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

Getting Ready for April Art Show

Thanks to Donna at Lakeside Inn's GateHouse Gallery for awarding me the Artist of the Month for April 2015. Mount Dora, Florida.

It gave me the opportunity to create a lot of work specifically for the exhibit and another excuse to re-visit that quaint town. The following paintings are a mixture of Oils, Colored Ink drawings and Traditional Watercolors: JZ March 16, 2015

Sandy Shore and Sabals - 30x40 Oil on Canvas $350.

             
       
  Windswept Oaks at Lake Dora - 30x40 Oil on Canvas $350.

Lakeside Inn - 11x14 Ink / Watercolor $125.

 


 Two Ibis in Cypress - 11x14 Watercolor $125. ea.



 

WHAT A WAY TO SPEND A DAY

Big Cypress National Preserve: Morning Temperature 68 and by midday a steamy 80 but no mosquitoes nor snow in sight, only a few tourists wondering around Loop Road, somehow they are lost or ran away from Shark Valley where the rest of the snow birds are.

Today there were more gators keeping eyes on me than the usual, at first arrival they were all over the dirt road soaking up the morning sun, like black logs in the distance that quickly receded back into the swamp. JZ February 24, 2015

WHAT A WAY TO SPEND A DAY

REFLECTIONS

Keeping an eye on me

STRETCHING THE BOUNDARIES

STRETCHING THE BOUNDARIES

It's time to start painting the rest of Florida, there is so much to explore once you step away from the Turnpike or an Interstate. So many back roads and little unspoiled small towns where you can find peace and quiet, it's a shame to pass up the opportunity for exploration.

One of our favorite family outings were the Springs around Ocala where old Tarzan was filmed among Majestic Oaks filled with Spanish Moss flowing with the wind. So beautiful, all that was needed for filming then were the Monkeys.

Recently I had a chance to visit Mount Dora where my artwork is being displayed at The Gate House Gallery on the Historic Lakeside Inn and here is some of the work on paper. JZ February 2, 2015

Rail Road Station

Rail Road Bridge

The GateHouse Gallery Mount Dora, Florida

THE NOSTALGIA OF OLD AGE

Getting old has many advantages above the aches and pains attached to aging. There's no time and effort spent on chasing for love and pleasures, the time of old age is spent on memories that exist long after youth has passed. Those memories stay and can be relived anytime you want to lay back and think.

As an artist I have the ability to relive in a visual form the well known "Good all days" it's a great pleasure to spend time and talent bringing back memories. JZ January 11, 2015

   

For those that remember the old watering hole in Islamorada
Papa Joe's is gone. We took a photo in 2011 when the place was vacated while we were hiding from the blazing sun under the bridge. Thought it was good to bring back some history of another day gone by  with an ink and watercolor. All patrons are imaginary memories of a once lively place of the Florida Keys.

GOOD BYE 2014

Trying to get a Sunset painting done before the end of the year kept me awake and able and watch the glass ball fall in Times Square and the Orange Ball Rise in Miami. I'm usually asleep before midnight, but this turn of the calendar came at a time that I was transported to the Florida Keys and I have a painting of a bunk house at Pigeon Key to show for it.

While painting , I was perplexed by peoples attraction to the big crowds and the hustle of city life. Where can they find peace or the solitude to think?

The commentary on TV was that because of security reasons those allowed into the barricaded area would not be able to leave until the ball had dropped and all had kissed, thereby being caged for many hours. So in my quiet time loving the Keys a terrible though came to mind: "are these people wearing Pampers under all those layers of clothing?" or "The strong bladders of youth!!"

I'd rather be in the Keys or the Woods, where you have no needs for Pampers or Depends and nature's call can be taken care of anywhere, anytime, no problems, no barricades. There's always a dark corner where to hide, close your eyes and dream. JZ January 3, 2015

Last Sunset of 2014 from Pigeon Key, Florida

One of Flagler's Sleeping Quarters built in the 1900's

during the construction of the railway to Key West