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.

My Week long Residency at Fair Oaks February 20-27, 2012

Linda Blondheim

Notes From My Residency Journal

I'm off to Fair Oaks for a week of painting. Unfortunately, Mary Jane won't be able to come this time. I am taking a box full of painting panels from 5x7 to 9x12 inches. I am also bringing a 20x24 and 18x24 canvas to work on in the thoughtfully provided studio upstairs in the old house. My plan is to spend mornings out in the fields painting, mid day up in the studio and back out to the fields in late afternoon when the light is wonderful. In the evening, I'll enjoy a walk around the field. There is no TV, a good thing, as I will spend some time reading. On Saturday I will head over to Prairie Creek Lodge, not far from Fair Oaks, for an exhibition and sale of the paintings from the group project Six Artists Six Prairies. I'm looking forward to a wonderful, very focused week at my favorite residency. I'll share it all with you when I get back.

Linda Blondheim

Linda's Mini Residency at Fair Oaks February 12, 2012

Ana and Mark

Mark is the foreman at Fair Oaks. They are such a sweet couple.

Rick Knellinger with his dog Shane. Rick makes all things possible at Fair Oaks. I'm so glad he is my friend.

Henry is my studio dog. He makes my world work!

Notes From My Fair Oaks Residency Journal

Winter has finally arrived in north central Florida. My morning painting session at Fair Oaks was in 42 degree weather. BRRR!! Henry wore his sweater and bandana. I wore my hoodie, which was insufficient to say the least. It's been so long since it was cold here that I forgot to dress warmly. I will be wiser next time. I felt like a Popsicle before lunch time.

It was my turn to contribute to the lunch menu today so I brought roast pork with gravy and cheddar thyme cornbread. Anna brought wonderful rutabaga and greens and Rick brought stuffed baked potatoes and  a fabulous chocolate pecan pie. Lunches at Fair Oaks are always the best part of the day. After I thawed out for awhile, Henry and I took off again to start a tree painting and then out to explore Sebastian's Trail. New paths have been cut since I was there last and they are beautiful.

I am so excited that our week long residency at Fair Oaks is almost here. A week from Monday, Mary Jane and I will move in for a week of painting and fun. I am going to be spending quite a bit of time out on the new trails. The studio upstairs in the old house is available for larger paintings, so I will probably work on a larger painting while I'm there too. I can't wait!! This week at Fair Oaks is one I wait for all year long. This year will be special because the old house will soon be under renovation and no longer available, so I will treasure this time.

Canaveral National Seashore

Linda's Artists in Residence Project Paintings

30x30 inches

acrylic on birch panel

espresso frame

Notes From My Residency Journal

This is a favorite place for me inside the National Seashore. It is in the north entrance to the park down at the end  on the point. The dunes were colorful in January and these red flowers were so pretty.

 During the residency, we explored the south entrance to the National Seashore adjacent to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Preserve. The south National Seashore is wonderful and much less traveled by tourists. It has more of a local flavor. There are many fishermen there who are friendly and willing to give you advice about how to find cool places. This year for the paint out, I will spend most of my time there. The Sea Grapes are especially nice in the south park.

Linda Blondheim

Beautiful Pines at Merritt Island National Wildlife Preserve

Tree Paintings

Notes From my Residency Journal

I was most impressed by the stunning old pine trees inside the preserve. They grow naturally and at random, not lined up in rows as I so often see them. They make a wonderful subject in the atmospheric light of early morning. We pulled off the road for a bit of discovery time among these beautiful and elegant trees.

Here is a little information about pines and how they grow in Florida, from: Florida's Nature

Pine Flatwoods

Pine Flatwoods are the most widespread eco-systems in Florida, occupying as much as 50% of Florida's land area. As the name states, the topography of a Flatwoods is relatively uniform, the soil is generally sandy, poorly drained & acidic with little organic content with a underlying layer of hardpan. This layer of hardpan also inhibits drainage in the wet season causing Flatwoods to be flooded for part of the year, experiencing alternating periods of flood and drought. The canopy is open, allowing plenty of sunlight to reach the understory plants.

The understory of a healthy Pine Flatwoods is regulated by regular fire, areas that burn more often have an understory dominated by grasses and diverse herbaceous plants, while those that experience less frequent fires have more leaf litter/debris with an understory dominated by shrubs. If fire is absent for long periods Pines will eventually be succeeded by Oaks and the subsequent development of of a closed canopy forest or Hammock which inhibits understory growth.

Saw palmetto, Wiregrass, Fetterbush, Tarflower, Gallberry, Blueberry, Broomsedge, Wax myrtle and St. Johnswort are a few of the plants common to Pine flatwoods habitats.

Linda Blondheim

Sea Grapes at Canaveral National Seashore

Landscape Paintings

Notes From my Residency Journal

One of the most impressive, beautiful plants I saw at Canaveral National Seashore was the incredible Sea grapes. Many of them were trees, shooting high above the boardwalks and covering the dunes with a riot of fall color. I couldn't wait to get back and paint them. They are difficult to paint but I really enjoyed the challenge. More Sea Grapes to come.

Linda Blondheim

My First Red Cedar

Tree Paintings

This painting is almost finished. One more session should do it. It is the first Red Cedar I have painted and it was a challenge I loved. We saw many of these trees in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The grow along the edge of canals and estuaries and on the road edges. Many of them look like they have been trimmed, but perhaps the wind blows the limbs off. You can see the limbs and trunks clearly on them which adds to their beauty. I love the rich green against the white limbs and trunks. The shadows fall blue and purple over the limbs making a lovely palette. The trees stand out beautifully against the fall and winter colors in the marsh. I imagine they are not nearly as noticeable in the summer when everything is green.

Linda Blondheim

A Complete Success-The new Smyrna Residency

My New Smyrna Residency

I just returned from my first 2012 residency with Mary Jane Volkmann. She will tell you her own story. Thanks so much to Louann Hall who made this all possible. She gave us the keys to her vacation home in New Smyrna and wished us a happy stay. I am so grateful to her for her generous hospitality and for her very fine home. We were very comfortable there. It was convenient to all parts of the city. We enjoyed dinner out at the Garlic Restaurant one night dining alfresco on the patio which was filled with tiny lights and lush tropical plantings. What a treat. We also enjoyed an evening at the famous Stavros Pizza where we indulged ourselves with Greek salads and spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread. We packed a lunch each day for our many adventures into the wilds of Canaveral Seashore, Merritt Island National Wild Life Preserve, Spruce Creek Preserve , a lovely park north of New Smyrna, and the famous Ormond Beach Loop. We packed many miles into our four day residency from one end of Volusia County to the other. Each night we stretched our muscles with a walk around the neighborhood, oohing and ahhing over the charming vintage homes. New Smyrna Beach is a lovely graceful city, retaining all of it’s charming architecture  from the past.

I will be posting a bit about each place we visited here on the blog, along with many photos and images of the paintings as I complete them. I did start an 18x24 inch painting of the Merritt Island preserve and will finish it shortly to show you here and on my web site soon.

Linda on the Ormond Beach Loop

Sorry, I can't make this photo of Mary Jane and me rotate.

Our house for the week

More to Come.....

Linda Blondheim

Linda's Fair Oaks Mini Residency 01/08/12

Field One

8x10 inches

acrylic on birch panel

alla prima on location

Notes From My Fair Oaks Residence Journal

I leave for my New Smyrna Residency tomorrow morning. Today I was lucky to have a few hours at Fair Oaks where I am an Artist in Residence. It could not have been more lovely. This is Florida at it's best. Every time I go to FO I see a completely different world. I have observed the gradual change from summer to fall, and now I begin to see the transition to winter, or what I like to call "Wintering in at Fair Oaks". The colorful cadmiums of oranges, golds and rust reds are gradually ending now, replaced by numerous shades of gray, dusty blue and mauve . The gray purples are moving in that Mary Jane loves so much. The winter rye has just been planted so we will soon have an impossibly emerald green field that is so striking in winter. Winter is my favorite at Fair Oaks so I am really excited about our week long residency there the end of February. The perfect time in Florida's most beautiful painting place.

I did this little painting this morning in Field One. Studio dog Henry came along to keep me company and enjoy the birds and smells of the land. We are happy painting companions.

Lunch was served alfresco in the shade with real table linens. We feasted on Paninis, Chicken/cheese/rosemary sausage, fresh fruit salad, sliced tomatoes, and homemade key lime pie, made with key limes from the Fair Oaks grove.

Is it any wonder I love Fair Oaks so much?

Linda Blondheim

An important residency

I was recently graced with illness.  I say graced because once I got over being upset about having to down tools and do nothing but rest and recover (and graze on maple cookies, go figure), I shifted into another gear.  I went on an important residency of mind, of spirit, of thought and of reflection.  Much of my time over the past years has been spent at events, painting specific places for a specific purpose.  Don't get me wrong ~ I enjoy that very much.  However, I realize that the window of time is becoming statistically shorter and I need to make critical decisions about where and what I want to paint.  I am particularly drawn to water, particularly to the marshes, the sea and the rivers.  Perhaps that is because I am intrigued with the reflection of light on the water and what happens when the slightest breeze ripples the surface.  I am also drawn to vast, open landscapes such as we had in Namibia, with their seeming view to eternity.  I have drawn up a personal list of places I want to find a way to visit for a week or two so I can get out with my canvas and paints at different times of day to record the amazing changes that take place ~ so often unnoticed.  Painting on location puts me in direct touch with a very special inner place of peace and I intend spending more time there. (If you have a view of these places you'd like to share, please let us know). 

At the end of this year I have a three person exhibition of paintings of the Barrier Islands.  I have been privileged to stay as Artist in Residence on Sapelo Island and absolutely loved it!  I'll be posting more during the year about my adventures there, and I'll be posting more stories about other residencies as well.  Meanwhile I'm back at my easel and am loving it!

~Mary Jane

Our Next Residency

New Smyrna Waves

Notes From my Residency Journal

We will soon be on our way to New Smyrna Beach for a week's residency thanks to our generous host Louann Hall. We will be using her beach house for the week of January 9-14, 2012. What a great way to start the new year with a week in my favorite beach town. Mary Jane and I will be painting around town in various locations. I love to paint the waves down on Flagler Avenue under the pavilion, stopping to have breakfast at the Beacon Restaurant. We will explore the National Seashore as well and a place she likes to go. I will spend a fair amount of time painting at Spruce Creek and at JB's Fish Camp too. I'm looking forward to our time there and I expect we will visit with friends who live there as well. I am really looking forward to this opportunity. I'll be posting photos and stories from our adventure so stay tuned.

Linda Blondheim

Our February Residency House

The House at Fair Oaks

I like to show the houses we stay in for residencies. This photo was taken by Fair Oaks resident photographer, Magda. This old house is wonderful. The huge porches on both stories are much used by guests. The floors are wide wood planking and the rooms are very tall. There is a room upstairs with easels for artists to use. It will soon be under construction for restoration, though I love it as it is. Mary Jane and I are looking forward to our next week long residency there from February 19-27th, 2012.

Linda's Mini Residency 11/27/2011

Fair Oaks

Dry Pond

9x12 inches

acrylic on birch panel

Field Three at Fair Oaks

Henry Blondheim and Shane Knellinger

Notes From My Fair Oaks Residency

I am one of the lucky people in life who have the privilege of having a permanent residency at a wonderful and beautiful place. I can come and go as I please and I never take that for granted. I am an artist in residence at Fair Oaks, a hundred and sixty acre estate in Evinston Florida. It is a true luxury to work there and I have been painting there for about four years. I have done a significant body of work and much of my current painting process has been developed at Fair Oaks.

Today was a perfect day to take Henry, my French bulldog, and enjoy a day at Fair Oaks. I am provided with a golf cart to explore and paint, so Henry and I often head out to explore and paint together. He is an exceptional companion with great patience. He usually snoozes on the seat while I paint. Sometimes we are joined by our friend Shane, one of three Border Collies who own the place with their dad Rick.

I did the above painting today of one of my favorite spots, the big pond. It's dry now but in wet season it is full of beautiful mint green lily pads and all kinds of aquatic birds.

I spent some time taking photos today. There is a giant tree in the new field that I have my eye on to paint and I got several reference photos for a studio painting. It is huge but the canopy is so low that it's hard to get a good distant view, so it will need to be a close up. I'll probably want to do more than one painting. It is an exceptional tree. 

This Week's Mini Residency-Tuscawilla Prairie

 Mary Jane Works Fast

Linda in the Shade

Today Mary Jane and I adventured to Tuscawilla Prairie, about 15 miles from Gainesville. This is a magical place to paint in the fall and winter. We are lucky to be involved with Alachua Conservation Trust who owns vast acreage on this prairie and a wonderful log cabin on the prairie rim. We have been watching it through the brutal summer months, patiently waiting for the right season to paint. At last it is cool enough. The color is spectacular and luscious. Full of patterns of smoky blue, ochre, chocolate brown, wheat, rust and mauve purple.

We took an early drive through the prairie on narrow paths that have been mowed. Up close and personal, it is truly amazing. Here are a couple of example photos. I can't wait to use these to do some paintings.

We try to have a mini residency on Tuesdays with time permitting. Sometimes we paint with friends and other times alone.  The mini residencies help us to gather reference materials in between our longer out of area residencies.

The Little House

Our Frequent Residence



Notes From the Residence File

I have a fondness for many of the vacation homes and condos we stay in. It is like returning to an old friend. The above "Little House" is a favorite. It has quite a history. It was originally a Montgomery Ward kit house, the original manufactured housing. My friends Milan and Pat bought it as a young couple with children. Over the years they have restored it to its original glory. It has original hardwood floors, two bedrooms and a bath and a kitchen. The best part is the nice screened porch in front where I love to lounge in the evening. it is about two blocks from the beach and my favorite breakfast restaurant is around the corner. how can ya beat that? They generously provide a residency for us whenever we want it. They live nearby so it is a great adventure each time.

Linda Blondheim

Fair Oaks Cypress

A "Mini" Residency

Today, Mary Jane and I headed for my favorite place, Fair Oaks, to check out the fall glory. The cypress trees are turning a dark orange and rust now and other hardwoods are turning a rainbow of fall colors. From now through March, Florida offers it's most beautiful climate and that is why we suffer through the brutal summers as full time residents. It is worth the wait. We spent our morning exploring the fields and taking photos. We stopped for lunch at Pearl Country Store in Micanopy for some excellent BBQ chicken, collard greens and beans. Then we were back to Fair Oaks to do a study of the dry pond area. It was a splendid adventure and we ended it by cruising along looking at Tuscawilla Prairie on our way back to the city. Our week long residency at Fair Oaks will be the last week in February, so the color will be winter gray,wheat, blue and purple by then.

Our First Residency

Our first residency will be in beautiful New Smyrna Beach, Florida. We will explore the National Seashore, Spruce Creek, The Loop and other pockets of beauty in Volusia County. Look for us out and about from January 9-16, 2012. You will find us painting at the beach on Flagler Avenue and having the best breakfast in town at The Beacon. Thank you Louann Hall for this generous residency. Stay tuned for posts during and after this residency.

Linda Blondheim