Mini Residency at Fair Oaks- October 5, 2014

Landscape Painting

Landscape Art

East Hay Field

Notes From My residency Journal

Today was the kind of day we Floridians wait 5 months for. It was cool, with low humidity and beautiful. A day that makes all of the heat and bugs worth enduring for five months.  The fields are beautiful and lush with flowers blooming. I gathered several of the lovely purple ones to press and dry in two weeks. I'll be making note cards with them. 

I restored the old fairie house and put it back on the picnic bench. It looks sweet and colorful. It should last about a year.  I first painted an 8x10 in Holy Ground Field. It was so pleasant in the shade, cool and beautiful!

I had time before lunch to do a second painting of the big pond, beginning to show fall color in one area. What a glorious view! As I cleaned up and headed for the studio to pick up paintings, our friend Kate Barnes arrived for lunch. We enjoyed her many stories. She has been everywhere and done many interesting things in her long career as writer, painter, politician and world traveler. 

We enjoyed grilled sandwiches, potato salad and yellow squash for lunch, and a rice pudding brought by Kate to share. It was all delicious. I couldn't resist the urge to start a third painting for the day after lunch. I'll finish it one day in my studio. 

I headed for home about 4 PM after another day in paradise!

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. 

 

Fair Oaks Mini Residency - July 27, 2014

One of the beauties at Fair Oaks

Royal Poinciana Tree

20x24 inches

Oil on canvas

Notes From My Residency Journal

After a particularly difficult week, I breathed a sigh of gratitude when I pulled into my parking spot at Fair Oaks this morning. This is my place of respite and peace from an often hectic schedule.  Honestly, if I lived at Fair Oaks I would become a hermit and never want to leave. When I stay for a week in February, I rarely do.  

I headed up to the studio and enjoyed finishing the above painting. It is my habit to have paintings in progress, leaving them to dry between sessions. I brought a poppy field painting to work on next week. After the paintings are finished, I leave them to dry for a week. I bring them home to my own painting studio to frame and take to my town retail studio. 

The lunch bell rang and I hurried over to the cottage for a great lunch of baked chicken, a medley of squash, carrots and green beans and baked sweet potatoes. We enjoyed summer berries with cool whip for dessert. So refreshing. As usual, I was thoroughly spoiled! Today our topic was ethics and logic. I love these discussions at lunch every week. 

I headed back upstairs to get a bit done on the poppy painting and then headed out in the golf cart to see the fields. The bugs are bad now but if you keep moving they don't land. The big purple weed is blooming now, signalling the beginning of August. The grasshoppers are out in force flying in all directions in front of the cart and the keening sound of insects was loud as I drove along. I was thrilled to see the lilly pads growing in the big pond again. It's been some time since we have had them in the pond.  I plugged in the cart, enjoyed a bit of time with sweet Buddy and Shane and headed for my studio in Leroy after another day in paradise.

Fair Oaks Mini Residency July 13

Pond Area

24x24 inches

Oil on canvas

Notes From My Residency Journal

My drive to Fair Oaks was hot and humid. Opening the door to the studio was like stepping into an oasis, cool and welcoming, thanks to the staff. I worked on completing the painting above all morning, listening to Bob Edwards interviewing authors and musicians, always interesting. 

The best experience of the day was lunch. We enjoyed the best BBQ pork sandwiches I've ever had. The buns were toasted with butter and the pork was tender and delicious! We had a lovely salad and mixed vegetables. Wonderful! Lunch is always special at Fair Oaks. I'm always offered an excellent cup of coffee at the end of the meal, a special treat! There is a wonderful sense of community via lunch at Fair Oaks. We sit around the table and discuss history, philosophy,culture, art, politics, anthropology, science, and world travel. I try to soak it in like a sponge. I am with people who know a great deal about the world. Most of them are highly educated and this country girl is lucky to be included in these elevated conversations. It is like being back in college, I look forward to it every week.

I puttered around the studio after lunch, starting a new painting, then cleaning up the space and heading home after another day in paradise. Thank you dear Fair Oaks friends for the privilege of being part of the culture of this remarkable place. 

Fair Oaks Mini Residency - July 6, 2014

I forgot my IPad today so I don't have any good photos to share. 

I'm getting so spoiled at Fair Oaks. Today the AC in the studio was already on again and the studio was cool and inviting. I was greeted by the 24x24 inch painting in progress. I enjoyed working along on it until I heard the lunch bell. We were treated to an inspired lunch of paella with clams shrimp and chicken and fresh green salad, sliced tomatoes and thick crunchy toast. Dessert was a huge bowl of ice cream with fresh mango slices and chocolate syrup.WOW! My friend Kate Barnes was guest of honor and we all enjoyed her lively stories and interests. 

I made a blanket for my canine friend sweet Buddy. I want him to have a warm blanket this winter when it's cold. I'll start on Shane's next.  

I headed back up to paint a bit after the marvelous lunch and then headed Leroy for home. As I drove along I knew how lucky I am to have my Fair Oaks family who nurtures and supports me.  

Fair Oaks Mini Residency-June 29, 2014

New Bird Houses at Fair Oaks

Skies are amazing at Fair Oaks

Mark is removing Hyasynths from the big pond to open up the water.

East Hay Field Study

8x10 inches

Acrylic on panel

Notes From My Residency Journal

I spent most of my day in the cool upstairs studio at Fair Oaks. It feels wonderful up there. The AC was already on when I arrived. Most of my generation grew up with limited air conditioning as children. We are used to the heat. My truck is ancient. It has no AC so summer is pretty brutal for me while driving. To walk into that studio is really wonderful after a hot trip from my studio to Fair Oaks. 

Today I got a good start on a new 24x24 inch painting of the pond area behind the old house. It is swell to work one day a week on these paintings at Fair Oaks. No rush and a more thoughtful process with that method. Today, I finished two other paintings and brought them home to my own studio for framing. 

Soon, Mark came to collect me for lunch. We had hot dogs and hamburgers, potato salad, cowboy beans, and two pies for dessert. I chose the peach pie and it was delicious! I am so spoiled at Fair Oaks. Beautiful studio,new golf cart, beautiful fields to roam and delicious meals. Wow! I am so lucky!

I finished up painting around 2 PM and headed out around the fields in the golf cart to take reference photos. The land changes every week and throughout the seasons. We are heading into mid summer now. The heat is intense, so I know that August will be brutal if June is this hot. Something got stuck in the go pedal, so I was instantly driving at full speed for a few seconds before I got the cart turned off. This seems to happen to me frequently. I have a long history of getting stuck and of picking up stuff under the cart and careening around. Thank goodness I have never hit anything or messed up pipes. I am a classic "woman driver" according to my host and the staff. They take great pleasure in teasing me about my misadventures in the cart. I discovered two new bird houses in my ride today. There may be more that I've not found yet. I love to see them. Fair Oaks has many wonderful birds. 

After a marvelous day in paradise, Leroy took me home to my own studio. 

Fair Oaks Mini Residency - June 8, 2014

Field Three Tree

18x24 inches

Oil on canvas

My Lovely Birthday Gift, Sunflowers From the Fair Oaks Garden. They came in a giant mason jar. So wonderful! I will paint them tomorrow. 

The East Hay Field. So lovely!

Notes From My Residency Journal

I spent the morning upstairs working on my painting above. I brought a roll of brown paper with me, and covered the work table, so I won't worry so much about getting paint on it. All of the tables in my own studio are covered with dabs of paint, a mess! I like to keep the Fair Oasks studio very tidy as other artists may paint there as I do. It is such a swell studio. I listen to NPR as I work, learning about the world. At lunch time I headed for the cottage. Mark made a savory chicken stew, served with Fair Oaks tea, biscuits and homemade marmalade.  I enjoyed a cup of coffee to finish off the meal. 

After lunch, I cleaned up my gear and headed out to the fields to take some photos and explore. They look so pretty with their tiny flowers and tall seed stems in the v shape they always take. They look like a giant V for victory rally, waving their signs in the breeze. It is hot but still fresh and green in early summer. We have not yet faced the heavy, dusty, oppressive heat of late August when color is faded and we are wilted from long hot endless seeming days. 

I looked at my watch and realized it was 4:30! Where did the day go? I headed Leroy and my happy sunflowers for my studio with fond memories of another day in paradise. 

Crystal River Residency - Day 6

My good friend Linda

Our view for lunch

Notes From my Residence Journal

Today I painted with my friend Linda and her friend and painter Ron Affee, http://www.ronaffee.com in Inverness at the town lake front park.

It wasn't too hot. I chose to study some trees and found a good shady spot, so I enjoyed myself. They chose different spots. I ended up in a nice conversation with a sculptor from the town so that was interesting and fun.

Linda and I traveled back to Crystal River and stopped at a restaurant called the Ale House. It was a great place with a covered patio, so we dined alfresco. There was a nice breeze and storm clouds building so it as very pleasant. Linda is an easy going comfortable friend who is easy to talk to. I always enjoy her company.  The food was very good. I had the shrimp basket with perfectly cooked large shrimp and good cole slaw. Linda had a bowl of broccoli soup. It was great fun watching the boats come and go past us. 

I barely made it back to the condo before the sky opened up with a good shower to cool things off. I spent the afternoon washing the bedding and doing a bit of cleaning, as I leave tomorrow morning. I'll stop for breakfast and head for my own stomping grounds. I have a cake order, so I need to get my chef's hat on and get busy with that. I'll be back in the town studio on Friday, with fond memories of this wonderful place. 

If you love nature, this is your vacation home! There is a nice pool, the boat dock is right in front of me and the view from the deck is spectacular. There is a large comfy bed on the top level bedroom and full bath. There is a nice half bath downstairs, a modern galley kitchen, and very comfortable furniture. A cozy, modern condo carefully disguised as a simple cottage, fitting into natural surroundings beautifully. 

The owners rent the condo by the week or by the month. Let me know if you are interested. I recommend this as a marvelous vacation setting.

My heartfelt thanks to the Daly's for this wonderful week in paradise. 

Crystal River Residency- Day 5

Marsh Clouds

8x10 inches

Oil on panel

River Study

 8x10 inches

Oil on panel

Roy Thomas Road

Off Ft Island Trail

Notes From My Residency Journal

I went to A J's Cafe today for breakfast. It is located on Us 19 on the west side if you are headed south. It was a bit nicer than most of the others I've visited in terms of decor. It has a typical breakfast menu. I had corned beef hash and fried eggs with homefries and rye toast, all good with excellent service. I've been impressed with the number of breakfast restaurants in this small town, at least four. Since breakfast is my favorite meal to eat out, I like all these choices, all in the range of 8.00-9.00. 

After breakfast I did some more exploring on my way back to my temporary studio. I found Roy Thomas road, a narrow dirt road that goes through the marshes and eventually dead ends at what I imagine is some sort of fish camp, with a couple of houses and public buildings like a camp.  The views of the river are glorious there. I didn't stay long, not wanting to be a bother. No one seemed to mind or care that I was there. I got some nice quick snapshots of the river and headed back to Ft Island Trail. 

The marshes here are fascinating in color and texture, in one direction they will be greenish bronze, in another wheat. Sometimes they turn to chocolate in color. They remind me of the Forgotten Coast marshes up along Simmons Bayou and Indian Pass, in the Port St Joe area. Exotic and ever changing. This is also a wonderful place to study cloud formations. 

Another day in paradise thanks to The Daly's. 

Crystal River Residency - Day 4

Marsh Palm

5x7 inches

Oil on panel

Palm Hammock

8x10 inches

Oil on panel

Marshes along Fort Island Trail

Notes From My Residency Journal

I started my day with breakfast at a local dive named Oysters. It was quite by accident. I stopped for gas first and the restaurant was right next door. I decided, why not? I'm glad I did. They had a nice breakfast menu with a fair number of options. I discovered a fisherman's breakfast as one of the selections. The fish options included catfish, cod or grouper. I chose Grouper, one of my favs with eggs, grits and toast. It was superb. The fish was fried the old school way. No panko  breadcrumbs or tempura batter here. It was fried the classic Florida way in cornmeal. Crisp and hot and steaming in the middle. It was a large piece and all was wonderful, including the crisp brown toast. The coffee was excellent and bold. This feast was 8.50 including the coffee. What a great way to start my day!

I spent some time photographing Ft Island Trail with its many side roads and got some great reference photos. I headed back to my temporary studio to paint the above two paintings. Just before 4 PM, I headed to my hosts' beautiful marsh house for a second feast for dinner. We enjoyed crackers and cheese first, then grilled chicken, a beautiful colorful salad with poppy seed dressing, asparagus cooked perfectly, sweet potatoes, and corn on the cob, followed by fresh watermelon for dessert with coffee. Truly delicious! I had such a great time swapping stories with them. They are wonderful friends, and Linda is a fine painter. We will be off on Wednesday to a town called Inverness to paint with her painting group. I'll enjoy meeting new painting friends. 

Another wonderful day in Paradise.

Crystal River Residency -Day 3

River Canal

12x16 inches

Oil on canvas

Marshes on Fort Island Trail

Ft Island Trail Park

Notes From My Residency Journal

I woke early and ventured out to breakfast at Granny's restaurant. I had corned beef hash and eggs with hash browns, all tasty. I always eat breakfast there at least once when I visit Crystal River.  I headed back down the trail to admire the lovely marshes along the way. There are several parks and trails off the main drive and I enjoyed stopping along the way to take photos with my IPhone camera. I will go again tomorrow with my IPad that takes very good photos. 

I like this cozy little cottage where I am hosted by the generous Daly family. It fits into the nature of the marsh so well. It is environmentally friendly in that it nestles into the marsh with little disturbance, leaving a completely natural landscape. The clapboard siding is painted a neutral color and the decking and walkways are all unfinished wood, so it grays with time with the marsh trees along the canal. The only paving is in the small parking lot, rimmed by trees. 

As a Florida native, I hate seeing the mini mansions along the River with manicured lawns, devoid of natural plantings. They don't fit into the environment in any way and have no respect for the marshes. I'm not naive enough to wish for no development in our beautiful state, but environmentally friendly development is possible with as little disturbance as possible to the land and sea. I continue to fully support our state land trust organizations and encourage others to do so. 

I'm having an excellent time painting everyday. I'm working on my 4th painting. 

Here's to another wonderful day in paradise.

Crystal River Residency - Day 2

Marsh Morning

 9x12 inches

Oil on canvas

Marsh Palms

8x10 inches

Oil on canvas

Notes From My Residency Journal

This lovely place truly provides all the scenery I could wish for. I feel no need to go anywhere looking for a place to paint. It is all here in front of me. I've been watching the boats go up and down the canal all day, while happily painting. The condos are all on stilts above the marsh, so the tide goes in and out under us. Rustic wooden boardwalks meander through the property, with palms growing here and there through the walkways. It is lovely and natural. As I walk along, I see tiny crabs skittering along the boardwalk.

I will venture out for a bite to eat later. It's very hot so I am happy with my views from the air conditioned condo for the duration of the heat wave. I'll be going out with a group this week to paint in the area for a day.

A good painting day in paradise.

Crystal River Residency - Day 1

View from the deck 1

View from the Deck 2

My lovely abode

Notes From My Residency Journal

I arrived around noon and am settled into this lovely condo for the week. My friends Linda and Tom made this residency possible. Thanks so much to them for this privilege. It is a lovely cottage like building out over the water. Sliding glass doors face the marshes with a generously sized I deck. It is so hot this week that I will enjoy painting the view inside during the day.  I'll head out to explore tomorrow, early and then head back here to paint where it is cool. 

Mini Residency at Fair Oaks April 20, 2014

Mark Anna and James talk about the upcoming wedding at Fair Oaks

The flowers are blooming under the trees this week.

Mentor student Margaret painted one of the fine old trees.

Mentor student Pat was ready to paint the pond roses.

Notes From My Residency Journal

I spent the morning painting in the East Hay Field. I am working on a painting in stages, so this was my second session. I have one more to go and then I'll show it to you finished. Just as I was about ready to clean up, Anna and friend James arrived in time for lunch. 

We wandered over to the big Live Oak with the swing where the wedding will be. I have never had a ride on the swing though it has always been there. Today I decided it was a good day to swing! Oh what a thrill it was! It is the best kind of swing. A single strong rope on a board, so you wrap your legs around the rope as you straddle the board. It goes in every direction. Mark, the strong man, pushed me high up into the tree. I've never enjoyed anything more. What freedom to be like a bird! Marvelous!

We enjoyed lunch of spaghetti with wonderful sausage and sauce with broccoli, fresh fruit and carrot cake. Chef Chris did a wonderful job. Just as I finished my slice of cake my two students arrived for an afternoon of painting. 

It was truly a swell day in paradise!

Mini Residency at Cellon Oak Park

Cellon Oak

9x12 inches

Oil on panel

www.lindablondheim.com

My painting for the day.

9x12 inches

Oil on panel

My friend Tim Malles with his painting

Mrs Tim with their dog. She was our support system for the day.

Notes From My Residency Journal

I paint in this park now and then with my friend Tim. He is a terrific person and a fine painter. We enjoy the time to talk shop as we seldom have time together. It is a relaxed morning and we do one painting before we go our separate ways, he to picnic with his wife and I to head for my studio right down the road. The park is only about 3 miles from my painting studio. 

I've been painting this champion live oak for many years and it challenges me every time. It is so massive that I have difficulty fitting it into a small format. It screams for a large surface. I did a studio painting of it once in 30x36 inch format and it was pretty accurate. I do love the challenge of painting it.

A fun day painting with a friend always hits the spot!

Bird Island Day 4

Marshes at Bird Island

9x12 inches

Oil on panel

Sunset

8x10 inches

Oil on panel

The boardwalk beside the marshes

Horseshoe crab

View from the dock

Notes From My Residency Journal

Today's weather is too rough to be out. The wind is howling and the sea is up with lots of foam and broken waves. I've not seen a single boat. It is quite cozy in the house and I'm enjoying reading a Travis McGee adventure. This morning wasn't bad on the porch so I was able to finish 2 paintings, the first started yesterday. I have 6 paintings and expect to get at least one more tomorrow. 

You haven't lived until you have tried tuna salad on Lays potato chips instead of bread. It is really delicious! I have had that for lunch every day this week. Just scoop up the tuna with a spoon and carefully put it on a big chip like an appetizer. 

Last evening I had a great walk over the marshes in the boardwalk. It is a lovely view late in the day with everything warm and rich in color. I found a Horseshoe crab shell and saw tiny little crabs scuttling along the path. I watched a pair of Dolphins feeding, scattering Mullet as they swam along.

This is a foreign world for me. I am a landlubber having lived all of my life in forests and fields. My visits to the coast are always educational. I know nothing about boats or the sea. I am always amazed by the startling changes in the weather when I visit the coasts and Bird Island. It can change in just a few moments. 

With good luck this storm will be gone tomorrow, giving me another day in Bird Island paradise!