Fair Oaks Mini Residency, March 17, 2013

Tree Paintings

Notes From My Residency Journal

Henry and I set out eagerly for Fair Oaks at 9 AM this morning. I've been traveling a lot lately and was not aware that Gator Nationals, the huge car race, is this weekend. My usual route to Fair Oaks goes right past the race track. Before I knew it, we were in bumper to bumper traffic for miles along this road. When I finally reached the end, I was rerouted into Gainesville, so it took some time to arrive.

We enjoyed a morning of exploring and painting. The red topped grasses are starting to bloom now and they create a sea of rusty red across the fields. I always look forward to seeing this beauty. It only lasts about two weeks. There are lots of tiny wildflowers in the fields now, delicate and lovely. There are still winter colors mixed into the bright greens in this transitional time of the year. I wore a light jacket to paint today. Our winter has been very late. The pond has been gradually shrinking, since my residency a few weeks ago.

We had Blue Highway sandwiches for lunch. Yummy!! Blue Highway is my favorite restaurant near Fair Oaks. The fresh fruit salad with a hint of cinnamon was  a delicious way to finish our meal. Today's conversation was quite interesting. I learned more about the Rosetta Stone, housed in the British Museum, and we talked about culture and history, while eating, always a topic I love to learn about.

After lunch, Henry and I headed back out to work on the painting and after packing up, we enjoyed a drive around the fields in the golf cart. I am so delighted that the lane behind field two is clear enough to drive through. That is the lane with the Hackberry trees and graceful Live Oaks. it is like a secret hideaway and I love driving along. At the end there is a slight hill that takes me back into the field and I laugh out loud every time I go up that hill. I'm never quite sure the cart will make it but it always does. It is so fun!!

Henry and I always hate to leave this wonderful place. There are never enough hours at Fair Oaks.

Wekiva State Park Residency

 Landscape Art

20x24 inches

oil on canvas

Sand Lake

Wekiva River

Scrub Oaks

20x24 inches

oil on canvas

Notes From My Residency Journal

I spent last week at Wekiva State Park in Apopka Florida. This is a favorite place for me and the opportunity comes once a year. The Wekiva Paint Out affords this treat for about 25 painters from all over the country. We live in the Youth Camp cabins, tucked away in one section of the park. it is like going back to camp, but for adult artists. We eat together, and enjoy social time after the long days of painting. it is very dark at night, but I never feel fear there. It is a happy, cheerful experience, living out in the woods with other like minded souls for a week. The tall pines and scrub oaks are lovely and scattered about are cabbage palms in the landscape. The grasses are tall and change colors as the light changes.

Last week we spotted bear, deer,wild hog, turkey and various raptors and water birds at the river. A few big gators were spotted along the river as well as otters and turtles.

We have the beauty of the deep woods and the beauty of the springs and river, so there is something for everyone to enjoy. Hiking and biking are popular along the paved roads through the park. We can take out canoes and kayaks and there is a pontoon boat for painting fun as well. 

I would love to have a week residency there at another time separate from the paint out someday.

Fair Oaks Residency- Day 7

Tree Paintings

Collins Field

518x24 inches

oil on canvas

Fish Prairie

Fish Prairie in Light

Notes From My Residency Journal

The temperature has gone from the 20's on last Sunday to the 80's with high humidity today on Saturday. Florida is amazing that way. 

Today was full of activity around Fair Oaks with lively college boys here and there planting and doing other chores around the fields. I love being around them. They are so smart and enthusiastic. What they learn here, they will take along with them into their bright futures. They are always interested in whatever I am painting and are amazed that anyone would actually choose painting as a career. They are all future engineers, scientists, lawyers and doctors, seeking sensible professions, ;>)

Tonight I will have dinner with friends at the Yearling in Cross Creek. It is a wonderful restaurant with indigenous regional specialties. My favorite is the sampler with frog legs, gator, and fried green tomatoes. What a special treat!!

As I wrap up this year's residency at Fair Oaks, I think about all I learned about the discipline of painting. I worked very hard and consistently, with routine each day. I believe that is the key to my success at every residency and in my own studio. A sense of purpose and real goals help me to improve and  understand my work. Tomorrow I will pack and head for home with fond memories of a wonderful week in my very favorite place.

Residency at Fair Oaks- Day 6

Notes From My Residency Journal

I'm working on my last painting of this week, so I will show it to you tomorrow.

One of the things I love about Fair Oaks are the hidey places around the fields and on Fish Prairie. This lane is one of my favorite places. It's not very long but very pretty. A big tree came down awhile ago and blocked it but some nice fellow at Fair Oaks removed the blockage. There is just enough room now for me to get the cart past the upturned roots. I tried it today and made it with no worries. There are massive trees everywhere here and many of them have names. One of the trees that went down was a Hackberry tree which we called the elbow tree. It had a strange shape like an arm bent at the elbow. Fish Prairie is full of hidey places, with beautiful trails cut through it by my wonderful friends here. This place is a landscape painter's dream.

Last night  Rick took me to an Italian restaurant just down the road. I always enjoy going there with him. The food is quite good and not the usual fare for most Italian places. I had clams in marinara sauce and he had baked Tilapia. The Tiramisu for dessert sounded wonderful but I was good and passed it up. 

I spent most of the day with Louis Armstrong up in the studio working on my 18x24 painting. I sure am going to miss staying here. On Sunday I must pack and leave this beautiful place after lunch. I'll be back on Sundays between travels. I have to have my regular Fair Oaks fix.

Fair Oaks Residency- Day 5

Tree Paintings

I finished this painting this afternoon. There is a glare on the right side so it looks washed out.

Mark's Seasaw

Mark, who was farm manager for Fair Oaks built this giant seasaw. I had the pleasure of riding on it with Mark about two years ago.

This is the reference for the painting I started today. I love this scene and have been wanting to paint it for some time.

Notes From My Residency Journal

This morning I went down to Pearl Country Store for breakfast and enjoyed bacon and eggs cooked just right, with grits. I love their grits. They are buttery and flavorful, without lumps. 

On the way back to Fair Oaks I saw a Brown Thrush. They are such pretty birds. One of my favorite things about Fair Oaks is the wonderful bird population. I see them everywhere and there are many kinds to enjoy. There are two resident Sandhill Cranes who live here year round. I often see them out in the fields and they are always together. 

Most of my morning was spent varnishing paintings which hang in my host's office. It was a real pleasure to do this. When you varnish long dry paintings, the color and richness comes out as if by magic. It is like looking at a new painting for the first time. I always tell my collectors to bring the painting back after a year so I can varnish it for them. Oil paintings should dry for a year before the final varnish is applied.

After lunch, I went for a nice cart ride around the fields. This is the best part of being here for me. I never tire of the pleasure and I almost always find some little hideaway that I've not noticed before.

Fair Oaks Residency- Day 4

Tree Paintings

My friend Mary Jane and her brother Steve

Notes From My Residency Journal

I can't believe that my week is half over. I love being here so much!!

I had a busy day with visitors this morning and after lunch. A big 18 wheeler truck dropped off a big sprayer, that looks huge to me. It was fun watching him drive down a tiny dirt road with a huge truck. He couldn't even get it in the driveway.

I worked on the above painting today and after lunch took a tour around the fields with my friend Mary Jane and her brother Steve. We went back to Fish Prairie. It is so beautiful now. There are dozens of shades of gray, umber, purple and blue. This is a fine time to be outdoors in north Florida.

Fair Oaks Residency- Day 3

Serenity Oak

20x24 inches

oil on canvas

Tree Paintings

Shane is my Recon Partner

Field 3 Oak

Notes From My Residency Journal

Today was considerably warmer at Fair Oaks. I decided to stay here all day and enjoy a warm breezy day rather than going out. Shane and I headed out for some recon around the fields and I got some very nice reference photos, including the one above, which will be my next painting. The Serenity Oak painting is finally finished. I worked for most of the day and I enjoyed the time up in the studio so much. After lunch, I took a break and headed out again in the golf cart, just to enjoy the breeze and the afternoon for a little while. Fair Oaks is a place where you can simply enjoy the beauty and refresh your tired soul.