Halcyon
by AnnaJo Vahle
Title
Halcyon
Artist
AnnaJo Vahle
Medium
Painting - Watercolor
Description
This is a plein air watercolor painting I did in Big Pine Key, Florida. I painted it in 1991 when my parents owned this part of Big Pine Key. It had a few boat docks along the east coast. This is a little cove. It was was the first original bordello in the United States. It had four small cabins and a larger house. My parents lived in the house. It, also, had a large mobile home park. It was enchanting.
When I visited from time to time, I would stay in one of the little cabins. I loved listening to the coconut palm fronds rustle in the breeze. It always sounded a bit like falling rain. The fronds clanked against each other.
The sailboat was the first little one that my father got. He learned to sail with it. Mangroves can be seen behind it. Seagulls fly in the air. I loved to sit by the shore beneath the trees and paint. My young sons swam in the warm waters.
My parents named this park, Halcyon. According to the dictionary, halcyon denotes a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful. It refers to a tropical Asian and African kingfisher with brightly colored plumage. It, also, refers to a mythical bird said by ancient writers to breed in a nest floating at sea at the winter solstice, charming the wind and waves into calm. I always liked the name.
The property is no longer in the family. I miss it. I was delighted to discover this old painting that I had done there. This watercolor painting is 14 inches by 20 inches.
Coincidentally, my father threw himself a birthday party one year and he invited Jimmy Bufffet to play here. He did while we all hung around on the beach beneath all the coconut palms. It seemed serendipitous to enter this contest!
9/15/23..1st place win in the 'Jimmy Buffet Inspired" contest
Uploaded
March 27th, 2015
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Viewed 969 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/17/2024 at 12:09 AM
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Comments (30)
Allison Griffin
Congratulations on your 1st place win in the 'Jimmy Buffet Inspired" contest. This is a beautiful watercolor, AnnaJo!
AnnaJo Vahle replied:
Thank you, Allison. Coincidentally, my father threw himself a birthday party there one year and he invited Jimmy Bufffet to play here. He did while we all hung around on the beach beneath all the coconut palms. It seemed serendipitous to enter this contest!
Bernadette Krupa
AnnaJo, goreous seashore watercolor painting "Halcyon"! Congrats on multiple features - Tropical Paradise, Collectors Gallery and Bold and intense!! L/F
Charles Robinson
An absolutely marvelous painting, AnnaJo. You have captured the mood of Big Pine Key. A favorite
Maria Hunt
Your seascape gallery is just wonderful. You have a wonderful feel for water in you paintings. F/L
Madalena Lobao-Tello
CONGRATULATIONS!! Featured on Iberoamerican Colors. Great artwork. Love the colours and composition !!
Scott Kingery
Beautiful watercolor, AnnaJo. Love the way you did the sky. I haven't done watercolors in over thirty years. Really have to get back to them. L/F
Jacqueline Athmann
Surprise & Congratulations!! Your photo has been featured on The Art Shoppe Cafe group homepage! Thank you for sharing your beautiful work with us! F/L
Madalena Lobao-Tello
CONGRATULATIONS!! Featured on Women Painters. Great work! Love how you have done this!!!
Jacqueline Athmann
OH HAPPY Day!!! This photo makes me feel happy! So happy that it's been featured on the Oh Happy Day group homepage. Thank you for growing my smile today! F/L/T