My little nephew came to visit me in Florida over the summer and got to pet a baby alligator while he was here - because Florida, it's what we do. The whole week he was here he only wanted to eat "BBQ cheeps and taffy." Breakfast, lunch, dinner, it didn't matter - it was only BBQ chips from the can and taffy with jokes for that little dude. I gave Lou some classic clubmaster style sunglasses to protect from the bright sun.

My sister and I may have only been 7 when the Mannequin movie first came out, but I remember seeing it with her over and over again. We were so intrigued by the mannequin coming to life and only one person could see her. Things they made movies about in the 80s that would never work now. Now the movie would end with him in a nut house! Anyway Hollywood inspired this painting because he was this flashy guy who would run around designing the window and wore the coolest glasses! I picked one of them for the alpaca which has always seemed awesomely flashy to me. The background is full of triangles and rectangles reminiscent of the background of Saved by the Bell. I'd watch that show every Saturday morning and laugh at the humorous situations Zack would get himself into. Kind of fitting its paired with Hollywood since Zack was know for his freeze frame (now known as the "mannequin challenge"). 

Have you ever had braces? Ever gagged on that slime they would stick in your mouth to make a mold and then tell you to "just breathe?" Oh man I hated having braces, I wasn't one of those invisible braces kind of kids - I was a "you're wearing headgear for months" kind of kids. But that is ok, because as my mother said after I got them off,  "You better show that $3500 smile!" And I do, every time I take a photo - it's a full mouth photo. This brace-face could only be represented with a beaver and his buck teeth. He has on his orange safety glasses like what they make you wear to harden the cement on your braces and of course he has his drool bib. The painting wouldn't be complete without a wood grain background.

My niece has had the same stuffed animal, Bob the bobcat, for like 6 years. When she came to visit me over the summer, she saw all the different animals I had hanging on the wall and asked why I didn't have a cat yet? So of course, I had to make a cat. She picked out the type of sunglasses he is wearing and that he should be licking chocolate ice cream while I added the waves of red yarn in the background.

This guy is a shout out to my Midwest roots. For some die-hards, deer season was marked on the calendar way before you put your momma’s birthday down. As a child I hated the idea of killing a cute little deer, especially after I opened the shed door to grab a baseball bat and instead saw a gutted deer! I was horrified, but have you ever tasted deer sausage? Oh it’s like holding your pet chicken while you eat the best fried chicken your mom has ever made. It’s wrong, but oh so right. Deer sticks and deer sausage are a great treat that I rarely get since moving to Florida. Whoa is me, but back to the painting, Stan is rockin’ his safety glasses and earmuffs in front of those bullet ring paper targets. Mmmmm deer sausage, that is all.

Looking to hang in a group? Stan the buck pairs perfectly with Viktor the moose. Make sure to check out all the different animals in the "Throwin' Shade" series! 

All prints are made by a local print shop on #100 Cougar Opaque Cover paper and look great in an 8x10 frame or matted in an 11x14 frame.

What day is it? Hump Day! And no Hump Day would be complete without singing the song that gives you the chance to do the dance, that humpty dance. Why is he wearing a crown? Because, he once got busy in a BK bathroom. Why on Earth are there pickles in the background? Because, his nose is big like a pickle and he’s still gettin’ paid. You can’t help but shake your booty when you sing it! This is one of my favorites.

This cat is a major diva with her princess tiara. She is a lazy lounger that loves to eat dessert first. Pink raspberry cupcakes and strawberry donuts are the perfect sweets for a princess.

Veiled chameleons are so adorable! Have you seen the video with techno music where they put sunglasses of different colors next to the chameleon and he changes to that color? I'm sure there is some sort of computer editing, but cute non-the-less. I love how they slowly close there eyelids when they blink which is why I thought a viewfinder would be the perfect toy to pair with Ferdinand.

Looking to hang in a group? Ferdinand the veiled chameleon's colors pair perfectly with Ralph the Tyrannosaurs rex, Jack the parrot, and Bob the bobcat. Make sure to check out all the different animals in the "Throwin' Shade" series! 

All prints are made by a local print shop on #100 Cougar Opaque Cover paper and look great in an 8x10 frame or matted in an 11x14 frame.

Oh Mexican Wrestling, how I love you so! I want to go to Mexico for the sole purpose of seeing Lucha Libre live. The dude that inspired this painting, El Santo, helped put Lucha Libre on the map and had a career that spanned 5 decades – only removing his mask on TV once, the week before he died! A luchador can’t just go into the ring and wing it; this display of aerial choreography takes great thought. And like a world famous sculpture, El Santo is in deep thought before he goes into the ring. This Mexican wrestler has adorned his cap with a Dia De Los Muertos pattern and sits in front of the rays of light like those found on La Virgen de Guadalupe candles. El Santo was a God in the ring, a legend, a performer, one that should be shown respect.

This star gazing stone crab is out looking for constellations. The inventor of the telescope, Galileo, inspired this painting complete with a vintage telescope and beautiful night sky. The contrast of mint green and deep blues and purples just pops!

We all know about that famous female aviator who flew solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Amelia didn't like to wear traditional flying gear and only wore her flying goggles while taxing the plane and removed them as soon as she landed. And just like the Amelia Earhart this painting was inspired by, crows don't need flying goggles either so it only makes sense that I would pick them for her painting. Her energy was electric and that is reflected  in the neon beams shining from behind.

This cute dog was an order for someone's hipster sister living in Colorado. Geometric mountains, pints, and sunglasses make this the most chill dog.

English bulldogs are my absolute favorite. I really want one as a pet, but I just get told that they are the worst dogs to have (financially because of medical issues). Maybe one day when I get a lot of money I can finally get one and of course I'd have to get insurance on him and then name him Money Pit. This Bulldog was inspired by that famous King of Rock n Roll who made three movies in Hawaii, maybe you've heard of him, Elvis Presley? 

Poker, the game of skill and chance and lets just say I have no chance of acquiring the skill it takes to play the game. This beloved dog was a commissioned piece to honor their dog that had passed and his owner who was a poker night fan.

Oh Star Wars fans I am so sorry that I do not understand any of this magically story. Just like the Death Star, this flew right over my head, how Spaceballs, I can totally get behind that. This painting was a commission for a huge Star Wars fan and I can only hope to do it justice.

This ugly little Chinese crested dog was first introduced to me in one of those silly romantic comedies. You know the kind where they start off as rivals in a competitive game and end in that unattainable forever love. Meh. With a face only a mother could love, Rosie is feminized with her cute little polka dotted hair wrap. I mean it worked for the factory worker icon, it can work for Rosie too! Dog bone biscuits fill the little blue background to round out this all American painting. "We can do it!"

I learned so much about life from one of my favorite 80’s movies – sex, drugs, and rock n roll – what more could you want? Fast Times at Ridgemont High inspired this painting and it's epic and the ever chill Spicoli was the best, whether he was showing up late because he was out surfing, ordering pizza during history class, or in need of some money because he couldn’t hold a job, you knew you’d get a laugh. When he finally put clothes on you could bet it would be a Mexican poncho, cut-off shorts, and some checkered sliders. This happy little dolphin is rockin’ his own poncho and checkered sunglasses in front of a sea of surfboard fins.

How many times did you play pin the tail on the donkey as a child? I can say I played more than a few, and I cheated every single time. Hey now, don't judge me, maybe it wasn't really cheating, but more of common sense? You know the donkey's rear is near the edge of the paper, so I'd just feel for the edge, move a little to the left and bam! Of course I won every time. It's the little things people. Instead of you wearing the blindfold, this time it's Alejandro and he's ready to win. I filled the background with stripes representative of traditional Mexican rugs and wrapped a pink bandanna around his furry little head.

I remember the first time I saw one of those old school tower viewers, I was 11 and at Niagra Falls with my family. I may or may not have had a bit of an attitude and told my mom that it wasn’t a big deal, “It’s just a hole with water, I can see that in the tub!” What can I say, I was a bit rude. But Thaddeus on the other hand, is anything but rude, just very inquisitive peering through his own tower viewer with play buttons pressed in the background. 

On one of my many trips to an urban hipster store I discovered this pair of flip-up visor sunglasses and began to instantly laugh. At the time, some citizens of Jax Beach were trying to get a permit to have a nude beach...so I thought these would be perfect. When you see something you shouldn't have, you just flip them down. Great idea...unless you're walking down the beach, then you also have to stop in your tracks. I mean it's not like you can be walking and all the sudden see a nudie and flip them down, you would also have to stop walking otherwise you might run into things, like that nudie! They were cool, just not practical, but then I guess that wasn't the intention. Anyhow, they made me laugh and I had to get a photo wearing them. 

This dame is inspired by Dame Edna, a character by an Australian comedian famous for her light purple hair and cat eye glasses or "face furniture" as the Dame called it. I remember seeing this act as a child when I was at my grandma's house. Her quirky voice, bright style, and sarcasm were infectious. This Amazon horned frog with her wide mouth reminded me of the dame so I adorned her with the iconic face furniture and fancy chandelier earrings.

Enrique the tree frog loves to swim, but just doesn't know how. I have the most adorable photo of my niece running up on shore after looking in the ocean for shells. She had her water wings and swim goggles on and smiling ear to ear. Like I said, most adorable! I completed this painting with water ripples in the background.

Going cross country for a beauty pageant when you're one of those original kind of kids is only going to lead to an interesting story line. Have your brother take a vow of silence and your grandpa die along they way, how could you not be sucked in from the beginning? Olive is sporting the famous old lady vintage glasses and red sweatband while posing in front of a color blind test.

When someone makes the switch from trucker hats to beanies, they become the definition of hipster. You can’t call yourself a hipster without wrapping yourself in a scarf while sporting a crochet beanie drooping off your head, regardless of the temps outside. Whether it's a double-shot, chai tea latte, iced caramel macchiato, or dark roast, whatever your morning cup contains – you can bet it will be over-priced. And beards…oh beards…swoon worthy in the first two inches…beyond that, it’s a bit of a dirty mess. Ashton Kutcher inspired this painting and this goat is basically the hipster starter kit, but like super cute.

All I need is a day to chill at the spa and Zoe is doing just that. Hippos are notorious for keeping cool in the water and Zoe is taking it a step further with cucumber slices on her eyes and seltzer water bubbles in the background. How can you not feel refreshed after a day chillin’ in the water with cucumbers on your eyes?

Jirra is the Aboriginal name of a kangaroo so of course I would pick it for this powerful kangaroo. Random fact: kangaroos can't walk backwards. Pretty interesting and probably explains why they kick forward instead of back. Their powerful kick means the only possible eye wear choice for Jirra is a pair of safety goggles. The boomerangs in the background make a playful pattern with dots for a nod to Aboriginal art.

A little bit of nerding out here, I am a huge fan of a blonde Aussie that works as a consultant for the Bureau of Investigation on one of those crime tv shows, "The Mentalist." Swoon for Simon Baker! For my Australian koala I picked a sleeping mask because the one thing every koala needs is a nap. Did you know that they sleep over 16 hours a day? 16 hours, that's insane! Have you seen the people out of Australia? Sleeping would be the last thing on my agenda, especially if Simon was around.

Oh Benjamin, how they loved you so here in St. Pete. Hockey is huge here in Florida, not really sure how to wrap my brain around that one, but it is. Ben Bishop was the golden child until he was traded in 2017...just months after I completed this painting...oh well, now it's vintage.

A bad ass General made aviator sunglasses popular when he was photographed wearing them during WW2. Since then, the aviator has remained a classic go-to in fashion. The water rings in the background were inspired by sweat rings from drinking glasses after a great day at a beach bar with friends while we were sporting our own aviators. 

First off let me get out of the way that horned lizards shoot blood out of their eyes!!!! Like whoa. Onto a happier note, I can move to why this lizard was named after myself. Back in high school (in the 90s) I used to have insomnia and seasonal depression in the gray winters of Missouri. I would go to the tanning bed (in the 90s when we didn't know any better) and sleep the deepest, most amazing sleep of my life - for 20 minutes. I'd never get a tan because I would lather up with sunscreen (and now that we know how harmful they are, thank goodness I did)!. Like the horned lizard, I got hooked on feeling the heat on my face and now any time I'm at the beach I am programmed to fall asleep. I added an Aztec pattern to the background because it just screams heat to me and at the time that I painted it I had just bought a dress with an Aztec pattern that I simply adored. 

I'm not gonna lie, I know very little about sports and even less about the people who play them. I might be the least competitive person in the world. I like to play sports, I just suck at them. I like to play games, just don't care if I win. I know, I know, how is this possible? Anyhow, being from the Midwest, I had to say yes when I was requested to paint this fan favorite inspired by Mike Moustakas. Very few people beyond Kansas City would be wearing one of their royal blue shirts until they finally had a shot to "take back the crown" and now it's not so embarrassing. 

I used to live in Colorado and I will never forget driving through town and seeing a ginormous moose hanging out in someone’s front lawn, under the tree, and just inside their white picket fence! Instead of being the hunted, Viktor is the hunter, on the lookout for whomever is on the lookout for him. The background is a mix of heartbeats and flat lines, a little morbid, but ah ya know!

Looking to hang in a group? Viktor the moose pairs perfectly with Hal the Owl, and Ezra the fox. Make sure to check out all the different animals in the "Throwin' Shade" series! 

All prints are made by a local print shop on #100 Cougar Opaque Cover paper and look great in an 8x10 frame or matted in an 11x14 frame.

I have always had a love for the ocean. I was stuck, land locked, in the Midwest, but I knew I was meant for the ocean. Octopuses are so mesmerizing to watch gliding across the ocean floor and wrapping their tentacles around anything in it's path. The background of this one is made from a pattern of anchors that I created in shades of purple. Perry is holding onto one of the coolest vintage toys that needs to come back! Why are there no more periscope toys?!?! 

I've been going to the optometrist for decades and it wasn't all that funny, I mean, nobody wants to hide these beautiful eyes behind distracting glasses. One time I went to one of those budget eyeglass places, you know get two for the price of one. They gave me a pair of vintage glasses to test the lenses. I thought that it was a joke, but then they really did read my prescription from them! Needless to say, I didn't get my glasses from there.

This “peaceful mountain” is named after a panda born at the National Zoo in D.C. Did you know his name was originally named Butterstick because he looked like a butter stick when he was born? Hilarious, but thank goodness we aren’t all named after what we looked like – squishy face, marshmallow rolls, snotty nose – oh the possibilities! The Internet tells me the symbol for panda is what I have painted in the background, but just like my sister’s Chinese tattoo for love, I’m not really sure it was right. What did we ever do before the Internet? Just like the internet, I don't think anyone can live without their cell phone camera. Tai Shan is holding a vintage camera taking pictures of everyone at the zoo.

Looking to hang in a group? Tai Shan the panda pairs perfectly with Thaddeus the elephant or Randy the Bengal tiger. Make sure to check out all the different animals in the "Throwin' Shade" series! 

All prints are made by a local print shop on #100 Cougar Opaque Cover paper and look great in an 8x10 frame or matted in an 11x14 frame.

Seems like every pirate's name is Jack and this one is named after the Captain in the Caribbean. The background is complete with a treasure map and X marks the spot. Jack is sporting a red hat and orange patch to complete his pirate costume.

I used to watch that show where the kids went to a Historically Black Collegiate University and faced real-world struggles. I had no idea when I was watching it, that I too, would one day go to an HBCU, but it was nothing like the tv show. This painting was inspired by Dwayne Wayne who rocked these glasses as a way to stand out from the other characters in the show and it sparked a fashion craze. I'm not gonna lie, I rocked a pair of these glasses when I was a kid. Mine where pink metal and I thought they were the coolest damn thing, ever. The coolest animal I could pair with the glasses would definitely be the peacock, because hello - they flip their tail up and own it.

No collection of animal paintings in St.Pete would be complete without a brown pelican. Nigel is one of my favorites and is inspired by the pelican that tries to save the day in that minor movie where everyone just keeps swimming in Finding Nemo. He is sporting some famous fishing glasses in front of a diamond pattern of sardines – take a close look, they’re super detailed!

Just like the "Fancy" song by Iggy Azalea that this painting was inspired by, this pig is so fancy, you already know! Have you ever rolled around in the mud with pigs? So much fun...unless the goal is to actually catch that pig for dinner, then it's a little less fun and a little more frustrating. I wanted to dress this little pig up and make her fancy for the Masquerade Ball or Mardi Gras party. I envision her being like that dorky girl in the movies that gets a makeover and shows up to prom where no one recognizes her because of her new found hotness.

Suspenders and striped shirts, oh man, did I do that? The 90s were a great time for television; the time before TGIF meant happy hours and instead meant huddling around the TV glued to one show after another of great comedy. When I thought about putting Steve Urkel in a painting, the only animal that popped into my head was a prairie dog! Just like Steve would pop into a scene and steal the show, prairie dogs in Colorado would pop up along the plains and steal my attention. I was just blown away by these little burrowing rodents, popping up one after another like a whack-a-mole game.

Looking to hang in a group? Steve the prairie dog pairs perfectly with Viktor the moose, Sarah the horned lizard, and Harry the raccoon. Make sure to check out all the different animals in the "Throwin' Shade" series! 

You can bet your life that this rabbit is a comedian. Hahaha see what I did there? Did you know that Groucho used to paint a mustache for his acts? But those eyebrows, he was born with those bushy boys! His one liners were zingy, his sarcasm was impeccable, and he was down right witty. This rabbit has one of my favorite backgrounds (which might be why it appears more than once).

"AHHHHHHHH" Raccoons are known for stealing food and Harry is inspired by a very famous thief from the 90s movie where a kid got left alone while his family went on vacation, Home Alone. Like how does that happen? Today that would not happen. Every kid seems to have a cell phone now so kid calls parent, sister, brother, uncle, whomever, problem solved. But in the 90s, that was a pretty wicked awesome movie and the two dingbats that were trying to break into the house were hysterical! 

Cassius Clay inspired this painting and while he may have floated like a butterfly, one hit from this ram and you'd be knocked out faster than you could hear that bee buzzin'. Have you ever watched rams in battle? It's loud and sounds painful. I had to silly up Cassius with some funny eyeball drop glasses, you know a little morbid play on boxers getting their eyes busted. But there's no way you don't laugh when someone wears these glasses and tries to have a conversation with you. They could be talking about anything and you wouldn't be able to help it, you'd have to laugh. 

Lisa was one of the first paintings in this “Throwin’ Shade” series. This sassy little rooster is rockin’ a singer’s classic cat-eye glasses, adorned with flowers and an energizing yellow zigzag in the background. Inspired by Lisa Lobe's catchy little tunes in the mid-90s that were a favorite of my sister…you know, before she made the switch the next year to some guys who just wanted some nookie. Oh teenage years, the angst of it all!

A cute seahorse that’s all about the horse races! This little guy is wearing Mr. Triple Crown’s colors on his horse blinkers and named after his jockey, Ron Turcotte. Roses rain down in the background like ones thrown over his shoulders after winning the Derby. Whether you like to watch from home, or get out there and place your bets, this competitor is meant for all you horse lovers.

Oh La La Love. How could you not possibly love this little French skunk that ran around searching for love in Paris?  Pepe wears his heart on his eyes with these cute little red heart glasses. Cupid's arrows are flying around in the background hoping to make love happen. 

You may have seen a movie as a child where a boy lives in the jungle. There is a snake in one of the scenes that hypnotizes them with his eyes and this painting was inspired by that scene in Jungle Book. Those hypnotic magic glasses go perfectly with all the scales on the king cobra that make your eyes dizzy. I recently went to a place where they milk snakes, holy moly it was so cool to watch...from the other side of the glass. The cobra just danced back and forth with this guy that gave his full trust in a reptile that could take him down with one bite! Like I said, it was so cool to watch - from the other side of the glass. Talk about a high-stress job that guy has!

Every time I hear the name Todd I think of that movie "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" line where Margo says "I don't know Todd" after an icicle crashes through their window and ruins everything. How could you not love that movie? This Todd isn't named after him, but I can't help say his name like Margo does with all that sass. Have you ever had one of those crazy nights at a frat party? Yeah, me either. But if I had, I’m sure a guy named Todd would be there with his red cup, hiccuping in between gulps of the cheapest beer he could find. This Todd a little more kid-friendly with his drinking straw glasses and bubbles in the background. Random thoughts by Sarah.

Looking to hang in a group? Todd the Scottish Highland steer pairs perfectly with other farm animals like Lisa the rooster, Alejandro the donkey, Ashton the goat, and Cassius the ram. Make sure to check out all the different animals in the "Throwin' Shade" series! 

All prints are made by a local print shop on #100 Cougar Opaque Cover paper and look great in an 8x10 frame or matted in an 11x14 frame.

Wrestling was choreography at it's prime in the 80's! I've seen more than my fair share of wrestling matches and my favorite moments involved this guy and ripping his shirt off after biting into that skinny processed Slim Jim meat. He was amazing! The jumping, the flipping, the dropping in, it was all spectacular. Did you know he got his name from a magazine article his mom read saying Macho was the new word of the year? Pretty adorable this tough guy let his mom pick his name.

This is one of my favorites in the series. I saw this little movie in the 90s about some extinct dinos brought back to life for a tourist attraction and I was hooked! Throw in Chris Pratt in the last movie and they still have me hooked. Science is scary, the possibilities seem endless, lets just hope bringing back dinosaurs isn't on the agenda. EEEK! This dinosaur is a reflection of me with his turquoise glasses and geometric triangle background. Random question: if a dinosaur needed glasses, how would he put them on? Definitely not with those little arms. 

This popular Italian operatic tenor is taking in the show from the balcony. I have mad respect for anyone who can belt out notes like this guy, he was epic. Did you know that walruses have over 400 whiskers? That is insane and I can tell you with certainty that I did not paint them all. 

The name Sanaa is of African decent and has a meaning of "brilliance." I have always wanted to travel to Africa to go on a safari to see wild animals, but I'm too terrified for what happens after dark. I mean have you seen those videos? EEK, no way. For this painting, I gave her striped glasses to match her striped fur and put the safari truck tracks in the background. Maybe one day I will be brave enough to make that safari in Africa happen. Maybe.