Morada Way Art Walk

Finally made it through a one night stand peddling art. It's hard for an old fat guy to set up, rest for 4 hours, take down the taco stand then drive back 70 or so miles to Miami by midnight. Sales were very slow, but got to meet another interesting artist who purchased one of my paintings, that's what you call encouragement.

The notable artist whose name I will keep anonymous was probably watching me suffer and felt sorry for my lack of traffic and obvious disappointment, so at the last minute of the show the words of encouragement and the purchase came as a refreshing summer breeze.

Maybe that was an Art Angel picking me up and telling me not to give up and come back again next month. JZ November 21, 2015

SaltyArtbyJZ Booth Nov. 19,2015

Morada Way Art Walk - Islamorada, Florida

FLORIDA HIGHWAYMEN AGAIN

Spending time painting and Fishing in the Everglades (which includes: Big Cypress, Fakahatchee, Flamingo, Everglades City, Chokoloskee, Goodland, etc), I have always admired those Florida Landscape painters known as the "Florida Highwaymen". Black Artists that set out to the highways to sell their artwork to make ends meet at a time of famine. Those days in the 60's paintings were selling from $25. to $50. and some now in the thousands$$.

All over Europe, starving artists set up in the streets to promote their craft. so I thought, why not me? So my next project is that when I go painting in the Everglades I will take a few paintings with me and display them on the bed of my truck while I paint the landscapes that so many others come to enjoy.

So with paints, a white canvas and completed paintings I set out to my favorite Loop Road spot..................to be continued....... JZ November 14, 2015

Sweetwater Strand - Big Cypress National Preserve - Oil on canvas 16x20 $175.

Fakahatchee Strand - Oil on canvas 16x20 $150.

Pinelands in the Everglades

Now that the water is back and fall weather is about to break, I'm practicing some canvas before heading out to the fresh air and mosquitos of the Everglades.

Pineland after the Rain - Oil on Canvas 16x20 $125.

Pine Strand - Oil on Canvas 20x24 $200.

Sunrise at the River of Grass - Oil on Canvas 24x20 $150.

MORADA ART WALK

Last night under the rain, I participated in the MORADA WAY ART WALK, an event that takes place the third thursday of the month in Islamorada, Florida. Did Art Buyers stayed home because of the rain? Lots of young people though, getting soaked in and out with rain and beer by the Islamorada Brewing Co. while celebrating Octoberfest.

It was a good experience to participate and now back to the drawing board to prepare a couple of new paintings for next month. The following paintings were created for this past show and are still available for sale. JZ October 16, 2015

Scout Key - Oil on canvas 16"x20" $175.

Train to Paradise - Oil on canvas 16"x20" $175.

LOW WATER

Although the swamp is now full again after a good rainy season, I'm still painting some dry season roots in the studio while waiting for birds and fish to come back to Big Cypress. JZ October 6,2015

Egret at Cypress Stump - Oil on Canvas 20x24 SOLD

WHERE DID THE WATER GO?

During the dry season water recedes in the glades exposing roots rocks and vegetation not seen all year, making the landscape unrecognizable and a weary sight to experience. While exploring the unexplored foundations of the Big Cypress National Preserve, dark clouds began to move in and a distant thunder woke up the wildlife, birds were singing gators were croaking in great expectation of some rain that would relieve the dryness and bringing back food and life to the parched land.  JZ September 14, 2015

The following photos show the two seasons at Sweetwater Strand, Big Cypress:

November, Lots of water, winter vegetation

April, No water, Spring vegetation

                        My representation of the Cypress foundation during the dry season 2015:

                                  Low and Dry - Oil on canvas 24"x20" $250.

BIG CYPRESS WATERCOLORS

Now that the heat and bugs have invaded the swamp, it's time to move the easel to the A/C and the Florida Keys where there's always a sea-breeze or a cooled studio. Working from the winter photographs I'm compiling a few oil studies and watercolors of South Florida's wilderness. JZ May 5, 2015

                                                    Landing Heron - Watercolor SOLD

                                           Egret by Cypress Stump - Watercolor 8x10 $100.

 Roseate Spoonbill, Blue Heron and Ibis - Oil