Thanksgiving Post 2021 by Martha Dodd

Thanksgiving Post 2021 by Martha Dodd

Happy Thanksgiving to you! I hope your Thanksgiving was as enriching and warm as mine!

My son, Jackson, Rebecca, and my grandkids Fankie and Danica came all the way from California. It is the day after Thanksgiving, my grandchildren are still sleeping, and Jackson and Rebecca have gone to the gym with my husband, Marc. Our neighbors, Scott and Rhonda Collins, graciously lent their kayaks to Jackson and Rebecca.This afternoon, the two are going kayaking in Shell Creek in Punta Gorda while Marc and I take Frankie and Danica  horseback riding.

Thanksgiving was a wonderful time spent with friends and family. We joined our friends, the Hamiltons, at their farm called Rialto. The farm is located in Alva, Florida, on the Caloosahatchee River. I painted a large landscape painting a few years ago of this idyllic property. The property is an amazing botanical garden, with ancient live oak trees dripping with spanish moss, orchids, and pothos vines. Horses, chickens and doves populate the estate.

This is also the place where I met my husband, Marc. He was working on some of the boats that were docked there, and I was training one of the horses. One day, he tossed me a chocolate, and the rest, as they say, is history! For this, and many other reasons, I have lots of memories there.

Art-Wise

Art-wise, I completed a commissioned painting of a seagull for a patron, one I had already painted once before. Apparently a relative had seen the first one, entitled “Fluffy Seagull” and loved it. The owners decided to surprise the relative with another original for Christmas. It was fun to revisit the painting, inspired by a photo I took while sailing with Marc.

In my own home:

I also recently painted a mural on the pocket door in our bathroom. The white door has a Great Blue Heron painted on it. I had promised this for Marc a long time ago. But you know how it goes – the cobbler’s children have no shoes! I finally got around to it, and I have to admit, it is pretty nice.

Faux finishing is on the rise!

There has been an uptick recently in requests for faux finishing. Not sure why, maybe because of the fact that Covid cases in Florida are the lowest in the country per capita at the moment. Here are some of the projects so far:

At the Gallery:

Here is my current exhibit at the Hirdie Girdie Gallery:

Our next art reception at the Hirdie Girdie Gallery on Sanibel Island is December 9th. It lasts from 5-8pm, and there will be live music. It is our first one since Covid hit, and I am looking forward to seeing some friends there, perhaps you?

Thanks for reading my blog. I love to hear form you too.

Until next time,

Martha