An inspiring visit

”I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them.”
                                     -- Picasso.

Everyone should try and visit Key West at least one time, if not more, like Mr. Cottage and myself.  It's definitely very artsy with all it's galleries, art shows, architecture, and it's citizens who live there.  We spent the weekend with our very good friends, Rog and Penny, who live there for half a year during the colder months...

After recently purchasing a house and decorating it, Penny asked me for some advice in choosing some artwork for their walls.  So off we went to look at some of Penny's favorite galleries in search of the perfect paintings.  Because our tastes are very similar, Penny put her trust into me helping her.  Our first stop was at the So Du Gallery on Duval Street for us to look at Karen Beauprie's wonderful watercolors.

Penny found two beautiful paintings, one an original and the other a giclee print.  We were on the go so much during these couple of days that I literally didn't have the time to take any photos of her purchases.  Once she gets them framed I'll have her send me photos of them so I can share them with you.  If you go to Karen's site and look at her paintings, you'll find a woman, usually wearing a hat, and a dog, in many of her photos.  These represent herself and her dog.  How cool is that!  The minute I laid my eyes on her paintings, I was in love with her style and colors of painting.  I found out that Karen was teaching in Key West.  How I would love to have taken some of her workshops, but unless she comes up to Sarasota, I don't think it will ever happen...

We also went to The Key West Art Center where we looks at some of Martha DePoo's art. We loved her style of painting, also.  This is one of her paintings...

Just being in Key West and looking at all the beautiful art, and especially the watercolors, has really inspired me to get some of my unfinished paintings completed.  I jokingly told Penny that I really enjoyed helping her spend her money.  But what goes around, comes around because the next day we went shopping again and this time Penny helped ME spend MY money on clothes from Fresh Produce...

Unfortunately, the time in Key West went by much too fast and next thing I knew Mr. Cottage and I were heading back north to Sarasota.