St Augustine Residency Day 4

Flagship Harbor Park

Flagler Beach, FL

St Augustine Beach Dunes

20x24 inches

acrylic on canvas

Notes From My Residency Project

I got an early start today, skipping breakfast and heading south on A1A, first to Bings Landing, south of Washington Oaks State Park. I will have some photos later to share. My smart phone has terrible reception over on the coast so the images don't come through very easily.

Bings Landing is a small park on the intercoastal waterway. It has a large parking lot for boats and such and some covered picnic tables. There are several barrier islands viewable from the sea wall. There are a few benches scattered around the seawall for sitting.

From there I continued south to Flagler Beach and turned off on US 1. Just before the bridge, I turned right and then left to go along the edge of the bridge and then under it to the Flagship Harbor Park. This is a wonderful park. It has a high wooden boardwalk which winds through the woods and the Mangrove hammocks. There is a large dock out into the water with lovely views. I met two fishermen who hadn't caught anything yet. I saw two cute as pie turtles along the side of the boardwalk. At a low point in the boardwalk there are nature trails that go through the woods. They have tall palms, old Red Cedar trees and are wide and smooth for easy walking. There are benches along the paths. This is a really nice nature park and I recommend it for those who want to enjoy nature without intimidation from wild creatures. In the parking lot is a nice covered pavilion with restrooms and picnic facilities.

I have found that small local county parks are often excellent facilities with upgrades one would not expect from a local park.

I am often asked how I find these out of the way places? I spend a lot of time researching the area I'm going to travel to for my residencies. I use key words in search engine queries like,Florida nature,wild places, eco-tourism, etc. to find the parks.  The State Park web site has lots of information on the more obscure state parks. The Chamber of Commerce for an area can be helpful. One of the main goals of this project for me is to give quality reviews and information about the best of natural Florida.

When I arrived back in St Augustine I was ready to eat, so I tried a new restaurant for me called the Groove Cafe it is a very nice, sleek atmosphere with large abstract paintings on the walls. Having art on the walls is always a + for me. Of course I would love it if my paintings were hanging in the restaurant but we can't have everything ;-> The menu was interesting and unique. The waiter, named Brian was an outstanding and attentive server. They had a large flat screened TV featuring a silent film about surfing, very appropriate for a beach town. They played Reggae music but it wasn't loud. They have very charming outdoor seating which I'm sure is very popular in the cool weather months.  I opted for the Cuban sandwich, one of my favorites. It was delicious and huge. It had pulled pork in it with the other more traditional ingredients. It was of course pressed, the only way to eat one properly. It came with French fries which were plentiful and very crisp and hot. Brian told me that their specialty is  shrimp which is brought in fresh each day from Mayport. I may have to go back and try that if time permits. My large sandwich,fries and iced tea were about 12.00. The Groove Cafe is located at 134 Seagrove Town Center in St Augustine Beach.

I will be painting from the patio of my condo again today. The scenery is grand. More to come....

St Augustine Residency Day One

My beautiful home for this residency.

This is my view from the covered patio.

I am really going to enjoy painting this every afternoon.

Notes From My Residency Journal

I arrived late today. I needed to stop and pick up my new spectacles. Wow!! I can really see well now. By the time I got unpacked and set up in my house for the week it was too late to head out exploring so I am going to stick around and enjoy the view today. I will start painting at 5 PM and paint until the light is gone. I will be doing a 20x24 painting this week.

Tomorrow I will begin exploring south of St Augustine each morning. Happily, this residence is close to the Oasis so I'll look forward to a nice breakfast every morning. 

The condo is lovely and beach front, so my view is fantastic. I could paint here all day every day and have plenty of subjects. It is beautifully landscaped and the patio has a deep overhang so there is plenty of shade in the heat of the day. The interior is cozy, roomy and very comfortable without being so upscale that I'm afraid to sit on the furniture. Just perfect!! Thanks so much to my sponsors Nan and Bob.

More to come......

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.

Crystal River Residency Day 5 07/28/12

Wildlife Park Sign

Bald Eagle

Flamingoes

Manatee

Notes From My Residency Journal

Friday was my last day of exploring the nature coast of Florida. I started with bacon and eggs at Grannys Restaurant and then headed over to the Homosassa Wildlife Park which is a state park of Florida. I saved this for last because it is a favorite place for me. This is a theme park like the early ones in Florida. It is more like the places I remember from childhood. No fireworks or theme park stuff. It is a good zoo. There are winding paved paths along the way through the exhibits. Lots of benches line the shaded paths and it is really pleasant and interesting.

 I saw all kinds of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and of course Manatees. There is a deep underground observation room under the springs. I saw all kinds of fish and Manatees, as well as an alligator and river otter display. The most interesting exhibit was the reptile room where native Florida snakes are housed in lit terrariums. I loved closely observing the venomous snakes, which I have seen in the wild. It was good to see them up close so that I will recognize them immediately if I stumble upon one.  I also enjoyed the many birds on display, including Ibis, Blue heron, Screech owls, swans, and colorful Flamingos.

The park is located off US 19 one block before the Visitor’s Center. Turn right at the Hardees intersection and then left at the park sign. The price is 13.00 but my AAA membership made it 10.60. It was a good trip.

I started a painting on the back porch after lunch but it was really hot, 94 degrees on the shaded porch. I will definitely finish this one in my cool studio.

Today I clean the house, do the laundry and pack up to head for home tonight. It is time for the Olympics, so it’s time to get home and enjoy that. On August 14^th, Shark Week starts on the Discovery channel, and I never miss that either. Painting will be sporadic for the next few weeks. I’ll be glued to the TV for a while.

I have enjoyed this residency so much. I got a lot of research done and some terrific reference photos to use back in my cool studio.

 I’m very grateful to my sponsor Linda Daly for making this wonderful experience possible.

 As always, more to come….

Crystal River Residency Day 4 07/26/12

Palms on the Crystal River

Pontoon Boat Tour with Divers

Refuge Island

Artist Thelma Hilmes

Afternoon Sky

5x7 inches

Notes From My Residency

Thursday was a departure from the routine. I had a visit from my friend Thelma Hilmes from Gainesville. She is a fabulous artist too. We had lunch at Crackers By the Bay on US 19. The service was a little slow but that wasn’t the wait person’s fault. She was good. We both had a large, tasty hamburger. Mine came with cole slaw and fries, both good.

After lunch we went on a boat tour of the river and we got to see several manatees. We were surprised at the level of development on the river. McMansions everywhere. It was kind of sad to find that so little of the river is left in its natural state. The only areas undeveloped are the Crystal River National Wildlife Preserve and the outer islands in portions of the river. They are quite beautiful and it is easy to imagine how special this part of Florida once was.  Touring the preserve from the water gave me a very different perspective. I would love to do that again with a group of painters, anchoring in front of an island for an afternoon.

I arrived back at the Daly house in the heat of the day and enjoyed some down time. At 6 PM I went out on the porch to do this little study. I had great fun listening to Billie Holiday, Etta James and Louis Armstrong while I painted the evening away. The time is slipping by quickly. More to come….

Day 3 Crystal River Residency 07/25/12

Archeological Site

Crystal River State Park

Crystal River State Park

Daly Marshes Revised

9x12 inches

Marsh Palms

8x10 inches

Marsh Afternoon

5x7 inches

palette knife

Notes From My Residency

Wednesday, after a breakfast of biscuit and gravy at Grannys, I was fueled up for a day of exploration. I drove up to the Crystal River Archeological site first. It was a lovely surprise. There are paved paths that wind through the site and signs for each area of interest. These are very old burial mounds. The path winds out to the river edge. The view of large palm and cedar hammocks lining the shore is a lovely sight. There are large live oaks scattered around the grounds. There are lots of benches along the path to enjoy as well. I spotted a red headed woodpecker, two bluebirds and a Cardinal along the walk. There is a museum there but it was not open. I imagine they close in the summer. The bugs were fierce as there is a lot of standing water, but in winter it would be sublime.

In the same area, is the Crystal River State Park. The view from the road is the best part of the park for a nature lover like me; miles of lovely swamps. At the end is a large boat ramp and rest rooms. I took a lot of photos from my car, as there was little traffic so I could stop along the way. I did find a nice little dirt road in the park which led to a canoe ramp and nature path, deep in the woods. I knew better than to try it with the current bug issues, but I will go back in the cool time of the year one day.

The road to these parks is on the road between the Ford dealership and the Days Inn/Dennys on the west side of US 19 in north Crystal River.

I arrived home to finish the painting I started the day before, and ended up improving a painting I worked on the first day. In the evening, I did a small palette knife painting and enjoyed watching the sun go down. More to come…..

Crystal River Reidency Day 1 07/23/12

The Daly's beautiful home on the marshes.

Marsh view from their back porch.

Their beautiful palms in the back yard.

Daly marsh view

5x7 inches

acrylic on panel

Notes From My Residency Journal

I arrived in no time in Crystal River after exploring the Chassowiska River Preserve on state road 24, just east of US 19. It was an interesting place but I spent little time there due to the hordes of mosquitos in the area. There are challenges in doing a mid- summer residency in Florida.

Crystal River is a charming small city on the west coast of Florida. The downtown area has lots of boutique style shops and a very nice waterfront area with a park.

When I arrived at my home I was completely thrilled. The house is upstairs over the carport. There are a couple of nice closed rooms underneath the house, one a workshop and the other a nice gardening shed. The house is lovely with wide heart pine plank floors, polished to a mirror finish. It is surrounded by balconies and a deep screened porch which gives a fantastic view of the marshes. Naturally I got set up on the screened porch with my paint box and got to work. I completed a 5x7 study of the marsh as a warm up for the day. Late in the afternoon, I got a start on a 9x12 painting,

Tomorrow I will find a good breakfast restaurant and then head out to the state park next to my neighborhood to look around and take reference photos. I have the idea that most of my actual painting time will be spent on the screened porch. There is a nice fan out there and more importantly, no bugs.

More adventure to come…..

Painting From My New Smyrna Residency

Artist in Residence Paintings

Notes From My Residency Files

This is a painting done from one of the images I took while on location at Merritt Island Wildlife Preserve. It is lovely to have so many reference photos on file to choose months after my time in a location.It brings back the beauty and joy I experienced there. I hope to have another residency there in January or February of 2013. That is the ideal time to be there. The color is lush and beautiful then. The temperature is pleasant and no bugs!! The preserve is just south of New Smyrna and is owned by NASA . There are hundreds of trails that wind through the marshes and large pine forests and palm hammocks. The waterways are lined with very old red cedars that have been sculpted by wind and rain over the years. A marvelous wild place to explore in Florida.

The painting is not so pinky purple. It is sometimes hard to get the right hue in the imaging software. 

Researching Residency Locations

Washington Oaks State Park

Artist in Residence Paintings

Notes From My Residency Journal

I'm doing the research now for two upcoming residencies, one in Crystal River and then in Crescent Beach.

I'll be looking at the following locations in the Crystal River Area:

Crystal River Preserve State Park

Crystal River Wildlife Refuge

Chassahowitzka Refuge

Chinsegut Hill Refuge

Withlacoochee State Forest

Ozello

Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park

In the Crescent Beach area:

Bings Landing Preserve

Flagship Harbor Preserve

Princess Place

River to Sea Preserve

Gamble Rogers State Park

Bulow Plantation/The Ormond Beach Loop

Sea Colony Community

That ought to keep me really busy. I always like to do a bit of planning and research before I head out to a residency. I feel a responsibility to the project and to my sponsors to learn and grow, and to promote the wild places that we have in Florida. They are so important to the health of our state. 

More to come...