Evinston Paint Out Winter Park Paint Out

Join me at the Evinston Paint Out April 11-17th, 2011
Evinston Paint Out





Join me at the Winter Park Paint Out
April 23-30th, 2011
Winter Park Paint Out

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

Studio News

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

Please share my newsletters with your friends

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

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!
c

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.

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

New Art Exhibit at Ice House Gallery McIntosh, Florida

See Linda Blondheim's New "North Florida Farms and Ranches" Series at:

Ice House Gallery
"New Beginnings"
Opening December 5, 2008
6 - 10 PM
Ice House Gallery
US 441
McIntosh, Florida
Through December 31, 2008

Collecting Art

Wood Farm
12x16 inches
oil on Birch panel
700.00
wired and read to hang unframed
shipping 50.00 or pick up at my studio
Purchase HERE

Here is some information for art collectors

Collectors of art fall into two basic categories. The first is the collector that to lives with art, buys it until all the walls are filled, and then stops. The second is committed in the experience of collecting, and like the artist, feels compelled to continue with this passionate relationship, regardless of the decorative or functional aspects. Then is the investment collector who buys art as a commodity like stocks or gold.

What many collectors don´t realize, is the process is not over once the piece is hung. It becomes more important to become a responsible collector if you are collecting museum quality artists. There are three basic areas that require attention from all collectors.

Documentation

It is important to document each piece of art in your collections. This could prove to be an invaluable resource for restoration, or damage. The best and most economical form of documentation is images on a CD. It should be properly labeled to include artist´s name, title of work, date of completion, media, and dimensions. Also, an indication of top and front is advisable. Remember,CDs are not archivally stable, so in most cases it is a good idea to follow up with hard copy prints.

Biographical Information

It is also important to keep yourself informed about the artists´activities and save related materials. Write-ups and reviews, as well as exhibition announcements should be kept on file for each artist in your collection. This will increase the value of the work as an artist´s career develops. Minimally, you should keep an up-dated biography or artist resume. Several collectors also ask the artist to write a brief statement about their particular work. This is not always possible, but if you have contact with the artist, it is an additional luxury that only collecting living artists affords.

Provenance

If you have purchased a piece directly form a gallery or the artist, the artwork doesn´t have a history of having been in prior exhibitions or collections. But, occasionally if a specific piece you own has been previously exhibited or owned, this should be recorded accurately, and is referred to as the "provenance."

Keeping accurate records regarding your collection will allow for immediate access to current information for future exhibitions and catalogs. It is necessary backup for insurance and tax purposes. As your collection grows, it is a good idea to get a periodic professional appraisal.

Finally, as a courtesy to the artist, it is always a good idea to contact them when you move or sell the art. Artists need to have access to their work for retrospectives or survey shows.

I make up a packet for my collectors which includes a bio/resume/statement, a COA with archival information and an image of the painting, and put all into a Manila envelope for their files.