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!

Mini Residency at Fair Oaks- November 24, 2013

East Hay Field Tree

5x7 inches

oil on canvas panel

Notes From My Residency Journal

Fair Oaks was cold, overcast and windy when Henry and I arrived. It was his first day back at Fair Oaks since last spring and he was thrilled to be back, riding shotgun in the golf cart. We parked out in the middle of the East Hay Field to paint the big trees. It was so cold that Henry began to shiver, so I walked him back to Leroy and let him take a good nap for a few hours. He is a perfect car dog and happy to sleep while I paint as long as the weather is cool. 

I worked on two paintings, finishing one. I really enjoyed the painting time and the subtle wintery colors.  Anna found me after I packed up my paint box and we headed for the cottage to warm up and beg for a cup of hot coffee. I was surprised to find Kate Barnes waiting for us. Kate is a force of nature! She is a renaissance woman of many skills, an exceptional professional writer, painter, former politician and story teller.  She captures the crowd wherever she goes. I was tired from a very long hard week and I was content to sit and listen to the conversation and her fine stories. 

A favorite scene at Fair Oaks.

Our host prepared a fine meal for lunch. A marvelous turkey salad, mashed potatoes, a lovely big salad and the pound cake that Kate brought for dessert. We had Fair Oaks iced tea, which is the best iced tea I've ever had!

Replete with good food and conversation, I headed out with Henry in sunshine that had arrived while we enjoyed lunch. We explored all of our favorite places and the magic time of light arrived just in time for some great photos.

Mark and Henry have their own version of catch. Mark throws the stick and Henry drops it and runs in the opposite direction. 

Field Three is in all of its glory now, with all of the luscious colors of winter. I know where I will be painting the next lucky day I come back to my beloved Fair Oaks. After a bit of play time for Henry with his pals Buddy and Shane, we were off to our own barn with happy memories of another day in paradise. 

The Annual Hoedown at Fair Oaks

The Hoedown Trail Boss

All good things happen at Fair Oaks thanks to his amazing stewardship.

The Musicians

The base fiddle player is my friend Scotty who is one of the Fair Oaks staff. He is so sweet and talented!

Matty!

Matt is one of my dearest friends. He is young but almost like a contemporary to me. He is wise beyond his years and a very thoughtful friend. He is a long time member of the Fair Oaks family.

My beloved friend Mark, like a son!

 

Notes From my Residency Journal

 

The annual Hoedown has come and gone in a flash. It is one of my favorite events and I look forward to it each year. It is a huge undertaking for the staff but they make it look effortless just as they do all activities at Fair Oaks. There is a marvelous hay ride, an enormous bon fire with the makings for Smores, fried turkey with all of the trimmings, a real popcorn machine, all sorts of hot and cold beverages and a huge array of desserts. No one leaves hungry, I can assure you.

 

 

After dinner there is square dancing with a caller to teach participants the art of circle and square dancing. I enjoy watching them while I sit on the crates in front of giant hay bales, or stand over by the fire. The music goes on into the night. I watch little boys play in the hay and run around the field playing their own mysterious games, while parents chat in groups. Behind the scenes, the staff works tirelessly to clean tables, wash dishes and pack up food. Magda, Fair Oaks photographer scurries around taking lovely photos to record the evening for our memories. The pups, Buddy and Shane wander from one human friend to the next, ever checking back on their Daddy during the festivities. I love these pups as I love my own dear Henry. I can hear the blacksmith in his station pounding the metal while visitors watch.

 

I was thinking on my way home about how fortunate I am to have developed the love and friendships with the family of  Fair Oaks. We all have a love for the mission of this special land and those it welcomes and supports. It is a rare privilege indeed to be included in so many activities at this incredible place. 

Fair Oaks Mini Residency - November 17, 2013

Mark's Giant Seesaw

One of a Fair Oaks' Live Oak Trees

Notes From My Residency Journal

My morning started in the East Hay Field doing little paintings. I finished two 5x7 paintings of trees and enjoyed the process. I put my gear away and enjoyed a nice lunch at Blue Highway in Micanopy. It's a treat to eat there. They have a wonderful salad and I love their chicken BBQ pizza. 

After lunch Mark, Anna and their visiting friend arrived to have a tour around Fair Oaks. We enjoyed the seesaw, a ride around Fish Prairie and some tree climbing on the tour.

The rain was on the way, so I headed for home in Leroy. Another glorious day at my favorite place on this good earth.

Fair Oaks Mini Residency- November 10, 2013

Notes From My Residency Journal

I arrived early today at Fair Oaks. I needed to collect the paintings left in the studio by the retreat painters last weekend. They will hang at Paddiwhack Gallery through January 2.

It was wonderful to be out in the fields listening to the crows and hawks, busy with breakfast. I set up my paint box in the shade and painted the row of trees in front of the pond. I needed to do another painting to hang with the others from the retreat. 

It was lovely to take my time and enjoy the process of painting in a leisurely fashion. When I finished my painting I put my gear way and headed out with my friend Anna to take photos and enjoy the beautiful day, while Mark cooked lunch. I wanted to show Anna the beautiful yellow flowers blooming on Fish Prairie, but most of them are gone. Just a few blooms scattered around now. The peaked two weeks ago. Like many wonderful things they are fleeting.

Lunch was served, a wonderful salad with lots of crunchy nuts,fruits and veges, smoked sausage, hot veges with chocolate cake and Ice cream for dessert! Yummy!

I've been asked to do Mark and Anna's wedding cakes in May. I'm so honored!

 

Pond Trees

9x12 inches

Oil on panel