Nags Head

Something Fishy, 7x9" watercolor

I made a final trip over to Nags Head to paint this gift shop called Something Fishy. My watercolor style, often referred to as whimsical, lends itself well to all things funky. It makes sense in a town called Nags Head that one would find some whimsy. I haven’t heard this story in years, but my understanding is Nags Head got its name because in days of old, when pirates roamed the shores, they would tie a lantern to the head of a nag (old horse). They would then walk the horse up the tall sound dunes that can be found in the area. Ships at sea, thinking they were spotting a lighthouse, would come crashing into the shores, only to be robbed of their bounties. Now, I’m going to check Wikipedia to see if I got this right. Not too far off, btw.

Jolly good fun

Jolly Roger, 9x7" watercolor

On Sunday, I followed Lou over a couple of bridges to Nags Head; then north to Kill Devil Hills. Yes, the Wright Brothers flew there. A giant leap for womankind. Get this, readers, spell check catches mankind, but leaves womankind alone. Yay! Another giant leap for womankind!

In search of a place called the Jolly Roger, we passed a place called Something Fishy. Very funky; very paintable. Knew I would need to revisit it later with my watercolors. Once at the Jolly Roger, I knew why Lou had been wanting to share this place with me. With permission from the owner to set up and paint there, I dropped anchor and did today’s featured watercolor.

So much to paint; so little time.

Just plein fun

Wanchese Inn, 7x9" watercolor

Yesterday evening I came home with a half dozen (3 watercolors; 3 oils) plein air paintings I’d done over the weekend on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. My good friend and painting buddy Lou Everett had invited me to join her on a painting trip to this area that she knows so much better than I do. We stayed at the Wanchese Inn, a quaint little B&B, just half a mile or so from a marina that had a good selection of shrimp boats begging to be painted. Also at the marina, was a wonderful seafood restaurant called Fisherman’s Wharf, where we celebrated the close of our first wonderful plein air day.

view from Fisherman’s Wharf

Here today; gone tomorrow

Docked at Homer Smith Seafood, 9x7" watercolor

Last weekend I had been scheduled to paint in the historic Old Burying Grounds during Beaufort’s Old Homes and Garden Tour. When my friend and host Deborah told me that Homer Smith Seafood would soon be gone, I opted to paint it instead. Luckily, I had my watercolors with me as a storm coming in would not have given me enough time to do this scene in oils.

A view of people

Davis-Kittrell family treasures, 9x7" watercolor

A gallery in Greensboro that represents my work believed my interiors such as this might sell. I have sold only one. The paintings are personal. Maybe room portraits is a good name for them. I think they are of interest primarily to the people who live in the rooms. When walking around the lakes in Minneapolis, I used to enjoy a glimpse through the windows, uncovered by blinds or curtains, into the rooms of people who lived there. Beautiful interiors with baby grand pianos in many of them. I believe my interiors give us a glimpse into the people who live in them.