Linda Blondheim Studio Newsletter for art collectors,May 21,2009 edition

Wood Farm
18x24 inches
oil on canvas


Linda Blondheim Art Studio
Landscapes of the South

lindablondheim@gmail.com



Don't forget that I send you 10% of the sale referral rewards for sending me new clients who purchase my paintings.

May 2009

Artists relate to Land and Water Conservation
Florida Landscape Painters
Landscape painters have a special relationship to this good earth and it's rivers, lakes and seas. I know of few others with the exception of property owners, and conservationists who love the earth more than we do. After all, it sustains us and gives us the inspiration for our life's work. We go where few others dare to explore. We are never happier than when we are stomping around in the woods, standing on the shore, or paddling along with a tiny paint box in our laps. While most people get excited about their new car, or the latest movie, we are keen on going to a new place, previously unexplored, to paint.



Our roots go deep in the land like a strong tree. We love the fields of wild flowers, the grand old oaks with swaying moss, and the tall graceful palms of our beloved Florida. We love the farmers and ranchers who own the land, the conservationists who care for it. This is a deep bond. These people allow us to imagine what it is like to own and be a part of their precious land. I am deeply grateful to them.

For this reason, we have formed a landscape painters' tribe in a sense. A casual network of friendships based on the love of Florida's land and waters. We have a commonality of interests and we travel to places in Florida to do Paint Outs together a few times a year. We have become a circuit in a way, similar to the street festival artists, yet quite different in that we become the entertainment as well as our art. People come and watch us paint and then buy our paintings, sometimes right from the easel.

We are often partners with local Land Trust organizations. When you read the materials from these agancies, you will see that many landscape painters are members and we contribute to the cause with our art and our checkbooks.


In a sense, painters are the historians of our culture. We are recording the land before it disappears into the next new Condo development or business. We are contributing to the conservation of large tracts of land that will be preserved against development. We record the dress, style and period of our time in history like no camera could.

My Daddy always said there is nothing you can own more important than the land, and it's preservation and stewardship is your responsibility. I take that seriously. My mission is to honor the land and water of Florida and to record it for posterity.

The next time you look at a lovely landscape painting, reach deep inside your soul and think about all it really means as part of your culture and history. It's so much more than a pretty painting to hang on the wall. It has real meaning for your life and the history and culture of your neighborhood.




Panes Prairie Fall
18x24 inches
acrylic on Birch panel

http://www.ecofloridamag.com/

http://www.kayakjacksonville.com/

http://eco-florida.blogspot.com/

http://www.eco-usa.net/orgs/fl.shtml

http://www.floridanature.org/

http://www.floridasnature.com/

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/

http://www.alachuaconservationtrust.org

http://www.conserveflorida.org/index.html


From Linda's Art Lover Salons
Protecting yourself from Fraud

How can you protect yourself from fraud or poorly crafted art?

Original art of substance is a serious investment emotionally and financially. Most professional artists stand behind their work 100%. It is very important that you understand the guarantees offered by artists.

I offer a 100% money back or replacement of my paintings within seven days of delivery for any reason. Sometimes a client will take the painting home, decide that another they liked will fit better, bringing it back to change a painting for another in my studio. My desire is to satisfy my clients thoroughly. I ship my paintings around the USA, and I'm always happy to work with a client to choose the right painting for their home. You may not realize that artists have a love for their work too. I want my paintings to go to homes where they will be appreciated and cherished. They are like my children. Sometimes a custom painting is more desirable to fit a particular decor or subject. I am always happy to do commissions for clients. I do not take trade ins of older paintings. Most artists don't either. My local dealer is happy to show them for you on consignment if appropriate to his market.

A responsible artist will be sure to make their return policies clear to buyers. They will offer receipts with the painting, properly packing it or wrapping it for shipping. They will include the materials used to create the painting. A responsible professional will use the best quality of materials they can afford and will use proper painting methods to protect the painting from harm in the future.

If you want to purchase from a painter you like on the Internet, but do not know, be sure to ask for client testimonials and references. Check with art dealers in that city to inquire about the artist's reputation. I offer both client testimonials and my patron list on my web site for all to see. I am proud to have my work in many homes and businesses. I am always happy to give references and my credentials to inquiring patrons. I have been in business for 30+ years as a painter. I stand behind my work with pride. If your inquiries to an artist are not answered to your satisfaction and with courtesy, avoid the artist and look for another.

I've had two recent art salons at Paddiwhack Gallery. The were great fun for me and my guests.



If you would like to schedule an Art Lover Salon with Friends, please email me. They can be scheduled at my studio, or at Paddiwhack Gallery in Gainesville. We have a light meal and enjoy talking about my art. I always give guests a portfolio of useful information about collecting art. Come join me for your own Art Lover's Salon.



Food Glorious Food!!!

For Foodies

I'm a foodie and have been for as long as I can remember. Southern food and culture are so much a part of us here in the south. Wherever I travel, the conversations turn to food and stories about our childhoods. In the south it was considered to be unforgivable not to offer food and drink to a guest in your home. I have carried on that tradition in my studio. I take great pride in preparing good food for my studio guests and I love shopping and preparing food for a party. My daughters share that love as well. We think nothing of spending hours in Fresh Market, comparing cheeses, all of the pickles and olives, the wine and fresh flowers, and hanging around in the produce section. Have you ever noticed how wonderful a produce section is in a store like Fresh Market? It is overflowing with beauty, texture and color. Strolling around the store, looking at the various components to good eating is a feast for the senses. In fact the whole shopping center where Fresh Market is located in Gainesville, is a feast for foodies like me. We have Upper Crust Bakery with all of it's fine breads and pastries, and A wonderful seafood monger, West Coast Seafood, and Dorn's for fine wines and cheeses. I can spend the day going from shop to shop there, looking at food and all the components of good eating. Luckily, my gallery Paddiwhack has just moved to the space next to Fresh Market, so it's very convenient for me.

Think of the rich bounty we have here in Florida. As you travel around the state you will find a harvest of seafood, honey, Beef, Pork, chicken and numerous fruits and vegetables on the tables of southern folk. We have our specialties like Key Lime Pie, and every region shows off it's best to travelers. Of course, my favorite is still fried chicken. I could write a book about my memories and experiences with that single food. Fried chicken is my comfort food. Whenever I am feeling low, I get out the chicken, the cast iron skillet and start frying. It makes me extremely happy and I love the process of it as I would in doing a painting. I'll do a newsletter about fried chicken one day.

The Food Network on TV is almost heaven, with all of the chefs's programs. My two favorite TV chefs are Jacques Pepin on PBS and Ina Garten on Food Network. They are wonderful chefs, not too weird with their recipes, not too silly, just good easy to understand instructions and great style.

Here is a tip from my days as a chef/caterer.

To really enhance the color and flavor of parsley, first rinse the whole bunch in cold water and drain. Cut away the woody stems and chop the leaves as finely as you like with a chef knife using a rocking motion of the knife over the leaves. Keep scraping them back to the center of the cutting board and chopping. Place all the chopped parsley in the center of a clean bar towel or kitchen towel. Hold over the sink and squeeze the parsley in a tight spiral of the towel around it. Squeeze until all moisture is out. Open the towel and bag the parsley with a single moist paper towel in a sealed container. The parsley will be usable for quite a while. Why squeeze the parsley after it's chopped? Squeezing the parsley releases the oils in the leaves, where the taste and fragrance come from. It also brings out the beautiful color in the herb. That is a very important step.

Here's a Top ten list of my favorite cakes:

Carrot Cake
Red Velvet Cake
Sour Cream Pound Cake
Key Lime Cheesecake
Poppy Seed Lemon Cake with lemon curd filling
Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Strawberry Short Cake
Spice Cake
Chocolate cake with amaretto and raspberry filling and chocolate ganache icing

Cake is my very favorite dessert. I can resist almost anything but cake. It is my downfall. I never really met a cake I didn't like. When I was a child, Mother used to buy 1/2 yellow cakes with chocolate frosting on the bread isle at the grocery store. They were very popular and we could not wait to dig into them. They were the precursor to the frozen cakes you can buy now at stores. I love to peruse the bakery at the grocery store, looking longingly at the cakes in the showcase. For awhile the were selling sugar free chocolate cakes but now the don't. I miss them. I started out in the food industry making cakes for a living. I specialized in small cakes for 8 to 12 people. They were rich and lovely with lots of brandies and liqueurs in them. A cake is a beautiful piece of edible art.


How About a Recipe?

This was my favorite cake for adding all kinds of flavorings and texture too. It is the best pound cake around.

Sour Cream Pound Cake


1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, plus more for pan 3 cups sugar 1 cup sour cream 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 6 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extractAlmond Buttercream Frosting, recipe follows
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter and flour a tube pan and set aside.
In the bowl of a mixer, cream butter and sugar together and then add sour cream. Sift flour and baking soda together. Add to creamed mixture, alternately with eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Add extracts and stir to combine. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Cool cake in pan for about 10 minutes and then unmold and cool completely on a wire rack.

Cook's Note: This cake can be baked in regular round pans to make a wonderful layer cake. Fillings include lemon curd, raspberries or strawberries, raspberry jam with almonds. Sprinkle layers with rum, or other liqueurs, pineapple or any other fruit you like. Frost with buttercream. It makes a beautiful cake that stands up well for multiple layers.


http://www.southernfoodways.com/
http://www.soul-food-advisor.com/

http://www.southernfoodcooking.com/

http://www.chefrick.com/

http://www.olsouthrecipes.com/

http://bama.ua.edu/~bgray/recipes.htm

http://southerncuisine.suite101.com/article.cfm/favorite_southern_food_quotes

http://www.travelsouthflavours.com/

http://www.lifeintheusa.com/food/southerncooking.htm

http://www.mamas-southern-cooking.com/