Packing

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Notes From My Painting Studio

I had a nice rare day in the painting studio to catch up on my packing for the Bird Island Residency, this Friday-next Thursday. This is my second year of the residency, though I have been there a couple of times with groups. Living on an island accessible only by boat is a real adventure and the most peaceful trip I have. It is a time for painting, reading my Travis McGee novels, puttering around, climbing up to the Widow's Walk to watch the boats go by, and walking the Island to explore. A wonderful residency indeed. 

Fair Oaks Mini Residency - March 30, 2014

East Hay Field

5x7 inches

Oil on panel

Notes From my Residency Journal

I was quite productive today, finishing four small paintings in the east hay field. During the rain season, it is the only field dry enough to paint in. Luckily, I love painting there. There are lots of tall pines and big live oaks as well as cabbage palms so there is plenty to paint. 

The day was exceptionally lovely and cool. I wore my hoodie all day and was very comfortable all day. This is the painting weather all outdoor painters wish for and we seldom get this lucky. 

Lunch was delicious, BBQ chicken with green beans and tots. Yummy. I finished my last painting around 4 PM and headed for the coffee machine first and then the picnic table to read email. 

At 6 PM we started a lovely party for a birthday/anniversary for Magda and Sebastian. We enjoyed steak, baked sweet potatoes, grilled goat cheese stuffed tomatoes, and crudités as a pre-dinner snack. We had two huge cakes and ice cream for dessert. We were entertained by a young violinist who played very well indeed. One of the perks of being part of the Fair Oaks family is being invited to attend the marvelous parties there. 

Lovely flowers from the Fair Oaks garden.

Chef Mark and Sebastian

The girls enjoy a chat.

After a fine day in paradise, I headed for home. 

Mini Residency at Fair Oaks Part Two- March 23

Floor Mats

Mirrors and a canopy!

Notes From My Residency Journal

Yay for me, I was allowed to stay for the whole weekend at Fair Oaks. We have new golf carts. It's very exciting. These are my new wheels ( at least for a day) far too fancy for a country girl like me but I could get used to this Surrey  with the Fringe on Top. It has two back up mirrors, turn signals, a splash guard window, floor mats and a seat with no holes in it. It even has little baskets to hold little things. The other new cart is a 6 seater to drive visitors around. A step up in the world of transportation at Fair Oaks. 

I decided to paint up in the studio this morning. I wanted to finish up my demo painting from the Oak Hammock party yesterday.  I did a little 5x7 marsh painting too, using my IPad reference photo. There is nothing like painting in this studio. I love staying in the old house. I feel so happy there. All of the stresses of the real  world fade away the instant I arrive. 

After a great BBQ lunch, I headed down to the big pond to enjoy watching the beautiful water birds who have returned as the pond has risen. I saw egrets, Great Blue a Herons and the smaller herons, a deeper blue with the bluefish beaks, about a third smaller than the Great Blues. 

The clouds built up for coming rain and it was time to saddle up Leroy and ride home after a weekend in paradise. 

Mini Residency at Fair Oaks - March 22, 2014

Demonstration Painting

Painters from Oak Hammock Plein Air Group

Blacksmiths with Magda Solski, the Fair Oaks photographer.

Breakfast al fresco under the pavilion. 

Notes from my Residency Journal

Today is usually a studio day for me but I took the day off to join in the fun at Fair Oaks. The friends from the Oak Hammock community joined us for a day of fun activities. We started with breakfast in the pavilion, with a Q&A session for painters, and them moved out in every direction to paint. 

Around 11 AM a bus arrived from Oak Hammock with more guests. We were joined by several photographers as well. The staff set up several lawn games around the yard and much time was spent strolling around the beautiful yard and pond at the pavilion. 

Soon the lunch bell rang and the line formed up for a huge BBQ feast, catered by Pearl Country Store. We feasted on pulled smoked pork, chicken, park ribs, collard greens, cole slaw baked beans, corn bread and a variety of pies with ice cream.  It was superb. I opted for extra BBQ rather than dessert. The collards were especially good. 

After lunch the hay ride cranked up which toured the tiny town of Evinston and the Wood and Swink, Florida's oldest working post office and country store. The tour was led by Freddie Wood, owner of one of the big farms in this area and owner of the Wood and Swink with his son Fred.

Meanwhile, Rick took on the tour guide job with the six seater cart, giving the history of the estate to our visitors. 

A perfect day in paradise.

Linda, Rick and Shane at the Serenity Oak. 

Mini Residency-Fair Oaks March 16, 2014

My Mentor Students, Betty, Linda, Kay, Harold had to leave early. 

Red Top in the Fields

Notes From My Residency Journal

This was my monthly mentor day at Fair Oaks. My painting friends come once a month to paint around the fields and at 5 PM we gather in the pavilion to critique and discuss painting techniques and solutions. I managed to do three small paintings this morning before they arrived.

Spring arrived while I was away for two weeks. The Red Top is growing in the fields along with Spiderwort and tiny yellow flowers. The trees are wearing their mint green prom dresses, showing off their finery. The Dogwoods are lacy and delicate, scattered through the other trees. 

Buddy and Shane were feeling good and frisky on this lovely day, and greeted me with enthusiasm. 

Lunch was fabulous, BBQ chicken, spicy and delicious collard greens and cheesy mixed vegetables, topped off with rich and creamy chocolate ice cream.What a feast. My trip ended with a trip to Mark and Anna's house for a big planter he made for me to use as a herb garden. I got to see their chickens and Anna gave me a dozen fresh eggs. What a great day in paradise. 

Home From the Wekiva Paint Out

Lake Prevatt Path

Linda Blondheim Art

 



Notes From My Residency Journal

 

 

I'ved arrived home from my journey to Wekiva State Park and Wekiva Island. Looking back on my adventure, I enjoyed painting in the pine stands so much at the state park. It was an excellent learning process for me and it allowed me the best focus I can ever remember at a paint out. I left my paint box set up and ready to use every day behind my cabin, and I needed no time and energy wasting moves to other locations. In fact, the painting was the most enjoyable time I have ever had at a professional paint out.

 

 

I so enjoyed the fellowship and shop talk with old friends and fellow painters during the social times. I paced myself and goofed off on the last two days because I had worked with good focus and tenacity for the first four days. That was also an excellent strategy.

 

 

The party was full of glam with catered food from Carrabas Restaurant and an outstanding three piece dance band. At the end of the night, I enjoyed watching many of the painters cut loose and dance the hour away. Some were quite good in fact. Not being a dancer myself, I enjoyed the vicarious thrill of watching them all in action. Fond goodbyes continued this morning as we had a last coffee in the hotel lounge together.

 

 

My sincere thanks to Nina Chatham, Mary Sue, Bill, his sisters and his niece Carrie, the Weinaug family, for a truly well designed and thoughtful event in their beautiful world of Wekiva Island. 



 

Wekiva Paint Out

I found a WIFI connection this morning so I'm reporting in from the Wekiva Paint Out in Apopka, FL. 

I had a definite plan for painting this year. This is my 8th Wekiva Paint Out so I have painted in every location at one time or another. 

I decided to paint the field of lovely pines behind my cabin for my week's body of work. It allowed me to take a relaxed pace and stay focused, as no one was around much. I did 14 paintings of the pines. Most enjoyable. It remains to be seen whether I sell at the Gala on Saturday night.  

We have been treated like royalty by the staff and owners of Wekiva Island. We have been fed every day and even been given a credit card for the bar for the duration. Amazing. These people are beyond kind and generous to us every year. I urge you to support Wekiva Island in Apopka. 

Camp life at Wekiva State Park is superb. My cabin has all the conveniences of a home. The view is marvelous of cabbage palms, scrub oaks, and majestic palms. Artists come and go with minimal scheduling. The evenings are entertaining with fun activities and plenty of food. Camp fires are part of the routine and art demos spring up impromptu during the week. 

Tonight is food truck Friday, always fun. I always get the lobster rolls. 

More to come after the gala.