Affordable Manatee and Dolphin Original Oil Paintings for sale by Siesta Key artist Lloyd Dobson. West Indian manatees are large, gray aquatic mammals with bodies that taper to a flat, paddle-shaped tail. They have two forelimbs, called flippers, with three to four nails on each flipper. Their head and face are wrinkled with whiskers on the snout.

The manatee’s closest relatives are the elephant and the hyrax (a small, gopher-sized mammal). Manatees are believed to have evolved from a wading, plant-eating animal. The West Indian manatee is related to the West African manatee, the Amazonian manatee, the dugong, and Steller’s sea cow, which was hunted to extinction in 1768.

The average adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds.

Manatees can be found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals, and coastal areas — particularly where sea grass beds or freshwater vegetation flourish. Manatees are a migratory species. Within the United States, they are concentrated in Florida in the winter.

In summer months, they can be found as far west as Texas and as far north as Massachusetts, but summer sightings in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina are more common. West Indian manatees can also be found in the coastal and inland waterways of Central America and along the northern coast of South America, although distribution in these areas may be discontinuous.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri. Lloyd studied art in high school and college where he won numerous art awards and ribbons. In Missouri he studied under the late Andrew Thoman. In 1961 Lloyd migrated to Southern California.

During the early 60’s Lloyd continued his passion for oil painting and studied under California artist Bert Carter. During the 60’s he was in many art shows where he continued to win ribbons for his work, as well as selling to hundreds of clients throughout the US and Canada.

Lloyd Dobson Artist work is enjoyed in private collections with some of the more notable collectors who are Art Linkletter, Debbie Reynolds and Debbie Reynold’s mother. In 1967 Lloyd partnered with three other artist and opened a gallery in Laguna Beach, California. That same year opened a gallery and studio in Canoga Park, California where Lloyd also taught oil painting also.

In 2007 Lloyd moved to southwest Florida and this seems to where Florida’s west coast now seem to influence many of his paintings. His home now is in the Siesta Key-Sarasota, Florida area close to the beach and my son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Lloyd’s family invigorate him to continue creating God’s beauty.

If you are in the Siesta Key, Florida area, my current art showings are every Sunday at the Siesta Key Farmers Market from 8am to 1pm and Lakewood Ranch Market the 2nd & 4th Saturday of every month. Check my website for details of other locations  www.LloydDobsonArtist.com