Tag Archives: Biloxi MS

A Past Start Destined to Remain Unfinished. Dad on the 4th, 2010.

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In the last post, I included a photo I took of Dad during our July 4th party in 2010.  I have always treasured that shot.  Back in 2014, when I was beginning to experiment with gouache, I decided to hazard a rendering of the fuzzy image.  I got it to this stage in my first session and put it aside for further work.  I have never had the nerve to do more on it because I was afraid of messing it up or not doing Dad justice.  I’m now declaring it ‘officially unfinished’.  It’s not gonna be changing.  I like it ‘as is’, shortcomings and all.

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Family 4th Memories

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As much of Biloxi knows, the O’Keefe family always celebrated the 4th (and our dad Jerry’s July 12th birthday) with a frolicking bash on the front lawn of 510 Beach Blvd.  We would chow down on burgers, hot dogs, beer & cake and boogie to the sounds of “Butterbean” delivered by Bo & Dee.  (That assumes Martha had supplied the right brand and quantity of gin for Dee!)

We always took a crop of photos of Dad, Martha, ourselves and the fireworks that followed, all overlooking our beauties: the beach, Dad’s palms, Biloxi Sound, and Deer Island.  Here are a few glimpses of times past (an especially colorful 2010 & our Dad’s last party in 2016, a month before he passed away at age 93).

Pre-Workshop Painting of ‘Susan’s Marsh’ Got Some Touchups Pre-Exhibit

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Before the recent workshop on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I tried to get in the groove by painting one of the places we would visit there.  I call it ‘Susan’s Marsh’ because it was based on a photo my sister took in showing us potential venues.  I didn’t finish it then, but did so a couple of weeks ago so I could include it in our new Maplewood Exhibit.  I decided to spice it up a bit by adding a heron — it was looking a bit too tranquil without it!

 

Fifth New Oil Painting ~~ Fishing in Cream

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Today’s painting is decidedly different from the others you’ve seen so far.  It’s one of two that have a different color palette and strike a very dreamy mood (in my opinion).  We happened on this scene while zipping along on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.  It reminded me of a life very different from my own.  Fortunately, folks on the Eastern Shore and in my own Biloxi, Mississippi, still take the time for such contemplation.

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Fishing in Cream. Oil on Arches Oil Paper. 2018. 12×16.

It’s Giving Tuesday! Give to the OHR to Give ART to Children!

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 It’s Giving Tuesday!  I’ve given to the Ohr and hope you will too!

For those who haven’t heard of this relatively new movement, it’s a day focused on charitable giving, coinciding with the season of thanksgiving.  One of my main charities is Biloxi, Mississippi’s Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, which Dad supported with the sweat of his brow (and, yes, coins) for more than a decade.  The Ohr provides an array of arts-focused education to children, as well as adults in the community.  And its exhibits and architecture uniquely enrich the Gulf Coast.  Please consider contributing today!  Thanks!

 

 

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Good News Yesterday! Featured by WAMA on Facebook Post!

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Last year I created a couple of stylized iPad images for the Walter Anderson Museum’s Christmas card competition.  One of them was selected for their artist series.

My sister Susan alerted me that the museum featured my sketch this year in its new Facebook fundraising post for the holidays.  Way cool!  Here’s what it looks like:

wama-facebook-postHere’s the complete image — Walter, rowing his decorated skiff away from the Biloxi lighthouse and toward his Horn Island retreat.  Followed by an alternate, more colorful, version I did last year as well.

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Biloxiana ~~ Misty Morning Pines ~~ A New Series of iPad Images

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misty island morning, with pines

Misty island morning, with pines.  original iPad painting.

I’ve begun a new series of iPad paintings to reflect scenes of my native Biloxi, Mississippi and surrounds.  This one is based on a photo made by my niece Ceci one misty morning on Horn Island.  More to come.

Teaching and Being Taught in Lafayette

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Last week I taught a one day iPad art workshop to a number of local artists in Lafayette LA and then attended a three-day workshop in watercolor journaling held by Don Getz and organized by my sister Ceci. Another sister, Mercedes, participated in much of the fun, including the iPad session. Since I was so close to home, Ceci and I swung over to Biloxi afterward to visit our dad and his wife and more brothers and sisters.

As for making art while out-of-town, I didn’t paint while teaching. And it was so cold and windy during the plein air workshop that I didn’t do anything of note then either. In fact, after a couple of watercolor/ink drawings, I resorted to my iPad to get something — anything — down before my hands went numb. Though everything is unfinished, I’ll show you the state of play (along with a few photos of what we were memorializing) so you can get a flavor for the beauty of Cajun country. Teaser: we painted the St. John Cathedral Oak, the third largest live oak in the country.

Gotta New GrandBoy!

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I’ve been falling down on the blog because I’ve fallen for our new grandbaby, a sweet boy named Max.

I won’t post a picture — an not sure of the degree of privacy my son and his wife would prefer. But suffice it to say, we’re all thrilled. I’ve looked through my images to find something that expresses the joy, vitality, and excitement associated with this wonderful event.

A Burst of Joy

A Biloxi Burst of Joy -- Fit for the JoyBoy

A Visit to the Newseum to See the Katrina and 9/11 Exhibits

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I spent Saturday touring the magnificent Newseum in Washington, DC.

Kat Bergeron, one of the Sun Herald’s Pulitzer Prize winning team covering the hurricane, her sister Estelle, and I studied the moving Katrina exhibit, which is scheduled to close later this month. The exhibit memorializes the tireless efforts of the local press to publish critical information about the catastrophe that destroyed my family’s home, along with much of the rest of Biloxi, MS.

front page of Sun Herald after Katrina urging 'Help Us Now'

Sun Herald cover urges, 'Help Us Now'

We also previewed the new exhibit commemorating the tenth anniversary of 9/11. The exhibit includes a large remnant of the Twin Towers and many other objects that speak to this national tragedy, along with front pages of newspapers from around the world. Here is a view looking down over the exhibit.

A piece of the twin towers structure, as well as dozens of newspaper covers reporting the event.

Overlooking Newseum's new 9/11 Exhibit