The Residency Continues in the Painting Studio

Light on the Marshes

Crystal River Marshes 2

Crystal River Marshes

Study on Canvas Paper

Artist in Residence Paintings

Notes From my Residency Journal

As I often note, the real residency begins long after the journey ends, when I am settled back into the painting studio. It is a process of going through many image files, saving them and choosing likely candidates for paintings. Once those are filed and considered, I choose one at a time to paint. Most of the studio pieces I do are in the 12x16 to 24x36 inch size range, though some are larger.

The painting process starts with canvas paper studies like the one above. Sometimes those move up to 5x7 or 8x10 paintings and then finally to larger format paintings. I am a slow learner and so I feel the need to study a subject first, getting to know it and feel comfortable in that space. I have my memories of the adventure and the plein air paintings I do on site to guide the process later in the studio.

I will often take a particular part of a painting to study for awhile. See the example of Cypress trees:



Doing a number of studies of a particular part of the painting or subject will really help me to get an understanding of the characteristics of my subject. I take these residencies seriously. They teach me so much about the character of the regions I visit and allow me to be an ambassador for conservation and Eco-tourism for Florida. If we can make natural Florida the place to love we will be able to limit development. That's my dream anyway. Thanks to all of my sponsors who provide housing and materials for this project. Bless you all!!

Mini Residency At Fair Oaks 08/26/12

Pond

Holy Ground Field

Henry's first day back at Fair Oaks after a long hot summer.

Field

Notes From My Residency Journal

I had half a day at Fair Oaks. The wind and rain from Hurricane Issac moved in after lunch. This morning was delightful with warm dry air and a light breeze.It was a perfect morning at Fair Oaks. Henry came with me for the first time since May. He was so excited he could hardly contain himself as we loaded up Leroy this morning with my painting gear and his water dish. He has a cozy little condo behind the seats in Leroy.

On arrival, we headed out in my favorite golf cart to do some exploring first.I like to take a drive around the farm before I settle in to paint.

We decided to paint the lovely field near the pond. These fields are lush and ever changing. They are full of color and texture, light and dark patterns, and tiny flowers that pop up here and there. I think of huge marvelous tapestries when I look at them.

 One of the farm staff from last year was back for school, Joe. He is a nice lad and always sweet to Henry and me. He is also a fine cook. He made Cuban sandwiches, black beans and rice and fruit salad for lunch. Good eats for sure!! We had a nice selection of pies from Pearl Country Store. They make them fresh. I had the chocolate Creme DE Menthe pie which was light and tasty.

 I always enjoy spending time with the staff at Fair Oaks.They are all college boys who are studying science and math. All as smart as can be. I enjoy hearing about all of the  studies they do and listening to Rick's delightful stories about the places he has traveled and the people he knows, which is just about everybody. 

I was sorry to lose my afternoon at Fair Oaks but half a day there is better than two days anywhere else.

Crystal River Painting

Artist in Residence Paintings

Notes From My Residency Journal

Since I returned from Crystal River, I have been studying the reference photos I took there, doing small and miniature paintings from the adventure. Today I finished the first large format painting from the residency. This painting is from the marshes and one of the estuaries in the Ozello area. It is truly a beautiful wild part of Florida that few know. Most of the people in this area are fishermen and hunters. It is quiet and for the most part natural compared to Crystal River. The painting is 20x24 inches oil on canvas. You will soon be able to see it in my loft studio in Gainesville, FL.

Mini Residency At Fair Oaks 08/19/12

Trees off Field One

Pond Oak

Holy Ground Field

Notes From My Residency Journal

I enjoyed a pleasant morning at Fair Oaks, first sharing a great cup of coffee and chatting with Rick and his Fair Oaks staff and then off in the woods just off field one. I chose a simple scene of trees along the path. Loving trees, I am always drawn to them. It surprises me how much visitors to my loft studio enjoy the simple paintings of trees that I do. They are not as exotic as the coastal paintings I do, but they have the quiet beauty of the woods I grew up in.

As I heard the lunch bell ring it began to rain so my gear got wet, but will dry out. Luckily, My painting made it safe and sound to Leroy. We had two kinds of quiche for lunch, collard/sausage/cheddar and swiss/ham/bacon.  I like to bake, but am not supposed to eat a lot of what I bake, so Rick's office staff and Fair Oaks staff are thankfully willing to be guinea pigs for my baking hobby.

As I walked out after lunch to think about where to paint, the sky opened up again so I packed Leroy up and headed for home.

Here is my Collard Quiche Recipe

4 eggs

2 cups half and half

3 cups shredded  cheddar cheese

4 pre-cooked Maple sausage patties chopped

1/4 onion diced

pinch of dried thyme leaves

1 teaspoon Country Dijon mustard

2 T corn starch mixed with a little half and half to make smooth

salt and pepper

1/2 carrot shredded

1 T butter

1 cup chopped collard greens ( I use frozen )

Saute collards onions and sausage just until wilted. Set aside. Beat eggs with H&H and Cornstarch. Add mustard and seasonings. Line a pie pan with crust and crimp the edges. Mix sausage collards mixture and shredded cheese, filling the pie crust. Preheat oven to 300. Pour custard mixture over the pie ingredients and make sure the cheese mixture is pushed down into the liquid. Bake on a sheet pan until quiche is golden brown and firm in the middle. Cool on a cake rack and then cut and serve. The quiche freezes well and can be refrigerated and reheated.

My October Residency- Canaveral Seashore Paint Out

Residency Paintings

Notes From My Residency Journal

I am delighted to be sponsored by Mike and Donna from Orlando, FL for my residency during the Canaveral Seashore Paint Out. Having a private condo on the beach for a paint out is no small thing. Paint Outs are very tiring and there are many activities during the event. A quiet lovely place to come home to is a blessing. 

This year I will be doing a sky and clouds demonstration for paint out visitors on Flagler Avenue and will announce the time and day soon. 

I'm always happy to paint in New Smyrna Beach. It is a favorite Florida beach town for me. It has retained it's lovely architecture and charm. it is big enough to be convenient, but small enough to be charming and welcoming. I look forward to going there every year. Many thanks to Mike Hull and Donna Gentile of Orlando and New Smyrna Beach, FL.

August 12, 2012 Mini Residency at Fair Oaks

Holy Ground Field

8x10 inches

acrylic on panel

Oak By the Pond

Notes From My Residency Journal

Today was one of those perfect Fair Oaks Days.It was sunny and hot but quite pleasant in the shade. My canine friend Shane joined me today. His daddy was out of town so I was a second choice for him. Whenever his daddy is home, no one else matters. We had a good time driving around the farm together. We found some Armadillos deep in the woods, watched them for awhile and then moved on. One of my Fairy Houses was destroyed by the last storm so I took the pieces to the trash. It was a cute house but made of cardboard so it did not last very long. I am glad to see that the ceramic and wood ones I made are holding up well. They should hold up for some time.

I can see the beginnings of the seasonal change more and more now. There is a little cypress tree across the pond that is already beginning to turn. The purple flowers are still pretty but already beginning to fade a little. The grasses are less emerald green with tops beginning to brown a bit and the Fairy Circles are beginning to brown. 

I saw several beautiful birds today including Blue Herons, Egrets and a large Red Tailed Hawk that I flushed out right in front of the cart..It was wonderful to watch him fly so close to me.

I found one of my favorite scenes near Sebastian's Trail in Holy Ground Field to my liking so I settled in for a couple of hours, enjoying the quiet beauty of this place I love so much. Not too hot, a comfortable cart to paint in, a lovely canine companion snoozing on the seat next to me and the sounds of birds and buzzing insects in the distance. What could be more wonderful?

Lunch was delicious pulled pork and baked beans with salad. The  farm manager and I enjoyed lunch all by ourselves today.  After lunch I headed back to my spot to finish up the painting. As I finished up the clouds rolled in with a shower.It was time to go home with memories of lovely Fair Oaks to savor.

Mini Residency At Fair Oaks 08/05/12

Purple Flowers

8x10 inches

acrylic on Source Tek birch panel

Field One Trees

5x7 inches

acrylic on hardboard

The Flowers

Water Birds

Notes From My Residency Journal

Fair Oaks has moved into the dog days of summer now. I am beginning to see hints of the seasonal changes to come. The fields are awash in these beautiful purple flowers rimming the huge shade trees. I saw tiny yellow and orange blossoms forming and some Goldenrod lining some of the county roads as well. That means fall to come. In 6 weeks I will begin to enjoy the beginning of fall, at least in my mind though it may still be quite hot. 

The grasses are tall and the pond is again its lovely self, full of water birds after a long dry spell. I drove around to check on my Fairy Houses and they are holding up very well. The morning was very pleasant, surprisingly comfortable in August with no bugs. I sat under trees and painted the purple flowers.

Lunch was served alfresco in the shady pavilion. We enjoyed pulled pork and chicken BBQ with all the fixings, fresh lemon-aid and cake for dessert. A real feast!! After lunch I got a small painting done before the skies opened up.

I had a difficult drive home in a huge thunderstorm. Leroy is not Air Conditioned, so it was a long ride. Midway along, the rubber in my windshield wiper began to gradually pull out of the holder. I drove for about 25 miles with it whipping around in the wind and rain, trying to peer through a windshield with no wiper. Not a trip I want to repeat anytime soon. I will need to take Leroy in to get a new wiper now. My adventures are certainly interesting.

More to come...