It's Paint O'Clock

"Stay" - watercolor on paper, 9" x 12".  Ready for framing.

What time is it?  It's paint o'clock!  Living with a plein aire painter is AMAZING!  We are out in the early morning, seeking the perfect vista and light. Out in the afternoon, revisiting those vistas in a different light or seeking new inspiration.  I'm learning so much, stretching outside of my creative comfort zone daily.  

Yesterday we pre-scouted some painting places, and were lucky enough to come across day one of the weekend-long visit of the Travelers (also known as the Itinerant or Gypsies).  Their colorful caravans are parked along the street, horses tethered to gate posts and girls with fancy hairdo's getting ready for a pageant.  For a bit of change, you can climb up into the caravan and have a "proper photo."  I opted to photograph the gypsy boy collecting the change instead.  He seemed quite thrilled to have his picture taken.

You can learn more about Irish Travelers here: itmtrav

We took hundreds of photos of windows and doors, hillsides and streets.  Everywhere we turned was something exquisite.  Even the doorknobs were fantastic.  How is it possible to have so much lovely in one town?

Lunch at Lizzy's was phenomenal.  A seafood chowder like I've never had before.  Sitting in the front window stools, you can watch "window theater" and see some interesting stories unfolding on the street.  Yesterday in the midst of a rush of traffic, one driver recognized a lady on the footpath and stopped to have a chat while the folks behind him waited patiently.  Those of you in south Florida know this would not go over well at all in the states!  Lots of lovely lads in caps, young ladies with heads full of auburn curls, folks dressed up for a wedding in town and an endless stream of small cars, transit vans, tractor trailers and large tractors meandered through the narrow streets in front of us.  Check out Lizzy's here: Lizzy's Little Kitchen

Along the way home, we found a small, gated courtyard with a gang of yorkies inside.  Today's piece is inspired by one of these friendly tiny guys, who smashed his face cutely between the bars in a way that was sure to garner some petting from passersby.