Dear Imaginary Friends,
How many paintings did I sell in my River Farms show? Sixteen!
The painting below is still available.

Grace Gathering Shells

The above painting is a seascape that was in the show: Grace Gathering Shells.

A tiny little girl is unaware of the large bay behind her. She is totally focused on the bright shiny shells capturing her interest on the beach. She and her dad are reflected in the water beyond. He hovers above her, protecting. Grace is inches from danger, yet because of her father's presence, she is entirely safe. And she knows it.

Your Imaginary Friend,
Patsie

All Things Natural, Big and Small

Red Bell Peppers

Flowering Quince

Daffodil Study

Great Falls

Grace Gathering Shells

Coffeepot Rock

Love Triangle

Red Roses

Van Gogh's Chair

Lake Okeechobee

Harmony in Blue and Orange

Amethyst Waterlily

Waterlilies Squared

Dear Imaginary Friends,

When I signed up two years ago to have a one woman show, I promised to produce a body of work that contained at least 45 original oil paintings that were all natural, i.e., florals, fruit, vegetables, gardens, seascapes, landscapes, and the grounds of River Farms. I ended up painting four paintings specifically of River Farms and grounds, and seventy-two total to hang on the walls of every room of this magnificent historic building.

I am most assuredly a prolific painter. However, the architectural paintings were slow and deliberate. I kept adjusting over and over again little aspects of proportion, color, shadow. The fruits and vegetables were more loose and free. Not so, the landscapes; I have a hang up about painting trees. For me, it is like speaking in a foreign language; just my little quirk.

Of the above paintings, the one that took me a month was Grace Gathering Shells. I kept changing the little girl and the shoreline, as well as the color of Lewes Bay, to make it interesting and unexpected.

Your Imaginary Fast Painter,
Patsie

Now on Display!

Daffodil Study, approx. 16 x 20", Oil, $550

Dear Imaginary Friends,

I have seven, yes, count them!paintings on display currently at the lovely gallery/shop A Show of Hands, on Mt. Vernon Avenue in Alexandria. What are they, you ask? Here goes!

Cherry Pie, 8 x 10", Oil, $350

Lewes, Delaware, 10 x 8", Oil, $300

That gives you a taste. Next blog, the four other paintings.

Don't you think the cherry pie is also a cheery pie? :)

Your Imaginary Artist Friend,

Patsie

How I Spent Last Monday: Grace Gathering Shells

Grace Gathering Shells, 10 x 8", Oil

Dear Imaginary Readers,

Here is a painting that I have been working on for the last 2 weeks, of Grace, the little girl who offered Parker a shell from Lewes Beach.
I love that bathing suit!

Your Imaginary Friend,
Patsie

Fourth of July Boat Parade

The annual holiday boat parade

In Lewes, boats are decorated for the Fourth of July, and parade down the Lewes canal. The parade pulls a good crowd of families who cheer on their favorites. Very Mayberry!
Your Imaginary Tour Guide,

Patsie

Where to Eat??

Dear Imaginary Friends,

If you are thinking of going to Lewes, Delaware, you might want to consider dining at the following places. My whole family just went there and personally taste tested all thses recommendations.

The fave: Agave, Second Street, Nouvelle Mexican,. YUM and then some. I had the mango, crab, avocado salad.

The Buttery, Savannah Road, old fashioned Victorian mansion setting, high end food.

Two Dips, chocolate water ice; Oh, my! What waistline? We visited and partook daily.

The Provincial Bakery, for small pies built for two, homemade everything and local ingredients. I had a most unusual green tomato pie. MM.

Italian goodies: The Italian Deli on Savannah for great cookies, such as amaretti.

Annabelle's Italian restaurant for  Italian cooking, and for pizza, go to Mr. P's.

A great wine store is Teller Wines on Savannah Road. The wines are grouped in a most interesting manner, with "fruity and juicy" all together, and  " robust" all together, etc. There were many classifications. None of them were called "Iron Rust" nor "Swill."

Have a hair or nail "issue"? Visit Panda at Ocean Retreats, on Savannah Road. It is in a beautiful restored Victorian mansion.

Panda is a human, despite her name.

Lewes has its very own windpower windmill, which provides all the energy needs of the local University of Delaware branch. It is quite large.

Shop at Tanger Outlet Centers, which is on the way to Rehoboth on the main drag.

While you are heading to Rehoboth, dine at Blue Moon, but expect a raucous crowd in the bar. They are wild and crazy! The dining is high end and creative.

Most of these restaurants are very popular and require reservations unless it is off season. Except for Two Dips, with its long line, where you will be served if you have the stamina to wait.

Your Friend, the foodie,

Patsie

Rehoboth Boardwalk

Ay, carumba!

Patsie and the fam take Parker to the Rehoboth, Delaware, boardwalk. 

Rehoboth is the beach town adjacent to Lewes, but it is directly on the Atlantic Ocean, with more people, more restaurants, and a lively boardwalk, pulsing with saltwater taffy vendors, greasy pizza, and ice cream stands.As you can tell by his expression, Parker is unsure how he feels about the teeming humanity streaming past him on the boardwalk. Dunes and sand, sure, but what about all these people playing Whack-A-Mole at Funland? Are they nuts, or what?

Amusement parks are a mixed bag, but I personally love playing Whack-A-Mole. It reminds me of my pesky cruitters around my home. And a great way to end that problem.

We have squirrels who love nothing better than to eat the jalapeno/habanero pepper-laced safflower seeds that we left out for our friendly cardinals. The squirrels were last seen sitting in the bird feeder, enjoying the peppery dinner, full throttle.

Must be Cajun squirrels.

I give up.

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

"Summer Love, Happens So Fa-ast"

From Grace, to Grease!

Dear Imaginary Friend,

One more time, let us review the budding romance of Parker and Grace, his friend from Lewes, Delaware, who is pictured here offering Parker a shell from the beach. It reminds me of the song from the movie "Grease", starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. In one of the opening scenes, the love struck couple, who have met during the summer, sing the duet "Summer Love". And that is the soundtrack in my head, as I gaze upon this cute twosome.

"Those sum-umme-mer ni-ights! So, Grace, isn't he a little young for you? Don't wear high heels on your date, is all I am saying.

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

Second Street in Historic Lewes, Delaware

Dear Imaginary Friend,

Here we have another charming old home with a quirky, fun paint job in the seashore town of Lewes, Delaware. When one sees this combination of colors, it begs the question as to whom might live there.

Someone original, no doubt!

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

Architecture

A charming old home in Lewes, Delaware.

Grace Makes Parker an Offer

Virginia, Parker and a new friend, Grace

At Cape Shores, a fellow visitor offers Parker a shell she has gathered from the beach. She is a two year old named Grace. She has learned the important virtue of sharing. She hands Parker the sea shell and then he takes it, considers it, and offers her one in exchange.

Sweet! Young love.

Sharing is good.

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

Sunset in Lewes over the Delaware Bay

Dear Imaginary Friends,

If only one could spend the waning hours of every day gazing out on the water at the beautiful beach sunsets...

Wish you were here,

Patsie

What Remains to be Seen

Pictured above is the new painting I am showing right now at this very minute at the Art League Gallery. It is called "Lewes, Delaware."

It is for sale for a paltry price, and will be on display through May 7. The title of this particular show is Remains.  Remains, as a theme, refers to the end of something or what is left. In this case, what remains is the remains of the day: when the sun dips down to oblivion and casts magic colors across the landscape. I love dramatic lighting, whether it is cast across a body of water or a building.

My cute little oil is 12 x 12". It is available for adoption to a nice home. Yes, it is housebroken and never bites.

Since my article came out in elan, I have been selling my paintings at a fast clip. I sold a large one, a waterscape, too,  today to my lovely friend from Hillsboro, North Carolina. She used to live a bout six blocks from the site of the painting, and so it has special meaning for her, and good memories of living near the GW Parkway. That painting went to a happy home, and I just love it when that happens.

Your very busy artist friend,

Patsie

How I spent last week

Lewes, Delaware

I have been spending my Tuesdays this month painting landscapes, just because I say so.
Here is my recent effort: a water, sky and  land land view of Lewes, Delaware, at the end of the road.
Clouds and water can be so hard, but I think that this piece turned out well.
Your friendly local painter,
Patsie