The Shields Painting Difference: Perfection with Every Brush Stroke
Many painting companies in Florida rely on flashy marketing and big promises to try and attract new clients. But when it comes time to work, they fall short of their promises. This is often due to a lack of experience, qualified painters, and a drive to overachieve. At Shields Painting, we do things a little differently than other painting companies in Citrus County. We believe that a professional paint job should be as close to perfect as possible. Our goal is to leave you 100% satisfied, whether we're touching up an old residential paint job or performing a complex commercial project. It might sound simple, but we achieve that goal through honesty, hard work, beautiful results, and reasonable pricing.
As a family-owned and operated painting company in Hernando Beach, FL, we strive to provide personalized, professional, and friendly service. Shields Painting has been in business since 1968 for a good reason. Whenever possible, we go the extra mile to make sure our customers are happy. Unlike some of our competition, we want to know all about your house or business painting project: your vision, your preferences, your challenges, and your goals. When we understand your needs, we can present you with a fantastic final product - one that you're proud to show off to friends and neighbors.
At Shields Painting, we combine our extensive experience with time-tested, meticulous painting processes, resulting in the highest quality painting results around. As a painting contractor in Citrus County, we can take on a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial projects in Florida.
A few of our most popular painting services include:
- Interior Painting
- Exterior Painting
- Residential Painting
- Commercial Painting
- Cabinet Painting
- Ceiling Painting
- Fence Painting
- Sign Painting
- MUCH More!
Our commercial, industrial, and residential painting contractors take the proper steps to protect your property and belongings while we work. Our team will clean up after ourselves, so your property is left clean and free of debris when we're done. After all, we think there's only one way to do a job, and that's the right way.
Painting Services
Eco-friendly & clean work area.
PDCA Certified Member.
Your Go-To House Painting Company in Hernando Beach, FL
Your home is a haven of relaxation and solitude. It is uniquely you - a place where you can express who you are through style and design. Whether you need interior touch-ups for your crown molding or a new exterior coat of paint, hiring a reliable painting contractor is the best way to get quality results.
At Shields Painting, we know how important it is to have a home that highlights your tastes and personality. That's why we offer an extensive array of residential painting services in Citrus County. As tempting as it might be to try a DIY paint job, without the proper skills and experience, there is a good chance that the results will turn out less than satisfactory.
High-quality painting requires skill, experience, and patience. If you're a homeowner who needs residential painting services but doesn't have the time, patience, or skills to handle the job, look no further than Shields Painting. We offer accuracy, precision, and longevity with each paint job we perform. Our customers choose Shields Painting for their home because they receive:
- Free Quotes with Detailed Project Breakdowns
- Affordable Pricing
- Expert Painting Contractors
- High-Quality Paint Products
- Combo of Traditional and Modern Techniques
- Well-Maintained Tools
- Unmatched Craftsmanship
- Friendly, Personalized Service
- Good Old-Fashioned Hard Work!
The majority of our house painting services come in two forms: interior and exterior.
Interior Residential Painting
As an interior painting contractor with decades of experience, our expert technicians have developed an interior painting process that maximizes quality and emphasizes customer satisfaction. We understand that interior painting goes beyond aesthetics. It protects your ceilings and walls and helps you sustain a healthier place to live for your family. When only the finest craftsmanship will do inside your home, Shields Painting is here for you.
Our seasoned team of painting experts and craftsmen is dedicated to respecting your space and providing you with the look and feel you're craving inside your home. Whether you bought a new house and want to make it your own or need minor touch-ups but have no time, Shields Painting is ready to tackle the job, no matter how small or large.
Unlike some painting companies, our interior house painters take the time to get the details right, every time. For instance, color is only one aspect of your interior paint job. The paint sheen or finish is just as important. Certain finishes are better for living rooms and bedrooms than in kitchens and bathrooms. We'll help you find the right finish and paint colors for your home, so you don't have to worry about touch-ups or repainting.
Some of our most popular interior house painting services include:
- Ceiling Painting
- Popcorn Ceiling Removal
- Living Room Painting
- Bathroom Painting
- Basement Painting
- Color Consultations
- More
Cabinet Painting
Citrus County cabinet painting deserves its own section on this page because it requires more time, skill, and quality paint than most sections of your home. If your home's cabinets are built into its woodwork, replacing them can be obnoxiously expensive. Compared to the cost of installing new cabinets, painting your kitchen cabinets is much more affordable.
At Shields Painting, we specialize in transforming old cabinets into new, gorgeous features that are just as usable as they are beautiful. Each step of our cabinet painting process is meticulous and thorough. And we'll take care of the entire job, from cleaning, prep, and sanding to priming, painting, and reassembly. This unique service lets you enjoy a brand-new look in your kitchen without having to go into debt by replacing your cabinets.
Whether your cabinets are new, but you want to change their color or you'd like to transition wood cabinets to a painted finish, Shields Painting has the expertise and experience to give you a new look you'll love.
Exterior Residential Painting
Your home - it's a place that not only keeps your belongings safe. It protects your family and loved ones, too. It's one of your largest investments, and like anything else of value, it should be protected. However, Florida weather can take a toll on your home's structure and paint, lowering your home's value and even putting your family at risk.
While it's true that a beautiful exterior affects your house's value, it shouldn't take thousands of remodeling dollars to make a positive change to your home. There's a fine line between reasonable pricing and top-quality painting, and that sweet spot is what Shields Painting aims for. If you want to transform how your friends and neighbors see your home, never underestimate the power of a professional paint job.
Our exterior residential painting services are designed to boost curb appeal, give your home a fresh look, and help it stand up to Florida's unique weather. But we provide more than that. When you hire Shields Painting for your outdoor painting project, you will enjoy peace of mind in knowing that your home is in truly capable hands. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and help bring out the best in your property, whether you need to re-stain your deck or remove old, peeling paint from your siding.
If you're on the hunt for the very best exterior painting contractor in Hernando Beach, FL, look no further than Shields Painting.
Some of our most popular exterior house painting services include:
- Vinyl Siding Painting
- Deck Painting and Staining
- Stucco Exterior Painting
- Wood Exterior Painting
- Porch Painting and Staining
- Soffit Painting
- Fascia Painting
- Window Painting
- Front Door Painting
- Thorough Painting Prep
- More
The Premier Commercial Painting Company in Hernando Beach, FL
When it comes to first impressions, your businesses' appearance plays an important role. Your commercial property's paint job factors into its overall aesthetics. A great-looking, well-maintained paint job can mean the difference between a customer walking in your storefront and passing by. Conversely, an old, worn-out commercial paint job can send the wrong message to prospective customers. If you can't take the time to keep up your property's appearance, why would a customer spend their hard-earned money on your products?
The same goes for your businesses' interior paint. Would you want to do business with a company that has peeling paint or unsightly crown molding? At Shield's Painting, our goal is to create a beautiful environment that your customers and employees will love inside and out. When you work with our business painters, you can rest easy knowing we treat your business like it were our own. We always clean up after ourselves and know that operations cannot come to a halt just because we're painting. As such, we'll work with your busy schedule to ensure the job gets done right the first time without disrupting your day-to-day commitments.
With decades of commercial painting experience, we know the demands of a commercial painting project necessitate a disciplined and focused approach from the start. Our team of business painters is committed to delivering quality, on-time results on every project, every time - no excuses
We offer professional business painting services to a variety of building types, including:
01
Industrial Painting
A high level of care and finesse are required to effectively paint an industrial property. At Shields Painting, we know that industrial paint jobs involve much more than aesthetics. That's why our industrial services are customized to your specifications, using industrial-grade materials that stand up to heavy-duty operations.
02
Retail Store Painting
Our commercial painters apply effective, yet appealing interior and exterior paint that stand up to the daily rigors of busy retail environments.
03
Small Business Painting
Do you own a restaurant franchise? Have a small "mom and pop" location that needs a fresh coat of paint? Shields Painting has the resources and reliability to efficiently get the job done the first time. That way, you can focus on serving your customers, not having your business repainted.
04
Healthcare Location Painting
From walk-in clinics to long-term care facilities, Shields Painting is sensitive to your patients' needs. We know you must protect your patient's privacy while maintaining productivity. Our approach to healthcare location painting centers around your schedule to avoid disruptions in care.
05
Apartment Complex Painting
Erase signs of wear and make your apartment complex or multi-family building a more desirable place to live with a stunning, professional paint job.
Florida's Most Trusted Painting Contractor
Shields Painting has been in the business since 1968. In a world where so much has changed, we are proud to uphold the ideals that make us successful: hard, honest work, getting the job done right, and excellent customer service. Providing you with trustworthy, quality work will always take priority over rushing through a project to serve the next customer. That is just not the way we choose to do business.
As professionals dedicated to perfection, we strive to provide a unique painting experience for every customer - one that focuses on their needs and desires instead of our own. Whether you need residential painting for your home or commercial painting for your business, we encourage you to reach out today to speak with our customer service team. Whether you have big ideas about a new paint project or need our expertise and guidance, we look forward to hearing from you soon.
352-212-1533Free Consultation
Latest News in Hernando Beach, FL
Officials pleaded with those west of U.S. 19 to leave
VINCENT F. SAFUTOhttps://www.suncoastnews.com/news/officials-pleaded-with-those-west-of-u-s-19-to-leave/article_53ac6666-471f-11ee-96b0-23e56d51cd14.html
Constantine Munteanu loaded the last of his sandbags at Linda Pederson Park with the help of a county worker, then agreed to talk.No, he said, even though he lives in Hernando Beach, he’s not evacuating. He lives at the highest point in his community and is just worried about water getting into his garage; hence, the sandbags. If he needed to, he said, he could evacuate.“If it’s going to be really, really, really bad, I can get out to some friends that I have across U.S. 19,” he said. “I’m on...
Constantine Munteanu loaded the last of his sandbags at Linda Pederson Park with the help of a county worker, then agreed to talk.
No, he said, even though he lives in Hernando Beach, he’s not evacuating. He lives at the highest point in his community and is just worried about water getting into his garage; hence, the sandbags. If he needed to, he said, he could evacuate.
“If it’s going to be really, really, really bad, I can get out to some friends that I have across U.S. 19,” he said. “I’m on pretty high ground here. My house is at one of the higher elevations on Hernando Beach.”
If the authorities came out and said he had to go, he’d probably go, Munteanu added, but he preferred to have an option.
A few others at Linda Pederson didn’t live in the area at risk for storm surge, they said. The park was just a convenient place for them to get sandbags, and they said they’d rather be safe than sorry.
Recommendations
At the 2 p.m. Tuesday press conference at the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations Center, Emergency Management Director David DeCarlo kept pressing that people west of U.S. 19 needed to get moving.
There’s plenty of shelter space, he said, and they can open more shelters if they have to.
Officials insisted that they just want everyone to be safe. Even if your house is on stilts, DeCarlo said, play it safe and go.
With the full moon, king tides and the water piling up on the shore from Hurricane Idalia, the storm surge could hit six to nine feet, a catastrophic event, he said. Your stuff can be replaced, he said. Your life is far more valuable.
First hurricane in Florida
David Lloyd and his family just moved from Ohio in the past year. He and his son were loading up the sandbags. It’s their first hurricane in Florida, but he experienced Hurricane Ike in Ohio.
He has a sister in West Palm Beach and grandparents in Hollywood, Fla., so he knows about hurricanes, he said.
“I remember when Ike blew in,” he said. “By the time it hit Ohio there was no moisture left, but the winds were still 80 to 90 miles an hour. I lived without power for 16, 17 days.
“So I took it seriously when they said, ‘Hey, this one’s actually upgrading.’”
Lloyd said he’d rather be overprepared this time, and overprepared next time.
“It only takes a little effort to be ready,” he said.
Karla Goldstein of Weeki Wachee lives on the east side of U.S. 19 so she doesn’t have to evacuate, but knows people who might have to.
She agreed hurricanes are fickle and who knows where they might go?
United Cajun Navy helping with Hernando County hurricane recovery
Erik Waxlerhttps://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-citrus-hernando/united-cajun-navy-helping-with-hernando-county-hurricane-recovery
Play/PauseMute/Unmute Embed videoPlayback SpeedVideo QualityEmbed videoCopy the code below to embed the video.<div _="@=1486,dis=none"><div _="@=1487,dis=none"></div></div> CopyPlayback Speed 2 1.75 1.50 1.25 Normal 0.50Video Quality Play/Pause >>Mute/Unmute 0:00 / 0:00Settings Closed Captions Picture in Picture Cast FullscreenPlay/Pause >>M...
Play/Pause
Mute/Unmute
Embed video
Playback Speed
Video Quality
Embed video
Copy the code below to embed the video.
<div _="@=1486,dis=none"><div _="@=1487,dis=none"></div></div> Copy
Playback Speed
2
1.75
1.50
1.25
Normal
0.50
Video Quality
Play/Pause >>
Mute/Unmute
0:00 / 0:00
Settings Closed Captions Picture in Picture Cast Fullscreen
Play/Pause >>
Mute/Unmute
0:00 / 0:00
Settings Closed Captions Cast Fullscreen
HERNANDO BEACH, Fla. — Erin Daly learned how to organize volunteers in New York after Hurricane Sandy.
“Then the next year, we had Hurricane Hermine here in Hernando Beach, and I brought a pop-up tent to this location and said volunteers check-in. And we had a tremendous turnout,” she said.
Now, after Hernando Beach got hit hard by flooding from Hurricane Idalia, the volunteers are back.
They are part of the United Cajun Navy.
It’s a group that started after Hurricane Katrina.
“It is a 100% total volunteer organization. We rely on donations and grant money,” said Daly.
Erin is sending volunteers like Josh Dancsak to remove storm shutters and do basic cleanup.
“It looks like the line and the list is getting bigger every second. It is nice to be able to help. I was able to take a few days off from the fire department and able to help my own neighborhood, so it worked out great,” said Ransack.
At Fran Baird’s house, the Cajun Navy is cleaning rugs and moving cinder blocks,
“These ladies right here I hardly know, and they are out here helping me. So it’s wonderful,” said Baird.
After a difficult week, a little help goes a long way.
It’s just heartbreaking. And even if it’s just the difference between doing everything in their house or even doing just the last little bit that they need, it’s going to make such a big difference,” said Daly.
The Cajun Navy is set up at the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Hernando Beach and will be there all weekend, pairing up volunteers with people who need help.
Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Coastal flooding expected to worsen this afternoon
Julie B. Magliohttps://www.hernandosun.com/2023/08/30/coastal-flooding-expected-to-worsen-this-afternoon/
While Hurricane Idalia made landfall as a category three hurricane near Keaton Beach in the Big Bend area of Florida, coastal Hernando County has experienced flooding, with officials expecting water levels to rise this afternoon with a king high tide.According to the National Ocean Service, “A King Tide is a non-scientific term people often use to describe exceptionally high tides. Tides are long-period waves that roll around the planet as the ocean is “pulled” back and forth by the gravitational pull of the moon and...
While Hurricane Idalia made landfall as a category three hurricane near Keaton Beach in the Big Bend area of Florida, coastal Hernando County has experienced flooding, with officials expecting water levels to rise this afternoon with a king high tide.
According to the National Ocean Service, “A King Tide is a non-scientific term people often use to describe exceptionally high tides. Tides are long-period waves that roll around the planet as the ocean is “pulled” back and forth by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun as these bodies interact with the Earth in their monthly and yearly orbits. Higher than normal tides typically occur during a new or full moon and when the Moon is at its perigee, or during specific seasons around the country.”
Hernando County Emergency Management Director David DeCarlo said that although tropical storm force winds will continue to subside as the day progresses, coastal areas are still vulnerable to storm surge.
“Our high tide is forecast at 1:20 this afternoon. We are in a king high tide cycle – so that high tide will last a few hours more than normal. That is our biggest concern.”
- Advertisement -
“The storm waters are coming in as we speak,” DeCarlo said. Residential areas of Hernando Beach are under restricted access at both north and south entrances.
There are water assets on standby to do water rescue, and power has been shut down for emergency protective measures.
Withlacoochee River Electric has shut down power at Hernando Beach, Bayport, Weeki Wachee, Pine Island, and Aripeka.
DeCarlo said if you need rescue, please contact 9-1-1.
Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, Hernando County Fire Rescue, Search and Rescue teams, and the National Guard are prepared for water rescues.
Hernando County Fire Rescue Chief Hasenmeier said we are still in a serious situation as the storm surge is still on the rise. It went from no water in the Hernando Beach/ Pine Island / Aripeka areas to flooding roadways. At the last update we had, the water was around four feet above Pine Island Drive. This morning, two people were trying to evacuate from Pine Island who got stuck on one of the higher bridge areas, and they had to send out rescuers to save them. The rescue was a coordinated effort between fire services, marine units, special ops, and the sheriff’s office, and the people are now fine.
Chief Hasenmeier said that the National Guard is here with high-water vehicles in addition to Sheriff’s Office/Fire Rescue boats. They are also coordinating with military assets for air support if lift capabilities are needed.
He urged people not to go west of 19 because the surge is coming up for the next couple of hours.
Commissioner Jerry Campbell gave his prayers to our neighbors to the north and stated that we are not out of the woods yet with the high tide coming.
There are 350 people in shelters and approximately 60 animals.
Withlacoochee River Electric and Duke Energy continue to restore power to areas not affected by flooding.
WREC customers can report power outages: 352-596-4000
Duke customers can report power outages: 800.228.8485
Some of you might keep a close watch on the news, and others may listen occasionally or not at all, but whatever the case, you’ve heard enough to realize that it’s common for worldly information to be relayed from a biased perspective. Worldviews and convictions dictate which side of the fence individuals are on; however, for Christians, we are realizing that social politics has become a confusing puppet show that distracts us from what God is saying. We should know and trust that He is the only one who has all the answers to everything. Remember the old song that says He has the whole world in His hands? Do we believe it?
Political parties claim to be the opposite, but like a soap opera, it’s a misleading facade where the actors play games and read scripts of what they are told to say. The two-faced devil is like this. He is the “master distractor” and is hoping we will become so mesmerized by the media theater that we will worship it as an idol. What would be wise is to analyze the facts. God is life, light, and truth, and He is trying to tell us that we are precious to Him; He loves us and wants to save us from death, which is the wage or consequence of sin. On the other side, we have the devil, who wants to destroy us and is trying to intelligently and scientifically persuade us to throw the Bible in the trash and live however we want. So, why again do we make this more difficult than it needs to be?
The most important decision we will ever make comes down to whose voice we choose to follow. Our ears and eyes are conduits to our thoughts, and we are responsible for guarding and protecting this battlefield from deception and lies. How do we do that? Christians are called to develop spiritual discernment, where they can judge the spirits and have a keen sense of awareness from the Holy Spirit that warns them when something is not right. Some of you are probably thinking that not only are you lacking in this area, but obviously many others are also. You are correct, but it should not be this way.
As we read and study the book of Ephesians, we can no longer be like a baby that cries for the bottle. When a person commits to God’s kingdom, they have enlisted on the side of light and are now in a constant battle with darkness. This means they must pray and discipline themselves to not conform to the world but instead, be transformed by the renewing of their minds. Why does it talk about being fully protected by the whole armor of God? Because as we draw near to Him, the more intense the demonic attacks will be. When the devil laughs and blames you for being a loser and a failure, tell him that you have been washed in the blood of Jesus, you are forgiven, and you are not going to listen to an accuser of the brethren. John chapter 8 says there is no truth in Satan, and he is the father of all lies.
One of the more common problems I hear from men and women is a sense of guilt and shame from the snare traps they have fallen into. Satan condemns them for what they have done, and this feeling of being unworthy causes fear and holds them incarcerated in the agony of rejection and defeat. Listen, friend, once you repent to the Father and He washes you clean with the blood of Jesus, you are purified, which allows you to approach His throne boldly! Not only does He long to forgive you, but He promises He will never bring it up again. “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more,” Hebrews 8:12.
Raise your hand if you want a $100 bill. I’m going to crumple it up; do you still want it? I’m going to stomp it in the dirt, pound it with hammers, bake it, soak it, deface it, and throw it in the pig pen. Do you still want it? Why? Because even though it has been through the valley of the shadow of death, it still has as much value as it always did. This is the way God sees you today.
Dr. Holland lives in Central Kentucky, where he is an ordained Christian minister, community chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life and his new book about miracles, “Receiving Our Healing,” at billyhollandministries.com or email him at psalmz103@gmail.com.
Beach at Weekiwachee Preserve still a no go — for now
Barbara Behrendthttps://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2023/04/01/beach-weekiwachee-preserve-still-no-go-now/
The much-discussed but never approved plan to create a beach on a mining lake in the Weekiwachee Preserve has once again been rejected by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.In a letter to Hernando County officials this week, the agency, which owns the preserve, told Hernando County Administrator Jeff Rogers that it is willing to grant the county a new access point and new passive recreational options in the 11,206-acre preserve. But it rejected the beach plan, which has generated opposition from nearby residents and envir...
The much-discussed but never approved plan to create a beach on a mining lake in the Weekiwachee Preserve has once again been rejected by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
In a letter to Hernando County officials this week, the agency, which owns the preserve, told Hernando County Administrator Jeff Rogers that it is willing to grant the county a new access point and new passive recreational options in the 11,206-acre preserve. But it rejected the beach plan, which has generated opposition from nearby residents and environmental groups.
Water management officials could consider the plan again in five years, but only under specific conditions.
If the county wants to develop the beach in the future, it must purchase the land and would have to prove it can meet all governmental permitting requirements. It also would need a financial plan to purchase and build the beach and other amenities and manage and maintain the property in an environmentally responsible manner.
Those conditions are both challenging.
The price tag of the recreational amenities Hernando wanted to add to the preserve topped $7.7 million without considering a land purchase cost on top. Hernando officials put their hope in paying those costs on the passage of a sales tax referendum, but 55 percent of Hernando’s voters rejected that half-cent, 10-year levy in November.
The county also would have to prove that the public embraces the beach idea, according to the letter from the agency’s Brian Starford, director of operations, lands and resource monitoring.
At the public meeting in October, Hernando County commissioners listened to hours of testimony against the idea from environmental groups, nearby residents of Hernando Beach and a citizens group that included a number of high school students called Preserve the Preserve. Previous efforts over the last two decades have also generated strong opposition and county-run surveys about the proposal were also largely negative.
Still, Rogers is holding out hope that a beach may win approval at some point. While the beach has been rejected for now, he told the Tampa Bay Times that water management district officials have indicated they might be willing to talk sooner than five years from now. He said it was understandable that, with the liabilities involved, the district didn’t want to be in the swimming business.
He is sure that the things the agency has approved, such as allowing access to the preserve from the land the county bought on Shoal Line Boulevard for a new parking lot last year, will provide much-needed passive recreational opportunities in the preserve.
Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines
Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter
We’ll deliver the latest news and information you need to know every morning.
Loading...
The district rejected both a proposed land swap for several Hernando County properties and the management agreement proposed by the county but indicated it is willing to negotiate a new management agreement.
What is approved, Starford told Rogers, is improving existing amenities and trails in a smaller area of the preserve than originally requested, using the new Shoal Line Boulevard entrance, building a boardwalk or bridge across the canal along the road at the new entrance and expanding nonmotorized boating access, including a kayak launch.
“The county has attempted this two or three times before, but I can tell you we’ve never gotten so close,” Rogers said. “As for the swimming, I’m not sure the commissioners are going to be 100% excited about having to buy (the property) … but I’m thankful that there’s a way forward and we’ll discuss it at a commission meeting.”
Lorelai introduced to her new home in Hernando Beach
Megan Husseyhttps://www.hernandosun.com/2023/05/05/lorelai-introduced-to-her-new-home-in-hernando-beach/
Whenever he is asked to pinpoint the exact location of his real estate office at Hernando Beach, Tom Dishman, co-owner of Weaver Group Realty, with his wife Tammy, he always offers the same response. “Watch for the mermaid!” he says with a smile.Indeed, Dishman’s office at 3436 Shoal Line Blvd. is fronted by the artistic representation of a mermaid’s grotto. A golden-haired, sparkly-finned siren statue sits tall and proud on a painted pedestal. She’s posed beside a vibrant stone-encased mural that depicts...
Whenever he is asked to pinpoint the exact location of his real estate office at Hernando Beach, Tom Dishman, co-owner of Weaver Group Realty, with his wife Tammy, he always offers the same response. “Watch for the mermaid!” he says with a smile.
Indeed, Dishman’s office at 3436 Shoal Line Blvd. is fronted by the artistic representation of a mermaid’s grotto. A golden-haired, sparkly-finned siren statue sits tall and proud on a painted pedestal. She’s posed beside a vibrant stone-encased mural that depicts the majesty of a Florida sun rising high in a jewel blue sky, just above a dazzling aquiline wonderland brimming with stately manatees, vividly patterned fish and a rainbow-hued spectrum of florals and coral.
Yet, another mural fronts Weaver’s entrance as well; this one boasts the artistic representation of an adorable sea turtle swimming through a circle formed by the words, “Hernando Beach, Weeki Wachee, FL, Nature Coast.”
This trio of artistic masterworks is the creation of Spring Hill Artist Karen Governale and stands as an ornamental representation of the blossoming Hernando Beach arts scene.
Weaver Realty is a host of the Hernando Beach Front Porch Art Walk, conducted the first Saturday of each month from 10 am to 2 pm. Sponsored by the Hernando County Fine Arts Council and the Coastal Hernando Business Group, this is a dynamic, open-air event in which artists show and sell their wares on the properties of host businesses that include Weaver, the Silver Dolphin Restaurant, Brian’s Place, and Beverly’s Coastal Interiors, all located along Shoal Line Boulevard.
The next Front Porch Art Walk will take place on May 6, and aside from a vast selection of art, the walk will feature food, fudge, and ice cream for sale, plus raffles for gift cards, art and other prizes, and children’s art activities.
“Our first Saturday’s Front Porch Art Walk has grown. We’ve had as many as 32 artists, and now that snowbirds are returning back to the north, we still have about 25. Silver Dolphin, Brian’s, and Weaver Group have had artists displaying at their locations… We’ve had some fabulous artists, and some have been selling $500 pieces.”
Tom Dishman is pleased to introduce Weaver Realty Group to the Front Porch Art Walk movement. He revealed, “My wife and I love art, and when Diane mentioned the idea of the Front Porch Art Walk, our hands were up to participate. This is a great way to support local businesses and bring art to the neighborhood. This is an art show where people walk up and down and enjoy what they see.”
The Dishmans’ love of art also inspired them to procure a mermaid statue in the Destination Mermaids – The Tail Trail project, co-sponsored by Florida’s Adventure Coast Visitors Bureau, Brooksville Main Street, and the Hernando County Fine Arts Council. A colorful coterie of life-sized mermaid statues lines The Tail Trail, launched to mark the 75th Anniversary of Weeki Wachee Springs.
The first phase of the Tail Trail consists of 25 life-sized mermaids on display throughout Hernando County at the local businesses and agencies that have agreed to sponsor and display these 80-pound statues, standing 6’8″ tall and 32” in diameter and 54″ across. “When we first bought Weaver Realty Group in November, we decided that we wanted to see art here every day,” said Tom Dishman. “We are so excited by the look and color of the mermaid. She looks so real and shimmers in the sunlight.”
Governale did indeed intend the mermaid statue known as Lorelai to be a work of vivid color and lush tropical design. “This is my first statue, and–while I originally wanted to think outside the box and come up with a design that didn’t have to do with the ocean–I decided to go with a tropical, colorful design,” she said.
From her long golden hair to her glittery pink tail and even her teal-hued fingernails, Lorelai does indeed boast the classic look of a mermaid. Her name even draws from the annals of classic mermaid lore.
“I Googled mermaid names and came across Lorelai,” said Governale. “It’s funny, my mom told me that she had considered naming me Lorelai.”
Governale, who has been an artist since childhood and specializes in media that ranges from murals to pet portraits, found it a particular challenge to sometimes assume uncomfortable positions in order to paint a full-scale statue and to apply enamel paints. Yet she is greatly pleased with the public response to her Mermaid Trail statue. “I especially love how children run up to Lorelai and just stare,” said this mother of three. “And the Dishmans were so pleased with the results, they asked me to paint two murals at Weaver.”
These four-by-six murals are meant to complete the tropical theme of the Weaver Group Realty art display, providing Lorelai with her own home at sea. “This artwork reflects the look and feel of Hernando Beach, of Weeki Wachee,” said Tom Dishman. “People stop to take pictures with Lorelai, and folks visit here as they complete the Tail Trail.”
“Our art is meant to embrace the artsy feel of this community,” he said. “We embrace the feel.”
Interested artists and business people who wish to participate in the Front Porch Art Walk can contact Diane Greenwell at [email protected] or (304) 633-7110.