Art

Best Gift Ever ~ for yourself or someone special!
Makes great gift ideas for: Weddings, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Birthdays and MORE! 

​For original art or questions, contact me.

Commissions

When I do a commissioned piece, a connection is made that lasts forever between my client and myself. Real art collectors will seek out what they want and love. My job is to listen, to connect, to understand what is in their minds’ eye and deep in their hearts, and get it onto a canvas. There comes a time in life when you want the original, and nothing else. As one of my clients said when I asked him what he was looking for:  “I want something that won’t be on anyone else’s wall or in their home.”
If you are interested in a Rita Long Commission, contact me.

Breaking Through – A Photo to Painting Commission
In the midst of an agonizing life decision, a walk on the beach at sunset seemed to provide the  answer for Carol.  A decision was made, a photo was taken, and then that moment was forever captured on canvas.  The finished work of art hangs as a focus point in her home today to remind her of that moment of truth and that turning point in her life. She remembers and draws strength from it  every time she looks at her painting.

The Perfect Gift
If you want to give the perfect gift to someone special, or the person who has everything, consider the gift of Original Art. Home Portraits capture a beloved homestead for generations to come. Or surprise someone with a gift certificate and let them choose or commission a beautiful painting for their home or office. Ms. Long has created many “Moments That Matter” commission pieces. These are usually photo to painting commissions that remind the recipient of a moment or memory that truly matters to them and brings joy each and every time viewed.

“See The Sea” Series

These sea views capture the distinctly coastal landscape of the American southeast. To make the entire piece more dynamic and authentic,  I work with an artisan who creates beautifully rustic sea-inspired frames made from reclaimed lobster traps.  Look closely and you will see the real sea life that attached itself to the wood trap during the fives years it’s submerged. After they are pulled from the deep waters to be replaced, this artist re-purposes the wood into  historic, one-of-a-kind frames that are works of art in their own right.
One winter Doug and I were at a Farmer’s Market in Florida, just relaxing, picking up some fresh veggies for the week and enjoying the warm sunshine. I saw these intriguing and well-built frames with little pieces of real sealife enbedded into them. I immediately bought 10 of them! That’s all we could fit in the car for the trip back home.
These frames feature actual wood that was used as traps for the lobster and stone crabs. A Florida license is needed to lower the traps. After 5 years, the traps are lifted from the sea and replaced. Look closely at the official tag at the bottom and you will see the year of the license and the authorization from the state to place the traps into the waters off the Florida keys.
You can imagine and actually see the barnicles and how underwater sealife affected the wood. A master cabinet-maker turns these unwanted but historic treasures into brilliant frames with character and a story all their own. Yes, they have been treated so they are safe.
Today, the only wood traps that are used, are for Lobsters. Stone Crab traps are now plastic! So these frames will increase in value from this point on and are one-of-a-kind. The frame alone is art. I am proud to have my Rita Long Originals framed by such meaningful matter!! I love the sea and painted various versions to highlight the coastal beauty that speaks to me. Please Enjoy!
Watch for my newest collections titled WATERSCAPES – being created now for a Series of six 48×36” and eight 14×11” sizes.