A Patron Soiree at Paddiwhack Gallery

Today my paintings were featured at Paddiwhack Gallery, located at 4128 NW 16th BLVD, Gainesville, Florida in the Fresh Market shopping center. We were showing off their brand new space. Chuck had a nice wine and cheese selection for visitors. It is huge and beautiful. The owner Chuck Sapp has arranged the paintings with furniture and decor to give them a home like setting on the walls. The walls are painted a warm soft buttery yellow and the paintings look really wonderful in that setting. The show will be up at least another week, and then the paintings will be mixed with other artists' work. Please go by anytime and tell them I sent you.It is a lovely gallery.

Studio News

Linda Blondheim Art Studio Newsletter
Landscapes of the South
http://www.lindablondheim.com
lindablondheim@gmail.com

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A Soiree with Linda at Paddiwhack Gallery
An Artist's Life Aint Bad
The Right Painting for your Room
How About a Recipe?May 2009



Gator Pond
30x0 inches
oil on Birch panel

I finally found the time to glaze this painting and finish it.



A Soiree with Linda at Paddiwhack Gallery- Let's celebrate the new location


My good friend, Chuck Sapp who owns Paddiwhack Gallery has decided that it might be fun to have a little soiree on a Sunday afternoon. Since I will have many paintings on display in the Gallery, it will be fun to have a little talk about my work. We will have wine and cheese for you and Chuck will be on hand to talk with you about your art interests. He is very knowledgeable about collecting trends, framing and so forth. He is anxious to show off his beautiful new space as well.

Come spend Sunday afternoon, May 17, 2009 with us at
Paddiwack Gallery, next to Fresh Market, 4120 NW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida from 1-4PM




Ginnie Springs
24x36 inches
oil on Birch panel
In Studio

An Artist's Life Aint Bad

I wake up ever day joyful about my job. Artists are lucky. We meet fabulous, interesting people and participate in wonderful adventures year round. A lot of people have the idea that artists are poor and oppressed. Not true!! We are the richest people in the world. We experience more in a year than some folks do in a lifetime. We see and experience what many others overlook. We live vicariously through the friends that we meet and they generously share their lives and experiences with us.

I thank each of you who read this for contributing to the joy I experience each day. Without you, none of it would be possible. Being an artist is a privilege you have given me and I thank you one and all!!!


Cocktail time on the Winter Park Boat Tour.

Thanks again to the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden for honoring me by showing my work. A museum show is no small thing in the art world. I have been fortunate to show my work in several museums in Florida, Georgia and Alabama over the years. It is always special to be recognized in this way.
http://www.polasek.org



Paynes Prairie State Park
20x24 inches
oil on Birch panel


Some Design Tips

From my Art Lover Salons

What is the best sized painting for my room?

This is a question most often asked too late; while you are out shopping at a gallery, an artist's studio or at an art event.

This should be decided first, while you are considering an art purchase. If you have the correct size and format orientation before you shop, you will be less likely to make a significant mistake, saving yourself and the artist heartache and disappointment.

Think about the orientation first. Would a square, horizontal, or vertical orientation work better in the room? If it is a large wall, would a pair of squares make a nice grouping side by side or stacked rather than one painting?

Do you prefer an unframed contemporary style with panels or deep gallery wrap paintings or do you prefer traditional wide framing? If you will be framing the work, allow for an additional 4-6 inches in width for the framing in each direction when planning the size on the wall.

Now that you have made these decisions, it's time to test out your desires before you shop. Go to an office supply store and buy a roll of brown craft paper and a roll of blue painter's tape. Use a measure and pencil to cut out painting sizes (Don't forget to add the size of the frame.) and then tape the paper where you plan to hang your painting. Step back and see how the size and format will look on the wall. Try more than one to make sure you choose the best possibility.

Now you can shop for paintings with confidence and be less of an impulse shopper. Don't forget that I am happy to do commission paintings which will give you the paining in the right size, subject, color scheme for our particular room and style of decor.




http://www.hgtv.com/topics/design-style/index.html

http://www.findanyfloor.com/VirtualRoomDesigner.xhtml

Advice on living room design by Interior designer Bill William

Even if you don't have the Martha Stewart touch, you can still design a living room that will make any interior designer proud. It just takes a little thought and some creativity; moreover, you don't have to dish out a fortune to make your living space look amazing.
The first thing you want to consider when it comes to designing your living room is the amount of space you have available. Thinking about space will guide how you go about arranging your living room furniture; it will also give you a good idea of how much creative license you can take-whether you can add more flair in the form of knick knacks, bibelot, plants, vases and other such flourishes.
Next, think about the activities you do in your living room. Make a list. You don't want to make your living room to formal or too delicate, otherwise no one will dare enter for fear of breaking something or putting something out of its place. Your living room should be an inviting place where you can gather with friends and family.
Next consider the furniture you already have and think about whether you really need all of it. A lot of times, people have simply too much stuff cluttering up their space. It's unnecessary. Usually you can delegate certain pieces of furniture to other parts of the house where they will serve much better. Only keep the essential pieces that you will need for entertaining guests and for relaxing with the family.


A good idea is to draw out a sketch of your room to scale and to cut out furniture replicas; this way you can play around with different design ideas and furniture arrangements without having to actually move around furniture.


When you begin, consider the focal point of your room. Usually, in a living room, this centers around your TV and TV furniture. Your TV furniture consists of your TV stand or cabinet and any accompanying furniture used for storing your DVDs and audio equipment for example. Other typical focal points include windows or even pianos.
Once you've identified your main focal point, work around it. Think about what kind of style and mood you want to achieve. Using your model or imagining the situation in your head, think about different options. Consider the layout and how you can work with it by moving the furniture around to create completely different styles.
When you are arranging the furniture, remember to keep things simple and clean. Avoid clutter.
Avoid blocking any arterials or walkways. If you have a larger living room, you may want to break it down, by splitting into two different sections, for example, one part could be dedicated to entertainment, with all your TV furniture, while the other half could be dedicated to conversation and relaxation.


Remember you do not have to place all large pieces of furniture flush against the wall. Consider different angles and corners for stylized effects. Make sure to place chairs close together, but leave space for traffic.
Try to make your room flow. Use your model and experiment with different arrangements. Remember there is no wrong way to decorate; be creative.



How About a Recipe?


This is an old favorite of mine, given to me by a restauranteur many years ago. He served it with crunchy bits of Italian bread which was toasted and put in a basket with the cheese spread. It was a munchie to have with wine while waiting for the first course. In those days restaurants were much more personalized, giving out free appetizers and wonderful stuff. This was his most popular recipe and I begged him for it for years. It was only after he decided to retire that he agreed to give it to me. I was surprised at the simplicity of the recipe. It was a favorite on my catering menu for years.

Cheese Spread

8 oz cream cheese
1 cold pack spreadable cheddar cheese or port wine cheese (It comes in a tub)
1 package dry Italian Dressing Mix (Good Seasons is excellent)
1/4 cup red wine( decent quality)

Put it all in a mixer and beat thoroughly. Place in a crock, hollowed out vegetable like a squash, or in a serving dish. Serve with tasty crackers or Italian Bread pieces, and good hard Italian salami. Wonderful!!!




Save 20.00 May subscriber Special:
2 5x7 inch paintings from my web site for 90.00
regularly 55.00 each. Unframed
FREE SHIPPING
Email me to make your selections
lindablondheim@gmail.com

Offer Expires: May 31, 2009

Albin Polasek Museum

If you live in the Orlando area, take your mother to the Polasek Museum for Mother's Day and enjoy the paintings.

Albin Polasek Museum

For Collectors

Ginnie Springs II
24x36 inches
oil on Birch Panel
2200.00
shipping 95.00
Purchase HERE


Linda Blondheim Art Studio

If you are a collector think about which medium you want to collect.

What Medium is best for me?

There are several mediums in painting to choose from. What appeals to you is a personal taste issue. Many artists use more than one medium. I use oil, gouache, casein, and acrylic My two main mediums are acrylics and oils.

One of the main decisions goes along with longevity and difficulty of framing. Traditionally, water based mediums must go behind glass and mats as well a pastels.

Though acrylic are water based, the dry hard and are fine in open backed frame with no glass if they are painted on hard panels or stretched canvas. Gouache and Casein can also be painting on hard panel and framed in open backed frames, varnished properly, but if they are on paper, they need to be framed behind glass.

Work on paper must be framed behind glass. They must be hung away from sunlight and not in damp room like bathrooms. They are more fragile than oil or acrylic paintings, and therefore less valuable in the marketplace.

You should not expect to pay as much for works on paper.

Come to Winter Park,

Come see me in Winter Park Florida for the beautiful Winter Park Paint Out. The proceeds from sales will help the museum there and you will enjoy watching several demonstrations about painting on location, equipment and supplies for painting outdoors. I'm looking forward to painting this lovely charming city.

See you there!

Out and About

Wekiva River
30x30 inches
oil on Birch panel
2000.00
shipping 95.00
Purchase on my web site HERE

I've been home in the studio for a week, so I decided to get out for a drive today with my dog Henry (AKA Studio Dog) We headed out to Evinston, one of my favorite places in the world, about 40 miles from my house. We stopped at the Wood/Swink first, Florida's oldest working post office, to chat with Freddie and Sue, my good friends who own and run the post office and store. It is a wonderful place, here everyone meets to catch up on neighborhood news and to pick up fresh produce from Freddie's gardens. Today I bought a huge head of Romaine Lettuce, just beautiful, along with carrots fresh pulled from the garden,red onions and sweet potatoes. There were rows of beautiful purple cabbages, vine ripe tomatoes and fresh beets there as well. My purchases cost me a hole four dollars!! It is the place for fresh produce in this part of the world.

We made our way down the road to Fair Oaks Farm, a paradise for nature lovers and painters. The color was flabbergasting for me after having been away traveling for over a month. When I left in late February, everything on the farm was brown and rust colored. Today on arrival, it was emerald green, just spectacular!!! I do so love the seasonal changes here in North Florida. Henry and I took a lovely walk around the farm, deciding that it was just too windy to paint today. We will go back tomorrow, hopefully in calmer weather. The pond was an amazing turquoise blue and green and had beautiful purple and white Iris blooming profusely at the edge. What a great time to be there. Thanks to my dear friend Rick for allowing me to enjoy this beautiful farm. I feel so privileged to be there whenever I want to go.

I'm going to roast the lovely carrots I bought at the Wood/Swink tonight,leaving them whole, first coating them in a bit of olive oil, fresh thyme,salt,pepper, the onion I bought, diced,a few slices of ham, and a couple of whole potatoes. I'll put them all in the cast iron skillet in the oven to slow roast, and make a pan of corn bread. Then I'll make a simple salad from the lettuce I bought with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. There is nothing better for dinner than that!! Yummy!!

Restaurant Review

Sunday I spent the day out with my two daughters. We had a lovey day of shopping and then took a break for food at a new restaurant,downtown in Gainesville, Florida. It's right on the corner across from the state attorney's office, and there is a parking lot next to it for great parking. It is called the Big Burger

It is a charming little place with walk-up counter service and take out. The dining room is cute with black and white tiled floors, red topped tables and chairs in the old retro style, and very nice urban and musical themed posters on the walls. It is very clean. The food is very good. The burgers are homemade to order, there is a nice variety on the menu, including about 10 burger combinations in various sizes, salads, vegetarian food,hot dogs, various side orders, and a good Philly Cheese steak and Chicken Philly. The chicken wings are excellent, not greasy at all and they come with a nice variety of toppings. They offer a New York style cheesecake for dessert. What else would you need? The prices are extremely reasonable and they also have a special. I met the owner who was charming and gracious. The staff is friendly and the service is very good. A winner for a small limited menu restaurant.

Big Burger
352.380.0001
21 West University Avenue
Gainesville, Florida 32601
Web Site HERE

Hither and Yon

Wekiva River in Spring
24x36 inches
acrylic on Birch panel
wired and ready to hang unframed
2200.00




North Carolina View
12x16 inches
acrylic on archival canvas board
unframed
700.00




Fish Shop at Epcot
Walt Disney World
5x7 inches
acrylic on Masonite panel
unframed
55.00

All paintings can be purchased at my web site HERE


As you can see above, I've been on several adventures during the month of March. It all started on a freezing cold, windy day at Wekiva State Park in Apopka Florida, just north of Orlando and it's sprawling development. This is an oasis tucked into the city. It is peaceful and serene with bears, deer, turkeys, otters, and beautiful water fowl of all kinds to see. There are about 25 painters who move into the youth camp for a week. We live communally in cabins, painting from first light to dusk. We are sponsored by Wekiva Island, a beautiful marina right on the Wekiva River a few blocks from the state park. They provided us with a large pontoon boat for river painting as well as canoes whenever we like. There is a nice bar at the marina, so it is a lovely place to go and watch the sun go down over the river. At the end of the eek our paintings are sold to collectors and part of the revenue goes to maintain and keep the river in pristine condition. Come next year and enjoy this beautiful event, always the first week of March.

My second journey in March took me to the John Campbell Folk School in Western North Carolina, here I teach painting once a year. This is a wonderful place and truly takes you back in time to a gentler age. The school provides and wonderful gentle learning experience for all. You can study everything including blacksmithing, book arts,painting,quilting,rug making,cooking,nature studies,dancing,music and musical instruments,wood working and pottery. There are too many classes to mention here. The meals are superb, all homemade and with many fresh fruits and vegetables. To discover more, visit their web site here

My final journey for the month took me to Epcot, at Walt Disney World for the annual Flower and Garden Festival. This was my 6th year at the park for the artists weekend at the Garden. Naturally it was grand and perfect. The flowers this year were spectacular. The highlight in my opinion were the topiaries. I've never seen them more stunning. I have been told that the Fish and Chips restaurant in the UK is one of the best meals you will find in the park. Each year I say I will eat there, but Disney takes such good care of us, I never need to go to a restaurant. Perhaps next year!!

Restaurant Review

Yesterday I ate at a little cafe' in High Springs Florida called The Mad Hatter. It is a block from Main Street on US 27. It looks like an old house, which it was at one time. It is quirky and cute and combines the cafe with a little gift shop. Very charming. They serve breakfast on Sunday, and lunch Monday- Saturday. The breakfast bar as quite nice, with yogurt, granola,cereal and fruit as well as the more common items. I had the bacon, home fries and egg breakfast and it was cooked to perfection. The next time you are going through High Springs, stop for a bite there.Tell Wendy the owner I sent you.

Landscape Painting at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

Dear Friends,
I will be away for the month of March. Stay tuned in April for new stories here on the blog.



Gator Pond
30x30 inches
oil on Birch Panel
Wired and read to hang unframed
2000.00
shipping 95.00
Purchase Here


Kanapaha Gardens

One of my favorite spots to visit in North Central Florida is Kanapaha Gardens. It is located on state road 24, just a few blocks west of I-75 in Gainesville. It is a adjacent to Kanapaha Prairie which offers a lovely vista, especially in the winter with lush wheat rust and mauve shades in the grasses. The garden has paths which wind through many varieties of plants. It has a huge bamboo garden in the middle, which is my favorite secret garden. I paint there frequently with Studio Dog. He loves to chew on the old pieces of bamboo canes which have fallen in the groves.


Bamboo Garden
Color Fields #37
5x7 inches
acrylic on Masonite Panel
unframed
55.00
Purchase HERE

There are water dishes placed around the garden paths for dogs and it's a real bonus to be able to take your dog with you.

There is a large water garden feature with exotic water plants, a cactus garden, and herb garden. The palm arboretum is especially nice. It features many palms, including several grand specimens of the Washingtonians with their long graceful petticoats.

At the entrance of the gardens you will find a large modern building called the Summer House with a gift shop and meeting rooms. Many events are held at the garden, including memorials, weddings and parties of all kinds. The garden has a very nice gift shop and has wheelchairs available for guests.

I have an annual pass, but you can pay a daily fee to enter.

This is the perfect place for quiet contemplation, outside of our busy world.

Here is the web site with information about the entrance fees and hours of operation.

The Fox Hunt Adventure

Fair Oaks Farm Afternoon
12x16 inches
oil on Birch panel
Wired and ready to hang unframed

700.00
shipping 20.00
Purchase HERE


There are so many fun activities here in north Florida. We are blessed with lovely weather from October to May and so many outdoor activities are available here. Yesterday I went to my first fox hunt with my pal, equine artist Sharon Crute HERE. She is one of the top equine painters in the USA and I am blessed to be her friend. We attended the Misty Morning Hounds Fox Hunt HERE on Saturday. I could not have asked for better weather. It was crisp and cold early and warm later in the day with a cloudless sky.



The Hounds are American Foxhounds. They are beautiful and very well behaved.



This was our charming hostess for the event.



The hounds were at the kill, which turns out to be a bag of dog food.



This is the Huntsman with the hounds. She had a little horn, which directs the other riders through the forest.

We rode along in the truck, which carries the equipment and water for the dogs, and the all important cooler for drinks. At each kill spot, we played bartender, serving Mimosas to the riders in little cups.

After the hunt, the riders all take care of the animals first and then gather for a meal made by the cook staff. The tables were decorated for Mardi Gras. The menu included Bloody Marys, turkey gumbo with rice, baked ham, salad, and bread pudding.

After the meal, our gracious hostess drove us around the farm to take landscape reference photos. I started a 30x30 painting from one of the photos last night.

It was a wonderful and exciting adventure for all.

Mountains Edge Frames

Today I'm happy to feature a company owned by my friends. I'm sure you will love their story. From time to time I like to share information about framers, interior designers, furniture companies and artists I respect and regard highly. Please feel free to share this with friends.

Mountains Edge Frames HERE



Steve Whalen and Deborah Paris are the owners of Mountains Edge Frames.



Deborah in front of her lovely painting.



Steve at work on a new frame design.

Steve is an artist, having started his art career as one of the youngest combat artists ever to serve in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam war. He went on to run a full service advertising firm for many years. Deborah is a professional artist showing her landscape paintings in galleries, shows and events all over the country as well as online. Together they ran a gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico for a time and it was there that they began to help artists and collectors with framing needs.

Now based in northeast Texas, the business has evolved into a custom frame business- all frame moldings are designed, made and finished in their shop, and their frames are shipped to artists and collectors all over the country.

We are an artist owned company providing quality custom frames at affordable prices to artists, collectors and galleries. We specialize in handcrafted closed corner frames and other custom designs. Unlike imported ready made frames and prefinished moldings, our frames are completely custom made. We select the poplar or basswood, make the frames in our shop and then hand finish them. Our molding designs – both traditional and contemporary- are based on classic American frame designs, but are completely unique to us. We design and make all of our moldings in our shop.


Artists often underestimate the power of the proper frame to create an impression on a potential collector and to distinguish their work from other artists. The right frame can and should support the aesthetic of the work itself. More often than not, the frame in which the piece is purchased is the one it remains in. Historically, original frames selected by the artist add long term value and provenance to an artist’s work.


Collectors often contact us about framing for paintings they have purchased unframed or that are framed inappropriately. We help select a frame which not only works best with the style of that piece, but which will also fit in with the rest of the collection. We also assist collectors with ideas about how to make the most of their collections. For example, hanging paintings in groupings or salon style (stacked vertical with just a few inches of space in between) can create visual impact and cohesiveness in a collection.


We work with our customers to create a frame which will enhance each painting. Our customers often email us images so that we can suggest the molding and finish that will create a perfect presentation. We believe the purpose of the frame is to make the art look important- to enhance and compliment. It is an essential finishing touch.

Another Adventure at Fair Oaks Farm

Color Fields #31
Barn at Fair Oaks Farm
5x7 inches
Acrylic on panel
55.00
unframed
free shipping
Purchase HERE

Henry (Studio Dog) and I had wonderful adventure at Fair Oaks Farm today. If you recall, I featured a story about the farm with a note from Rick not long ago. I try to paint there as often as possible because I love it so much. This little painting is the second I have done of the barn.

Today we had a special treat. Rick was home, and took a break to give Henry and I a tour of the farm with Matt, his farm manager. It is a huge farm. I had no idea it is so large. He continues to add to the property slowly with acquisitions of neighboring land. There is so much variety of land on the farm. Many lovely palm hammocks are dotted around the farm along with huge Live Oaks, Magnolias and lovely Bay trees with fragrant leaves. The bay leaves you buy in a jar don't compare.

There are lovely secret gardens and wide open fields, trails along Fish Prairie,ponds and marshes. There are both rust colored fields of winter and emerald green pastures with winter rye. Rick shares this beauty with his artist friends and I feel so grateful to be included. He has golf carts which he lends to us to roam around the farm and that is a huge help with painting gear. Henry has other dogs to run and play with too, and plenty of shade to snooze in.

This is the real Florida, far away from Disney and the Interstate traffic. There is time for quiet and contemplation at these farms in North Florida. An artist can be content here.

Spring Brings Opportunities to Find Art

Brewster Farm
12x16 inches
acrylic on Birch panel
700.00
Shipping 20.00
Purchase HERE

Spring will bring many opportunities to see landscape paintings in Florida. Besides the many sidewalk festivals around the state, plein air festivals are quite popular. Yo will see many artists out painting landscapes in parks, at lakes and rivers and historical areas of towns. We are always happy to have visitors come and watch us paint. I will be participating in the Wekiva River Paint Out at Wekiva River State Park March 1-8, The Epcot Center Flower and Garden Artists in the Garden Paint Out March 26-29, and The Winter Park Invitational Paint Out April 28- May 2.

Please come to my annual Chili Party February 7, this Saturday from 10 AM-6PM. Look on the contact page of my web site to get directions or email me at: lindablondheim@gmail.com Art makes a great Valentine's Day gift.

Visit Art Studios for Insight into an Artist's Work

North Florida Cattle Ranch
20x24 inches
oil on Birch Panel
Wired and ready to hang, unframed
Sides are painted a neutral color.
Purchase HERE

Do you ever wonder about the process of art? How does an artist come up with the interesting paintings he/she produces? Are you curious about his/her life? What it's like to be a professional artist? Would you like to expose your children to a real artist's work, not just old masters paintings in museums?

The easy solution is to arrange a studio visit with an artist you admire. In fact, many artists enjoy studio visits from patrons and those who are simply curious about real artists.

I welcome and encourage friends and patrons to come to my studio as often as possible. It is home for me, really much more than my real home. It's a cozy old building behind my house. I always get excited about visitors. I make a snack and provide a nice, comfortable atmosphere for them with soft music and all the time in the world for a great visit. I consider my patrons to be true friends and I want to hear all about their children, hobbies, and their dreams, just as they want to hear about mine. I always have the newest work available in the studio, and encourage questions about technique and subjects.

A studio visit is really the best way to get to know an artist and to gain insight about the process of their work. It is much more relaxed than an art opening. Most painters prefer a studio visit to a gallery opening because there is no stress.

You are always welcome to come and visit and there is never pressure at all to purchase.

I have a studio party coming up in two weeks. Please come and enjoy the drive. I live North of Gainesville, eight miles from Alachua and 6 miles from Lacrosse. You will find directions from Gainesville on the contact page of my web site. HERE

Linda's Annual Chili Party
February 7, 2009
Saturday
10 AM - 6 PM

Enjoy a bowl of homemade chili and see my paintings from St Augustine Beach, The Color Fields Series and the Florida Farms and Ranches series.

Don't be afraid to contact and ask for a visit with an artist you admire. They will most likely be delighted and flattered that you wish to meet them. If you don't know how to contact them, the best way would be to do a www.google.com search of their name. If they have a web site, and most professional artists do, you will likely find their email on their web site. That is an easy non-intrusive way to contact them.

A Melrose Florida Adventure, Finding Art

Anastasia State Park
St Augustine Beach, Florida
12x16 inches
oil on Birch panel
700.00
shipping 20.00
HERE

Friday I took a day trip with my mother and sister and of course, Studio Dog, my French Bulldog, also named Henry. Studio Dog is his stage name, since he is quite famous, at least in his own mind. :>)

We decided to go east, exploring the little towns of Windsor, Earlton, and Melrose. They are all quite small and Melrose is the most interesting and the largest of the three. It is a sort of lakeside bedroom community for Gainesville and quite artsy in populous and style. Well know architect/author Ron Haase lives there along with several local and regional artists. There is a lovely little local gallery on State Road 26 called the Melrose Bay Gallery, and another called Bellamy Road. They seem to be connected in that they often have themed shows together. I am to have a one woman guest show there in 2010, featuring my Farms and Ranches Series.

There is a fair amount of Victorian architecture there with a couple of nice parks and the lovely lake Santa Fe dotted with old cypress trees and boat houses on stilts. It is a scruffy old town full of character, with some newer upscale homes carefully landscaped. There is a quaint little strip shopping center with a coffee house, some gift shops, bait and tackle shops and two or three restaurants, around town from down home, to pizza, to the elegant and interesting Blue Water Bay Restaurant HERE

By elegant, I don't mean the facility, which is a typical looking seafood restaurant. What I mean by elegant, is the attention to detail, with white linen cloths, real linen napkins, fresh flowers at each table, outstanding bar and restaurant service, and delicious and interesting cuisine. We had shrimp and Grouper with sides of Mango cole slaw and red beans and rice, both absolutely delicious. the fish and shrimp were cooked to perfection, just done. The plate presentation was nice, the dessert key Lime Pie was excellent and tart with real whipped cream, and the coffee excellent.

They have a full bar , separate from the main dining room, which is a nice idea. The bar is dark and cozy, with booths for dining as well. I was also quite impressed with the wait staff who were very knowledgeable about local activities, and the restaurant history. Our waitress was attentive without being annoying and very solicitous to my elderly Mother. I appreciated that so much.

The walls were decorated with art from local artists and that made me happy that they support the artists in their community. There were colorful and interesting stained glass fish in the windows to brighten the restaurant with splashes of color. It was an outstanding dining experience.

Finding Art Outside of the Formal Gallery Scene

Commercial galleries are only one of the ways to find good quality original art. Small local Cooperative galleries display a variety of art from inexpensive amateur paintings to well know regional artists work. Restaurants and cafes often display emerging artists paintings as well as business offices, libraries, and bookshops. All of these alternative spaces have interesting shows and themes.

These days more and more professional artists are using their web sites as Internet galleries to show and sell artwork directly to patrons. In fact, my web site and studio sales far outweigh my traditional brick and mortar gallery sales now. I always offer full satisfaction and shipping all over the USA. Most artists do these days. You can purchase work instantly from your favorite artist no matter where you live. I have an agent who handles all of my International sales as well. Art is shipped around the world ever day now. There are so many more opportunities to buy original art than there ever were in the past.

See and purchase my paintings HERE with a full money back guarantee.

This week's MAKE AN OFFER painting, Sunday Afternoon Rides, What should collectors do with too many paintings?

Lake Alice
8x10 inches
oil on Masonite Panel
Make an Offer

Your offer must be at least 10.00 You must pay Florida sales tax of 6.75% if you live in Florida and 4.00 for shipping. Send your offer to lindablondheim@gmail.com and put OFFER in the message line.

I'm a Sunday afternoon ride fan. When I was a child, my Daddy had a Model T Ford truck. It was the hit of the neighborhood because it was so old and even then it was stylish to have vintage cars. In those days it was customary to have a big full meal on Sunday afternoon with friends and family dropping in to eat. We often had fried chicken, which is still my favorite comfort food, or a baked ham, equally delicious. To this day, if I a worried or sad, I'll get the cast iron skillet out and fry chicken. Nothing is more comforting and I know no true southerner who doesn't love good fried chicken. Try the fried chicken at the Dixie Grill on US 98 in Live Oak Florida. It is incredible.

There were vine ripe beefsteak tomatoes right out of the garden, mashed potatoes and cream gravy, field peas and often homemade cakes and pies for dessert. In those days people really cooked and my love of cooking comes from my grandmother Resch who made Divine chicken perlow and homemade banana pudding in a deep Pyrex dish. That was the ultimate.

After stuffing ourselves and being turned loose outside to play and get out of the adults' hair, Daddy would load us in the truck for a Sunday drive. What I loved the most about it is the randomness and lack of purpose other than passing the time. People used to just have fun. We are so work oriented now from cradle to grave, that I wonder what happened?

We rode for miles on dusty roads in the back of that old pick up, going about 40 miles an hour. Daddy would yell out songs to us and we would sing along together, bouncing along, pretending that we were on a hay ride.

Perhaps it's time to bring back the Sunday afternoon drive, now that gas has gone down again.

Making Room for Art

Have you collected all the art you have room for but want to keep collecting? You are an artist's dream!! Here are some ways to enjoy more art.

Start a lending library among family and friends. lend out paintings for 6 months or a year at a time. Keep track of the paintings by using a data base. Put the dates of the loan and when they are expected to return with all contact information. You will be sharing your collection with many who cannot afford original art.

Rotate your art by storing half your collection for a year at a time. Each time you rotate, it will be a breath of freshness to see the beloved pieces again. You will have a new sense of pride in them.

Hang the work salon style. This is quite fashionable and fun for visitors. It involves hanging works floor to ceiling, frame to frame. I have the work in my office hung this way and it is fascinating to visitors. I never fail to get a Wow! reaction to this hanging style.

Hang work at your business office. Others will enjoy it and you can rotate the paintings every six months.

Enjoy paintings and then give them to friends for special gifts. Buy the painting, enjoy it for awhile and then give it to someone you care for. You will be able to visit the painting whenever you wish to, but spread the joy of ownership to to others, while creating more space for new art.

See my paintings HERE

New Make an Offer, Painting at Fair Oaks Farm, Patrons helping Artists

The winner of the 50.00 gift certificate for December is MARY NEAT Mary, email me at: lindablondheim@gmail.com



This Weeks Make and Offer painting.
Indian Pass Palms
8x10 inches
oil on Masonite Panel
unframed

Your offer must be at least 10.00 with 4.00 shipping or pick up at my studio. If you are a Florida resident add.0625% sales tax. Make offers to me at: lindablondheim@gmail.com Put OFFER in the message line.

Fair Oaks Farm

This month during the holidays I have been doing a lot of painting outside. The weather has been marvelous and I enjoy painting with my companion Henry(Studio Dog), my French bulldog. We load up the car with my painting gear and head out several days a week.

One of my favorite places to paint is Fair Oaks Farm in Evinston Florida. Evinston is the home of the Wood Swink Country Store and Florida's oldest post office. You will find my small paintings at the Wood Swink, depicting the farms and ranches in that area.

Fair Oaks Farm is just a mile or two from the Post Office. It is owned by a very kind and generous friend to painters, Rick Knellinger. Rick is an attorney by trade, but his passion is for his farm and the art that his friends produce. A few of us are lucky to have all the time we want to paint on this lovely farm. It is a privilege I don't take lightly.


Live Oak at Fair Oaks Farm
8x10 inches
Oil on Masonite Panel




Palm Hammock at Fair Oaks Farm
8x10 inches
oil on Masonite Panel


The farm is graced with ancient Live Oaks, Magnolias and tall graceful Palms. The lawn is emerald green with interesting patterns and shapes or dark green made by the cast shadows of old trees. This formal lawn is surrounded by fields dotted with palms, an orchard with lemon, grapefruit,tangerine and orange trees a lovely pond and bee hives. A lovely old Cracker barn sits behind the old house. The farm is home to Sand Hill Cranes and many other birds who take up residence in the winter.


Fair Oaks Barn
12x16 inches
oil on Raymar panel



The farm is lovingly cared for and treasured by it's owner and all who visit. I always meet interesting people there, and the ever charming Rick never fails to extend the most gracious hospitality.

Rick shared this wonderful story with me about the farm. In his words:

" Fair Oaks was originally part of a very large plantation.
The mansion burned around 1900. The present home was the guest house. The
stories that have come down to me are few. During the Civil War, soldiers
on leave were constrained by chaperones, but were wily enough to take the
objects of their affection for a ride in a tiny row boat on Clearwater Lake.
Room only for two! They threw balls to raise money for the Confederacy.
The lake is now a seasonal pond due to dropping water levels. The
cistern is all that is left of the mansion. It is 18 feet deep and about 9
feet in diameter. I would love to find someone to restore it.
For 35 years, Faye and Guy Miles, she a concert pianist and he a
literature professor, "camped out" here. My friends and I would come out to
dine and read Shakespeare on the balcony just before the gloaming, then
meander downstairs to a piano concert and much laughter where no one was
spared.
Puck was a regular visitor here too. Some of Faye's smallest
visitors saw him hiding in the bushes and ran to her to report it. In the
morning she would point out to the children the fairy rings in the fields
where they had danced in the starlight, and the dew kerchiefs they
carelessly left behind. Faye is the Muse that continues to guide each day
here. She would "let nothing be ordinary", as she held the fresh head of
lettuce, pulled it apart with her hands, and deeply inhaled its freshness.
She "joined the cosmos", as she promised to do, a few years ago. Every
person was welcome to her hospitality. For her 85th birthday, we surprised
her with a concert in the back yard, with renowned violinist Elwyn Adams.
He arrived in his huge 1974 Cadillac convertible with a broad straw hat, and
renewed his friendship with Faye from his first concert in Gainesville.
Faye was lucky to tip the scale at 100
pounds....very lucky. She wore torn jeans and formal dress with equal
panache. Once she was playing in a concert, where someone had failed to
lock the wheels on the Steinway. The longer she played the further the
piano slipped away from her hands and the lower her organdy dress slipped
from her breast. She relates that she had never played the piece with such
speed and authority managing to keep the audience in rapt suspense as to
which performance would finish first."


Being a painter gives me the opportunity to meet and visit many wonderful places in the world. It is a special life for which I am most grateful.

Most artists live a fairly minimal lifestyle, particularly if they are single. We are not wealthy financially, but we have a privileged life thanks to many patrons like Rick who share their lands and provide assistance. There are many ways to enhance an artist's career and assist them. Providing a space to paint, lodging at beautiful locations, equipment, referrals, commitments to financial support, and good business advice are just a few. Sometimes a simple invitation for coffee or lunch will boost an artist's feelings. If you admire and respect an artist, think about ways you might help them with their career.

See my paintings HERE

This Week's Make an Offer painting,An Ice Cream Adventure, Art Collecting Decisions for gifts

Winter Marsh
11x14 inches
oil on panel

This Week's Make an Offer Painting

The offer must be at least 10.00, with .0625% sales tax for Florida residents. Shipping is 9.00 via USPS Priority Mail, or pick up at my studio to save shipping charges. Make offers at lindablondheim@gmail.com Put OFFER in the subject line. This painting will be available for offer until 6 PM 12/21/08.

This week I stumbled upon a terrific little Ice Cream shop in Gainesville, Florida. It is tucked away in a little strip shopping center at 3437 West University Avenue. There is not much ambiance to work with in this store front, but the owner, Michael Manfredi, makes every effort to make you feel important and welcome. I had my French Bulldog Henry with me, so we sat outside, waiting for others to bring out the ice cream treat, a lovely hot fudge sundae. The ice cream was rich and smooth but not so rich to be overwhelming. The fudge was the real thing, thick and creamy, just right. The portion was generous and yes, I ate the whole thing, I'm ashamed to admit.

Mr Manfredi came outside to meet us and to admire Henry. He has a Boston Terrier and wanted to meet Henry up close. He brought Henry two dog biscuits, which was a kind gesture. He serves a large variety of ice cream flavors, made right in the shop. The waffle cones are crisp and tasty. He has art on the walls, a nice touch of sophistication for such a small,unpretentious location. He has tables and chairs out on the patio for alfresco dining. It is well worth the trouble to find him. Telephone: 352.378.0532 This shop is a bit old fashioned, which appeals to me, no slick marketing or toney style, just excellent, homemade ice cream from someone who cares about his customers.

Collecting for Others

I have been collecting art for my daughters for years. Each year I choose a new painting for each of them as a gift, either for birthday or Christmas. Several of my clients purchase paintings from me to give as gifts each year. When you think about it, there is absolutely no gift which can be more unique or valuable than original paintings or sculpture. They are one of a kind and will last for generations.

When purchasing for others, think about their home environment. Modern,traditional,cottage style? What about the furnishings and wall colors? Their taste? Landscapes,florals and still life paintings are sure to appeal to many people. If you don't know, choose something that is fairly neutral. Bright splashy paintings may not appeal to everyone.

If you are not sure what to do, pick an artist you think they will like and purchase a studio gift certificate from the artist. I am always happy to provide gift certificates for my studio.

Plan an outing with the person you are giving the art to. Have lunch together and a studio visit to choose the painting the person will enjoy. I love to have studio visits. I always try to make it an occasion, with candles, music and a snack and beverage for visitors. What artist doesn't want to show off their latest paintings? It will be a special day for you and the recipient together.

Florida Orange Shop, Collecting by Subject

The Orange Shop
14x18 inches
oil on Masonite Panel
Unframed
900.00
See my paintings HERE


One of my favorite old time places to visit is the Florida Orange Shop in Citra, Florida.

The Orange Shop
PO Box 125
Citra, Florida 32113-0125
Phone: 1-800-672-6439
Fax: 1-800-345-6888
info@floridaorangeshop.com

This is a wonderful place. It has all the great tourist stuff that you found years ago all over the state. it is completely authentic with the original building in wonderful condition. It is owned by Pete and Cindy Spyke. The shop has fresh squeezed orange and grapefruit juice for sale each day and that alone is worth going for! I try to go over at least twice a year. I subscribe to their newsletter. Their fruit is fantastic and always fresh. You will be treated to a warm welcome when you visit this part of the living history of North Florida.

Collecting by Subject

It's really fun to build an art collection around a particular subject instead of a more general collection like still life, portraits or landscapes. If you have a fondness for Orchids, or vintage Mustang Convertibles, or Palm Trees, it's a great way to collect a number of different styles and artists. You will still retain harmony and consistency of subject while creating a very diverse collection. It will generate much interest and attention from guests who visit your home or office.

Another way to do a subject collection is to purchase a series of paintings by one artist who delves deeply into a subject, exploring it with many paintings over time. This is the kind of collection which shows well in groupings through our home or in large facilities like corporate buildings or offices.



This week's Make an Offer painting. Current High Offer: 55.00 email lindablondheim@gmail to make offer. Put OFFER in the subject line.

Florida's Cattle Ranches, I'm a Florida Cracker

Produce at the Wood Swink Store
8x10 inches
oil on panel
"MAKE AN OFFER"

This week's Make an Offer painting was done during the Heart of Florida Paint out earlier this year. It was cold outside so a group of us set up our easels in the store to paint Freddie's produce. It was a wonderful experience for all of us.

Offers for the painting must be at least 10.00 and you must pay a 4.00 shipping fee and .0625% Florida sales tax if you are a Florida resident. Send offers to lindablondheim@gmail.com an put OFFER in the subject line.

Current High Offer on the above painting is $55.00.




Here is my latest Florida Farms and Ranches painting.

Palms at Florida Cattle Ranch
20x24 inches
oil on Birch Panel
Wired and ready to hang, unframed.
1600.00
shipping 95.00 or pick up at my studio.
Purchase HERE

Many people think that cattle ranches always look like Montana or Colorado. Here in Florida, we have a variety of flora and fauna on our ranches. North central Florida has stately old Live Oaks with Spanish Moss dripping off them and rolling hills. In south Florida, there are vast cattle ranches with tall graceful exotic palms and tall grasses instead. In North West Florida there are majestic old pines in the landscape. All of these ranches are beautiful and exciting to me and I'd love to be able to paint them all. If you own a cattle ranch or horse farm in Florida, or know of one that the owners would allow me to paint and photograph, please email me at: lindablondheim@gmail.com

I'm a real Florida Cracker. There aren't so many of us left these days. I was born in Gainesville and grew up there. My Mother's people are from the White Springs and Lake City area. In fact, my ancestors came to Lake City in a covered wagon, long ago. They established a little community called Falling Creek and built a church there, which is still used once a month today. An itinerant Pastor comes for the service. The graveyard has the graves of Confederate soldiers who were killed in the battle of Olusti near Lake City. They used to have reenactments of the battle and I imagine they still do. The family still owns the old home, which was a Cracker house with a dog trot between the kitchen and the rest of the house.

My mother was born in White Springs Florida, a very interesting old town adjacent to the Stephen Foster State Park on the Suwanee River. Her grandparents owned a store and a boarding house. I have painted in that park many times and at one time did demonstrations there.

It is well worth the drive to visit the beautiful park and see the old town, an artist community of sorts.

Florida Keys and Islands,Deciding on the right sized painting for your home,

Wood Farm
Evinston, Florida
12x16 inches
acrylic on birch panel
Wired and ready to hang unframed
700.00
shipping 20.00
You can purchase this painting HERE


I've started a new series about Florida's Keys and Islands. Everyone thinks of the Florida Keys south of Miami, but I mean the Keys from Tampa north. Most visitors have no idea that these beautiful places exist in North Florida. I have painted and photographed many of them over the years, so I think it is time for me to pay homage to them with this series.

At this time, I am doing research on the islands I have in mind, including Horseshoe Key,Shired Island, Honeymoon Island,Hontoon Island,Chicken Island Pine Island and several others. When I start a new series, I like to learn something about the history and legends of the places I paint. If you know of a Key or Island you would like to have me explore and paint, please comment about it and I'll check it out.

I have begun to paint 5x7 studies in acrylic of some of the compositions. These small paintings are warm ups for larger works. They give me feel for the location and allow me to refine the palette and composition for a larger painting later.

Stay tuned for more about this lovely project. I'm looking forward to it.

Sizing your painting

You visit my studio but can't decide on the size you need for a painting. Before you come, buy a roll of brown craft paper and some painter's tape. Measure and cut out several templates of the sizes you may be interested in out of the craft paper. Be sure to add about 4 to 6 inches to the paper in both directions to include framing. Tape them up on the wall, trying several sizes, and also two or three smaller templates hung as a grouping.

Stand back after you tape up each one and this will help you decide what size painting to look for or whether two or three smaller hung together would work just as well. This will make your decision in the studio or on the web site so much easier. You will know exactly what you need in size and orientation, whether it be vertical or horizontal. I'm always happy to do custom sized commissions and colors to match your decor.



This Week's MAKE AN OFFER painting. Type OFFER in the subject line and email me at:
lindablondheim@gmail.com

A great film about Florida,Collecting Art

Rawlings Home
24x24 inches
oil on canvas
SOLD

I love north Central Florida and was born and raised here. Back in the late 1980's I lived in the little town of Micanopy. I ran a small restaurant there for a year or two. At the time, the film called Cross Creek was filmed in the area. It is one of the great films about old Florida, starring Mary Steenburgen,Peter Cayote, and Rip Torn. I met them all, and made the pecan pie in the movie. It was a wonderful experience to watch them film segments in Micanopy. I consider it to be a real art film, with fantastic scenery of Florida, and a beautiful sound track. It is one of Rip Torn's finest performances. If you love Florida as I do, buy the DVD or rent it. You won't be disappointed.

Collecting Art

Getting your basic art education may sound like all work and no play, but quite the contrary. If you like art, learning about it by going places and looking at it, reading about it, and meeting interesting artists in the process is pure pleasure. And the fringe benefits are that the more you do, the better informed you get, and the more discriminating you become as a buyer. Visiting an artist's studio is a wonderful way to learn more about art.

Don't forget to enter the contest here on the blog!
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This Week's Make an Offer Painting

Send offer to lindablondheim@gmail.com Put OFFER in the message line.

Horseshoe Key, Choosing Quality Art

Evening at Seahorse Key
Cedar key Florida
12x16inches
acrylic on birch panel
wired and ready to hang unframed
700.00
shipping 20.00
Purchase HERE

My research tells me there are over 600 Cotton Mouth Moccasins living on Seahorse Key. I will need to be very careful on the island if I go there to paint and photograph. The photo for this painting was taken from the boat on my recent tour.

Don't forget to enter the contest on this blog to win a 50.00 gift certificate toward art on my web site. See the contest widget at the top of this blog. http://linda-blondheim.blogspot.com


Choosing Quality Art

Here are some guidelines and questions to use for measuring the quality of the artwork you are think you would like to buy.

Is it obviously a creation of a skilled craftsman or artisan?

Is the finish and the medium likely to last more than a few years?

Has the artist used high quality paints and an archival support for the painting?

Does the design have an effect on your emotions?

Most importantly, do you like it?

If you want to brighten your world and enhance your environment, stick with well designed, quality artwork.

I will get in trouble here with some friends because I am going to recommend that you purchase original art rather than reproductions.

The commonly used word "print", is actually often mis-used. Real Prints are hand pulled original art, which is made from wood blocks, lithograph stones or metal plates, done by hand one at a time on archival, high quality, rag papers. Each original print is slightly different because of the pressure on the press, or hand pressed paper.

Reproductions are facsimiles of original paintings, sometimes called Giclees ( pronounced Gee-clay), color copies, or offset prints. They are machine made reproductions and not original art.

I’d rather save up for the real thing. There is nothing like an original painting, drawing or print. To know that the artist put paint to canvas, using their emotion and love to craft a fine work of art is important in this world where fine craftsmanship is lacking in most things.

Affordable, Original Art. That's my motto!!





This weeks "Make an Offer" painting. Send offer to lindablondheim@gmail.com Type OFFER in the subject line.

This Week's Make an Offer Painting, Art Collecting Tips

This Weeks "MAKE AN OFFER" painting.
Palms at Rawlings Estate
8x10 inches
acrylic on panel
Unframed

You must make an offer of at least 10.00 and pay shipping of 9.00 or pick up at my studio. Send offers to lindablondheim@gmail.com Sales tax of .0625 for Florida residents. Put Offer in the message line.

Art Collecting Tips

Buy art because you like it and because it moves you, and because it enhances your life.

Visit as many art galleries as you can, gallery staff can be helpful guides in your art education.

Get on gallery mailing lists so you'll be invited to openings and special events.

Visit and join your local Art Museums and Non Profit Art centers.Curators sometimes give lectures on collecting art.

If you know art collectors talk them and find out what they know and what they've learned about collecting.

Read art and art history books or books on collecting art.

Subscribe to a few art magazines.

Read reviews by local and national art critics, but keep in mind that reviews usually just reflect one persons opinion.

Once you've educated yourself and have fallen in love with a work of art, buy it, take it home and enjoy it. Don't worry about whether it goes with the furniture, Excellent framing can bridge that gap. Don't wonder about investment value. Just love it with all your heart.

My Cedar Key Florida Adventure

Palm Grove
20x24 inches
oil on Birch Panel


Yesterday, I took my mother,sister, and Studio Dog (Henry, the French Bulldog)on a boat tour of Cedar Key Islands. It was splendid in every way. In fact, I plan to go back and do it again by myself, to take photos of the Islands for paintings. I'm also planning to take the Suwanee River boat tour and the Birding Tour.

We placed ourselves in the very capable hands of Captain Doug. He was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the area, as well as the birds, flora and Fauna of the islands surrounding Cedar Key. He knew just where to go to see all of the interesting birds, like the large white Pelicans, which I have never seen in all my years of painting on the Florida coast. They were large magnificent birds, snow white with black feathers under their wings. One of my favorite islands was Horseshoe Key, now leased by the University of Florida's Marine Science lab. The lighthouse there is used as a dorm for students and researchers. There are many beautiful palms growing wild on the islands and the beaches are white sand. Happily, all of these outer islands are owned by the national and state land preservation agencies, so they cannot be developed. That makes me very happy indeed.

We were able to watch the Dolphins and they played surfing games in the wake of our boat. We saw a huge Bald Eagle nest and two Eagles at another island. We even got off the boat at one Island to explore the trails.

Captain Doug was in every way accommodating to us, allowing me to bring my dog and helping my Mother on and off the boat with great care. Mrs Captain was warm and personable and we met their daughter who is also a boat captain. The whole family was delightful.

Here is some information for you about the tours:

Captain Doug invites you to experience the pristine waters surrounding the Cedar Keys and Lower Suwanee National Wildlife Refuge aboard Cedar Key's finest touring vessels.

We offer Island Tours, Suwanee River Tours, Coastal Back Country Tours,Birding Island Drop offs, Group Charters, Weddings and Memorials.

Telephone reservations: 352.543.9523 or 352.949.1996
Web Site: www.tidewatertours.com
email: captaindoug@tidewatertours.com

We had a wonderful dockside meal at the Seabreeze Restaurant. The waitress was personable, happy and friendly. She gave us excellent service and the food was fresh seafood and fantastic.

It was a wonderful adventure and I look forward to the next trip with Captain Doug. I hope to get started on some paintings soon from Cedar key.


This week's Make an Offer Painting. Make an offer at lindablondheim@gmail.com. Current high offer is 50.00

A boat Trip, My painting Process for Collectors

I'm off this Friday for a new adventure. I'm taking my sister, my 85 year old mother and Henry(AKA Studio Dog), on a boat tour in Cedar Key with Captain Doug. HERE I have wanted to do this tour for a long time and decided, Why Not? I plan to take many photographs along the route which I will use to make paintings later in my studio. I have long loved the wild places in the South and spend much time at rivers and lakes, photographing and doing small studies of scenes for later use. I will be sure to post about this adventure after the event and share some of the photos with you. If you are traveling in the area, be sure to take the boat tour.

Perhaps you will enjoy an explanation of my process in this. I use photos a lot in the studio for larger paintings. I feel that my best paintings are done in the studio where I can take the time to craft them carefully, stopping along the way in my process for drying periods and thinking periods between sessions.

I do smaller paintings on location to use as studies for possible compositions later in studio. These pochades (field studies) are road maps if you will, for larger works done more carefully in studio. These studies are almost always done alla prima, which means all at once, wet on wet with no drying period. They are usually quite simple in composition dealing with basic values and color. They give me the information I need to translate the scene into a larger work later. Alla prima is also done in the studio with the same approach in mind to use these small paintings as studies for larger works or to experiment with painting techniques and thematic subjects. Contrary to popular misconceptions, alla prima and plein air are not interchangeable. Alla prima means painting from start to finish in one session. Plein Air means painting out in the open air, or outside rather than in a studio.

Plein air painting may be done in multiple sessions with drying periods in between, though most painters do smaller works alla prima on location.

Sometimes, I will start larger paintings on location, doing the basic block in, color, shadows and composition. I then take these paintings back to the studio, where I take my time to complete them. All of these methods of painting produce interesting work.

As you consider paintings for your collection, you will need to think about which method is most pleasing to you. Studio work is more refined than alla prima plein air work. Alla prima work tends to be more simplistic in composition and design and looser in brushwork. It has a more abstract feel to it than studio work though they may both represent the same subject.



This Week's Make an Offer painting.
Curent Highest offer 50.00

Snd your offer to lindablondheim@gmail.com Put Offer in the message line.