Palm Coast Oils

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 13:47:00 +0000

PAINTING NATHAN

I've never met 'Nathan', but feel as if I know him! Isn't he adorable with his long wavy golden coat! For sure he is wonderful and playful, lovable and willing to please! I was able to capture his cuteness from a very nice cell phone photograph! He is painted in oils on an 11"x14" panel..

2 quotes from the Bible that remind me of his creative power and His promises...

"Let everything that has breath... Praise the Lord" (that means all creatures great and small!)

And here's the best promise ever!! "Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven." - words of Jesus Christ

The Hem of His Garment

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 13:46:00 +0000

Oil on board 2010

"Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven." -Jesus Christ.

CHICKS! ORIGINAL DRAWING /WATERCOLOR AND INK

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 20:36:00 +0000

High up inside the coop, there is a thick branch wedged in between the wall and the entrance to their nesting boxes. Ever since they were first introduced to their new home, these ladies have always spent their nights together on the same perch... and after I say goodnight, I walk away listening to their bedtime chatter.. I imagine the topic of conversation revolves around positioning, having enough room, maybe a little complaining about the day, but hopefully before long, wishing each sweet dreams before drifting off to sleep!

This drawing was lovingly produced with ink and watercolor on an 8 x 11" artist sketchpad paper. I am offering it for $50 and it is signed and dated.

To purchase or inquire about shipping, please email

nlarkinart@gmail.com

"Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven." -Jesus Christ.

Finally Finished! Happy Fourth!

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 06:05:00 +0000

So,we have finally

completed the last two sections

of the wall! Happy Birthday America!

This memorial in Palatka, Florida
commemorates the sacrifices made
by Americans down through the years.
The location is 6th St and St. John's Ave.

"Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven." -Jesus Christ.

'With Wings Like Eagles' oil on 24" x 24" board

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 21:41:00 +0000

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall Mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" Isaiah 41: 31
This year, we have three wimpy chickens... they are a little scrawny looking, but very athletic! - being skittish, they stay close to the coop and don't wander too far away from the run. On the other hand, our chickens last year were plump and loved to wander and forage.
So, once, while I was relaxing in a chair out by our chickens, a beautiful hawk swooped down from the sky landing right in front of me and maybe 3 or 4 feet from my girls! They screeched and scrambled, and I jumped out of the chair, threw my magazine and yelled! It flew off immediately and my feathered friends lived to see another day! Good reason to get a nice watchdog when the chickens are out!! Anyway not to get too far off course...I was inspired to paint this from Isaiah 40 verse 31. Enjoy!

The idea is the wisdom in waiting upon the Lord, the source of our strength. Here is my attempt to portray the amazing strength in the wings of an eagle. The airplane was first patterned after the masterful design of God's creation of the bird. But nothing so far has been invented that flies, dives and ascends like that of the eagle!

"Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven." -Jesus Christ.

'In The Beginning, God....' mixed media on 24x24"board- 500. Original SOLD Prints available call 3866276644

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 16:28:00 +0000

What a mighty God we serve! Gen.1 records a verbal command that began time! We get a small amount of information about our Earth, the Universe and Mankind. How cool it is...our Creator spoke and it was so! The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters! God said...the WORD! And it was so! Spoken WORDS that divide the light from the darkness! Spoken WORDS that separated the heavens from the earth...water from water! WORDS of life!! WORDS that create us in His image! The WORD made flesh that dwelt among us!! The amazing Jesus is the spoken WORD of God! God himself in us!
I so like those words! And the words of Jesus below!

Whosoever, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven." -Jesus Christ.

for print purchase info call 386-627-6644
. Thank you for viewing my art. God bless!

Tilapia and that Temple Tax..or 'No Offense'

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 22:39:00 +0000

This Jesus, He was amazing..Who else but God Himself could use fish to pay taxes! How amazing in so many ways! They were told to take the coin out of the mouth of the first fish they caught! It was even the right amount! So I researched fish from the Sea of Galilee...this is a mixed media painting of a male Tilapia fish, commonly found there. The coin, a half shekel, was the amount required for the temple tax.

1500. DM at nlarkinart@gmail.com

24When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma taxcame to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?” 25He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” 26When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt. 27“However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and me'

Healing and Forgiveness acrylic on canvas

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 01:07:00 +0000

Psalm 103 says " as far as the East is from the West, so has He removed our transgressions from us." Forgiveness for the repentant heart!

"Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven." -Jesus Christ.

A Good Sermon Today

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 20:06:00 +0000

Watercolor and ink 4 5/10 x 7 1/2 " on 140 wt acid free surface. So this painting is dedicated to a wonderful inspirational sermon heard today at our little mountain church. It doesn't much have to do with apples, but then again, everything to do with the foolish things of God. It bears mentioning this simple little overlooked apple, a plain unimportant looking thing bears the signature of a great powerful Creator. How mind boggling it is to think that a simple little seed contains all the makings of a mighty tree. And the tree itself can produce an abundance of fruit, each one containing a number of seeds each of which has all the information and potential to become another tree! Thank God for the simple things he uses to amaze us! His creation that we take for granted , all of it, no matter how insignificant it appears, is a quiet testament to His greatness!
" God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the wise, ..." 1 Cor 1:27

"Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven." -Jesus Christ.

This one thing

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 01:03:00 +0000

This one thing he did.."Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven." -Jesus Christ.

'Prearranged' oil on board- $100.

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 03:30:00 +0000

Don't you think? I chose the mug....and the flowers...It took some doing. I had to pull some strings, well maybe some stems...but it required a search, up and down the roadway, for just the right match! Careful planning produces results and this just had to be right! Okay so it was prearranged, but the only thing wild about this was the flowers and any old 'love at first sight' would just end in failure!!! Like a marriage...No, we need to make sure it would last...you know, with deep roots...a solid foundation...something rock solid....time tested!! Grounded in good soil!

God did a lot of prearranging too. But maybe the most important thing he did was to make a way for us to get to heaven after we die. No one gets out of here alive right? Well that's not entirely true. When Jesus died, they buried him like they do with anyone who dies, but Jesus did not stay there. On the third day after being put in the grave, he returned to his friends with a resurrected body. It was to show you and me that this can happen to us if we believe. The bible says 'God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever should believe on him would not perish but have eternal life. ' It also says . "Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven." - These are the words of Jesus Christ. Now that is one nice promise! I like strength and truth..and this strikes me as a bolt of lightening..like the colors in this painting..bright , bold and true!

And prearranged.

It was a great plan don't you think? Grab a Bible and read more about the love of God.

Do you know anyone who wouldn't like a gift of eternal life? It's apparently free!!

' Justify' #2

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 22:33:00 +0000

So one of my favorite clients asked for another painting of a favorite racehrace 'JUSTIFY'. This one he just might keep! The others were gifts to his friend Mike Smith, the jockey who rode 'Justify' to the finish line! It was an honor to paint all those other wins and to know Mike Smith has that collection! Read the article below the painting.

Painting of a favorite winner 'Justify', his final race, ridden by the one and only well known jockey Mike Smith! Oil, 8x10 canvas on board.

So this wonderful race horse will be retiring soon. Zechariah 1:8

Verse Concepts

I saw at night, and behold, a man was riding on a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees which were in the ravine, with red, sorrel and white horses behind him.

A little history.....from USAToday

'Triple Crown winner Justify retired from racing

AP | 3:29 pm EDT July 25, 2018

Triple Crown winner Justify was retired from racing Wednesday because of fluid in his left front ankle.

Trainer Bob Baffert and Justify's owners said caution over the horse's ankle condition made it impossible to tell if he'd be healthy enough to race by the fall.

"What a way to go out: never beaten, won the Triple Crown," jockey Mike Smith said by phone. "He's happy, healthy. That's just beautiful."

Baffert said Justify wasn't responding quickly enough to treatment to be able to race in the next few months, so the decision was made to retire him.

"We all wanted to see Justify run again, but ultimately it is my responsibility to make sure he is perfect," Baffert said. "Without 60-90 days, I can't be definite."

The goal was for Justify to run in a major race this summer, likely the Travers Stakes at Saratoga, and be pointed toward the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. Instead, he was taken out of training earlier this month because of swelling in his ankle.

"The timing is bad for another start in 2018, and therefore, we have to retire him," said Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm, which co-owns Justify. "Like (2015 Triple Crown winner) American Pharoah, we can't take the risk of running Justify as a 4-year-old. We all wanted him to finish his career in the Breeders' Cup Classic, but it was not meant to be."

Justify won all six career starts, becoming the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to capture the Kentucky Derby after not racing as a 2-year-old. He won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes to become the 13th Triple Crown winner and second in the past four years after Baffert's American Pharoah.

"I could almost say he made my life," jockey Mike Smith said. "I'll forever be grateful for that horse. It takes a great, great horse to do what he did."

In addition to the Triple Crown, the Kentucky-bred Justify won the Santa Anita Derby and retires with career earnings of almost $3.8 million.

"It has been a great ride for all of us, and I have complete confidence Bob is doing the right thing by Justify," said Teo Ah Khing of China Horse Club, which is also a co-owner.

Walden said it's possible Justify's stud rights will be sold to Coolmore but added that won't be finalized until a later date. Justify is expected to return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky next month.

"Justify's extraordinary racing career — from maiden to Triple Crown winner in less than four months — was as brilliant as any our sport has seen," National Thoroughbred Racing Association president and CEO Alex Waldrop said. "We can't wait to have his first runners hit the track in 2022."

Smith considered Justify a horse who couldn't be beaten and called him a "truly a gift from God."

"You don't have to worry about him getting hooked up in a speed duel or something," Smith said. "If you want him to go, he could've gone. He didn't have to be in front. He'd do anything you wanted him to do. He was just naturally quick''.

An unlikely still life. 100.

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Sun, 05 Aug 2018 01:26:00 +0000

Original oil on 8 x 10" canvas board. Exquisite wildflowers of various

unknown botanical names grace the

top of a Tide bottle otherwise destined

for the recycle bin!

The safe way to handle Wild Parsnip!!

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 23:03:00 +0000

Do not touch this extremely toxic weed!!
But you can safely purchase the oil painting!!

LStudy this link to learn if that roadside weed you see is wild parsnip or wild hogweed

Queen Anne's Lace' and 'Wild Parsnip' on the Good Path

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 17:26:00 +0000

'There

are moments on our journey following the Lord where God illuminates every step we take.there are times when circumstances make perfect sense to us, as we try to understand each move He makes When the path grows dim & our questions have no answers,turn to Him.' 1st verse from the song 'Bow the Knee' I walked along this morning in search of something nice to paint and what caught my eye was the more than usual amount of wild parsnip growing among the roadside wildflowers. A harmless looking plant, kind of pretty actually, no warning labels, no cautionary statement or medical advice for seeing the doctor if swelling occurs from just touching the thing!_why do we have these nasty weeds anyway? Well, there's that parable about the wheat and the tares, which explains how the good and bad grow side by side and only during the harvest are they separated, the good part saved, and the weeds thrown into the fire! Wild Parsnip sure is bad, and if I didn't know what it looked like I might have picked it for my flower arrangement! It's also kind of deceiving in appearance because at first glance you might mistake it for Queen Anne's Lace! But it has a different stalk, almost celery like with vertical ridges, and I guess they don't bloom exactly at the same time because it's flower looked premature while the Queen Anne's Lace was all white and stunning! So I painted the good flowers and may do a study sketch of the infamous 'Wild Parsnip'!!

Leaving the wall behind

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 02:27:00 +0000

For a while at least, I think we'll just pack up these old painting clothes, toss out some of the really worn out paint brushes and rags, return the reference books to our local library, wash out or toss all our aluminum cans, (one nice thing about this amazing theme paint is that it peals right out of the plastic containers!), put away the ladders, chair, stool, radio, tarps, and remaining gallon cans of paint. Except for applying an ultraviolet protective coating and having the 28 names redone, these 2 murals are finished!

Palatka was very kind to us, and we will miss seeing many of the people working at the courthouse who said hello and commented on our work from day to day. We appreciate the use of the parking lot and the extremely clean facilities there!!! Thank you to those who noticed our mistake in the year for Pearl Harbor! It's corrected now! Thank you to the Palatka Daily News, the Conlee Snyder Mural Committee, with special thanks to John and Gwen Alexander, Evelyn Snyder, Frank Walker (for securing our scaffold!) and Linda Crabell, who came by periodically to see how we were doing, Sam Deputy and also Don from the bicycle shop! Also, I want to thank Pat and Gary Greene from our church in Flagler Beach, for keeping us company one afternoon as we painted! Our pastor Don Schultze drove out from Palm Coast one day to see our work and took some really great pictures! We also enjoyed a nice extended visit from our good friends Louise and Jerry Cunningham all the way from Flat Creek Baptist in Gilboa, NY! What a treat! And thanks to all the FB friends and relatives who left comments and likes! There were also visitors from places like Canada, Russia, upstate NY, Ohio, Georgia and local Floridians who came by to take pictures and talk. I want to specifically thank the Veterans from different wars, who came by to study and comment on the war scenes and share. The purpose of this war memorial is for them, to Honor Those Who Have Served and to Remember Those Who Have Fallen.

A posthumus thank you is in order for the late Clint Snyder, one of the founders of the Conlee Snyder Mural Committee, who envisioned this memorial years ago, and put together a very detailed composite of reference photos and instructions to work from. He also worked tirelessly right before he died at the age of 92, to raise funds for these mural projects.

Funds are still needed and donations for these and future mural projects can be brought to the Bicycle Shop on St. John's Ave. in Palatka or sent to the address below.

The Conlee-Snyder Mural Committee, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) Corporation, which makes your contribution fully tax deductible. Should you care to partner with them, your tax-free contribution may be sent to:    The Conlee-Snyder Mural Committee, Inc.
                                                             P. O. Box 1901
                                                    Palatka, Florida 32178

Robert H Jenkins Tribute Portrait

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 03:59:00 +0000


Portrait of Robert H. Jenkinson painted on cement column to the right of Viet Nam War scene	..

Into our 8th week, our mural painting was now coming to a close with just a few last minute details to complete. We spent so much time on the Iraq deployment scene and were both looking forward to finalizing our project! I had one remaining thing left to do, and that was to paint the portrait of a marine by the name of Robert H. Jenkins on the column above the Viet Nam scroll for MIA's and KIA's. I knew nothing about this young man at first, but in researching his name learned that while serving as a machine gunner with Company C, Third Reconnaissance Battalion,on March 5,1969, he was killed in action, when, along with a dozen recon team fighters, he was attacked by Viet Cong enemy fire. Jenkins and another marine by the name of Fred Ostrom, had taken up position together in a trench to man the machine guns during the attack. A hand grenade was thrown into their emplacement and Jenkins threw himself on top of his fellow marine absorbing the full impact of the grenade. He was mortally wounded and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic act and sacrifice of life. How fitting for a portrait of this brave man to be painted beside the Viet Nam War panel along with 28 other names of men from Putnam County who were killed or missing in action.

Among the dead and missing

you will find the name

                    PFC Robert Henry Jenkins Jr. USMC.
        Palatka has a middle school named after this brave man.The Conlee-Snyder Mural Committee, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) Corporation, which makes your contribution fully tax deductible. Should you care to partner with them, your tax-free contribution may be sent to:    The Conlee-Snyder Mural Committee, Inc.
                                                             P. O. Box 1901                                                    Palatka, Florida 32178

Iraq war mural - into the 4th week!

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 04:11:00 +0000

     Yesterday our troubles didn't seem so far away! and hopefully they wouldn't be here to stay!! It was another chilly and very breezy subtropical morning... Bundled up in layers we rigged up the tarp on the side of our scaffold to cut down on the wind chill factor! We then optimistically painted for 3 hours before giving up...It's just plain silly to try to hold your paintbrush steady in high winds!! I think with proper steering and the tarp trimmed just right to catch the wind, we could have sailed right back home to Palm Coast!
     But today was a welcome relief from yesterday's comedy..a beautiful day! it warmed up a bit from this morning's 49 degrees,the winds had died down and there was less risk of sailing away on our scaffold!!    I remember looking up into the blue sky and wondered about those tornado warnings posted for central Florida!!!
    So today Ed finished adding 28 KIA and MIA on the Viet Nam War scroll,

and I was able to make good progress on the marines waiting deployment in the Iraqi desert, and waiting for me to paint their many boots on the ground!!! and machine guns, camouflage uniforms and grim expressions.. This project has been a lesson in history, a sad journey down a very sobering memory lane and a realization that when history repeats itself, there is so much unexpected and sometimes unnecessary loss of life.

Several sections pieced together

In the bridge crossing scene down below a landing boat carrying 2 soldiers waits as a couple of tanks cross overhead.

What remains to be done still, is a single memorial portrait of a soldier from the Viet Nam War, to be painted above the scroll. This is the reference photo to be used - one young life represented on this wall.
There is a log of pictures out there taken by passersby, some visiting from other states touring the mural trails, admiring the murals and offering their thanks in honor of the men that served. We had the fun of meeting a nice couple from Maine today, who were happily following the mural map from Palatka's Welcome Center. They came over just as were packing up and spent a good half hour chatting with us. The woman's husband mentioned that he had lived thru all 4 wars! He must have been very young when WWII broke out!
So, thank you for visiting this blog and I hope you come in person to see all the history painted on Palatka's buildings! Funding for these and all other murals is being raised by the Conlee Snyder Mural Committee, and donations may be brought to the bicycle shop directly across from Palatka's Welcome Center on St. John's Ave.

WWII memorial....Blood, Guts and Nerves of Steel

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 02:22:00 +0000

During the second world war, much blood of brave young Americans was spilled in the Hawaian waters of Pearl Harbor, the beaches of Normandy, France, and the island of Iwo Jima in the South Pacific. On the Veteran's Memorial wall in Palatka, Florida, this fourth panel to the left of the Korean War scenes painted in 2016, is finished. From top to bottom they are....the bombing attack on Pearl Harbor, the Normandy Beach D-Day ( actual scene depicting D+1 Day) , and the iconic flag raising at Iwo Jima. These were the three scenes the late Clint Snyder envisioned for the WWII panel of this memorial. I remember way back in 2012 or was it '13...Clint had invited Ed and I to have a bite with him at Dunkin Donuts, to discuss the possibility of us painting a veteran's memorial . We already felt quite overwhelmed with the huge Annie Oakley mural we were painting and the thought of painting another one like what he was describing....consisting of 21 scenes, each triple scene being 16' high by 12' wide on a 91 ft wall seemed like a job for Superman! or woman! History was never my best subject, and didn't think we could do justice to a project of this magnitude! Clint however, explained to us how this was all going to happen. He had put together a rough sketch for each entry, numerous reference photos and a placement map with measurements, arrows, circles and labels, and after spreading all this out on the restaurant table, explaining each war scene in detail, we got into his car, and drove over to the courthouse parking lot to view the wall he had in mind. He then asked us to think about it and put together a proposal for the mural committee to approve. He would then begin to raise funds from various local and other veteran's groups and advertise for funding from the private sector as well. I wondered whose job would be harder .. ours or his!

Vet's Memorial Mural 2018 WWII and Iraq

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 22:27:00 +0000

Once again, we are in the charming town of Palatka, Florida, to paint 2 more panels for the Veteran's Memorial Mural on the western wall of the Courthouse. World War II and the Iraq War comprise 6 paintings in all, 3 for each war. As we begin the upper scene for WWII. The horrendous suprise attack in the early morning hours on Pearl Harbour by the Japanese Imperial Navy comes to life as we prepare the backdrop sea and sky for this awful visual record of treachery perpetrated on our peaceful naval base. Although devastating, the attack did not cripple the United States forces as the Japanese had hoped. The oil storage facilities, shipyards, submarine docks and repair stations remained intact, while all of the Navy's
Pacific Fleet of the aircraft carriers were elsewhere.

our worksite still there ...still waiting!

Frank Walker's very necessary scaffold modifications-wooden handrail and crisis-cross cable assembly!

Iwo Jima flag raising

We are hopefully going to finish this half of our project in 2 weeks and although there is rain in the forecast for several days next week, we feel we have a good head start in what we have been able to accomplish so far. As I paint the huge ships anchored unaware in Oahu's beautiful harbor, it's difficult to imagine what was experienced there on that morning of December 7, 1941. What sudden terror, fear and confusion, in a war that had not even been declared yet! I try to do justice to the terrible scene with firey explosions and plumes of black choking smoke filling the air. Sadly, 20 Naval vessels and 200 airlplanes were destroyed, and the American loss of life included 1,500 soldiers and personnel, with another
1,000 personnel wounded. In light of the sacrifices made to protect our country, I feel grateful and safe where I am with paintbrush in hand looking back on that fateful day.
Actually, this was for us, our absolute best painting day so far, and we would like to thank a very special volunteer from the amazing Conlee Snyder Mural Committee! A wonderfully dedicated Frank Walker concerned himself with making sure our questionable new scaffolding was safe and secure, and took it upon himself to correct some of the problems we were having with it! He spent quite a lot of time anchoring it together with cables, adding supporting outriggers and even built a nice guard rail for the top level! We are so thankful for this mural committee, who are comprised of caring individuals,
volunteering their time, energy and skills to bring the history the city and our nation to the town of Palatka. The mission of the Conlee-Snyder Mural Committee is to 'accurately depict the historical, cultural and natural riches of Palatka and Putnam County through larger than life murals. In sharing these pictorial renderings with citizens and visitors appreciation of the heritage of our community will be developed and enhanced.' The Committee was named in honor of the organization founders Elizabeth and Clinton Snyder and the City Commissioner and philanthropist Leon Conlee. We are also personally grateful for the Committee Chairman John Alexander and his wife and all they do to make it all happen!

Chris' name added to the mural wall

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 18:43:00 +0000

Thank you Lord, for this beautiful son... Children are a gift you said...

I was so blessed to have him as mine

Everything he did, was done with enthusiasm and care

As was this mural scene

Chris, your name has been added to the Chosin scene on the Korean war memorial.

Thanks for the time you gave us..R.I.P. Love always, Mom

Miniature thoroughbred portraits: Arrogate/Songbird

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 01:04:00 +0000

Commission portraiture:

Acrylic on 2.5" x 3.5" masonite

Finally a nice cool day for painting!

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Mon, 09 May 2016 04:16:00 +0000

These kids were more than happy to pose for us!

Readers become leaders ! Better Grab a Book !

And they asked lots of great questions too!

William D. Moseley Mural / April, 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Mon, 02 May 2016 12:05:00 +0000

Our mural adventures have taken us to an east facing wall over at the William Moseley Elementary School in Palatka..Our 3 other murals faced west with the sun coming up over those walls at around 12 noon, and our window to paint was early mornings, my favorite time! Best thing to do now is to arrive at lunch time just as that hot sun is about to move on! Getting started then motivates to us to really budget our time and energy!

A little Moseley history:
The first elected Governor of Florida was William Moseley (1845-1849). After serving his term in office, he settled in Palatka and operated a citrus grove there. For this mural project, he will be depicted in that setting along with his grave site which is located in the West View Cemetery . The book in his hands will encourage young readers with the appropriate title 'Readers Become Leaders'. So far we have been visited by enthusiastic second and third grade classes who all asked great questions about the mural, and about Florida's history!

Three down and four to go!

noreply@blogger.com (Nina Mateyunas) — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 21:33:00 +0000

Well, it's been a great honor to paint the first three of seven wars for this memorial! And we would just like to thank the Conlee Snyder Mural Committee, the City of Palatka for this commission and to the War Veterans, their families and the many civilians for supporting this endeavor with their donations and encouragement during the painting process! We take home with us many wonderful memories of time spent at this wall and we look forward to continuing and eventually completing the painting of WWI, WWII, The Persian Gulf War and The Iraq War.

My wonderful husband applies the final ultraviolet protective coating to Korea.

A lonely stretch of ice before them, and impassable mountains beyond!

Our Brooklyn assistant lent a capable hand!

And finally in memory of all those who gave their youth and their lives!