My Snorkelling Rhino

It is not easy to be the best. You must have the courage to bear pain, disappointment, and heartbreak. You must learn how to face danger and understand fear, yet not be afraid. You establish your goal, and no matter what deters you along the way, in your every waking moment you must say to yourself, “I can do it.”
— Betty Skelton

What a great attitude!



My Snorkelling Rhino – 5″ x 8″ Watercolor

Just when you thought you couldn’t be surprised…. you came to this silly painting.  I painted this from Lisilk’s WetCanvas images.  Her challenge was to add something into your painting that is a little out of place.  Do you think I achieved it? 

I painted this two weekends ago and I didn’t have much time, so the background was slapped in (in a hurry)  with watercolor pencils.  So pretend it’s smoother.  he he

Betty Skelton

Betty Skelton was the U.S. Feminine Aerobatic Champion in 1948, 1949, and 1950. As a young girl in Pensacola, Florida, Skelton first soloed in a Taylorcraft at the tender age of 12 and then again officially at age 16. Betty wanted a career in aviation and started with a clerical position at Eastern Airlines.

At 17, she had the necessary flight hours but was too young to join the Women Air Service Pilots (WASP) and it was disbanded shortly before she reached the required age of 18 and 1/2.

She received her commercial rating at 18, her flight instructor rating at 19, joined the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), and began instructing at the Pete O’ Knight Airport in Tampa. She first started aerobatic flying in a Fairchild PT-19 when a Tampa airport manager suggested she learn a loop and a roll for the local amateur airshow.

She bought her own aircraft, a 1929 Great Lakes 2T1A biplane and began her profession career in 1946 at the Southeastern Air Exposition in Jacksonville, Florida, along with a new US Navy exhibition team, the Blue Angels.

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