Sometimes you don’t have to go very far for inspiration. These paintbrushes are upstairs in the classroom here at FCCA. They are used at this time of the year by the children in Cathy Herndon’s Art Bug program. The late afternoon sun slanting in through the window gave me the light and shadows I wanted for this piece. I am glad this got accepted in this show, because I think the kids will get a kick out of seeing “their” paintbrushes hanging on the gallery wall!

I was out practicing my night photography on Sanibel Island over the Christmas holidays, where this view along the side of Baileys General Store caught my eye. During the daytime, this area would be bustling with people. There would be hot glaring sun in the parking lots to the left and behind me. I probably would have been run over by a car where I was standing. This night scene evokes a more peaceful and solitary feeling, so different from daytime.

Baileys General Store has been serving the needs of the residents of Sanibel Island for over 100 years. I believe it is still owned by the latest generations of the Bailey family. When it first opened in 1899, Sanibel was a farming community, now it is a tourist mecca. As the needs of the island changed so did the wares for sale, which is undoubtedly why it is still a thriving business.