New Smyrna Beach Residency - day 4

Black Point Road

8x10 inches

Oil on canvas

Notes From My Residency Journal 

On Thursday I headed out to Bllackpoint Road in the. Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge to look around and take some reference photos. I was on the hunt for birds. I found  a flock of Mallards and then a group of a few Egrets, Herons, and about five Spoonbills. It was raining again, so I spent most of my time in the car. 

Rain and bad weather were predicted for Friday and Saturday so I decided to head back to my cozy studio in Gainesville early this morning. It was a wise choice. I just couldn't catch a break this week. Bad weather hampered my work every day.  I did manage three paintings. I will look forward to great weather next year. 

I ate at my regular favorite breakfast places each morning, no new ones this year. I ate at home for lunch and dinner, so I had a nice low key trip this year. My sincere thanks to Louann Hall for her loyal and generous support. 

If you would like to lend your vacation home or condo to me for a week, please let me know.

New Smyrna Beach Residency - Days 1- 3

Putill Road Palms

(this image is from night with poor lighting) I'll post again when I can get a better image. 

Notes From My Residency Journal

My host doesn't have Internet so I am posing when I can find wifi. 

I arrived to the vortex and a couple days of harsh cold and wind, yesterday was cloudy and it is raining this morning. Alas, poor weather for exploring, but I have been painting in the house. 

I have done a bit of exploring between blasts of rain and cold. Tuesday I enjoyed a couple of hours at Canaveral Seashore. I toured the now finished visitor's center, lovely place. I found some wildflowers to pick the dead heads which I will throw into the field next to my studio. I also found a prickly pear cactus joint. I'm going to add it to my cactus terrarium if it survives.  The red flowers were not in bloom down at the point this year and I suspect they were killed by the cold. 

Wednesday I headed down to look around at the Merritt Island National Preserve, always a favorite. It was dark and overcast, but I enjoyed Putillo Road and Bio Lab Road. Putillo was open for cars this year, Yay! It has lovely views and lots of narrow trails. 

Bio lab was gorgeous as always, but very few birds. I was shocked!

Today I am going back to take a look at Blackwater Drive, on the hunt for birds.

Thanks to my wonderful hostes Louann Hall for providing her cozy vacation home for the third year. It is a charming cottage in the historic district. It is lovely and sparkling clean. I'm so fortunate to have the many supporters who make these residencies possible. 

Back to exploring!

View from Putillo Road

Fair Oaks Mini Residency - January 5, 2014

http://www.lindablondheim.com

Notes From My Residency Journal

Today was my first day back at Fair Oaks since December 15th so I was delighted by everything. I decided to paint in the citrus grove today, as it is near the end of the picking season. The fruit is so pretty on the trees. The tarps are all ready for covering the grove trees. We are expecting a hard freeze shortly. 

 There were several guests for the day so we dined al fresco, enjoying the perfect outdoor day. We were treated to Pearl BBQ, one of my favorite places to eat. 

After lunch I headed out to the fields to explore. I found a new scene I want to investigate. It is one of the scenes I wouldn't notice in summer but in winter it is lovely. I had trouble with my blue golf cart again today. The poor old fellow seems to be slowing down. I need to find him some sort of tonic :-) I'm so fond of that cart. We have had so many adventures together. There are spots and speckles of paint on the floor and all sorts of fine memories for me each time I climb in. I hope it will last. 

Leroy and I headed for home after a fine day in paradise.

My Next Residency

Field Three Winter

18 x 24

Oil on canvas

Fair Oaks Florida

Notes From My Residency Journal

I'm packed up and ready for my residency in New Smyrna Beach/ Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge Monday- Saturday, next week. I look forward to this residency so much. I thank my sponsor Louann Hall for her generosity! This will be my third year. I share this residency with my pal Mary Jane Volkmann. We love it ! Louann's house is a cozy vintage Florida house on a quiet street in the historic district. Mary Jane and I like to take walks around the neighborhood late in the day before supper. 

We spend a lot of our week exploring the wildlife refuge. Weather permitting we will get some Plein air work done too. The birding is spectacular in January. I'll be posting each day. The house has no internet connection so I may have to do all of my posts when I return, unless I can find Wi-Fi.

Fair Oaks Mini Residency December 15, 2013

Collins Field Winter

18x24 inches

Oil on canvas

The bounty of citrus fruit at Fair Oaks

Fair Oaks has a large variety of citrus, all delicious.

Just a few of the fine Live Oaks on the estate.

Notes From My Residency Journal

Today was dark when I arrived so I headed for the studio upstairs in the old house. As you know, I love that studio so much. I spend many happy hours painting there, especially in the summer.  I brought a painting with me to finish. I did some cleaning in the studio and finished just in time for lunch.  Sebastian and Magda brought their dog Rex and joined Mark, Chris and me for lunch of delicious chicken wings with French fries. Chris made delicious homemade flat bread, topped with rosemary. Yummy! 

After lunch I headed out for a quick drive in my beloved blue cart. It has been sick lately with some kind of mechanical problem and it barely ran, with lots of weird chugging along. When Mark drove it, it ran perfectly. Go figure!

We picked citrus fruit. My daughter will make marmalade and I will make chocolate orange bread this week. 

I saddled up Leroy and headed for home after a fine day in paradise.

Mini Residency Fair Oaks- December 8, 2013

Pond Edge

9x12 inches

oil on panel

Hickory Trees

 

Notes From My Residency Journal

 

 

Today was glorious at Fair Oaks. When I am away for a week or two everything changes. It is incredible to me how much the land changes from week to week. That gradual change is so interesting and fun to explore. I don't think it is possible to understand the rhythm of land and seasons without careful observation. This constant discovery is a wonderful part of my job as a landscape painter.

 

Today the color was evident in the grape vine leaves turning to gold and the Hickory trees with their lovely rich colored leaves of deep yellow. I spent a fair amount of time out on Fish Prairie today. There are still tiny pockets of the wild flowers in a few places but the prairie is taking on its winter coat now of gray, brown and wheat. A flash of Scarlet here and there in the vine leaves is startling and unexpected.  The few Cypress trees wearing coats of rust stand out among the gray trunks.

 

 

There is no place more magical to me than Fair Oaks. I enjoyed doing two paintings today, one before and one after the delicious lunch that Mark prepared. We enjoyed hamburgers and fries along with baked beans and mixed vegetables, then munched on cookies for dessert. A feast!!

 

 

I spent a bit of time with my delightful boys Buddy and Shane, the canine trail bosses for Fair Oaks and then went on my way to my studio, beating the coming rain. Another day in paradise.

Mini Residency in My Own Yard- December 1

My Yard

8x10 inches

oil on panel

http:// www.lindablondheim.com

Notes From My Residency Journal

Fair Oaks is closed one weekend each year so I stayed at my painting studio for the day. It happens to be located in the woods, north west of Gainesville Florida.  I've been painting in my studio yard every fall for about 20 years. I always paint with my dog Henry with me. It is a tradition for me. My last dog Anchor enjoyed it too. Henry likes to snuffle around in the leaves and roll around, covering himself with dirt and leaves and then shaking like mad. Naturally some of the chaff lands on my wet painting. I consider it to be added texture. 

I started painting about 4:20, really too late for good light to last. By 5:00 most of the light was fading. Next time I'll start at 3:00 PM 

Good times to remember!