Fair Oaks Mini Residency July 21, 2013

Notes From My Residency Journal

I had a brief trip to Fair Oaks today. The weather was iffy from the start, with ominous cloud buildup after about 10 AM. It was  quiet day with my host away, so I took the cart out to field 1 and parked in the shade for a couple of hours to do a small 8x10 inch oil painting of that beautiful field. I didn't want to get very far from Leroy, my truck with all of my painting gear, with the possibility of rain. It was beautiful and green in the field. Most of the flowers are gone now, so it is a sea of varying shades of green. I enjoyed a quiet session on location.

Unfortunately, I forgot my Ipad which acts as my camera and my reference photo library, meaning that I would have no references for the studio to work on a larger painting, which I am want to do in the summer heat. The studio is air conditioned, with all of the comforts. I'll remember it next time. That's what I get for hurrying out of the house this morning, forgetting the Ipad.

At noon the sky was getting quite dark, so I loaded Leroy up with my painting and my gear and headed for home, waving goodbye to Buddy and Shane, the trail bosses at Fair Oaks.

Landscape Art

Fair Oaks Mini Residency- July 14, 2013

 

Landscape Art

 

Notes From My Residency Journal

 

 

I was back at Fair Oaks this morning after missing the last Sunday due to the holiday. It is getting too hot now to enjoy painting on location, so I am painting upstairs in the studio through September, going out after lunch to explore without my paints. As long as I am driving around, the bugs don't bother me, but if I stop for any length of time they attack. I'm always very happy painting in the studio at Fair Oaks, so I don't really mind at all. Here is   A Tour of the Studio at Fair Oaks

 

 

 

This scene is one I really like, from field one crossing over into Collins Field. The golf cart and tractors often leave subtle paths through the fields, making interesting patterns in the tall grasses of summer.

 

 

Lunch was really tasty today, lasagna, a nice green salad, garlic bread, and peach pie with whipped cream. No complaints here!! Bradley is become quite accomplished at managing the kitchen. One of the great things about Fair Oaks is that the college boys take turns doing the cooking. They learn valuable skills including cooking, washing up, organizing the equipment, and setting a proper table. This is a great opportunity for them.

 

 

After a chance to pet Buddy and Shane, my two canine friends, I spent an hour or so doing some recon around the fields. They are getting soft and mushy with the frequent rain, so I was very cautious and timid about driving and exploring. I have learned the hard way that carts get stuck very easily.  I was in no mood to walk back to the house in this heat, so I headed for home to beat the afternoon rain.

 

 

Another visit to paradise!!!

 

Linda Blondheim's Rural Painting Studio Tour