the fabulous things about living in Corpus Christi is having Padre Island beaches so handy. I spent one afternoon sketching this little girl with her puppy, who did NOT want to get in the water.  They were too cute together. Today's tiny tidbit is 5.5" x 7" and titled "Beach Walk".

White Prickly Poppy

White Prickly Poppy

3.5"x 5.25" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

SOLD

This morning I left Corpus Christi with my friend, Stephanie and we drove north through a few small towns to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, spending the afternoon peering through bionoculars, bird watching. Along the way we enjoyed the Texas wildflowers. When I got in tonight, I told my husband I had to paint my daily painting! So I decided to paint this white prickly poppy that was blooming in the fields along the way.

Rites of Spring

Rites of Spring

9"x 6" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$80

I love the bearded iris. Most of my life I have lived in the deep south and never had the chance to grow these beauties. But when I moved to the Chicago area, and then to East Texas, I was able to thoroughly enjoy many species of these colorful, ruffled, delicate flowers. I miss growing them, but in Corpus Christi, they just don't survive the heat! 

Mom's Gardenias

Mom's Gardenias

4 1/2"x 7" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$80

Gardenias remind me of my mom's era, and I'm not quite sure why. I have an image of her in my mind wearing gardenia corsages... maybe it was from stories she told me. At my previous home, I had a gorgeous gardenia bush off the back door and each time I walked outside while they were blooming... I got a scent of my mom. This morning's painting is titled "Mom's Gardenias" and they are blossoms from my gardenia bush... in my grandma's glass.

Lady Slipper

Lady Slipper

4 3/4"x 3 3/4" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$50

Today's painting was done quickly in about 45 minutes... I had a full day of errands and pushed myself through this. As a result, I'm not as happy with it and immediately started on a new one when I got through with all I had to do. I should have known better... my art work deserves the time to breathe! If I'm rushed, its best to set it aside and pick it back up when I have the time to enjoy the experience!

Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis

3.75"x6.25" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

donation

Today's painting is being donated to my church auction in honor of Tess Cherry, a lovely young woman whose second battle with cancer resulted in her missing her senior prom. Our church is having a "Butterfly Prom" next month, not only for her to enjoy, but numerous others who are celebrating a milestone or a metamorphosis. And it happens to be on my wedding anniversary! Her mom asked if I'd do a butterfly painting for the auction, so I put this one in my daily rotation to paint.

Cyclone

Cyclone

10"x9" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$120

I can't believe I've never painted my cat before. I needed to remedy that, because I put my dog in a painting this week. It's only fair! Cyclone is a tuxedo cat and named because he was wilder than a tornado as a little kitten. And then he got fixed. (grin) This one is a little larger than the others I've been doing this week.

3 Pears

3 Pears

5.25"x7" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$85

I've painted pears dozens of times, but I wound up selecting another one for today's tiny tidbit. I'm not sure why so many artists are attracted to pears for subject matter... but there's something about that chunky shape that mimics a wide-hipped Sicilian (I'm feelin' it) that is quiter personal for me. These small works are the perfect size to start a kitchen collection of original artwork.

Big Sky

Big Sky

3.5"x5.5" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$75

After a botched sky in a commission I was working on, I thought I needed to stop and paint a small sky painting. I love clouds and have studied them often. This scene is made up, but reminds me of those wonderful flat fields in mid-Louisiana with the fabulous live oaks scattered throughout.. topped by a big sky.

Walking on the Wild Side

Walking on the Wild Side

6.5"x 5" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

SOLD

There's nothing like a walk along the shore with man's best friend.

Yellow Fields

Yellow Fields of Hallettsville

7.5"x11" (unfr) watercolor on paper

by Debbie Cannatella

$90

This tiny tidbit was painted from references from a plein air trip where I stopped and knocked out small watercolors of fields during wildflower season in East Texas.