Sunday, June 30, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Mini Residency at Fair Oaks - June 23, 2013
Mystery Bamboo
Beautiful Holy Ground Field
My 16x20 painting in progress. I will finish this in the studio.
Notes From My Residency Journal
I hurried off to Fair Oaks this morning anticipating a short day there. The forecast called for sunshine in the morning and rain by afternoon. I arrived to a glorious morning by 9 AM and headed out to the fields and my world of joy. I spent two hours on the above painting, so it will just need a few tweaks and adjustments in the studio to finish it properly. I decided to pack up my painting gear at 11 AM and spend the rest of my time wandering the fields and taking a few reference photos.
Exploring Fair Oaks is really my favorite pastime there. The subtle changes that occur are fascinating. Week to week, season to season, and year to year, I am captivated by this land. It is ever new and challenging for me as a painter. Fair Oaks isn't so much a place as it is a breath of life for all who find themselves there. It is owned by no one, instead relying on the stewards who live there for a time. Fair Oaks owns all of us who spend any time there. It sucks us in like a sponge and it reveals its magic gradually, in subtle layers. It is both delicate and refined and crude. The textures of Fair Oaks are deep, like the roots of the mighty trees who grow there. The culture and flavor of Fair Oaks is unique.
Fair Oaks allows me time to think and to process my work. It has become my muse as a painter. I was raised to value the natural world and so my time at Fair Oaks is precious to me. Understanding the rhythm and life of the land is so important for a landscape painter. To fully understand my subject I must spend time immersed in the places I paint. It is no accident that I sell more paintings of Fair Oaks than any other subject. Our work reflects what we most love as artists.
Many thanks to my sponsors for the residencies around my beloved Florida and especially for the opportunity at Fair Oaks.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Fair Oaks Mini Residency - June 16, 2013
Live Oak in Field One
Carpet of white flowers in Field One.
White Flowers
Notes From My Residency Journal
It has been about 3 weeks since I've been to Fair Oaks, so I was anxious to arrive this morning. A day of sunshine at last!! I decided to bring the custom canvas I've been waiting for to start on a commission. I painted upstairs in the studio of the old house. I have three studios where I paint regularly. My studio at home is a concrete block building with concrete floors and no frills. It is where I do large paintings. My loft studio is small and cozy upstairs over Paddiwhack Gallery in the city. The third studio at Fair Oaks, is one I share with other artists who work there from time to time. It is my favorite of course, because it is special. It has a long history from the 1890's to present. The light is wonderful, streaming in from tall sash windows with slightly wavy glass. Today I borrowed the Boze Radio from another room and listened to Bob Edwards weekend edition on the PBS station while I worked on my commission. I'm hoping the radio can just sort of move in with me if I leave it there long enough ;-). Next fall perhaps the Keurig coffee machine downstairs, will sort of magically move up to the studio ;-) "Gee, I wonder how that happened?" will be my response when no one can find it.
I took a break about lunch time and wandered over to have a wonderful lunch of yummy salad with feta cheese, pecans and blackberries and pizza from Blue Highway Restaurant, one of my favorite places. I am so very spoiled at Fair Oaks, no wonder I don't travel far from it.
I headed back upstairs to paint for another hour after lunch. When the painting got too wet, I packed up, cleaned up the studio and headed out in my favorite blue golf cart for an afternoon of exploration. It is only in summer that you truly realize how wild Florida really is.Florida is a jungle. The fields are knee high with beautiful grasses and the white carpets of wild flowers. The beautifully groomed woods of last fall and winter have been overtaken by shade plants, growing into the paths so carefully tended last year. I don't even think about attempting to drive out on Fish Prairie in the summer, a true swamp and jungle this time of year. The dog fennel and tiny trees are growing up in field three now. Today I saw a magnificent bird in field two. He stayed for a long time swirling and diving into the field with such lovely grace. I believe it was a Kite, the biggest one I have ever seen.
We are well into the summer season now, still pleasant in the shade. Soon the brutal heat of August will arrive, making it difficult to spend much time painting the fields. I will then move to the painting studio in the old house on my days there.
As always, Fair Oaks is the best place to be.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Mini Residency at Fair Oaks- May 26, 2013
Pond View
16x20 inches
oil on canvas
Lane
A wonderful view of the current wildflowers
A portal view I like
My dear sweet friend Shaney!! He likes to explore with me.
Notes From My Residency Journal
Today was one of those splendid early summer days that make me so grateful to be at Fair Oaks. I arrived and set out in my favorite blue golf cart to find the right painting spot. This time of year it becomes important to find good shade that will last a few hours. I camped out next to the fire pit near the pond and started my painting. As I worked, I could hear the mower in the distance and see glimpses of the big yellow tractor mowing the fields. The fragrance wafted across the fields and I enjoyed the instant memories it brought to me of my Daddy mowing the fields at my house. That green smell is so wonderful. I soon heard the lunch bell and headed in to the cottage. Fair Oaks had visitors for lunch and we feasted on fabulous BBQ. Who in the South doesn't like BBQ? I was raised on it, along with fried chicken. We had ribs, chicken and pork along with collard greens, slaw, mac and cheese and baked beans. OH MY!!! Added to that, interesting conversation about what constitutes "good art" so it was a very successful lunch indeed.
I moved to the upstairs studio in the house and enjoyed an afternoon of painting in the cool air conditioned room. As always, the time races along and it was soon time to pack up. I took some time to explore with Shane and take reference photos. I have been doing a series of paintings around the fields, studying the grasses and wild flowers at Fair Oaks. Today the Spiderwort and Dandelions were nearly spent, beginning to go to seed. They have been replaced by the tiny white daisies that are so common in this part of Florida. They have tiny white heads with yellow centers, very delicate and bloom on long stems. They are beautiful in the fields.
Other painters ask me from time to time why I paint so much at Fair Oaks? They ask me why I don't get tired of painting there? How could I ever get tired of such a beautiful diverse land, that changes almost every week year round? I could paint there every day for a hundred years and not grow tired of it. I always say that Fair Oaks has the best light I have ever seen. No place else compares to it.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Fair Oaks Mini Residency- May 19. 2013
The purple plants are starting to come in now.
Notes From My Residency Journal
It is suddenly summer here in North Central Florida. Last week was cool and spring like and now it is hot, humid, and buggy!! I was attacked today by Yellow Flies and Spiders while painting in the shade in Field One. I managed to get the above 18x24 painting mostly done by lunch time. I spent some time roaming around in my favorite blue golf cart just before discovering that Rick had a special guest for lunch, my friend Kate Barnes. Kate is a Renaissance woman of the first order. She has traveled the world, lived in Japan, was a county commissioner for several years, a highly respected painter and is a well known writer. Any time she comes, we are all in for a treat of wonderful stories of her adventures.
Rick collects interesting and learned friends like a magnet and I am lucky to be included on Sundays for some of his soirees.
We enjoyed sausage and yellow rice, baked chicken, tossed salad and Lima beans for lunch, followed by ice cream with chocolate sauce. With our coffee, Kate produced a delicious blueberry preserve and cracker plate which quickly disappeared. Our meal was prepared by Rick's summer crew of college boys, all very sweet and kind.
After lunch, I headed up to the studio upstairs in the house and finished my painting in cool air conditioning. Kate and Rick were off to explore Fair Oaks while I painted. She came up for a visit and what a pleasant way to spend Sunday afternoon. Soon came time for me to steer Leroy home to my own studio with happy memories of a wonderful day at Fair Oaks.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
St Augustine Beach Residency- Day 6- May 11, 2013
Matanzas River
Bridge of Lions
Pelicans
Oldest Schoolhouse in USA
A1A St Augustine
St George Street
Notes From My Residency Journal
Yesterday I headed for St Augustine. The beach town and the other town are from two different planets. SA Beach is relaxed, mellow and great fun. The beach is beautiful, the parks up and down the coast are delightful and there is a wonderful beach town attitude there. I really love this beach town.
The city of St Augustine, not my favorite. It has lost much of its flavor in the last five years. The town fathers have banned street musicians and artists from the scene. I used to love to hear the street musicians and watch painters on the sidewalks. They were part of what made the old city fun.It is crowded with tourists and parking is difficult. Many of the shops are full of junk at premium prices.
There are some redeeming qualities. I enjoy the trolley tours, the old fort, and some of the museums there. The restaurants are pricey. The city marina is quite nice, very clean and the people there are very friendly. There are benches placed around the marina, a nice little shop and it is very organized. Yesterday I took an eco boat tour at the marina which was excellent. The young captain was knowledgeable about the fish, wildlife and birds that are native to the area. We saw Roseate Spoonbills, Oyster birds, Kingfishers, Brown pelicans, Manatees, and Bottle Nosed Dolphins. We toured some of the Matanzas River estuaries and marshlands, and the Anastasia Island. It was well worth the 40.00+7.00 tip.
I was happy to get back to the beach town and leave the noise and congestion behind.
Chad and Sarah's Condo was a welcome haven after a long day.
Today I will do my laundry, one more painting and pack my car for the trip home tomorrow. It has been too short a residency but absolutely fabulous thanks to Sarah and Chad.
Restaurant Reviews
Sea Oats Cafe
This tiny restaurant is in the Publix shopping center in SA beach. it is a cute theme with surf boards as black boards and Beachy decor. The service is good but a bit slow after ordering. I ordered bacon and eggs with home fries. The eggs were good, the English muffin was good, the bacon overcooked, just short of too dark. The home fries were not particularly good. Very bland and under cooked.
My vote for breakfast at the beach is still the Oasis and Cafe 11, both very consistent and flavorful at a moderate prices and outstanding service.
Harry's in St Augustine
I went to Harry's because the prices were reasonable and I know their food. It is a regional chain featuring Cajon style food but toned down in spices. I had the Shrimp Po Boy and it was quite good. It came with hot, crisp fries. The roll was crispy, the shrimp hot and crisp with a nice dill pickle slice, lettuce and tomato with a Romelade sauce. Very tasty and 11.00. I found nothing else of that quality for that price. Most every other restaurant was quite pricey.
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