USA Collectors

Linda Blondheim Art Collector Map
Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com
Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

Friday, August 28, 2009

Painting the Region, The William Bartram Trail



Painting the Region
October 6-10, 2009

Press Release for Painting The region

For more information or to obtain a photo of Linda Blondheim, e-mail: skcarey1@gmail.com

Publicist Sarah Carey

Aug. 28, 2009


Noted Southern landscape artist to paint at Bartram Trail sites Oct. 6-10

GAINESVILLE – Award-winning Southern landscape artist Linda Blondheim is among the artists selected to participate in “Painting the Region: The Bartram Trail,” a five-day, juried event that will take place Oct. 6-10 in Northern St. Johns County.
Artists will paint “en plain air” – French for “in open air,” – as they rotate between four locations along the William Bartram Scenic and Historic Highway, State Road 13, five miles south of Mandarin and Julington Creek in the communities of Fruit Cove, St. Johns and Switzerland, Fla.
The area, part of a much longer "Bartram Trail," commemorates John and William Bartrams' time in St. Johns County during their extensive explorations of the Southeast between 1765 and 1774.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the North Florida Florida Land Trust and the St. Johns Cultural Council.
“I have a deep love for Florida, being a Florida Cracker,” says Blondheim, who co-founded Plein Air Florida and organized the very first paint-out in Florida at Ozello in 2001. “I love the culture of North Florida -- its cuisine, being a chef, and its land.”
Blondheim has painted professionally for more than 30 years, at times supporting herself in jobs as a professional caterer and chef. She is passionate about the state and has shared her talent and enthusiasm for the outdoors as a signature member of Florida Artist Group, Inc., as well as Plein Air Georgia, Alabama Plein Air Artists and Fresh Air. Blondheim has completed many paintings of Florida's rivers in her ongoing quest to capture “old Florida” in her unique and distinctive style, and says she is anxious to paint the St. John's River as well as other spots in St. John's County.
Known primarily for her lush Florida landscapes, Blondheim paints primarily in oils, acrylics and gouache. She is a listed artist with Art Price, Ask Art, The American Artist Bluebook and Marquis Who's Who in American Art. She has a museum history in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia and is gallery represented in Florida, Virginia, and Alabama.
Her work is often described as painterly or as representational painting. Sometimes she is referred to as a representational expressionist or an American Impressionist. She enjoys plein air painting fall through spring, during the mild Florida climate, and enjoys traveling throughout the South to capture the beauty found in each state. Although some of Linda's work is done en plein air, she also enjoys
working from plein air studies and photographs to complete larger works in the studio. Her paintings are found in private and corporate collections throughout the United States.
Whether she focuses on landscapes, rivers and lakes, or, in her new series, Florida Farms and Ranches, Blondheim throws her skill into artistically capturing and preserving the South in which she was born, has raised her daughters and works as a self-supporting artist.
Blondheim holds a BFA degree from the University of Tampa, performed post-baccalaureate studies at the University of South Florida and has been painting for 30 years.
Deeply committed to land and water conservation in Florida, Blondheim supports both the Alachua County Land Trust and the Conservation Trust of Florida. She realizes that not only is she painting what she knows, but she is preserving parts of Florida's history as well. Barns may collapse from disuse and time, horses and cattle may become displaced by human “development,” but Blondheim’s paintings will capture and save forever the South that once was, still is but less so, and that may one day disappear.
-30-
For additional information:

*Visit Linda Blondheim's Web site at: www.lindablondheim.com or e-mail her directly at lindablondheim@gmail.com.

*Learn more about “Painting the Region: The Bartram Trail,” at: www.paintingtheregion.com








Evinston Sky
30x30 inches
acrylic on birch panel
unframed
wired and ready to hang
2300.00
Shipping 95.00
Purchase HERE

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Newsletter Augut 27, 2009 Linda Blondheim Art Studio


Landscapes of the South
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.lindablondheim.com [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=6kbdo5cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lindablondheim.com%2F&id=preview]

http://www.lindablondheimlandscapeart.com [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=6kbdo5cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lindablondheimlandscapeart.com%2F&id=preview]
lindablondheim@gmail.com
Studio: 386.462.5726
Please forward my newsletters to your friends. I need to grow my business. I'll
reward you with a tiny abstract painting.
Don't forget that I offer 10% of the sale cash referral rewards when you send a
new patron to me who purchases a painting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

August 27,2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Season is stirring, wakening to change




One of the things I most enjoy about this time of year are the subtle changes that
many people never notice. You have to be a "Landie" to notice these things. The
colorful grasshoppers which are brilliant yellow, red and green are hanging around,
goofing off instead of gathering food for the winter. The squirrels are busy hoarding
acorns and the light is changing in the sky, clouds and tree tops. We are coming
onto the new season. Studio Dog and I hung around in the yard Monday evening around
7 PM watching the season change, anticipating the new outdoor routine for us that
we love. The decision was made. We will start our annual yard paintings on the next
cool dry evening around 5 PM. We set the scene in our hearts and minds. There is
a large and grand pine tree out in the field next to my house, flanked by dogwoods,
who are not quite ready to change to their fall ensemble of red, but beginning to
be a bit faded after too many summer washes. They are set into a field of tall grasses,
still green but with accents of brown and wheat. The tops of the trees are beginning
to show fiery orange late in the day. I love this part of Florida so much. There
is nothing like the color here if you just take the time to step outside late in
the afternoon. People accuse me of making it up all the time, but the rich blues,
mauves,oranges and reds really are in the trees.


We saw several beautiful butterflies yesterday, flitting around the back yard in
their prom dresses of gold, orange and sky blue. They are like bits of confetti
floating around. The hummingbirds are in great numbers too with their manic darting
everywhere. It's as if we are just on the edge of anticipation. The changing from
summer to fall is the most exciting time of the year for me, and the most dramatic
for a landscape painter.


There is something about living on farm land that gives me a sense of the ages.
I know that it has looked essentially the same for generations. The land I live
on was once a farm. The whole neighborhood was part of a farm owned by Farmer Bethea.
A lot of it remains the same, though it has been parceled off into homesteads. We
have had this land now since I was about 16 years old. In those days we had horses
and a steer on the farm which was slaughtered for beef.


In those less dangerous times, kids ran free on the farms. We used to get into all
sorts of mischief around the neighborhood, riding our horses through the farmer's
corn fields. My aunt had a riding stable next door. She used to have fraternity
and sorority parties out at her place with camp fires. She would saddle the stable
horses up for the city slickers to ride. A bunch of us would throw sheets over
ourselves and wait in the woods. As soon as she turned her back, we would run out,
waving our arms, scaring the tar out of those kids in the dark. Their horses would
bolt back to the barn while we snickered behind trees. Of course, looking back,
I now understand that it was dangerous and stupid, but at the time, we thought it
was just too hilarious. She would get back to the barn and the kids would tell
her they saw ghosts in the night. She would scoff and tell them they were crazy.
She still doesn't know to this day that we pulled these pranks.


I feel that pleasure every time I step outside on my land and when I travel to my
favorite farms. There is an intimacy with the land in those special places that
is hard to understand unless you have been a part of it. It is a step back in time
in many ways, and a timeless look into the future for generations to come. I have
a sense of belonging on all of the farms and ranches I paint and I feel that I have
found my place as a painter, thanks to these experiences at Fair Oaks Farm, Wood
Farm, Town and Country and Rabbit Hill. I hope to explore many more farms in north
Florida in the next few years.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Planning Your Art Collection




If you are just starting to collect art, it might be a good idea to think about
what direction you want to go. Write down a few questions and think about the best
answers before you buy art.


Do you want to collect by subject or genre?
Do you prefer modern, contemporary,traditional,or something in between?
Do you want to collect art from one, a few, or many artists?
Do you like certain palettes of colors? Bold and dramatic,or subtle and sophisticated?
Which sizes and orientations will suit your living or office space?
Is a consistent, thematic style important to you or is it anything goes?


What will be your price range and yearly budget to invest in your collection?

Would you enjoy a series of paintings by an artist on a particular theme rather
than a variety of subjects?

Is collecting from a well known local, regional, or nationally known artist important
to you or is it just the art that matters?

Is it important that you know the artist personally or would you rather select art
from a dealer with no contact from the artist?

Thinking out a plan in advance will help you to achieve your goal in smart collecting,
and will help you achieve a cohesive collection of art. Your collection is often
based art which reflects the places and objects that you love. A favorite artist
whose work and life philosophy you identify with, places you hold dear in our heart,
or narrative art that makes you chuckle or feel akin to emotionally.

Armed with good choices you will enjoy collecting art that suits your personal desires
and needs. There is only one opinion that counts on whether art is good or not,
yours!! Above all, buy art you love. There is no better reason.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How About a Recipe?

Turkey Leg Stew

This is easy, inexpensive and delicious

Three turkey legs
6 carrots cut in large pieces
3 potatoes cut in large pieces
2 stalks celery diced
1 large tomato diced
2 cans chicken broth or turkey stock
1 tsp dried thyme
salt/pepper to taste
1 tsp parsley
1 small can corn
1 can cut green beans
3 T corn starch
1/4 cup dry white wine

1 crock pot

Put everything in the crock pot except the wine and corn starch. Cook on low for
6 -8 hours
Remove turkey legs from crock pot and debone meat. Put meat back in the crock pot.
Turn crock pot on high and add corn starch to white wine. Mix thoroughly. Pour in
and mix with stew. Cover and let cook another half hour on high. Serve in bowls
with corn bread or over rice.




Cook's Tip:
It's easy to dress up your favorite corn bread recipe by adding any of the following:

Sour cream
cheddar cheese
parmesan cheese
diced bacon
diced ham
cooked crumbled sausage
cooked crumbled hamburger
diced tomatoes
taco seasoning
dried Italian dressing mix
Lipton Onion Soup Mix
dried thyme
dried Oregano
Chili powder
jalepeno peppers diced











~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Take Advantage of Local Treasures



Think about what you have in your town that you can be proud of and enjoy. Often
we forget the beauty and interest in our own back yard. As Neil Diamond said in
is song, "Home is the most excellent place of all". Are you utilizing all that
your town and region has to offer?

We here in North Florida are blessed. It is still fairly rural and peaceful compared
to South Florida. There is much to do and see here. Just a few miles away will take
ou to small interesting towns like Melrose, Keystone Heights, Live Oak, Evinston,
Cross Creek, White Springs, Dunellon and Crystal River. The springs of north Florida
are cold, and crystal clear on a hot day. I love to take day trips around and there
are some favorite roads I love to drive, just for he beauty along the way. A few
favorites include:

US 98-From Perry to Appalach
US 41- From Williston to Brooksville
County Road 320-McIntosh
County Road 37-Hague
County Road 225-Evinston
SR 13- St Johns County
US 27- between High Springs and Perry.
US 90 -from Lake City to Live Oak
State Road 121 From Gainesville to Lake Butler
US 231 from I-10 to Dothan and from Ozark to Montgomery
Count Road 235 from Alachua to Lacrosse
State Road 206 to Crescent Beach
State Road 207 to St Augustine Beach
State Road 24 to Cedar key
State Road A1A from St Augustine Beach to Washington Oaks State Park
State Road A1A from Atlantic Beach to Mayport and then north from the Ferry to Amelia
Island.

Many of you may think there is nothing much special about these routes, but a landscape
painter sees things that others don't notice. it's our job to see beauty in the
most obscure places. Next time you are traveling the same old routes, look a little
closer. You will see what I see.

Close to home we are blessed with beloved Paynes Prairie, our pride and joy, beautiful
Lake Alice, Devil's Millhopper, The bike trail from Gaineville to Hawthorne, lovely
Kanapaha Gardens; the fine old historic district with the Thomas Center, museums
an performing arts centers as well as two colleges/universities.
I can't leave out the local produce either. There are several farmers markets in
this area, including Haile Plantation, down town, and over on US 441 and 39th Avenue,
but I prefer to go to the farms instead. Freddie Wood has the best produce at his
farm in Evinston, sold fresh ever day at the Wood Swink. I also go to the packing
house in Santa Fe on SR 121 in Lacrosse and to Rogers Farm right down at the end
of my road.
Life here doesn't suck!!
http://nature-talk.com/locations/florida/index.html [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=6kbdo5cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fnature-talk.com%2Flocations%2Fflorida%2Findex.html&id=preview]
http://naturenews.ning.com/ [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=6kbdo5cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fnaturenews.ning.com%2F&id=preview]
http://wikitravel.org/en/North_Florida [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=6kbdo5cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwikitravel.org%2Fen%2FNorth_Florida&id=preview]
http://www.ameliaisland.org/outdoor_activities [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=6kbdo5cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ameliaisland.org%2Foutdoor_activities&id=preview]

http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=11358 [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=6kbdo5cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trails.com%2Factivity.aspx%3Farea%3D11358&id=preview]

http://www.whitesprings.org/www.whitesprings.org/ecohouse.htm [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=6kbdo5cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitesprings.org%2Fwww.whitesprings.org%2Fecohouse.htm&id=preview]
http://www.visitflorida.com/articles/north-florida-outdoor-adventure-trail [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=6kbdo5cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.visitflorida.com%2Farticles%2Fnorth-florida-outdoor-adventure-trail&id=preview]


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Out Painting



I'll be painting out in front of my gallery in Gainesville; Paddiwhack Gallery next
to Fresh Market on 16th Avenue. I'll be there on Fridays, unless I'm traveling,
from 11 AM-1 PM for the summer. In the fall, I may extend the time. It's a great
way for me to make new friends and show my paintings to others. Come by on a Friday
and chat with me.


Paddiwhack Gallery next to Fresh Market
On Fridays
11 AM- 1PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This Week's Ebay Paintings


Opening Bid:$3.99
Retail Price:55.00
S & H: Free
No Reserve
Type Blondheim Art into the Ebay search window.
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=blondheim+art&_sacat=See-All-Categories
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=6kbdo5cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp3907.m38.l1313%26_nkw%3Dblondheim%2Bart%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories&id=preview]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The computer saga continues. Sent one back,waiting for another to arrive. This week
the web site really is working again. Thanks for your patience.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Linda Blondheim Art Studio Newsletter August 20, 2009


Blue Marsh
18x24 inches
acrylic on birch panel


Landscapes of the South
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Web Site



lindablondheim@gmail.com
Studio: 386.462.5726
Please forward my newsletters to your friends. I need to grow my business. I'll
reward you with a tiny abstract painting.
Don't forget that I offer 10% of the sale cash referral rewards when you send a
new patron to me who purchases a painting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

August 20,2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's Pear Time


Here we are in Mid-August with Fall just around the corner. (At least in my dreams)
Each fall, I start to think about all of the things I love the most about it. The
crisp air early in the morning, the grasses and trees beginning to stop growing
and turning just slightly. The Sycamore tree in my yard showing the early signs
and the wild Sunflowers that bloom each year in late September, beginning to shoot
up now, lush and tall in their anticipation of glory.

I look forward to shiny apples and pumpkins , mums, and the excitement of the football
season. What can be better than a season of SEC football, with all of it's bragging
rights. Football season is serious business here in the South. Go Gators!!!

One of my favorite painting subjects in fall are pears. I've been working on a
series of little pear studies for my E-Class Beginning Oil painting. I wanted to
choose a subject that would be fun and easy to get. I have adopted the pears and
have been having great fun, making up stories about their adventures with me. They
went through Shark Week on a raft, adventures with Studio Dog, and some of my Face
Book friends have decided to declare this as Pear Week.

Each week after I paint at Paddiwhack Gallery, I go next door to Fresh Market to
select my pears for the week. I can enjoy spending a great deal of time looking
at pears and making my selection. As the weeks have gone by, the selections have
grown. I started out with just Bartlett pears, which are bright green. Now I have
moved up to the wonderful Bosc pears, tall and stately and olive to ocher and brown
in colors. Then there are the luscious deep Red Bartlett pears and the tiny Seckel
speckled pears.

I take them home and put them on the table beside the easel and do little paintings
just for the joy of it. Pears have been a favorite subject for artists for centuries,
though most paintings are more traditional than mine. I like to do crazy little
paintings with lots of color and texture in the fruit.

Sometimes the pears mysteriously disappear onto a plate with sharp cheese and crackers.
Yummy!! I think pears are incredibly elegant in their simplicity, both cut and whole.
When I was a caterer I used pears in all kinds of decorative ways, sugared, wrapped
with gold and silver chain and cut into tiny birds. Every morning I would go into
the kitchen and cut a pear into a little quail, just to keep me company. I often
used three varieties to make quail families, using the Bosc for the Daddy because
he was tall, The Red Bartlett for Mommy because she was pretty, and a tiny Seckel
for the baby. They would be on a centerpiece of fall leaves, surrounded by acorns
and mixed nuts in the shells speckled with food coloring.

We have an old pear tree in the front yard that often bears fruit. The deer eat
them before we can get to them most years, but it provides food for all of our
animal friends, so that's ok. It's a funny old tree and in the winter when it is
bare it looks exactly like Don King's Hair. (The boxing promoter who's hair stands
straight up)

Last week, Henry and I were cruising around the yard and looked up to see a large
flock of wild turkeys pecking around under the pear tree. They are so pretty and
quite comfortable in the neighborhood, moving from pasture to pasture. The pear
tree seems to be the water cooler for animals in the neighborhood they exchange
gossip on their pear breaks. We see foxes raccoons, deer and all manor of birds
hanging round that tree. I'd love to be a fly on the tree for some of those sessions.

Here are a few sites about pears:

http://www.pickyourown.org/pearpickingtips.htm
http://www.2020site.org/trees/pear.html
http://www.usapears.com/
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-pears.htm
http://www.thefruitpages.com/pears.shtml
hree Pears

5x7 inches
acrylic on panel


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Artists Dealing with Charities



Artists are generous by their nature. We give and give. We all want to help our
communities and those who are less fortunate in society. Unfortunately, we have
become easy targets for charities who go too far in their desires for our help.
I am asked for help over and over again throughout the year each and every year.
I have had to limit the number of charities I help to local ones, because i would
have no resources left if I helped the hundreds of people who ask for my help throughout
the South. Locally I have tried to solve this problem by issuing gift certificates
for my studio, rather than giving away my paintings. Most of the time this works
quite well. I can drop it in the mail and be done with it.


Lately, it seems that charities are becoming more demanding of artists, requesting
that they do events to help drive the donations up. I don't mind doing this now
and then for a charity i support and really believe in, but now charities are asking
for ridiculously extravagant donations. They are no longer satisfied with a small
painting or even a medium sized one. They are requesting that artists do huge paintings
on site at the events to give away,or asking for lots of certificates and promotional
materials. Whatever an artist offers, is not quite enough. I find this to be unacceptable.

Are these charities going to Drs/Lawyers/Accountants/Architects and other business
people and asking for huge donations of their time and resources?, not likely. Why
are artists considered to be of a lower value?

Recently a charity asked me to come and paint during their event, which I agreed
to do. I decided to be very generous and offer to do an 18x24 inch painting for
their event and donate it. I did this as a personal favor and would never consider
it in a normal circumstance. the retail for the painting would be 1400.00 This offer
was rebuffed and a huge painting was requested. Since my large paintings sell for
3,000.00-5,000.00 I was outraged by this suggestion and refused to do it. Not
to mention that it would cost me at least 200-300 dollars to do a huge painting
out of my own pocket. The charity has decided to accept my offer of an 18x24 inch
painting. I'm sure that there are local artists who would be willing to do a huge
painting and give it away, but I am simply not willing to do this.

In fact, this situation has turned me off for doing anymore events of this nature.
I will go through with the event because I agreed to and I keep my word, but I
will not do this again.
If you are on a charity committee who approaches artists for help, be considerate
and realistic about your requests.


First of all, the same old story that artists will get lots of publicity which will
result in sales, is just baloney! I have given away hundreds of dollars worth of
paintings and gift certificates for the last 20 + years. Not one of those has
ever produced a sale of a decent painting for me. I don't give them away with the
anticipation of anything in return because there is no return. I do it because I
care for my community.

It is your job as promoter to make sure that guests at events understand that the
artist is getting nothing for the donation. it is your job to encourage guests to
buy art directly from the artists who have generously donated work to your cause.
it is your job to make sure that artists receive proper receipts for donations
and the contact information for the patron who purchases their work. This should
be done in a timely manner.

If you are requesting a painting or certificate donation, don't insult an artist
by expecting them to deliver it to you. Have the courtesy to go to their studio
at their convenience to pick it up or arrange to pay for postage and shipping for
them.

If you are asking an artist to come and paint for your event, arrange a sponsor
who will donate the cost of materials and give an honorarium to the artist for doing
the painting for you. Many art supply companies would be more than happy to have
the free publicity for donating the paint,brushes and canvas. I did a large painting
once for a charity event. A sponsor paid for my fee and for the cost of materials,
so I lost nothing in doing the painting. It was sold in the name of the sponsor
and so it was a win win for everyone involved, including me.

The absolutely best way to do art for charity is to sell the paintings at retail,
giving a 50-50 split between the artists and charity. I think auctions are very
damaging to artists and artificially run our worth and prices down. Selling paintings
at retail is the way to go. All of the paint outs I do use that system and most
of us will no longer do auctions at paint outs. There is no reason to. People who
go to retail events are prepared to pay retail prices as they should. Sales are
usually quite brisk at paint outs. I would like to see all charity committees do
away with auctions.

If you ask for a donation from an artist, do not expect them to frame paintings.
That is a financial burden on an artist. Instead, ask a framing company to make
an inkind donation for part of their expenses in exchange for publicity or sell
the painting unframed.

If your event sells tickets, be sure to send the artist two as a thank you. You
will help yourself. I always send the tickets for events to my patrons to use as
a thank you to their loyalty. They will likely buy something at the event to help
the charity.

Above all, remember that the artist is doing you a favor, not the other way around.
Make no demands and be truly grateful to the person who gives so much to so many.





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How About a Recipe?


An easy Pear Dessert

1 pear per person
1 box puff pastry
1 mini peanut butter cup per pear.
1 can condensed milk
1 jar caramel ice cream topping
3 T dark rum (good quality)
zest and 2 T juice of one orange

Peal, then cut pears in half and scoop out seeds with a melon baller. Place one
peanut butter cup without wrapper in the middle of pear halves.

Cut puff pastry into large squares.

Wrap pears in squares and seal at the top with beaten egg and a little bit of water
mixed together. Sprinkle with a bit of sugar.

Place pears on parchment papered sheet pan and bake at 350 until golden brown.

In the mean time, place condensed milk,orange zest and caramel topping in a double
boiler and warm up, mixing thoroughly. Add in orange juice and Rum and mix thoroughly.
Plate the pears and drizzle sauce over them after it has cooled a bit. Allow sauce
to puddle under the pears on the plate. Serve with a berry garnish with mint.

.



Cook's Tip:
Use the English seedless cucumbers in your recipes and salads. The skin is thin
with no peeling needed. The seeds are also quite tiny, so there is no rough hard
pulpy texture in them as you will find in local cucumbers. There is almost no waste,
except for the very tips on both ends.














~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Notes From The Studio





It won't be long before I'm back on the trail with travels and events. My wonderful
publicist Sarah Carey has been busy planning all sorts of projects for me including
a new media kit, new publicity materials, a painting event for the Child Advocacy
Center on October 1.Then I'm off to paint the Bartram Trail in St Johns County from
October 6-10th. I'm really excited about that opportunity. I'll be taking my computer
with me so I can share that adventure each day on Face Book and Twitter.

Henry and I are soon to be out to the farms and ranches again and he is anticipating
that with joy, as am I. I sure do miss my friends at the Wood /Swink and Fair Oaks
Farm in Evinston, Florida.

I'm still hacking away at the shrubbery around the house, and I've started baking
homemade yeast bread again. This week was cheddar herb, next week will be onion
bread.

A friend of mine works in a busy hospital and has kindly been handing out my post
cards and business cards to Dr's and staff. If anyone who reads the newsletter works
in a busy office where you can hand out materials, I would sure appreciate your
help in that way. Just let me know and I'll send you cards and post cards to give
out. Don't forget that I give 10% referral rewards for sales.

My series continues on Florida Farms and Ranches. I love these places with my heart
and soul.

I'll see you along the trail.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Out Painting



I'll be painting out in front of my gallery in Gainesville; Paddiwhack Gallery next
to Fresh Market on 16th Avenue. I'll be there on Fridays, unless I'm traveling,
from 11 AM-1 PM for the summer. In the fall, I may extend the time. It's a great
way for me to make new friends and show my paintings to others. Come by on a Friday
and chat with me.


Paddiwhack Gallery next to Fresh Market
On Fridays
11 AM- 1PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Florida's Beautiful Marshes




Georgia claims to have the most beautiful marshes but they ain't got nuthin on us.
I am so fond of Florida marshes. Since we have two coasts, we have double the beauty
and wildlife of other coastal states. I am always amazed at the variety in the Florida
marshes. they are truly unique in their grasses and waterways.


Here are some of my favorites:

Ozello - midway between Homosassa and Crystal River on the west coast. A nine mile
drive of heaven for marsh lovers. I organized the very first Florida Paint Out in
Ozello in 2001. Cheryl Ritter from Ocala planned the lunch and 24 painters showed
up from Miami to Pensacola and in between. From that, Plein Air Florida, www.pleinairflorida.org
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sgqzg5cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pleinairflorida.org%2F&id=preview]
was created by David Johnson and myself. the two of us still run the organization
with about 400 members now.

The Ormond Beach Loop- Off State Road 40 to Beach Street. Incredible variety of
palms and marsh grasses. Florida nature at it's finest. My friend Barbara Perrotti
introduced me to the Loop a few years ago. What an incredible place. You drive for
miles through an ordinary looking subdivision and suddenly you a re out in paradise,
with massive palm hammocks and winding narrow roads through the marshes.The color
of the grasses is unique as well, a bronze color.

Princess Place- Off US 1 between Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach. This place has
an interesting history. it was at one time owned by a bonafied European princess.
It had the first swimming pool in Florida. A beautiful serene place for contemplation
and terrific marsh scenes to paint.

Indian Pass - Out of Port St Joe near Cape San Blas. Fabulous marsh colors and grasses.
At certain times of the day, the grasses look a chocolate brown. I have spent many
happy hours in Indian Pass. A small and glorious beach community. Cape San Blas
has incredible dunes with large palms growing right out of the sand. The sand there
is like sugar.

St Marks Wild Life Refuge- Us 98 on Florida's West Coast. Beautiful! This is a large
wild life refuge with one of Florida's most lovely lighthouses and lots of wild
birds.

Shired Island- Outside of Cross City. Very remote and primitive. Poor roads but
a fabulous view. Ladies, don't go there without an escort. It is quite primitive
but the views are wonderful.

Anastasia Island- At St Augustine Beach , lovely purplish marsh grasses in the
fall and winter months. A favorite place for me to paint dunes and marshes both.

I'm sure there are tons more great marsh locations and I don't go to South Florida
anymore, but these above are exceptional in north Florida.

Here is some information about Florida marshes:



http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/habitats/saltmarshes.htm
http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/guide/marshes.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This Week's Ebay Paintings



Opening Bid:$3.99
Retail Price:55.00
S & H: Free
No Reserve
Type Blondheim Art into the Ebay search window.
HERE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many of you know that I lost my web site for about 5 days. I apologise for the
inconvenience, but I am trying to get it back up and running on a new server host. Thanks for your
support.In the mean time, see my work HERE

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Linda Blondheim Studio Newsletter August 14, 2009


Wood Farm
20x24 inches
1600.00
shipping 95.00
purchase Here


Landscapes of the South
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.lindablondheim.com
lindablondheim@gmail.com
Studio: 386.462.5726
Please forward my newsletters to your friends. I need to grow my business. I'll
reward you with a tiny abstract painting.
Don't forget that I offer 10% of the sale cash referral rewards when you send a
new patron to me who purchases a painting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Landscapes of the South
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.lindablondheim.com
lindablondheim@gmail.com
Studio: 386.462.5726
Please forward my newsletters to your friends. I need to grow my business. I'll
reward you with a tiny abstract painting.
Don't forget that I offer 10% of the sale cash referral rewards when you send a
new patron to me who purchases a painting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

August 13,2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Computer Drama Applies to Life


A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to buy a new computer. My old one had
missing keys and issues . It still works and I have given it to my sister who is
retired and content to play solitaire and read the news online.
I don't know about you, but I become very attached to my computers. I use them
until they start threatening to crash and the keys start to fall off. They are
like very old friends. They know what you are going to do before you do it. They
save all of your useless files from 5 years ago, which you don't really need, but
feel nostalgic about. Your computer is your connection to the rest of the world
and you want to feel comfortable with it.
Along comes the new flash machine, like a sleek sports car. Smaller, lighter, better
keyboard, lots of new bells and whistles. Wowee!! this is going to be fun. Your
naivety comes to a screeching halt when the new software won't load properly for
no apparent reason, you can't hook your printer up successfully, though it says
you have one,
All the little fun quirks about your old computer don't work anymore and the new
one stares at you like you are the idiot that you are.
I have this new machine that says I can't use the printer. I had to order new software,
and I have no idea whether it will work or not. It doesn't remember all the stuff
my old pal used to do effortlessly for me. This happens every time I buy a new one.
It is definitely an adjustment period before I learn to love the new one. I think
a computer company could make a fortune if they would make some computers specifically
for the baby boomer market. They could load it up with custom software, easy to
use features and load in all the little things we love. Our favorite pages would
be already book marked, The printer software stuff would already be loaded. it
would be ready to turn on and get on with, just like our old one.
I think my new computer issue really applies to most of our experiences in life.
New painting surfaces, a new easel, new brushes and new techniques always prove
to be a challenge for me, cause they are new!!

The older we get the harder to make the adjustments in our lives, but we must make
them even if we are afraid to. Nothing paralyzes us more than fear of change. The
world can change and leave us behind if we aren't careful.
I've noticed that so many people my age are beginning to be timid about travel,
doing things by themselves, learning new techniques and taking even minor risks.
They are afraid to do much without a companion, husband, or wife. I think this
is the "real" risky behavior, because they are beginning to lose the joy of life,
playing it safe and sinking into boredom and safeness rather than meeting new challenges.
They will become old, not because of their physical or chronological age, but because
they have chosen to stop living. There is too much "I'm too old" attitude going
around lately. I'd rather slide into the grave on two wheels, knowing that I lived
to the fullest than to live a long time in fear. Why in the world are people in
their 60's calling themselves old?
Of course we have more physical limitations, I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and I
look like a train wreck, but I'm not old in my heart and soul. I'm still young and
full of fun and we all should be. "Go big or Go Home" is some advice I got years
ago from a dear friend. I live it every day.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yard Work


My battle with yard work continues. I must be the only Southerner on the planet
who hates Azaleas. Of course the yard is full of them and they are like beasts
to cut down to size. Every day I go out and do battle with them for a half hour.
I am determined to go around the entire yard, cutting and slashing back overgrown
bushes. My mother who is now 86, was an avid gardener and planted bushes and trees
all over the yard in her gardening days. Now they have become monsters and I must
tame them in order to discourage the snakes from visiting. Now they will become
beautiful again and thrive with lovely blooms. I expect by mid fall, I will have
won the battle in the yard and have a great sense of satisfaction in having done
this formidable chore.
.
Let me state emphatically, that I am not a garden/yard work person. My idea of a
great yard is concrete painted green with a couple of potted plants. I kid you
not!! I remember as a kid waking up with dread on Saturday morning because if meant
helping my mother in the yard. This was the routine in our house. Which ever kid
was unlucky enough to be home was destined to do either house work or yard work.
In those days kids were actually required to do family chores and contribute to
the well being for all. There were three of us, so we rotated through the ghastly
chores listed for us. Yard work was dreaded the most. Unfortunately, as my sisters
were older than me, guess who won the door prize for yard work?
Fall wasn't as bad as summer. In the fall we did a lot of trimming back and leaf
raking. I never understood why you have to rake leaves. I love them laying around
on the ground. My old dog Anchor used to roll around in them while I painted, having
great fun. Now Henry has taken over in the chew sticks and roll in leaves job that
Anchor held for so many years.
The one job I do like in the yard is composting. I had to give it up because doggies
love to eat rotting food, don't ask me why. I used to have a big compost heap in
the back yard but Anchor got into it so much that I gave up. Since Henry will eat
anything including batteries, I dare not try again. I suppose I should buy one
of those compost gizmos that are in a cage that you turn and rotate.
I am feeling the great anticipation for my yard in the fall. I do a series of paintings
called My Yard each year from September-November. Henry and I love it. Last year
was his first My Yard season. He managed to chew up a couple of bushes and eat a
bag of fertilizer, but we survived it. This year will be less eventful as he is
growing up.
Here are some links on composting you may find useful:
http://vegweb.com/composting/ [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=xt8v46cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fvegweb.com%2Fcomposting%2F&id=preview]
http://www.composting101.com/composting-tips.html [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=xt8v46cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.composting101.com%2Fcomposting-tips.html&id=preview]
http://www.plantea.com/compost.htm [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=xt8v46cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.plantea.com%2Fcompost.htm&id=preview]
http://www.compostingtips.com/ [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=xt8v46cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.compostingtips.com%2F&id=preview]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How About a Recipe?



Roasted Vegetables with Wrights Bacon

2 carrots per person cut in large pieces
1 large baking potato per person pealed and left whole
3 celery stalks chopped
1 large onion sliced
1 sweet potato per person pealed and left whole
1 pound of green beans trimmed
2 Roma tomatoes per person left whole
3 garlic cloves left whole
2 slices Wrights Bacon cut into fourths per person or one ham steak per person cut
into fourths
evoo
1 TSP dried thyme
cracked black pepper
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
sea salt
dash of good paprika

Place veges ( any kind of roasting vege will work, like parsnips, egg plant etc.)
and meat in a deep cast iron pan or heavy roasting pan. You know me, I'm a cast
iron freak!!

Mix EVOO,brown sugar and spices thoroughly and pour over veges, mixing everything
thoroughly. Place a foil top or lid on pan and roast in oven for 3 hours at 350
degrees. Check after two and a half hours to turn veges and see if they are beginning
to caramelize. You can take lid off and finish browning them.





Cook's Tip:

You can look like a gourmet chef by adding a few things to butter or cream cheese
for bagels and toast. People are always impressed by flavored condiments.

Flavor your butter by beating in one of the following:


Honey
Blueberries
Chopped chives
Raspberry jam
strawberry jam
roasted garlic
cracked black pepper
red pepper flakes
cinnamon and brown sugar
orange or lemon zest

For cream cheese:

chopped carrots
cucumbers
red onions
smoked salmon
dry Good Seasons dressing mix
chopped spinach
bell peppers
hot peppers
olives
crock cheddar cheese
roasted nuts








~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking For the Right Artist


It seems to me that it has become more important to do business with people we trust
and have an comfortable relationship with. As the world becomes less personal and
less one on one in business, I crave a more meaningful interaction with people.
I begin to notice the good service I get at a restaurant, or in a store more than
I used to, perhaps because it is rare.

I think the same applies in any relationship you have with an artist. Art is a serious
and joyful investment. A fine painting is something you will display with pride.
A painting serves your deeper emotional needs as well as your more simplistic need
for something to brighten or decorate a room. When I purchase art, I am also committing
to a relationship with the artist who paints it. That relationship enriches my
experience so much. I know artists who are not kind people. They are arrogant and
care little for the patrons who support them. Frankly, I would never buy a painting
from them, no matter how beautiful. I must feel good about the artist I buy from.
Most of my patrons become my personal friends. We have a rich experience together
along the journey of life and art. I wouldn't want it to be any other way.
If you are considering a purchase of art, I urge you to get to know the artist and
about their dreams and focus. You may find a treasured friendship waiting for you.
If you are attracted to an artist's work, the chances are that you will have things
in common. If you love the coast, find an artist that loves it and who paints there
frequently. If you love Tuscany or Provence, look for an artist who paints and
travels there, who is in love with it too. If you love paintings of the west and
the Rockies, find a painter who paints there. And if you love North Florida, look
around here for the painters who loves it too. There is no artist who will understand
the place you love more than one who loves it too. That's why I don't paint Europe,
or the South West or California, though many Florida painters try to emulate painters
who paint those places, because they are popular. I paint what I most treasure and
my heart and soul go into that subject.
Find an artist who loves what you love the most and you will know he/she is the
right one to collect for you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Out Painting



I'll be in St Augustine this Friday, but will try to get over to Paddiwhack on Saturday
morning from 11AM - 1 PM

I've started painting out in front of my gallery in Gainesville; Paddiwhack Gallery
next to Fresh Market on 16th Avenue. I'll be there on Fridays, unless I'm traveling,
from 11 AM-1 PM for the summer. In the fall, I may extend the time. It's a great
way for me to make new friends and show my paintings to others. Come by on a Friday
and chat with me.


Paddiwhack Gallery next to Fresh Market
On Fridays
11 AM- 1PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This Week's Ebay Paintings


Opening Bid:$3.99
Retail Price:55.00
S & H: Free
No Reserve
Type Blondheim Art into the Ebay search window.
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=blondheim+art&_sacat=See-All-Categories
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=xt8v46cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp3907.m38.l1313%26_nkw%3Dblondheim%2Bart%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories&id=preview]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I certainly am enjoying painting in front of


Paddiwhack Gallery each week. Thanks for stopping by to see me last Friday Warren.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

August Special:
Is a "make an offer" auction for this painting. You must offer at least 10.00, and
be willing to pay sales tax and shipping, or pick up at my studio. I will post the
highest offer on the newsletter each week, and the offers will close on August 31
at 9 PM. To make an offer, email me at lindablondheim@gmail.com [mailto:lindablondheim@gmail.com]Write
"Make an Offer" in the subject line.


The winner will be notified on September first.