Residency at Big Talbot Island

Days 1 and 2

Day 1 was about arriving and getting settled into the house around noon. Not being aware, I set the house alarm off, which was "alarming!" I had to call the land trust director to turn it off. After I settled in I had some time to do a small painting before supper time. The view is spectacular of the back yard. As the sun went down over the marsh, I felt so lucky to have this opportunity. 

Day 2 started with a surprise in finding about 20 people on my doorstep at 8:30. Yikes! It turned out to be a class of naturalists who meet there regularly. I let them in and headed out the door. I stopped at the little deli/restaurant with the French name in the Omni resort shoppes on Amelia Island. It has a nice small menu for breakfast and the food is very good and the service excellent. 

 I headed out for a pleasant drive to Ft Clinch State Park. I ran out of time last year and I really wanted to explore there, so that was my planned destination for today. It was well worth the drive. It is a large park with great diversities of habitats, flora and scenery. It is pristine and well designed. I saw a nice bird exhibit by the fishing pier and the pier walk is lovely. It is the longest pier I've seen in a long time, with benches along the way.  The Fort is nice too, but mostly I enjoyed the scenery. The marsh and dune views are wonderful. Lots of shady walking space. 

I returned home to have lunch and then paint again, sharing the space with the class for their afternoon session. I learned some things about Florida mammals while I enjoyed painting. One of the group bought a painting, so that was quite nice. Now I will enjoy a peaceful evening and watch the sun go down again.  Tomorrow my friend Mary Jane arrives, so there will be much adventuring for the rest of the week. 

Pier at Ft Clinch State Park. 

Palms 2

10x8

Oil on panel

Ft Clinch

Fair Oaks Mini Residency - October 19

Palms 1

 

The Bell Tower

 

Notes From My Residency Journal

 

 

I had a short day at Fair Oaks, due to my once a month teaching schedule at Oak Hammock Art Studio after lunch.  The morning was beautiful out but I opted to paint in the studio to save time. I enjoyed doing a small study of palms. After I cleaned up my painting mess and stored my paintings in the car, I enjoyed a little walk around the yard. The weather was beautiful but not cold enough yet to chase away the pesky mosquitos who were waiting to pounce.

 

 

The lunch bell rang and I was off like Pavlov's dogs to the cottage. We had marvelous chili dogs, green salad, homemade potato salad and apple pie. What a feast! Shamefully I ate two chili dogs. I just couldn't help myself. They were too good to turn down.

 

 It was soon time to go but I was allowed to ring the bell in the new bell tower before I left. The bell was housed in an ancient country church and the steward of Fair Oaks purchased it for the estate. It was restored to its original glory and the tower was built to house the bell. The project was officially completed early this week. How wonderfully satisfying to see it now. It has a rich deep tone that can be heard for some distance. I am hoping we can have a dedication party in 2015. That is one of the lovely and special elements of Fair Oaks. All projects are done with great skill and finesse leaving a wonderful legacy for those who will come in the future. What an extraordinary place! I am so grateful for my time there. 

Mini Residency at Fair Oaks- October 12, 2014

 

Seascape Paintings

 

Notes From My Residency Journal

 

 

Today was pretty hot again, so Henry and I decided to paint in the Fair Oaks Studio this morning. First we worked on the display for the porch of the old house, refreshing it with some fall color.

 

 

 I am working on a rotation of wave and ocean paintings for a few days so I did two small wave paintings. Henry is very content at Fair Oaks, as am I. It is a magical place for us, far from the stress of everyday living. Every Sunday I feel such joy at spending the day there. Definitely something to look forward to each week.

 

 

The lunch bell rang and we were off to join the staff for a feast of grilled chicken with smoked sausage, yellow rice(my favorite), and broccoli cooked to perfection. My kind host topped it off with a lovely cup of coffee, always a treat after a meal.

 

 

Today I used the dog bed in the golf cart for Henry. It is a swell wooden bed that fits on the seat and reaches all the way to the dash board. There is a piece of foam for the mattress and an old towel for a cover. It makes the cart much safer and cozier for dogs. It was Buddy's bed an we feel honored to use it. Henry loves it. He rides in comfort and safety, sitting up high so he can see everywhere. I've always loved having the dogs ride in the cart with me. Sometimes Shaney comes, but most often he enjoys staying very close to his Daddy.

 

 

The fields are tall with weeds and grasses at the end of the hot season. They are amazingly diverse in plants. Today I noticed in the pine tree field a delicate lavender flower growing on razor type leaves, very green. That field tends to be a bog much of a time and I wonder if the plants are semi-aquatic? They definitely are different from the grasses growing in other fields on the estate. Field three is getting full of those pesky Sweetgum trees that grow up in the fields, so it will probably be mowed soon to get rid of them.

 

 

When Henry ran out of steam, we boarded our steed and headed for home after a splendid day in paradise. 

Mini Residency at Fair Oaks- October 5, 2014

Landscape Painting

Landscape Art

East Hay Field

Notes From My residency Journal

Today was the kind of day we Floridians wait 5 months for. It was cool, with low humidity and beautiful. A day that makes all of the heat and bugs worth enduring for five months.  The fields are beautiful and lush with flowers blooming. I gathered several of the lovely purple ones to press and dry in two weeks. I'll be making note cards with them. 

I restored the old fairie house and put it back on the picnic bench. It looks sweet and colorful. It should last about a year.  I first painted an 8x10 in Holy Ground Field. It was so pleasant in the shade, cool and beautiful!

I had time before lunch to do a second painting of the big pond, beginning to show fall color in one area. What a glorious view! As I cleaned up and headed for the studio to pick up paintings, our friend Kate Barnes arrived for lunch. We enjoyed her many stories. She has been everywhere and done many interesting things in her long career as writer, painter, politician and world traveler. 

We enjoyed grilled sandwiches, potato salad and yellow squash for lunch, and a rice pudding brought by Kate to share. It was all delicious. I couldn't resist the urge to start a third painting for the day after lunch. I'll finish it one day in my studio. 

I headed for home about 4 PM after another day in paradise!

Fair Oaks Mini Residency- September 28, 2014

Landscape Art

Field Three Winter

18x24 inches

oil on canvas

 

Fairie House

Notes From My Residency Journal

Henry and I had a swell day at lovely Fair Oaks today. We arrived to a cool and comfy studio thanks to our thoughtful host. Today I finished up the painting at the top of this post. Last week I forgot to bring back my brushes that I took home to wash, so I used a couple of palette knives to do most of the painting. Today, I finished it up with a tweak here and there. I enjoyed the process, though it is a bit different from the way I usually paint. It is good to shake up my routine now and then.

I noticed that the dried flower and grasses arrangement that I keep on the porch of the old house are getting kind of worn out and faded, so I will make it a mission in the next week or two to get some nice replacements and rearrange that corner of the porch. My assistant Carolyn will help me. She is better at choosing something pretty than I am.

After I cleaned up my painting station the lunch bell rang, so I was off to my favorite part of the day, some time with my friends who make all things possible at Fair Oaks. Todays lunch was splendid. We had boxed lunches from Blue Highway in Micanopy. I got ham and cheese on flatbread with salad and there were chicken sandwiches too. They came with crispy peppery potato chips and a huge brownie, topped with yummy chocolate frosting and whipped cream.

The best part of lunch is always our interesting conversations about the world. Today we talked about planets and the difficulty of colonization, which led to a bunch of stupid questions from me. That followed by talk of UFO's and weird happenings in life. They all laughed at my story about a little white car that I see frequently and Tommy's story about wild turkeys he sees at the same time and place frequently. We always have a great time discussing the world of weirdness.

After lunch, Henry and I took a ride around the fields. I noticed that the fairie house was looking sad and dilapidated. The roof had come off and the paint was fading. I made it about two years ago, so it was time for a redo. I brought it home and painted it, so it is as good as new. I'll take it back next week and put it back in it's home place for the wee friends who live there.

As I cruised the fields, I managed to get the pedal stuck on the golf cart AGAIN!! I freely admit that I am the worse golf cart driver ever! I am constantly breaking it, getting sticks stuck in it or getting it stuck in mud.  I dreaded telling my host as he always laughs at me, but I finally had to fess up after the staff could not fix it.

I knew it was time to hit the road, so Henry and I headed for my studio. Naturally, I forgot my Ipad, left in the gold cart! Gee Whiz!

Another day in Paradise!

Fair Oaks Mini Residency-September 14,2014

Marsh Clouds

8x10 inches

Oil on linen

Henry takes a drink

The late summer pond

Notes From My Residency Journal

Today was clear and sunny with spectacular clouds sailing  over the fields and the pond at Fair Oaks. Henry and I arrived to our blessedly cool studio, thanks to our thoughtful host. Leroy is not air conditioned, so walking into a cool studio is glorious after that long drive. 

Today I worked on a small oil painting on linen first and then started a larger oil on canvas, which I will work on for a few weeks. 

Lunch was really delicious today. We had a fabulous salad with blueberries, kiwi, tomatoes, lettuce and hard boiled eggs. It was full of beautiful color and texture and the blue cheese dressing was perfect! We also enjoyed steamed broccoli, and grilled chicken with toast and lemon marmalade. Our meal was topped off with key lime pie and a fine cup of coffee. Is it any wonder that I am so spoiled.

After lunch, Henry and Shane played ball for awhile and then we hopped into our golf cart to tour the fields. I wanted to take a look at Field Three today so we threaded our way through the tall summer weeds in the woods to see it. There is a new bird house in the field. The weeds are tall in the field and they will soon turn to gray and bronze as the season changes. That will be my favorite place in the cold months as well as Fish Prairie. 

It was so hot that Henry needed a water break again, so we headed back to the bucket. Our host found a step for Henry so he can reach the bucket. I decided to let him rest in the shade while I cleaned up our cart. It is so nice that I try to keep it spiffed up when I have free time. It is the nicest cart I have ever used. I'm so grateful for all of the privileges extended to me and Henry by the host and staff at Fair Oaks. 

We headed for my studio after a wonderful day in paradise.  

Fair Oaks Mini Residency- September 7, 2014

Landscape Paintings

 

 

Notes From My Residency Journal

 

 

Henry and I arrived at a quiet Fair Oaks this morning. We headed up to the studio to get right to work on the above painting. I enjoyed painting through the morning while Henry explored the studio and snoozed on his little bed under the air conditioner. We listen to Bob Edwards on NPR each week and enjoy his guests and interesting stories.

 

 I let Henry explore the upstairs porch, which he loved. It is a charming porch with a view of the old trees and pond at the end of the vast lawn. There are nice wooden rocking chairs inviting me to sit and watch the birds as I rock.

 

 

The staff returned from work in town and we enjoyed a special treat for lunch, my very favorite meal. Steak, baked potatoes with butter and sour cream, and a fresh salad. No meal is better than that. We also had nice toasted and buttered rolls, Yummy! Naturally it was all served with Fair Oaks tea. Our host saved steak for Shaney and Henry as is their due as Fair Oaks dogs. Henry is very proud of that honorary position.

 

 

After lunch, we got back to work on a different painting in the studio and then cleaned up our mess, heading out for an adventure in the golf cart. Henry loves riding in the cart. he sits right beside me like a big dog and enjoys the ride. In the winter, when I paint in the cart, he snoozes while I work.

 

 

Today was wild life day at Fair Oaks. I saw a deer, a water moccasin, 3 Sandhill cranes, 2 wild turkeys and the best part, three red foxes, 2 adults and one kit who was young but not newborn. Then there were a variety of herons and egrets at the back pond. Such an exciting afternoon! Is it any wonder that I love Fair Oaks better than any other place!

 

 

We headed for home with fond memories of another day in paradise.