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 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. 

Bird Island Residency Day 2

Notes From My Residency Journal

Just before sunset

Looking toward Horseshoe Beach

This morning I started my day with bacon and eggs for breakfast. I took my coffee out on the porch to enjoy the boats passing by.

I decided to start my first painting around 9 AM. No rush as I am on no schedule. The morning was lovely and I enjoyed doing this palm.

8x10 inches

Oil on canvas

After the painting, I took my first stroll of the day around the perimeter of the island. For lunch I made tuna salad and dipped it up with potato chips. Yummy.

After a bit of time, reading my Travis McGee novel, I got busy with this second painting of the day.

9x12 inches

Oil on panel

I love this view from the east end of the boardwalk toward other barrier islands distant. As I painted, the front began to move in, turning the weather cooler and overcast with a nippy wind. I moved to the porch to continue the painting. 

After I finished, I took another walk and now it is chilly and dark. I don't think I will get to watch the red ball fall into the sea tonight, but last night it was spectacular. That is one of the big highlights of a day at Bird Island. The sun looks huge and scarlet red as it quickly dips into the sea. 

Another wonderful day at Bird Island, thanks to the Nelms family.

Fair Oaks Residency Saturday

Huge full moon rising on Friday night.

Homemade Walking Sticks

Notes From My Residency Journal

I started the day upstairs in the studio working on an 18x24 canvas today. I wanted to leave the cart for the staff to use. They have begun to plant the trees that arrived earlier in the week. I always enjoy the studio upstairs. There is also an upstairs porch, sunny and welcoming on a cold day like this one. 

The lunch bell rang and I joined the staff for BBQ chicken, ribs, cole slaw baked beans and then pie for dessert. Wow! What a feast.  I found out there is a new golf cart coming to replace old blue. I won't come near it with my messy paints, but it will free up the one I use now more often, so I am thrilled! The cart I use has a little metal plate on it with #55. I will call it that.  It runs great and is practically new looking now that the seat holes are covered. 

Tomorrow I will clean the house, pack my car and head for my own studio after lunch. I can't tell you how much I will miss my time here this week. It has been a spectacular residency!

I will be moving to a new studio space with Paddiwhack Gallery in the next two weeks. It will  be difficult to leave my current cozy space, but who knows, the new one may be even better.

More adventures to come from paradise.

Invitational Artists Retreat at Fair Oaks- Day One and Two

Randy, Mary Jane and Tim enjoy time together.

Elisabeth paints the barn.

Randy braves the rain.

Cynthia and Elisabeth catch up on news.

The artists and friends enjoy dinner together.

Our host

Notes From My Residency Journal

Today could not have been more wonderful! I started out with a flash light in the golf cart about 6:30 AM to set up the coffee bar at the pavilion, which is our home base for this adventure. By 9 AM, artists began to arrive. I was raining, but it did not damp on our enthusiasm at all. We painted under the roof and enjoyed the process. By 3 PM , most had arrived and the sun began to peek through the clouds. We all enjoyed an afternoon of painting. We stopped for dinner at 6 PM, enjoying lasagna, garlic toast, a lovely salad, and chocolate cake with ice cream for dessert. After dinner we sat by the fire. Our host provided a nifty fire pit made of metal and we enjoyed good conversation toasting our feet by the fire. 

I'm writing this while I wait for my turn in the shower. I'm looking forward to a comfy bed and sweet dreams. The adventure begins again early tomorrow morning. I am the taxi for the artists and will transport them around the estate and I'm anxious to see the beautiful paintings they produce at beloved Fair Oaks. So many people have helped me to make this dream weekend a wonderful adventure for all of us. Special thanks to the steward and staff of Fair Oaks.

Day Two

Today I jumped out of bed at 6:30, climbed in the golf cart and headed to the pavilion for a cup of coffee. Scott and I watched the distant trees come to life. First in bronze red, then ochre and finally green. What a pleasure to sit in nature with a good cup of coffee and an old friend. This adventure was about camaraderie more than painting. I only did one small painting for the weekend but it doesn't matter. I had a wonderful time looking after my friends. The weather was Divine today. Cool and sunny after a day of rain. The lovely weather was welcomed by all of us. I taxied painters out to the fields and they scattered far and wide. At 12:30 we enjoyed lunch provided by Chuck and Emily Sapp, owners of Paddiwhack Gallery. We feasted on chicken and rice, salad, green beans and brownies with ice cream for dessert. 

After lunch it was back to my taxi job, and more painting for my friends. At the end of the day all the paintings were lined up on the porch to admire. Next Sunday I'll deliver them to Paddiwhack Gallery to hang until January 1. I hope you will stop in to see the beautiful paintings from our joyful weekend.

It was truly a grand adventure thanks to:

Fair Oaks

Paddiwhack Gallery

Scotty Cockerham

Mark and Anna Larson

Claudia Ballard

Gamblin

French Canvas

Tom and Sally enjoy a sunny day in Holy Ground Field.

Clean up time!

Talbot Island Wrap Up

Renault Club Tree

9x12 inches

Oil on canvas

This morning dawned bright and clear on the marshes before a lovely bacon,sausage and homefries breakfast prepared by my host Bonnie. We enjoyed our coffee on the deck facing the marshes, as they turned from orange to gold and finally to green. We scurried around straightening up the house and parted with fondness for a happy adventure we will remember. I look forward to returning next October.

I headed out and got lost, naturally, heading in the wrong direction for about 20 minutes. I finally got turned around heading west. I made it back to my loft studio I'm happy to write. 

The highlights of my residency were many:

The lovely and comfortable Big Talbot House and grounds, my painting studio on the porch.

My wonderful sponsors, North Florida Land Trust

The beautiful marshes and wetlands

The extraordinary trees

Renault Club Road

Amelia,Little Talbot, and Big Talbot Islands

Simpson Creek

Dead Tree Beach and the park

The kind and helpful park rangers

Nicole's Restaurant

Marche Burrette Restaurant

Sliders Restaurant

 

I had a splendid time! Thanks to all who welcomed me so kindly.

Observation

I'm still pondering the aspects of nature we studied during our recent residency.  As we had no production deadlines we were relaxed and able to spend as long as we wanted exploring different aspects of the world around us, noting how they appear from every angle and in differing light.  One of my passions is painting water.  I never cease to be amazed at how many colors one sees on (and in) the water depending on the weather, the angle of the sun, the wind and the color of the sky.  This photo is a perfect example, and something I might include in teaching observation in my painting classes.  From one angle the water appeared an inky black with reflections of tea near the rim.  From this perspective it was most inviting (except for the snakes and gators, of course) and so much deeper than the sky!  As we  wound around the channel we could get a glimpse of how much water was around us and how the color kept changing. It was interesting to watch as the wind would approach and suddenly, one by one, the color of each of the patches of water we could see would change.  Note the color of the water in the distance.  A minute before I took this photo, the water in the distance was almost colorless.  The wind picked up and it completely changed.  We see this so often when we are painting on location, but I am usually working so quickly before the light changes that I don't always take the time to really study what I am seeing and watch the many colors of its changing. 

As I put the final touches on my prairies paintings for the Six Artists Six Prairies event on February 25, I am planning my paintings from our Merritt Island residency.  Thank you so much to our gracious hosts for giving us this priceless opportunity to further develop our artistic awareness.

Mary Jane Volkmann

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 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