About The New Series - "The Everglades Passage"
600 years ago - in the late 15th century - mankind envisioned a sea route giving access from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean opening up a possible shorter trade route between Europe and Asia. Several explorers became obsessed in their quest to discover that passage through one of the last frontiers on Planet Earth - the pristine wilderness of The Arctic.

In June , 1903, a young Norwegian by the name of Roald Amundsen set sail from Oslo in his 47-ton, 75-foot sloop, the "Gjoa" and with his crew of six other brave seafaring men, headed west. For the next three years their quest took them from the Atlantic Ocean, through the Arctic Ocean, along the coast of North America via the waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago Islands to Alaska. On August 17, 1905 they finally arrived in Cambridge Bay. Young Amundsen found his way to the nearest telegram office in the City of Eagle, Alaska and news of his feat was transmitted to the world ...
"The Northwest Passage" had become a reality - shaving off 4,000-miles
(2-weeks modern-day travel) from the previous route via the Panama Canal.

In June, 2008 - over a century later - a youngish (hhmmmm ??) American artist by the name of Riley Geddings set forth from the Gulf of Mexico on the Southwest Coast of Florida, with his trusty paint brush in hand, and headed east. For the next several months, Riley's quest will take him through one of the last frontiers on Planet Earth - the pristine wilderness of The Florida Everglades. Riley will paint his way via the Ten Thousand Islands to The Big Cypress National Preserve; The Everglades National Park; and eventually Key Largo at the entrance to The Florida Keys in Southeast Florida.

Riley's "The Everglades Passage" now has become a reality - in the same way that
"The Northwest Passage" became a reality for Amundsen, a century ago.

This Original Painting
As we continue our journey along "The Everglades Passage" we now arrive in the southeastern region of "The Everglades National Park". Here we find ourselves in Shark Valley which lies in the heart of the true "Everglades" (also called "The River of Grass"). Shark Valley is that stretch of The Glades which runs for about 100-miles - extending from the 20-mile-width at Lake Okeechobee, south to the 6-mile-width at Florida Bay and The Gulf of Mexico. In the midst of Shark Valley runs Shark River, a 20-mile-long estuary - one of the primary, major routes of fresh water through The Everglades. A note of interest here - the name "Shark River" does not mean there are sharks in the river per se - BUT - occasionally "Bull Sharks" have been seen in the estuary ... the Bull Shark is the only shark which can exist in a freshwater envirionment - hence its presence in The Glades.

And now let us discuss "# 6 - Shark Valley, Everglades National Park" ... here we have a typical scene one finds in Shark Valley. It is the twilight hour and the sun has just set on the distant horizon. Riley has once more captured here a beautiful skyline of lavenders, yellows, oranges and blues, with a few clouds lingering from a recent late-afternoon Florida shower. Dotted in the distance one can see a flock of birds heading home in a typical vee formation. Flying overhead in the foreground is a magnificent Florida Great White Heron - also heading home to roost. Immediately below this beautiful bird in flight, at the edge of a cluster of wild lily-pads, we can see his younger brother who insists on one more bite for his bedtime snack.

Bordered on the left of the picture, we see a flat expanse of a typical Sawgrass Plain, whilst on the right is a typical Sawgrass MarshTree Island complete with a background of Cabbage Palms. Dominating the foreground are a pair of Bald Cypress Trees complete with Florida's ever-present Spanish Moss. This impressive center-stage depicts a typical Shark River Slough (a slough is a water-covered area over soft, deep, mud) - one of a multitude of habitats and freshwater ecosystems found in Florida's Everglades.

Let us now continue our quest of "The Everglades Passage" .... my seventh painting takes us to the coastal area as we leave the land behind us - entering Florida Bay - and will include a nice sunrise .... "# 7 - Squaw Creek, Everglades National Park".

Let the journey continue ...

Framed
This painting has been mounted in a new, solid wood frame which has been beautifully finished in 2 tones of dark and light Ivory with a gold inner bead ! Many of our clients appreciate receiving their paintings ready to hang - immediately !

About The Artist
Riley Geddings is a self-taught, noted Florida landscape artist who is keeping the old 'traditional Florida art' alive with his unique painting style, influenced in part by the now-famous "Florida Highwaymen" of the 1950's !

He is listed on many well-known art and international internet web sites. He is known internationally and is more and more becoming sought after ! The Art Cove is the official and exclusive source for the BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS by Florida landscape artist Riley Geddings.

How To Order This Lovely Painting:

Sorry, The Original Painting Has Been Sold ! . . .
Genuine giclee prints are available on quality paper or canvas,
click on image below for details:

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