themes of a florida folk artist...bait shacks, cats and pugs

Bait Shacks, Pugs, Cats, Men and

Procrastination….December 14, 2008

Themes in the life of a Native Florida Folk

Artist.

RhondaK, Native Florida Folk Artisthttp://www.rhondakwrites.com

On December 14, 2008 I spent a typical day painting up my inventory after a show. During a show it is easier to see what I’m missing as the way I keep inventory is verrrryyyyy CASUAL.

I’ve been toying with bait shack images for some months now. Bait shacks are part of the ever

disappearing Old Florida landscape. My dad used to take me to them as we went fishing a lot. We

also went up to the house of a lot of work bat men…men who have worm beds, put the worms in a container and usually sell them on an honor

system at the end of their drive way.

A sort of casual global working economy system.


This is the Beer & Bait

Shack..includes sayings:

If you can’t catch a fish-catch a

buzz..Wish you were

beer…It’s Beer:30.

There is a beer bottle floating in the water with a hook through it.


This is my first bait shack sign I

painted. It is the “Shore Thing Bait Shack.” People often say they

know what shack this is, it is a memory of a

shack on the Alifia River. It isn’t

terribly accurate visually…but it is SPIRITUALLY.


This is a very large 2’ x 3’ sign.

Painted on December 14, 2008.

“Welcome 2 the Fishin’ Hole!!”

Reads also:Get Reel Bait

Shack…We Promise Our Bait will Catch Fish or Die

Trying…Stop wishin’-Stop

fishin’…It’s Beer:30…

Live Bait/Cold Beer…The tide always

changes..and the Gator hidden in the

corner.


I’ve sold most of these…but I also paint a version with borders

that have sayings.

I love this one because it has a lot of color. I paint a lot of

this sign using a fingerpainting

technique that is all FUN.

I love fishing. I hope my bait stores, fishing

sayings and colors show how much I love

fishing in Florida. Florida has fresh, salt

and combination fishing. I often crab to

make sure I have something to eat

though! RhondaK, Native Florida Folk Artisthttp://www.rhondakwrites.com

This is a slightly saucy version. But as you can see, they are all customizable. This is the “Happy Hooker

Bait Shack”..reads…”we promise you’ll catch something.” Others:

“May the fish you catch be bigger than

the holes in your net!”“Watch what U fish

4…” – “Beer:30”…”Live Bait,

Cold Beer.”

Shark in the forefront.


I love selling fish signs. Some are original RhondaK sayings, but many are old standards and tribute signs

from bait and fishing

bars/shacks/places past.


While I love pugs, I paint a lot of cat

signs. Particularly cat and wine signs!

These are my pugs. Jada and Sadie.

Jada used to live on my boat with me but lives with my mom now. She has an

anchor marking on her head. Sadie lives

with me. She’s a lively girl and loves going on sales trips

with me.

Both end up in my folk art. This is Sadie

the sales pug.


Sadie…my muse.


Jada Pug..her anchor marking is somewhat visible.

She made a hell of a sea dog often barking at this

nasty liveaboard guy who was trying to run me off. The Jada always got

the last word.When she barks she rolls her Rs

like an Irish brogue.


As you can see my signs are the background. Jada has always sat with me and been my buddy while I painted from DAY ONE of when I started. Some days it was my only way to feed her or put gas in the Jeep.

The pugs in my mother’s backyard. And signs of my and their love in my life.That’s why I love doing custom pet signs.

I GET IT. I LIVE IT. I LOVE IT.


Now to CATS and WINE!!!! And GONE COASTAL Fat Cats…FUN Meow times…


Custom cats and my Cat Ladies….“I’m not a cat lady…I’m a feline fatale…” !!!!


December 14, 2008Other little signs I put together for my December 20, 2008 show.


themes of a florida folk artist...bait shacks, cats and pugs

Entertainment & Humor

old florida landscape

original rhondak sayings

bait shacks

bait shack images

thebeer bait shack

bait stores

reel bait

fish signs