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I always get excited when starting a new painting.  Lots of sketches have all finally come together and I'm ready to put paint to canvas. This one will be a retro-style gal -- a mermaid, in fact, and there will be (of course) my favorite fish, the Tarpon.  If it comes out as I hope, I'll probably submit it for a tarpon tournament's PR materials - it would be a perfect fit.  This one will be very illustrative and fun, so stay tuned. . .

My wife and I just got back from one of the best vacations we've ever had - a road trip to New England & upstate NY (Lake Champlain and Lake George).  Great weather, fun family and cool adventures, so it was terrific overall. With fresh inspiration in my back pocket, I'm back at my easel - started a new painting yesterday (Nicole was my unwilling model because she had a busy day. . .), but here I sit, painfully working because it's always frustrating my first day or so. . . This one will be a mermaid riding a big fish - more later. . .  

If you're talking about me (the artist), you have to know that EVERYTHING inspires me. I love to try new things and even take risks at times.  Once night recently my wife and I (on a whim) decided to go to a little bar near our home where they have weekly karaoke.  As soon as it was my turn, I was up there singing a Weezer song. . .having never done it before, it was exhilarating and frightening at the same time! But, life is worth being silly sometimes and stuff like this fuels my creativity, so it's a good thing all around.

Had fun being interviewed by artist Elizabeth Van Riper on WSLR's (Sarasota, 96.5FM) "The Creative Life" show July 8.  Interesting to share how I started as an artist (even as a child, sketching with my friends & all of us dreaming of becoming Disney illustrators. . .), discussing creative challenges today and how a husband and wife can work together without killing each other!  Hopefully I'll be able to capture some audio to post here, but for now, here's a pic of me at the microphone (with that big tin foil peace sign behind me -- if that's not community radio, I don't know what is!).

I'm pleased to participate in the 2010 Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission's Tarpon Genetic Study Program.  I have challenged anglers to submit at least one Tarpon DNA sample over the summer to qualify for one of my Limited Edition marine-life prints.  This program is vital to the health of the species -- it not only encourages conservation, but also provides valuable information to scientists who study the majestic fish.  Please see the link below for the recent press release posted June 25 on the Mote Marine Laboratory site (just enter Coudal in the search bar):

mote.org