Welcome to the Spring 2024 Newsletter

As our days heat up, and summer is showing itself to become another very hot year, I just finished the 2025 calendar.

The theme of the calendar this year is Corals and Florals. The topic is very much on our minds as the oceans heat up, along with the atmosphere. Our corals are suffering, and we are actually losing many of them to diseases and coral bleaching, brought on by the warming. Ditto that for the flowers and fauna that are being lost. I have painted this year’s images in a smaller format, more intimate, and detailed. I have used my memories (and old photos) for the lost corals. This year, TJ is finishing up his education in Savannah, and was not able to help me, but he will be back next year, and even be in the gallery in person! This is my 25th calendar to publish! All of these years the calendar has remained at $25. to purchase. I can’t think of any reason to change that now!

With the images all painted, I now turn my attention to the small details, like the holidays, full moons (I will check three times for correctness this year), and additional images. Bill Stelzer will come and photograph it, and off to the printer the calendar will go. I should be receiving the actual calendars in August/September, and will send them out immediately. They are printed in Florida. It is a long process, but well received over the years by all. I appreciate all of your support over the years, and will keep on doing a calendar each year, as long as I am able.

Patricia, my assistant for the last couple of years, has left for the season. Her daughter is getting married in June, and I close the gallery in July. So, I will be around for another month to answer any questions, take any orders, or if you are on island, see guests. We are fully stocked here at the gallery, so any online orders are possible, and happily fulfilled and sent the same day.

All of the weathermen are stating that this year will be a difficult one for hurricanes, and are expecting a higher number, and to start earlier, and stay later. Indeed, we already have four tropical depressions in the Atlantic. You all know how vulnerable I am here, next to the ocean at a low level, so I will be taking extra care and boarding up the place really well. We are all praying that they will just pass us all by…..

Presently, due to all of the rain we have been receiving, the island is beautiful and green. All of my flowers are in bloom. Hope your spring turns into a beautiful summer.

Looking forward to hearing from you all, and maybe even get a visit to St. John.

All the best to you and yours,

Elaine Estern
And crew of Coconut Coast Studios