Blog

Delcambre, Louisiana

3/16/24

Oh my! I was awarded “Best Water” for my painting “Morning Berth” at last night’s gala art opening for Shadows on the Teche Plein Air Festival in New Iberia, Louisiana. (I never consider that I “win” anything - art is simply not about me vs you - the show was phenomenal ! And if the judge chose one of 20 other paintings, I would have had no problem at all.) I’m humbled and honored. Thank you to judge John Poon, for his choices and his talks. I learned a lot.

One day All of us artists were asked to go to a town called Delcambre to paint their waterfront. The communities here in the very south of Louisiana seem to be still recovering from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita - at least they all talk with pride about their rebuilding efforts…still. Cajuns are a proud and resilient lot - strong ties to their family, faith, land and waterways. Word. Respect. They work the water and land - they also play on the water and land. The waterfront has some derelict boats moored at rotting piers - as well as rebuilt docks with new boats - as well as John boats, recreational boats and Work boats all along the canal which is only about 50 yards wide that leads to the Gulf of Mexico. I woke up early and went there in the morning to paint the boats along the shanties and docks. In the evening, the organizers of the event served food, refreshments, and invited a zydeco band to play for us at the local park pavilion…Accordions, banjos, Cajun singers. I saw another painting to be done in my mind’s eye - so I came back the next day to paint the scene from another angle. Locals came up and asked me questions, introduce themselves, befriend me and offer me water, refreshments . God is good!

Here are the two paintings I painted from the docks. “Morning Berth” is the winner.

Shadows on the Teche Plein Air Competition

Enjoy

"Morning Berth" 12x16 oil/canvas

"Docks of Delcambre  16x20  oil/canvas