Beauregard Family Vacation… with paint!
In February, we visited Cactus’ dad, John in his adopted home of Miami, FL. He has been involved in the non-profit Shake-A-Leg, working to empower individuals with disabilities through adaptive water sports, recreation, and educational programs. This amazing group has a home in the historic Coast Guard hangar in Coconut Grove. They also hold a slip for the Impossible Dream, a universally accessible catamaran, is dedicated to raising awareness of barrier-free design and improving the quality of life for disabled persons through sailing. Check out both entities – it’s very inspiring to see how barriers are removed and kids and adults can enjoy the incredible seas on South Florida.
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- We arrived in Miami during a heavy rain
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- Our car dropped us off in the parking lot of a closed-up Shake-A-Leg Foundation at the docks in Coconut Grove
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- From the wet docks to the cozy cabin of the Impossible Dream. The hospitality of Deborah and Will made us feel at home right away!
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- The family and Harry Horgan from Shake-a-Leg Foundation pictured in front of the Impossible Dream
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- The Impossible Dream taking off for a trip to Tampa, FL
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- My first painting of the trip, an ode to the freedom gained on the water
“The Impossible Dream” 6″x8″ oil on linen panel, gift to Deborah
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- On the first morning, the boys found a dingy. It took only a couple of hours to empty it out and getting it back on the water
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- Among the giants in the harbor
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- The 3rd floor of Shake-A-Leg provides rare elevation and a chance to see the the island
“Adventure Island” is where Shake-a-Leg kids can crack open coconuts on the beach. It is a wilderness oasis in the middle of the busy harbor.
“Adventure Island” 6″x8″ oil on linen panel
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- The boys in the cockpit of our Hirsch 45
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- Shake-a-Leg generously offered this beauty for our lodging
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- The lavender colors from the overcast sky reflected in the sky didn’t last
“Miami Lodging” 6″x8″ oil on linen panel, available
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- Evening trip across Biscayne Bay
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- Captain Lynx
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- The views of Miami from the river
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- Captain Fisher
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- A highlight- seeing my Peace Corps friend, Ariel and inviting him on the boat trip
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- Dinner in the boat, on the river in Miami
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- Sport fishing for a day!
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- Top Tier fishing boat
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- The fish were biting!
“Freedom” 6″x8″ oil on linen panel, donated to Shake-A-Leg
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- Shake-a-Leg provides these adaptive sail boats, aptly named “Freedoms”. They use ramps and harnesses to transfer people from wheelchairs into the cockpit and able to reach the tiller and rigging
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- The wind was perfect and we had a beautiful sail in Biscayne Bay
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- This 20’ boat was specifically designed for people with disabilities and is what launched the Shake-A-Leg Miami Program in 1989
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- The boys are getting good at sailing!
“Hemingway’s Pilar” 6″x8″ oil on linen panel, donated to Shake-A-Leg
This is the initial sketch I did for a new client. I met them at the Snowmass Plein Air event. They expressed remorse that they loved my work but lived in the Florida Keys. They felt like my aspens wouldn’t fit in their home. I showed them my paintings from Miami and they immediately loved the “Pilar” and wanted a larger version. Stay tuned for that final piece!