Fair Oaks Mini Residency - August 24,2014

A Chestnut in the grove

Today's Painting

20x24 inches

Oil on canvas

Notes From My Residency Journal

I enjoyed a long and busy day at Fair Oaks.  I arrived to paint all morning. I brought a small cake to share with guests. I knew there would be some big dogs visiting today so I left Henry at home. I finished this painting and one of a poppy field, and started a new one. 

We enjoyed lasagna, a lovely salad and bread with dipping oil for lunch. It was delicious! A full crew was working and I enjoyed talking to the kids about school starting at college tomorrow. They are all such kind young people, always welcoming to me. 

I headed back upstairs to clean the studio and bathroom and put away my paints. By the time I got to the cottage, some of the company had arrived. I got to meet some of my host's family and then friends from Poland arrived. We enjoyed cake and coffee and toured the estate. A lovely day in paradise. 

Fair Oaks Mini Residency- August 11, 2014

Notes From My Residency Journal

I brought Henry with me today. I will be bringing him with me again most of the time for awhile. He was so happy to come back to Fair Oaks. He loves Buddy, Shane, the staff and his friend who can speak French with him. The drive from my studio was really hot for him, so I got the idea to bring back a bag of ice for the trip home. It would keep his seat cool. I brought a little pad for him to lay on up in the studio. I am thinking I will get one of those small pad dog beds to leave up in the Fair Oaks studio. He likes to sleep on a little bed. 

We walked into the blessedly cool studio, thanks to the staff who spoils me. While he snoozed, I worked on the painting of the week. I'm just about done after today's session. I'll take one more look at it next week when I get back. The second painting I'm working on is not working very well, so I will have to see what I need to do with it next week. 

When the lunch bell rang, I left Henry in the studio and headed over to the cottage for our wonderful weekly lunch together. I look forward to it each time. We had a special treat today, Pearl Country Store BBQ. I dearly love BBQ and never tire of it. We had pulled pork sandwiches, French fries,baked beans and cole slaw. Dessert was Blue Bell Vanilla Ice Cream with chocolate syrup, whipped cream and strawberries. Wow! Good eats!  Our topic of discussion was how intelligence relates to success. I love our lunch topics. I always learn so much from these wise friends. 

After lunch we finished up in the studio and headed out in the cart for a quick ride in the golf cart. Henry loves to ride around the fields.

We reluctantly headed for home in Leroy after another marvelous day in paradise.

Henry poses in the studio.

Chris pays a visit to see Henry in the studio. Mark stopped in too. 

East Hay Field

18 x 24 inches

Oil on canvas

Buddy's Birthday!! August 3, 2014

Buddy and Shane with their Daddy

I love Sweet Buddy

Chris with Buddy

Cloud Beauty

The new generator

Mark moving dirt

 

Linda's Art

 

Notes From My Residency Journal

Today was a special event. We celebrated Buddy's 15th birthday. Buddy is the gentleman of Fair Oaks.  He is incredibly sweet and kind. I haved learned a lot about good character being around Buddy and Shane, the Border Collies who own Fair Oaks. Buddy shared his party with Shane. They got to have balloons, birthday cards, doggie treats, hot dogs and cake with ice cream. There was even a Happy Birthday banner around the room. 

We all had a wonderful party and after lunch we got into the golf carts for a ride around the beautiful fields. It was a day of fun and celebration, one I won't forget. One of the perks of being an artist in residence is that I often get to be a part of the celebrations and parties at Fair Oaks. The people and dogs there are family to me and I treasure them.

I noticed how beautiful the clouds were as we rode along. When we returned, I grabbed my camera and made another round through the fields to take lots of cloud photos. Great fun, but really hot! August has arrived.

I headed for my studio with happy memories of a swell day at beloved Fair Oaks.