South Texas
Where In The World Is Tanya
Here is where I hope you will fall in love with my South Texas travels;
a collection of original photographs where I honor them by preparing
works of artistic effects and with wishes
that you will hang them on your wall to
savor them enough where you, too, may plan a trip or two!
# 4324B-FA-1024
Whistling Winds
Galveston Beach, Texas
While I worked on this photo I took of the colorful Dawn Condominiums and mural by Texas artist, Mario Enrique Figueroa, Jr. (also known as GONZO247), I wanted to create a vibrant painting with more sea waters splashing a story for you!
The seagulls whistled as they flew above and I fell in love with this beach moment!
Digitally Painted from my Original Photo!
# 4324A-TH-1024
Whistling Winds
This is my original photo for my Fine Arts piece above!
I needed to use this shot for my TravelWITWIT Blog!
Enjoy!
(My Original Photo)
# 4097-TH-3678
Look The Other Way
Galveston, Texas ~ Pier 21
During the summer of 2014 I had the pleasure of traveling mostly throughout my home State, Texas!
I had lived in Houston during college and was a frequent flier to Galveston Island, surrounding sites and the beaches.
While having family spread across Texas, as a child my most fond memories are that of going to Houston with my family, meeting other close families and heading further south to the shoreline and beaches of Galveston Island.
Swimming, tanning, sunburning, beach combing and sightseeing.....
But never in my life have I ever seen as many pelicans as I did in August 2014.
Zillions!!
When asking about the shoreline being tattered with kelp and seaweed, I learned this tide-turning and changing works of mother nature was the reason so many pelicans and tropical animals were abundant! The forces of the moon and sun brought treasures to my Nikon D7000 lens!
I was in Pelican Heaven!
HDR Photo Processing from my original photo!
# 4098-TH3772 Pelican Heaven
Bacliff, Texas ~ August 2014
This is a panoramic from my original photo.
Frame size is 36x12.
Once again....pelicans....pelicans...pelicans!
Everywhere I looked, these amazing tropical birds posed for me!
See other colorful photos in "Art Works tab!
# 4245-TL-3597
Bay Daze
Galveston, Texas
I took a few hours almost every day while staying in Galveston for about a month to do some well invited bird watching! That month was the best thing since sliced bread for my photo bandwagon! Birds of many species were abundant during this particular tidal season. Newly and uncommon arrivals came to feed on little marine organisms; not to mention putting on quite the show at times!
While capturing in silent mode this little Night Heron nourish and pick at his marshy lunch I was hoping his mate would clock in, too. Appearing overjoyed with his seaside cuisine, he hardly noticed me creeping closer and closer as he danced his way through the witch hazel limbs and soggy mucks which lined these Galveston sand dunes.
Digitally Painted from my original photo!
# 4336C-FA-1307
In Memory Reflect
1900 Storm Memorial
Galveston, Texas
One of my main purposes to spend a couple more days in Galveston yet once again was to capture a photo of a bronzed sculpture and monument that has become legend for this Gulf Coast town; “1900 Storm Memorial”. While I have photographed this amazing piece before I wanted to take special attention to it with a purpose to create a painting with the moon shining down on it.
The monument is dedicated to victims as well as survivors of the 1900 Storm that took over 8,000 precious Galvestonian lives. David Moore, the artist, is well famous for many more notable pieces found around the city. He sadly moved on to Heaven in 2001 at the age of 80. With the devastation of Hurricane Harvey at least we didn’t suffer this grieved amount of lives taken from the Great State of Texas.
Digitally Painted from my Original Photo!
My original photo for use on my TravelWITWIT Blog!
# 0997-TL-3920B
Special Guests
Clear Lake Shores, Texas
Welcome to Clear Lake Shores once again! Along the way through this little city and driving around 15mph my SUV withstood countless curbside stops. The neighborhood is breathtaking with views of the yachting activities, the crystal clear Clear Lake, lots of geese toying around and engaging lawns and front porches of the many impressive homes! Clear Lake Shores has been nicknamed “The Yachting Capital of Texas” mostly due to since there are more boat slips than residents!
I loved this bronze statue of the young boy and sea turtle and decided to create 2 pieces of art works with it! Hope you enjoy!
Digitally Painted from my original photo!
# 0998-TL-3920A
Garden Guests
Clear Lake Shores, Texas
This will make a fabulous Wall Mural!
Sections of my original photo along with other elements I created, I bring you an underwater seascape style piece of art! Hope you enjoy! The original "painted" photo is above.
Digitally Painted from my original photo!
#4328B-FA-0907
Ocean Friendly Seaside
The Dawn Condominiums and Grafitti on
Galveston Beach Seawall Boulevard
I’ve always been attracted to the colors that blossom throughout coastal towns. The beach homes, condos and storefronts are dripping in quintessentially themes of turquoise, bright tropical shades of peaches and limes and sprinkled with citrus cheer!
While most graffiti may tell a mecca story or detail a street-wise depiction of life in unusual comic or outcry mural form, the photo I took here shows a more informational quest to teach you the safety in watching the seafood’s destination from which you eat. Hence, a Saving Wildlife styled mural and recommending to download the Seafood Watch App. Their goal is to make you aware of sealife animals that are caught in fishing nets.
A Texas local artist, Mario Enrique Figueroa, Jr. (also known as GONZO247) has been a recipient of several Awards where he painted five murals to highlight the area’s wildlife and the threats and conservation work around them. An action focus for beach-goers to take in saving wildlife is painted throughout each of his murals.
This mural can be found along the Seawall Boulevard between 69th Street and 73rd Street where the The Dawn Condominiums creates a colorful backdrop.
Digitally Painted from my Original Photo!
My original photo for use on my TravelWITWIT Blog!
# 4326B-FA-0888
Catch And Release
German Shepherd & Sand Piper
Galveston Beach
Galveston Beaches are pet friendly!
We took To-To with us on this trip and I am sad to say this may have been her last beach adventure since she is going on 19 years of wonderful years with me. (No Photo of To-To available yet)
While we sauntered among the bubbling foam and streams of slow tides along come a scene I rushed to photograph! What a beauty this German Shepherd was to watch and I caught him just as a Sand Piper appears to make no mind to his splashing!
I know it’s best to keep your pets on a leash, but sometimes you just have to let them play!
Digitally Painted from my Original Photo!
My original photo for use on my TravelWITWIT Blog!
# 4380-FA-991
Beach Diary
Galveston, Texas
Formulated with bits and pieces of my photographs in Galveston!
# 4335B-FA-1315
Summer Wonder
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier
A day in Galveston wouldn’t be the same without a drive-by or the purchase of tickets to Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier!
I call this photo “Summer Wonder” because you can’t help but remember the wonderment of riding a carousel or dawdling along an ocean front boardwalk during a vacation or family day with your loved ones.
Pleasure Pier is packed with rides, dining and shopping adventures. I was pleased to see that Hurricane Harvey only did minimal amounts of damage to the pier and I caught a photo of some of the workers as they readied the rides once again!
Digitally Painted from my Original Photo!
My original photo for use on my TravelWITWIT Blog!
# 4334B-FA-1309
Meet Me At The Spot
The Spot (Five Venues)
Galveston Island Seawall Drive
While The Spot is a popular and premier beachfront dining and entertainment point, they boast that every seat in their (house) “hut” is the best view of the beach! Enjoy the Gulf of Mexico while sprinkling lemon on their fresh locally caught shrimp, chomping down on their Award Winning Best Appetizers, sipping on their Ritas and hopping from one (house) spot to the next for a novel experience…
Another words, you will most surely bounce from The Spot’s front entry to their Tiki Bar to their SideYard to their Rum Shack to their Squeeze’s outdoor courtyard. This was originally built from houses that were going to be torn down!
For my moment here? I stood on the beach and turned around to capture a memorable view of their enticing venue! And, of course, later that evening we enjoyed their menu items and ocean front view!
Digitally Painted from my Original Photo!
My original photo for use on my TravelWITWIT Blog!
# 4249-TL-3814
Ambit Audience
Kemah Boardwalk & Galveston, Texas
Any photographer will stop to shoot a photo of a sitting bird, no matter the scenery or weather. Feathers are at rest, eyes hardly blinking, their focus is steady and you will click 50 times. Now you take it to photoshop and sit back to wonder what to do with all this so it will end up in someone’s frame. Am I right?
Since I have become devoted to creating a painting from my photographs…thereupon I present an Ambit Audience! Were these seagulls watching me? Were they chatting together while surveying their bounding horizon? So my next thought was to put a story together employing another image I took. My reflection of a lifetime being passionate about a plentiful beach recalls every moment with an audience of the bustling seagull. There just isn’t a beach alive without these larks.
The delightful lamp post and seagulls photo was taken on The Boardwalk in Kemah and the beach scene is one I took from my hotel balcony on Seawall Boulevard of Jimmy’s On The Pier in Galveston. I am hopeful this scene will remind you of your personal experiences when you were the guest of a beach, too!
Digitally Painted from my original 2 photos!
# 3505-PE2-4121
Four Seasons On The Beach
Four Seasons On The Gulf Resort ~ Galveston, Texas
Having the pleasure of staying at Four Seasons in Galveston many times, I am delighted they now have painted their resort with wonderful electric beach colors; a change from the blue hue I grew up with.
Not only are you a walk away to the beach, you are mere minutesto many of Galveston's historical attractions and tourist hot spots!
Digitally Painted from my original photo!
# 3576-PE2-4127
Big Fish (A)
Fisherman's Wharf Seafood Grill
Pier 21 ~ Galveston, Texas
Who can say there is a best seafood restaurant in Galveston?
You can't!
I say this is one of the tops!
If you want to unwind from the day or just dine by the bay, this is the place where you can eat on the waterfront and enjoy fresh seafood, snag up what a lot of Texan's say is the "best shrimp on earth",
behold the daily harbor life with ships and boats and dolphins, stroll through the Texas Seaport Museum (Home of The Elissa 1877 tall ship) and maybe catch a glimpse of a pirate or two!
But what you will most definitely see is this BIG FISH at the entrance of Galveston's 1940's legacy!
Digitally Painted from my original photo!
# 3576-PE2-4128
Big Fish (B)
Fisherman's Wharf Seafood Grill
Pier 21 ~ Galveston, Texas
Digitally Painted from my original photo!
# 4234-TI-4373
A Wish For A Fish To Flaunt (A)
Seawolf Park & Pelican Island ~ Galveston, Texas
Most tourists will visit Seawolf Park for the educational experience in visiting World War II memories where the U.S. Navy sank over 30% of Japan’s fleet, where you can take a tour of the USS Cavalla submarine and visit the USS Stewart Destroyer Escort. This little hot island also provides a busy lighted fishing pier and several picnic areas for families to enjoy. If you take the Pelican Causeway across to Pelican Island (Seawolf Parkway) the park is located at the tip end where you can enjoy a wonderful sunset and gaze across the hustling Port Bolivar to Galveston’s US Marine Corps and Cost Guard facilities and ports.
And, of course, engage yourself while ogling the hundreds of pelicans that thrive and fish for their meals here! I couldn’t believe how many pelicans I saw all throughout the coastal area of Texas I saw the summer of 2014!
Digitally Processed from my original photo!
# 4235-TI-4373B
A Wish For A Fish To Flaunt (B)
Seawolf Park & Pelican Island ~ Galveston, Texas
This is the same photo as above; created with a painterly feel!
Digitally Painted from my original photo!
# 3912-PE2-4117B
207 My Bay View
Clear Lake Shores ~ Clear Lake, Texas
One could fall in love with such a colorful neighborhood bustling along in Clear Lake Texas. My excursion through Clear Lake Shores brought much promising photo opportunities with an array of diversity from fishing, hebrons, geese, sail boats, people's front & back yards... I snapped and snapped photos all day!
Digitally Painted from my original photo!
# 3911-PE2-4119
Bayou Morn (A)
Clear Lake Shores ~ Clear Lake, Texas
I bet I took 1000 photos while driving through Clear Lake Shores on a gorgeous August 2014 day, and then another 1000 a few weeks later. Deciding which photo to work with is still a challenge, but for now I took a more simpler one to create a delightful abstract!
Digitally Painted from my original photo!
# 4142-PE2-4030
Elissa Sounds (A)
Elissa ~ Pier 21 ~ Galveston, Texas
The Galveston Historical Foundation operates this historical ship, Elissa, boasting her coastal flags at Pier 21! She was built in 1877 in Aberdeen, Scotland by Alexander Hall Company and proudly stretches 99 feet, 9 inches at the main mast! She officially launched October 27, 1877 and endured a 90-year commercial purpose carrying varieties of cargos to ports around the globe. As well as boarding to enjoy her Texas Seaport Museum, she remains fully functional and visitors can enjoy the high seas with scheduled sails, too!
Digitally Painted from my original photo!
# 3911-TI-4246
Bayou Morn (C)
Clear Lake Shores ~ Clear Lake, Texas
For some reason I fell in love with this photo and spent time dancing with effects, colors and filters. Although I came up with several finished results, a decision was made to present two styles!
See above for first art works!
Digitally Painted from my original photo!
# 4142-TL-4247
Elissa Sounds (C)
Elissa ~ Pier 21 ~ Galveston, Texas
The Galveston Historical Foundation operates this historical ship, Elissa, boasting her coastal flags at Pier 21! She was built in 1877 in Aberdeen, Scotland by Alexander Hall Company and proudly stretches 99 feet, 9 inches at the main mast! She officially launched October 27, 1877 and endured a 90-year commercial purpose carrying varieties of cargos to ports around the globe. As well as boarding to enjoy her Texas Seaport Museum, she remains fully functional and visitors can enjoy the high seas with scheduled sails, too!
Digitally Painted from my original photo!
# 3911-PE2-4132
Bayou Morn (B)
Clear Lake Shores ~ Clear Lake, Texas
# 4142-PE2-4031
Elissa Sounds (B)
Pier 21 ~ Galveston, Texas
# 3490-PE2-4125
Time To Sea
East Beach ~ Galveston, Texas
If you drive as far East as you can on Seawall Boulevard,
it dead ends at Fort San Jacinto Historic Point and
the Inner Bar Channels where ships, fishermen,
Coast Guard and visitors play or work.
Somewhere in here as I drove around I found this
lovely clock tower! Behind it ships roll in and out all day!
# 3556-PE2-4122
Galveston Oh Galveston
San Luis Pass Road ~ Galveston, Texas
Scenery such as this keeps me in awe every time I take long drives where my eyes scour from side to side at the wonders Galveston Island plants into my subconscious in hopes of retaining mental thoughts for every photo I take.
The collection of old and new, retro and vintage are paintings by the seaside.
# 3574-PE2-4156
Sealy Garden Mansion
Open Gates Conference Center
2419 Sealy Ave, Galveston, TX 77550
Phone: (409) 747-4600
Although this historical Galveston Island landmark is currently operated by the University of Texas Medical Branch (1979) with the use as a Conference Center, the 1889 neo-Renaissance mansion was once upon a time the center for local business civic activities and memorable social life legends.
Legend has it when Magnolia Willis Sealy presented her husband, George Sealy, with their fifth child (4th girl) in 1885, she offered him a rather expensive proposition: "Sir, I'll give you a second son if you'll build me the finest home in Galveston."
Galvestonians who grew up in this Gulf Of Mexico island town in South Texas called the Sealy’s family home The Big House where echos of Gay-90’s costume parties, the attic’s playroom with a stage lingers from the 1940’s special traveling performances by traveling marionette troops, a groaning elevator leading to the elder and eccentric Uncle Bob Sealy’s quarters and traditional celebrations throughout the year including the big treat for Christmas Eve night prevails over today’s use.
I have been a frequent flier to Galveston Island since a toddler with a multitude of stories and memories myself. But to entertain the thought of interviewing some of the older folks who brave the hurricanes and ever-so changes Galveston has presented throughout historical events would be such an honor and hopefully answers to the many questions I have about other still-standing worn houses and buildings; not only the “google-found” wealth of information regarding the popular sites. Such history entertains the light bulbs glowing in my head!
I shot this photo in August of 2014 while taking the time to walk around the business district about a mile or so as you enter Galveston and partake in a couple of family-owned restaurants; stopping in just for a quick iced tea and chats so that my day was well spent collecting a collage of photos of sites I had always driven by and wondered about!
I may work again with my original photo of this gorgeous mansion to show more of it's original look, let's see how much time I have......
Oh, and by the way, George and Magnolia eventually had 5 daughters and 3 sons!
# 4366-FA-3930
Seaside Escape
Kemah, Texas ~ Highway 146 Kemah Texas Beaches
Pelicans resting and fishing on abandoned piers. There were hundreds of them along the shoreline. I was in Photographer’s Heaven!
Digitally Painted from my Original Photo (see below)!
# 4366-TH-3930
Seaside Escape
Kemah, Texas
My Original Photo!
# 4249-2PE-4159
No Destination
8 Mile Road To The Bay ~ Galveston, Texas
If you are a bird watcher or photographer who loves marsh scenes and
a lot of mother nature speckling your landscape, the 8 Mile Road To The Bay
needs to be added to your Bucket List!
It's a tidal wetlands haven stocked with beach houses, dunes, marshy escapes,
private beaches and waterfowl. I took this road north west and hooked a left
on Sportsman Road for a few hours, where most of the homes were scattered throughout,
photographing all sorts of coastal finds! Enjoying West Bay and Gangs Bayou
captured my attention for the most part.
8 Mile Road going south dead ends at Galveston's "Sunny Beach" area.
This beach range is popular, yet a bit away from the main hustle-bustle in the
center of Galveston's main attractions off Seawall Boulevard.
I titled this photo "No Destination" since it gives me a feeling that if I lived here,
I would be satisfied at my daily journey's end and be comfy at my resting-place!
I'd probably get up each morning and not plan to go anywhere but here!
# 4228-2PE-4160
Give Your Day A Break
8 Mile Road To The Bay ~ Galveston, Texas
It was a thrill to capture graceful waterfowl along Sportsman Road;
off the 8 Mile Road, heading towards Gangs Bayou.
Sometimes I felt they were all posing just for me!
# 3853-PE2-4123
Kemah Caught Me
Kemah Boardwalk Tower ~ Kemah, Texas
The Kemah Boardwalk is not only an attraction for amusement rides,
but overflowing with restaurants, shopping, an aquarium and historical
points of interest. Situated about 20 miles from Houston, you can spend
a full day there and not take it all in!
# 3595-PE2-4134
Famous Gaido
Gaido's Seafood Restaurant ~ Galveston, Texas
Seawall Boulevard
One cannot visit Galveston without dining in the evening or having an ocean-side lunch at the famous Gaido's. I have eaten at Gaido's probably a thousand times myself. I never tire of this event since I remember so many times there as a child with my family, the zillions of times during my college days in Houston and my umteen times as a visitor and tourist still wondering around Galveston Island in amazement and love for this old historical town!
And, yes!! The food is exquisite!
# 4288-PE2-4157
The Big At 23
Old Galveston Square - The Strand
Galveston, Texas
Everyone loves anything music, right?
The Old Galveston Square located in The Strand district of Galveston
offers more than shopping and dining for visitors and locals.
Much to do and see! I love this huge trumpet sculpture which to me
represents the jazzy emotions one feels as you stroll through this
historical island area while listening to cheerful conversations and
music floating all around you!
And ~ Here's an FYI tidbit:
Sometime in 2012, Guy Taylor, a marine veteran, began to play "Taps"
on his trumpet from his balcony above The Stork Club on a sundown routine.
He initially did this in honor of a fellow fallen marine buddy. But from the first moment
of this tribute Galveston Constable Clint Wayne Brown continues to stop traffic, stands
in a patriotic salute and the surrounding sounds of traffic and clatter halts
while he motions to Mr. Taylor to begin his instrumental spangle of "Taps"!
I don't have a photo of this event and sure wish I knew about this while I spent
almost 2 months there in 2014......
You know I'll get there, though!
# 4272-PE2-4162
Waiting Too (A)
8-Mile Road ~ Galveston, Texas
# 4260-PE2-4161
Waiting (A)
8-Mile Road ~ Galveston, Texas
4272-PE2-4164
Waiting Too (B)
8-Mile Road ~ Galveston, Texas
4260-PE2-4163
Waiting (B)
8-Mile Road ~ Galveston, Texas
# 4166-TH4272
Waiting Too (C)
8-Mile Road ~ Galveston, Texas
My Original Photo HDR Processing
# 4165-TH4260
Waiting (C)
8-Mile Road ~ Galveston, Texas
My Original Photo HDR Processing
# 3519-PE2-4138
Bubba's Pier
Pleasure Pier & Boardwalk ~ Galveston, Texas
# 4031-PE2-4129
Keeper Of The Tides
"High Tides" Statue
Known as Boy With Seagulls Statue
Pier 21 Entrance ~ Galveston, Texas
I was lucky that day back in August of 2014 when the Coast Guard Ship
rolled into the harbor. It was a perfect calm day for taking photographs,
enjoying the tourists and their conversations and having lunch!
# 4324B-FA-0803
Tides Of Time (B)
Galveston Beach
If you’re after a more relaxing experience on the beach, it’s nice just to roll out the beach chairs and create your own sweet session of peaceful solitude. Listening to the dynamics of ocean waves with the wind blowing in your hair can truly heal your spirit and bring a sense of calmness to your life before heading back to the hustle & bustle of your busy life.
Digitally Painted from my Original Photo!
My original photo for use on my TravelWITWIT Blog!
# 4324C-FA-0803
Tides Of Time (C)
Galveston Beach
This is a different color version of the photo above!
Digitally Painted from my Original Photo!
My original photo for use on my TravelWITWIT Blog!
# 4329B-TL-1186
Oh My OP (B)
I created this same photo painting in 4 colors - See below:
Ocean Pacific Flip Flops on Galveston Beach
To Flip-Flop or Not!
That’s right. It’s your choice.
Strolling barefoot along the sandy beach is a great idea not only to clear your mind, burn some calories and nab some natural Vitamin D boost, but it’s a means to save some bucks at those spendy Spas while the wet and loose sand simply exfoliates those tuff toes and heels!
As soon as I told my nephewthis ~ off went the flip-flops!
And look what we found when we returned!
Digitally Painted from my Original Photo!
My original photo for use on my TravelWITWIT Blog!
# 4330B-FA-1222
Playtime On Galveston Beach
Day after day families flock to the seacoast craving the inevitably ultimate vacation on the island. Spawning unforgettable memories, you too can build castles in the sand, splash in the waves and soak up the sunshine. There’s plenty of beach for everyone!
I love it when you ask someone if you can take their photo and big smiles come across their face! This was a precious little gal enjoying a day with her Mother.
Digitally Painted from my Original Photo!
My original photo for use on my TravelWITWIT Blog!
# 4325-TH-0956
Feeding Frenzie
Feeding Seagulls on Galveston Beach
after Hurricane Harvey 9-2017
My original photo for use on my TravelWITWIT Blog!
# 4415-TH-1370
More To Come
I wanted to let you know there is "more to come" !! So how about my painting I put together from photos I have taken; including Galveston Beach?
Digitally Painted from my photograph!