2009 Art Calendar

My 2009 Art calendar is now available from Lulu publishing. This edition features 12 paintings of beautiful Florida landscapes. I made notes on a few pages describing the inspiration that led to their creation.

See my store on Lulu Publishing preview of all 12 months. http://stores.lulu.com/danielambrose

Things You Believe In

Orange groves once populated much of central Florida, oranges likely outnumbering people. Today there are few groves; freezes and citrus canker destroying what strip malls leave. On highway 11 just twenty minutes west of where I live, a few small groves are hold outs. One of my simple pleasures is cruising down that road in spring with the truck windows open just smelling the orange blossoms.

A collector was in the studio a while back telling me Ponkans were his favorite orange, and like many things in my life I suddenly remembered what I forgot. I hadn't had a Ponkan in years. Fast forward to last week and I was driving down highway 11 to deliver some art, the oranges are in season, and hand lettered signs of rural growers advertised their fruit; navels, tangelos, ambersweet . . . ponkans. . . Ponkans!

I swiftly pulled into the dirt road. Lining the wood fence on homemade benches sat white plastic pails piled high with oranges. Ponkans! Six dollars a bucket - put the money in the honor box and no fruit switching said the neatly lettered sign.

As we stood there deciding how many buckets to buy, a car pulled in and parked in the drive next to the house. A slim white haired gentleman got out and walked over to us. “Are these your oranges – did you grow them here?” I asked. He did he said and introduced himself as Henry Dutton formerly from North Carolina. We talked oranges for awhile and when I complimented him on how nice his signs looked (I was a sign painter once), gazing around his grove he said “well you take a little pride in the things you believe in.”

Ponkan Orange
oil on linen 4" x 5"

Pitons, Saint Lucia

Brakes smoking, we sped down the steep twisting roads to the village of Soufriere along the west coast of Saint Lucia Island. Dodging groups of smiling plaid skirted schoolgirls walking along the edge of the precipitous road we squealed around a bend, suddenly the roadside brush gave way revealing the soaring Pitons, dominating the village below.

After a hike around the steaming sulphur springs with boiling gray magma pools and later the botanical gardens with their tropical colors, and giant begonias, we lunched on local West Indies cuisine. Our driver James ordered the local special for us in his eclectic Kwéyòl language then sat down to share the good food with us. Later I went back to the clearing and painted this small painting while the hot sun reigned over all.

Pitons, St Lucia
oil on linen 4" x 5"

Sunrise & Sea Oats

Sunrise & Sea Oats

Oil on Linen 4" x 5"

harvested corn field

As an artist I walk the world with open eyes, my oil paints, and journal a little about the places I visit, whether I wander a 1000 feet or 1000 miles away from home. I like to know where I go.

I recently visited Lincoln, Illinois and learned it is the only town named for Abraham Lincoln before he became President.

Because, once a train needed water and Lincoln was a lawyer in the right place at the right time.

During the 1800’s westward railroad expansion, steam trains frequently stopped for water. With a bit of insider information, a railroad director, a large landowner, and the county sheriff partnered up and platted a town around a planned railways water stop.

The partners hired Mr. Lincoln, the railroads sharp attorney to draft the legal papers and then magnanimously persuaded him to share his name with the town. He modestly accepted, and on August 27, 1853 Abe split open a watermelon and christened the new town Lincoln.

Today, Lincoln is a charming town surrounded by fertile fields of corn. A majestic stone courthouse sits square in the center of an active downtown, brick paved streets line beautiful parks and artistic Victorian homes grace the neighborhoods. I went to pay my respects to beautiful Lilly, the towns’ newest offspring. To share in the joy of a new life beginning in Americas heartland, a place that became, because once a train needed water.

On the way back to the airport, I painted a harvested cornfield.

Illinois corn field
oil on linen 4" x 5"
sold

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Curious Bird

Even though this is not one of my paintings, I thought it would be fun to share with you.

While painting on the beach one morning, a curious Yellow-Crowned Night heron walked right up and began circling me. They are known to make quick sharp pecks so I warily watched him while I painted. After a bit I got up to stretch and he followed me.

Word must have flown around that I was a painter of birds too.

September 29, 2007

Moon above the Atlantic II

Original Painting Oil on Linen Panel 4" x 5"

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September 26,2007

Moon above the Atlantic
Original Oil Painting on Linen Panel 4" x 5"

Visit my website for updates:
www.danielambrose.com