When I was staying in San Miguel de Allende, this little boy seemed to be everywhere, usually dressed like a street urchin, running around to all of the foreigners begging pesos for whatever goods he had to offer.  On this particular Sunday, there was a fabulous parade going around and around the Jardin, and he was dressed in his Sunday best, entranced by the costumes.  You can see the same little boy sitting with his mom or grandmom on the steps in another of my earlier paintings.

Tonight was the Wet Paint auction, held at the Port Royal club.  It was a beautiful evening and the view beyond the room where the paintings were displayed was the beach, with the sun setting down into the water.  All in all, it was a perfect venue for the affair.  My painting was in the live auction, hurrah!  The David Lawrence Center had a successful fundraising night; a few of the paintings went for pretty high prices compared to a couple of years during the downturn in the economy.  I made new artist friends this year, which is always a bonus during painting events.  

The couple who purchased my painting searched me out after the auction to thank me and tell me how excited they were about the painting. They bought it for the husband, John's, 65th birthday, and the reason that they loved it was that they could see him in the painting.  Sure enough, they showed me his head in the painting and it does look like him!  They asked me to write something on the back of the painting to personalize it.  I am always thrilled when people are so happy about having a painting of mine.  What a nice evening!

Another perfect day, a few clouds in the afternoon, but this will easily be ready to go (with a couple of minor adjustments) by Thursday.  Viewing of all paintings will be next to Old Naples Pub off Third St. all day Friday and Saturday, and the auction is at the Port Royal Club on Sunday evening.  I am impressed by the quality of work overall this year!  I plan to try to nab a painting myself if I can.  This is SO much fun....I remember when I first moved to Naples, I volunteered with my tennis friends to help out delivering drinks and lunch to the artists.  I loved watching the artists paint, and going to the auctions to buy beautiful local art, and now I am lucky enough to be a part of the actual painting.  Another day in paradise......

Today was the first of two days of painting on the streets of Old Naples, to benefit the David Lawrence center.  It's my 4th year participating in the event, and it was a perfect day.  The sky was bright blue, the humidity was low, the temperature was moderate, and there were lots of people strolling by and watching the 37 artists at work.  I had a pretty good day, but have to go back tomorrow and try to make the light more consistent throughout the painting.  The light in the morning was bad, and in the afternoon, when it got blindingly light, people kept stopping to chat, which I love, but it distracted me a bit.  Not to worry, nothing that a little work in the studio can't easily remedy!  Thanks to all of my friends who stopped by, and to the group that joined me afterwards for happy hour.