Mini Residency at Kanapaha Gardens This Week

Kanapaha Trees

Kanapaha Palm Arboretum

Landscape Art

 

 

Notes From My Residency Journal

 

 

This week I am painting a couple of days at Kanapaha Botanical Garden in Gainesville, FL. It is still quite hot, so I have been painting early in the day, stopping around 12 PM. There are several other artists involved in this invitational paint out, celebrating the World Wide Paint Out this week.

 

There is to be an opening for the exhibit and part of the sales go to the garden. A very pleasant, small painting event.

 

 

I have been painting at this garden for many years and it is pleasant and lovely. The bamboo garden and the palm arboretum are especially nice. The gardens also rim Kanapaha Prairie, one of the lovely prairies of north Florida.

 

 

If you live in north central Florida, come to the opening on Thursday, September 19th, from 6-9 PM. Some of your favorite painters will be participating. 

Fair Oaks Mini Residency September 1, 2013

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Notes From My Residency Journal

I was so delighted to be at Fair Oaks again after several weeks away. Between weather issues and obligations, I've had difficulty getting out to Fair Oaks for much of the summer. Today was wonderful. I started out in my favorite golf cart, thoughtfully washed for me. It was hot, humid and heavy as you can imagine this time of year. I look forward to cool dry air to come.  I took some reference photos and tried to outrun the mosquitos. As long as I was moving they weren't a problem but painting would have been miserable. 

It was time to climb the stairs to the cozy studio, air conditioned and bug free. As I signed into the painters log I saw that my friend and extraordinary painter Kate Barnes had been there to paint on the day before. I got the painter's log book a few months ago and I'm glad I did. It is fun to see which other visitors come to paint in the Fair Oaks Studio. 

I settled into the painting above and spent the rest of the morning studying a new palette for the coming winter season. Sorry for the glare on the right side of the painting. Painting well is very hard and the more I know, the more inadequate I feel. After painting for 40 years, I am but a beginner.

I decided to take a break just before lunch, stepping out to see the trail boss hard at work and my canine friend Shane patiently waiting to play ball with me. What a pleasure to watch the world from the front porch of that grand old home. We took a ride in the cart to cool off and look at a downed tree, a victim of a recent storm. 

We headed back to the cottage for a swell lunch of juicy hamburgers, mac and cheese, and baked beans. We teased Scotty by accusing him of eating all the dessert! 

Back to work I wen't after being teased about painting too slow by the trail boss! I've never figured out why people thing painting fast is better. ;-) Reluctantly, I packed up, leaving my painting in the studio to dry until I can get back to beloved Fair Oaks.

Another day in paradise.

 

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Big Talbot Island Residency

Florida Landscape Art

Notes From my Residency Journal

I'll soon be packing for my residency at Big Talbot Island on the east coast of Florida. I'm very excited and honored to receive this residency sponsored by North Florida Land Trust. I will be there in residence from October 7  - 13, 2013. I've not been to Big Talbot Island so I  am very excited about the new scenery I'll be able to paint and explore. More to come....

Fair Oaks Mini Residency- August 11, 2013

Landscape Art

Notes From My Residency Journal

I finally made it back to beloved Fair Oaks today. I've been busy with family obligations or it has been raining for several weeks. I was thrilled to be greeted by my dear friend Mark, back from Europe after a year of travel around the world. I am delighted that he is home again and at Fair Oaks. Mark was the estate manager before going to Europe to complete his masters degree.  He plans to stay in the Evinston/ Cross Creek area, so I am thrilled. Mark is like a son to me. His mother kindly shares him with all of us who treasure him. His fiancé Anna is so sweet and cute. She will be back from South Florida soon. 

I headed out to the fields in my favorite blue golf cart. It was swell to see the farm looking so good. The fields are green and fresh from the summer rains. When I got to the woods, they were overgrown with weeds. I couldn't find the path anymore so I made my own. Field three was a glorious tangle of tall weeds and texture. I have begged the staff not to mow that field because it gets so beautiful in the winter. I love painting there November through February. 

After my safari I headed upstairs to the air conditioned studio to paint from the images I took out in the fields. Today was the hottest day so far this summer, so I avoided the heat and bugs to paint in comfort.  I always enjoy listening to Bob Edwards on NPR while I paint upstairs. I confiscated the Bose Radio from the room next door, so I have the perfect studio to work in now. 

The lunch bell rang so I headed for the cottage. We had a fantastic southern meal of friend chicken, potato salad, Mac and cheese, cole slaw, fresh fruit and the legendary Fair Oaks  sweet tea. I so enjoyed time with Euan who has just returned from his summer internship, Scotty, Mark and Rick. What fun to lunch with these fine gentlemen!

I finished my painting in the studio and headed for home with another happy memory of a swell day at Fair Oaks. As always, I hate to leave this lovely and magical place. 

Fair Oaks Mini Residency July 21, 2013

Notes From My Residency Journal

I had a brief trip to Fair Oaks today. The weather was iffy from the start, with ominous cloud buildup after about 10 AM. It was  quiet day with my host away, so I took the cart out to field 1 and parked in the shade for a couple of hours to do a small 8x10 inch oil painting of that beautiful field. I didn't want to get very far from Leroy, my truck with all of my painting gear, with the possibility of rain. It was beautiful and green in the field. Most of the flowers are gone now, so it is a sea of varying shades of green. I enjoyed a quiet session on location.

Unfortunately, I forgot my Ipad which acts as my camera and my reference photo library, meaning that I would have no references for the studio to work on a larger painting, which I am want to do in the summer heat. The studio is air conditioned, with all of the comforts. I'll remember it next time. That's what I get for hurrying out of the house this morning, forgetting the Ipad.

At noon the sky was getting quite dark, so I loaded Leroy up with my painting and my gear and headed for home, waving goodbye to Buddy and Shane, the trail bosses at Fair Oaks.

Landscape Art

Fair Oaks Mini Residency- July 14, 2013

 

Landscape Art

 

Notes From My Residency Journal

 

 

I was back at Fair Oaks this morning after missing the last Sunday due to the holiday. It is getting too hot now to enjoy painting on location, so I am painting upstairs in the studio through September, going out after lunch to explore without my paints. As long as I am driving around, the bugs don't bother me, but if I stop for any length of time they attack. I'm always very happy painting in the studio at Fair Oaks, so I don't really mind at all. Here is   A Tour of the Studio at Fair Oaks

 

 

 

This scene is one I really like, from field one crossing over into Collins Field. The golf cart and tractors often leave subtle paths through the fields, making interesting patterns in the tall grasses of summer.

 

 

Lunch was really tasty today, lasagna, a nice green salad, garlic bread, and peach pie with whipped cream. No complaints here!! Bradley is become quite accomplished at managing the kitchen. One of the great things about Fair Oaks is that the college boys take turns doing the cooking. They learn valuable skills including cooking, washing up, organizing the equipment, and setting a proper table. This is a great opportunity for them.

 

 

After a chance to pet Buddy and Shane, my two canine friends, I spent an hour or so doing some recon around the fields. They are getting soft and mushy with the frequent rain, so I was very cautious and timid about driving and exploring. I have learned the hard way that carts get stuck very easily.  I was in no mood to walk back to the house in this heat, so I headed for home to beat the afternoon rain.

 

 

Another visit to paradise!!!

 

Linda Blondheim's Rural Painting Studio Tour