New Plans

Linda's Web Page

New Plans

I've been doing some thinking about changes in my schedule for 2020. I have a small retail studio inside Paddiwhack Gallery in Gainesville. I sell a variety of paintings there but there is not as much need for me to be there each week. The store handles the sales for me through their register and staff. I have two favorite old chairs there and a couple of my painted tables. I decided to move them to my Country Studio, freeing up space for more store furniture for Chuck, and to come into Paddiwhack one Saturday each month. I will still show my paintings in my tiny space there as always.

New Plans

This gives me more time in my main Country Studio to work at painting and to host visitors for tea parties. Visitors often like to come on Saturday, so this increases their opportunity to visit when convenient for them. I am getting more frequent requests for tea parties and this will help me out quite a bit and also free up time for some traveling to residencies. It also gives me more kitchen time to dream up interesting foods to serve at the tea parties.

New Plans

I never make changes in my schedule without considerable forethought and time to mull over pros and cons. I needed to make some compromises in order to fit in everything I need to do. I will keep my collectors informed about the Saturdays I am in the Paddiwhack studio, so thy can come in to visit, but also make more time for my visitors at my Country Studio.  I think this is a good plan.

Artists have a wonderful life....

2020

Linda's Web Page

2020

I'm getting excited about my new study for 2020. I am going to be doing a series of small studies of single objects, simple still life compositions. Lots of fruits, veggies, tea cups and pots, and anything else I find interesting. I bought a few boxes of 8x10 panels that are cradled and surfaced white, ready to paint. I will paint the edges and wire them so they can hang unframed. Since they will begin as studies, the price will be low, 210.00 until I get better at this. They will go in my Hallway Gallery at the Country Studio.

I rigged up a light box, a two sided cardboard box with tall sides to place objects in to paint. I attached a light on the top to cast shadows on the objects. I set it up on a low table next to my easel.

I have little experience with still life, having mostly been a landscape painter for most of my career. It is exciting and apprehensive at the same time to study something unfamiliar. I feel a great sense of anticipation for this project as I do each year.

I believe these study projects each year allow me a sense of adventure as a painter. They challenge me to improve and expand my skill level. I am blind in my right eye, so I have a bit of disadvantage with perspective, but I strive to overcome the small handicap. I have been told that this makes my painting style unique. Who knows? All to the good.

Artists have a wonderful life.....

Oldest Friends

Linda's Web Page

One of my oldest friends passed earlier this month. I am getting to the age now where friends and acquaintances are beginning to pass. She was a few years older than I. We started our friendship in art school a hundred years or so ago. We were in the BFA program. She was one of the funniest, sarcastic people I ever knew. We brought out the best (or worst) in each other. We would stay up in the art department late into the night, bringing coolers full of beer and eats with us. We launched many funny schemes together during those days as we practiced painting. 

There was a very annoying pushy girl in our program that we could barely tolerate. We used to pull tricks on her to annoy her. It was great fun. This girl was part of a weird "I found it" sect. She had a bumper sticker on her car that said "I Found It" We went to the dog track and bought a bumper sticker that had at the Tampa Dog Track as part of the wording. We added that to her bumper, so it said, "I found it at the Tampa Dog Track". She didn't notice it for weeks!!

We remained friends for life, though not often seeing each other. She had a little tiny dog named Rat. When my daughters were young, we would shop for costumes and hats for Rat. She would photograph Rat in all of his costumes for us and send them for the girls.

In our time together, we went through several life times, changing addresses, cities and so forth, but we remained friends. She lived in a wonderful vintage home in St Petersburg, FL. It was gorgeous. It had a cool neighborhood alley behind it and we used to take walks there. I've always loved alleys and odd portals.

We would walk down to the bay front park in ST Pete and visit with all her neighborhood friends, swapping stories together. I'm happy to say that was the time of a wonderful life for her. In later years she was quite ill. I'm glad to know she suffers no more. I will miss her.

Baked Citrus

Linda’s Web Page

Today I worked on a fun little project in the kitchen. I usually take Sundays to do other than painting projects, though I did manage to get a miniature painting done.  I recently saw on P Allen Smith’s newsletter, a blog about baking slices of citrus fruit to use for decoration. The blog advised to make chains of the fruit with twine to hang, but I decided to use embroidery thread to decorate them and put them in a bowl to sit on my tea table in the studio. I also added real cinnamon to mine. They smell wonderful. 

I used the rest of the fruit on my citrus trees, red grapefruit and Persian limes. I didn’t have any oranges left. I put parchment paper on a half sheet pan. I sliced the fruit thinly. I placed them flat on the parchment, no overlapping fruit. I used a clean dry towel to Pat the fruit as dry as possible. I baked the fruit at 250 , turning them a few times, about 2 and a half hours. The limes got more done than the larger fruit. I would be better next time to use fruit the same size.  I sprinkled cinnamon on them and tossed them. Then I did the sewing to add a bit of color.

I also made some goodies for upcoming tea parties. I made cheese stuffed salami and corned beef pate to spread on rye crackers with a pickle slice. My old chef day come in handy. I often use my catering recipes for tea parties.  I have a tea party guest tomorrow and another tea party group on January fourth, so I’d better get busy putting away supplies and new canvases tomorrow. If the weather holds, I’ll paint on my trail too!  

I am making a bit of progress on the new web site platform. I just have to figure out how to take stripe and PayPal for sales. I am still over my head, but at least I have my site back online. https://www.lindablondheim.com

Artists have a wonderful life...

Artists Gift Giving

Linda’s Web Page

Gift giving for artists

I’ve been thinking about artists and their loyal followers. Gifts for artists are pretty simple. We have learned to live low on the food chain, especially those of us who are single, without partners. We count heavily on those good souls who support us with loyalty and kindness. Here is a list of gifts for artists:

Moral support- This is far more important than you might realize. Kind words of encouragement go far.

Purchase Art- This is so important for us. No explanation needed.

Purchase art as gifts- So many people buy trinkets or useless gifts, searching for something without thought of gifting art. Each year I buy two pieces of original art for  my daughters for Christmas. This year I bought a piece for a friend as well. 

Share your favorite artist’s work with others.- Add the artist’s email contact and web site when you share. Word of mouth is still the best.

Write a testimonial- A short paragraph about your joy in the artist’s work and knowing them personally is so helpful. Artists are proud of their work and a supportive testimonial builds trust in the artist for new collectors.

Gift the artist - with a coffee break, breakfast or lunch out. 

Gift the artist- With equipment or art supplies. Framing and art supplies have become very expensive. This is a welcome gift to any artist. 

Plan a studio visit and bring friends- Most artists welcome a chance to show off their studio to friends and collectors.

Host a party for an artist- This is a delightful way to introduce an artist to new friends and potential collectors. It is like having an old fashioned Tupperware party, but with art instead.

Talk up your favorite artist to gallery owners- When you visit art galleries, ask if your favorite artists are represented? Tell the staff or owner about the artist. 

Join the artist’s discount collector’s club. You will save on your art purchases.

There are many subtle ways to support your favorite artists. Many of them cost you nothing. Rest assured that your artist friends are truly grateful for your friendship and support.

Artists have a wonderful life.......

Computer Madness

Linda's Bird Art

I've bitten off more than I can chew this week. After many years of having a word press web site and so many errors and mistakes, I decided to move my site to anew platform at Squarespace. I like the sleek simple look of the platform, but I have no idea of what I am doing with it. I thought it would simplify my efforts, but I am lost.

I admire the skills of webmasters, and tech savvy artists who can put thing together in a snap. I am the kind of tech girl who learns just what I must know and nothing else. Frankly, I have no interest in computers, other than the necessity of using them. I'd rather be painting in the studio or in the woods, or giving tea parties to friends and collectors. 

In our time, that is naive to say the least. I must teach myself this new platform to make it easy for my collectors to view my work and to purchase it online. I am gritting my teeth and pushing forward with this, kicking and screaming all the way. 

Artists who refuse to learn marketing skills, computer skills, social media skills, presentation skills, and business practices are foolish. It is not about liking to do these things. No artist really likes having to be away from their painting time. Many artists don't realize that they are business people, like it or not. 

My web site is down for a little while, while I make this transition to a new platform. www.lindablondheim.com will survive and thrive again with buttons that actually work. I promise.

Life is wonderful for artists ....

Gratitude

Linda's Web Page

This is the time of year to take stock in our career and personal lives. I'm just about the luckiest person I know. I am well aware of my good fortune, mostly because of the loyal friends and family I am lucky to have. I have a lovely parcel of land which is a family heritage. My old house trailer is solid for the most part, and my sister and I continue to make small and steady improvements on it.

My studio is the best I could hope for and it belonged to my beloved Daddy as his workshop before I got it. I feel him with me each morning as I enter with gratitude. 

Most of my trail is carved through the land, though I would enjoy another extension. I love living in the woods and enjoying the wild creatures who share it with me. 

I continue to study and grow as a painter, thanks to the friends who support me with their purchases. They help me with referrals too, when their rooms get full of art, and by giving my paintings as gifts. My collectors are golden and I never can thank them enough for their priceless support. 

All in, I have a wonderful life and I'm glad it was tough before this time, so that I understand how precious this stage is for me. If I had been pampered, I would not have understood how lucky I am now and how grateful I am.

Life is wonderful for artists.....

Linda's Tea Room

Linda's Web Page

I'm having a lot of fun working on some Tea themed notecards for my tea room at my Country Studio. I'm also making place card tags to put out for visitors, a sweet little souvenir to take home after a visit. The tags are wood, shaped like a luggage tag. They come with a piece of twine. I make a tea bag image on the front, and I bought a stamp for the back that welcomes them to my Country studio. I have a couple of button jars from my Mamma and Grandma that I have had forever. I thread the twine with an old button. 

I never imagined how much fun I would have with my tea room. I started with one pot and a bunch of old cups and saucers from my Mamma's china. I served tea in the big room of my studio. Once I got the idea for a tea room, it just took off with endless ideas. I discovered that there are many tea art shops around the country and more interest in tea than I realized. Come on out for tea at my Country Studio. No charge, just fun!

Life is wonderful for artists....

Thanksgiving WEEK

Linda's Web Page

The big Thanksgiving week is over, gone in a flash. Last night I got a night's sleep and today I will clean the floors. Yesterday I saw wonderful friends at Paddiwhack Gallery and I'm grateful for their loyal support and gifts. 

I got to thinking about the dynamic of family get togethers. We are all so different in our financial positions, levels of education, faith and lifestyle choices, yet we are family and loyal to each other. If it were a permanent situation it would soon become difficult to remain harmonic, but a now and then get together works reasonably well and we love each other unconditionally.

I'm glad that the generation below mine has done a better job than my sisters and I have done in staying closer to their cousins and extended family. They make the effort to see each other and allow their children time together when possible. I have first cousins that I've not seen in forty years, sadly.

It makes me think that our society could accomplish more harmony if we would be open to differences in our relationships. I am a liberal woman, yet I have many dear friends who are conservative and even ultra conservative. It doesn't seem to bother us. We find commonalities in our love of our children, grand children, farming and ranching, our hobbies and our pets. We have learned to simply avoid issues that result in anger and polarization. We share a love in our communities and our nation.

I am hopeful that the generations behind us will do a better job than we have.

Life is wonderful for artists......

Trail 3 A

Linda's Web Page

I had a tree down across the A portion of trail three for a few weeks. I've been taking my hand saw down to the tree for a little while each day, sawing across the limbs that are blocking the trail. It has been hard labor as you can imagine, but I got enough cut off to be able to walk the trail again. This morning at 7 AM I was out the door on my way. 

It was glorious this morning, about 50 degrees. Mr Sun was just below the tree line so the light was good but not yet blinding in the east. I don't usually walk the trail on Saturday and Sunday, so it has been three days since I was there. The color change was huge, back on trail three A. The hickories are at last beginning to adorn themselves with the deep yellow gold robes of late fall. Walking through A trail, seeing that beauty in the distant light was breathtaking. I must remember to take my camera tomorrow for a shot of that lovely view. 

As I walked along the trail, I thought about why we only learn about these important understandings so late in our lives. I am doing my best work as a painter now, hopefully with more improvement to come. What if I had been this disciplined and knowledgeable about my own land and as skilled a painter when I was a pathetic painter at 25? Why do I allow myself to be so busy with other obligations when every moment I have left is so valuable as a painter and lover of the natural world? I am going to make some changes in January, to give myself more time here in the woods.

Artists have a wonderful life........

Linda's Web Page

Today I’m getting ready for a nice tea party with collectors. It made me think about artists who want to give up, feeling despair at poor sales. These collectors had dropped off my radar a few years ago for some odd reason. Artists meet thousands of people every year and collectors come and go. One of these ladies happened to come to my last party in October. I had not seen her in about 6 years. She is so nice, I’m glad she came. She wanted to come back in November with her sisters and so they will arrive for a nice tea party today.

I think some artists think negatively during slow times. They don’t realize that this is part of the cycle of being an artist or being in any business for that matter. They don’t have faith in themselves or their work. They end up in a downward spiral which is hard to get out of, once you have that mind set. I have had up and down times like every other artist in my long career, but I never let it cripple me. When times are slow, I spend more time in front of the easel, to expand my skills. I must learn new technique and improve my work if I want to sell in this highly competitive market. I spend more time connecting with my collectors. I spend more time marketing so that when the good sales arrive, I am ready. Each night before I drift off to sleep, I say to myself “I will sell a painting tomorrow”.

One problem I see for emerging artists, is that they try to get into the business too soon. This is a real problem in many ways. They do not have the business acumen to succeed. Their paintings are not really good enough yet to have wide appeal. Their friends and relatives tell them to sell before they have earned that ability. Many baby boomers have jumped into the art business as a hobbyist before they are ready.

Most artists, especially women, don’t really have to sell their work. They are retired from a steady job, they are married to a successful spouse, they have an inheritance to live on. There are few like me, who can actually live on art sales alone. It can be a hard road with many disappointments, but if one is positive and has faith, ability, and a solid work ethic, it is possible and loads of fun.

Artists have a wonderful life……

Back Roads Color

Linda’s Web Page

I took the back roads over to Micanopy today to deliver three tree paintings to Christine, who with her husband owns Blackbird Farm and Gallery. The little gallery is just precious! I love showing my work there and she is a wonderful host. The tree show has about 15 artists, so you will see some lovely and interesting varieties of the theme. She had a field full of lovely very tall yellow flowers and sunflowers today. I admired the field as I arrived. Her farm is so charming and so is she. Go to her opening for the exhibit next Friday and the following two weekends. You will enjoy it. Take Division Street all the way to the right curve, then turn left on Whiting Street. Her farm is just after it turns into a dirt road on the right. Blackbird Farm in Micanopy.

As I drove home, scouting out CR 346 and then the road to Hawthorne Road, I so enjoyed the change in colors. The River Styx was in full regalia as I passed by. I was going back and forth to Evinston each day just a few weeks ago and now the tall green grasses and trees have changed to their Fall color, beautifully.

Now I see miles of rust and wheat in the grasses. I have an interest in wild grasses. Today many were standing tall, with puffs of cottony fluff on the tops. They re so pretty and varied. I studied painting grasses one year as one of my study projects and learned some about them. There are many wild varieties here in this part of Florida.

The swamp maples are in full color, along with many bald and pond cypress I viewed. The cypress leaves varied from golden yellow, to burnt orange and then oxide brown. Sometimes I like the North Florida Fall color better than the further north brilliance. In Florida, you get a variety from the blue grays, to green, to splashes of orang, red and gold, which makes those warm colors really stand out.

Life is wonderful for artists....

Linda's Web Page

I've been thinking about my years as a chef. I worked as a restaurant line cook, and pastry chef/baker/caterer for 13 years. There are endless stories during that period.

I learned how hard that work really is. I started as a pot washer, moved up to prep cook, then to line cook. On my own time, I studied with a pastry chef at another restaurant, and taught myself the fine art of garde' Manger. (Cutting up fruit and vegetables to look like flowers and birds) Sadly, that is becoming a lost art, due to cost cutting. It is labor intensive. My years in art school, studying sculpture and carving came in handy for that art. As a caterer, my knowledge of color mixing made my arrangements of crudités very pretty.

The camaraderie of restaurant kitchens is wonderful. There are plenty of loud arguments, and jockeying for position among cooks, but a good kitchen is a well oiled machine. Aside from the head chef, the expeditor is the top of the food chain with good reason. Orders are lined up as they come in, but different cooks do different parts of the order in different times. The expeditor must be able to coordinate this in his/her head through sometimes hundreds of orders. At one restaurant I worked in, the average lunch number was 400. Chaos quickly ensues if the expeditor loses track.

Of course I am too old now to do kitchen work but I believe all of that practice influences my self discipline, coordination and love for puzzles and challenges as a painter. I believe all of our non art life experiences are very important to our painting skills.

Life is good for artists...

Linda's Web Page

I will be gradually moving out of the studio at Paddiwhack Gallery from January through March of 2020. Paddiwhack will close in March, for a few months and re-open in a different location with a different theme. I have enjoyed my time with Paddiwhack Gallery and  it is now onward to new adventures in 2020. 

My Country Studio is thriving and I’m looking forward to more parties, tea parties, and constant visitors for fun and trail walks out in the country. You are always welcome, and if we plan ahead, I will give you a fine tea party when you visit. You can purchase my paintings every day on my web site https://www.lindablondheim.com  I charge low shipping rates too. You will find directions to my Country Studio at the bottom of my web page.

My thanks to Chuck Sapp for his fine work as my dealer for all the years we have had together. I wish him great success with his new plans for 2020. When one door closes, another opens.

Life as an artist is wonderful! 

Linda's Web Page

I like to do some research every day about science. I learned today that scientists have proven that trees pump water from their roots up into the leaves at night. It was formerly thought that it was an automatic process, but now they discovered that the limbs move up and down deliberately at night, pumping the water upwards from the roots. is that cool or what?

I have always loved trees, since my early childhood. I was at that time a champion tree climber. I had my share of falls too. Once I fell out of the tree in the yard and it knocked me out cold! My sisters were shocked when the teenager next door carried me into the house. He had been outside and saw me fall. My sister called my momma and told her I was dead, then hung up on Momma. I came to and they called her back to say I was ok.

Trees have been my friends for my entire life. I began to paint them in earnest about 20 years ago. I definitely feel their communication and wisdom when I stand under them. Can you imagine the stories they can tell over hundreds of years? Some are thousands of years old.

We really owe our very lives to trees. I like to look at species from around the world. Some are so exotic that they look alien. They have adapted to fit the climate they live in. Peoole make fun of "tree huggers" like me, but we must become aware of the life giving resource that developers are cutting down faster than they can grow. 

Artists have a wonderful life.

Linda's Web Page

Today I encountered a lovely site on Deer Woods Trail. A flock of wild turkeys were foraging along the trail in front of me. What lovely birds! They took off in flight at noticing me, so I was able to view their large wing spans. It took me back to my childhood days of being out in the woods with my daddy and his friend Mr Bailey.

This time of year is my favorite. The leaves are slowly turning, and the grape vines are dotted with yellow and oxide colors. There is such a wonderful feel to th walk in the woods each day. I see the fields turning to wheat and rust. Some trees are silver and gray now, having already lost their foliage. There is an odd little grassy plant that grows in one section. it is a spiral of stems coming out from the root, looking like Don King's hair.

I read an article this morning about the benefits of hiking in the natural world. I have often thought that being urban, away from the natural world was harmful and now I have proof.

"The researchers noted that increased urbanization closely correlates with increased instances of depression and other mental illness. Taking the time to regularly remove ourselves from urban settings and spend more time in nature can greatly benefit our psychological (and physical) well-being."

Article By Alanna Ketler

Life is wonderful for artists.........

Birds and Nests Art

This morning I was out early on the trail. There are lots of interesting fungi growing on trees this time of year. I picked up a sample that was growing on a piece of pine bark, next to the trail. I have two small jar terrariums for moss on the window sills of my studio. I added this sample to one of the terrariums. I like to pick up interesting things off the trail to add to my collection. I recently found a tiny bird's nest near the trail. I saved it. There were no eggs but I found some made with clay that look completely natural and fit nicely in the nest. 

What is it that I love so much about trails? Especially owning the land they are cut through. There is a simple magic to them. I never know what new object I might find. A nest, foot prints that were not there yesterday, the bends and turns with mystery just beyond my vision. The caw of crows overhead, the piercing call of the hawk high above me. The rustle and crashing sound of the deer at the perimeter of my vision, racing away.

Some people love to shop, some love to chat in cafes, some are movie fans. I love the woods and fields like no other place. The fine old trees along the path, the tortoise dens dug deep under ground. The filtered light bouncing off the leaves, making patterns along the trail. The waves of grass across the fields of a lovely farm, speak deeply to me.

Artists have a wonderful life.....

Plein Air Fun

Linda’s Web Site

I am making a bit of progress now with getting back outside to paint. Today is another beautiful day here in north Florida. When I arrived at my paint box there was a lovely doe in the woods. She flicked her white tail and bounded off into the sun. A beautiful sight indeed. 

Today I brought an 8x10 raw linen canvas. I prepared it with Golden glazing medium, which gave it a nice paint surface for acrylics. My palette was five colors, cad yellow lemon, Payne’s gray, titanium white, red iron oxide and ultramarine blue. Simple and easy to mix. 

The kiss rule always applies to my plein air work. 

I am always amazed by the plein air painters I see at events with cart loads of equipment. Tables, chairs, huge easels, lots of paint and brushes. They are basically moving their studio outside. I take a small paintbox with 6 colors, a couple of knives, three brushes, paper towel folded, a painting panel, tripod, water, hat. That is it. Everything fits in the box except the water and hat. I am a minimalist by nature, less is more.

I feel better about today’s effort. My muscle memory for paint box painting is starting to come back. Today I felt better in my own skin. It was no longer alien to me. Using the shade effectively, turning and moving the box as the sun changed was more natural today. Spending time on the trail is always the best part. Leaving my box set up and just bringing fresh water and a canvas is a fantastic way to paint out doors. There is a magic to painting your own land or land that you know and love so much, like Fair Oaks. 

Painters have a wonderful life....

Linda’s Web Page 

What a beautiful day in the neighborhood. I decided it was a good day to take my paint box out on the trail. I set up and brought along a tiny 4x4 inch canvas. My friend Diane Brody, kindly gave me these canvases, as she doesn’t like the tiny ones. She is a fine painter, using painting knives. 

I chose a spot along Deer Woods Trail with a portal of back light for today’s effort. I could feel the breeze, smell the good earth under my feet, and talk back to my friends the crows as they passed over my head, saying “un uh” to my work. Critics are everywhere! The light filtered in and out, and I repositioned my box a few times, to stay in the shade. 

I’m not a great plein air painter. I consider plein air work to be a study for larger studio work. It is not the painting for me, but the beauty of my surroundings, and learning that are of value. Surprisingly, some people really like the messes I make out in the field. 

After my painting session, I took a nice walk around the trail. The great thing about owning the land you paint on, is that I can leave my box out on the trail with a plastic bag tied over it. I can go out on the next day or so and paint again. 

Life is good for painters.....

Little Birds

                                                                      Linda’s Web Page

I found this little oil primed canvas in my store room today. It seemed perfect for one of my little bird paintings.  I collect reference photos of small birds constantly. I am so fond of them. They live around the world, often in exotic colors, but most of them have a lovely little chubbiness in shape. I suppose they remind me of my own short chubby shape. Basically I am square in body shape. I have a big head like these little birds too.

I think the little birds are my favorite challenge as a painter. I had never painted birds until about three years ago, when I started studying them. The easiest medium for painting them is acrylics for me. Drawing them and now using oils is quite a bit harder if I paint them in one session as I did this one today.

There is a little house wren who lives in my yard. I often see her around the front gate of Tucker’s play yard. Wrens are so adorable to me. Quick to move and fly, chubby, with lovely white accents on their brown feathers. They are no nonsense little birds, always at work. They are not divas like their Fairy Wren cousins in Asia, who have the bright plumage.

My crow friends are calling me to Deer Woods Trail, so off I go!

I found this little oil primed canvas in my store room today. It seemed perfect for one of my little bird paintings.  I collect reference photos of small birds constantly. I am so fond of them. They live around the world, often in exotic colors, but most of them have a lovely little chubbiness in shape. I suppose they remind me of my own short chubby shape. Basically I am square in body shape. I have a big head like these little birds too.

I think the little birds are my favorite challenge as a painter. I had never painted birds until about three years ago, when I started studying them. The easiest medium for painting them is acrylics for me. Drawing them and now using oils is quite a bit harder if I paint them in one session as I did this one today.

There is a little house wren who lives in my yard. I often see her around the front gate of Tucker’s play yard. Wrens are so adorable to me. Quick to move and fly, chubby, with lovely white accents on their brown feathers. They are no nonsense little birds, always at work. They are not divas like their Fairy Wren cousins in Asia, who have the bright plumage.

My crow friends are calling me to Deer Woods Trail, so off I go!

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When I was a kid I was quite a rascal! Is anyone surprised here? I loved the mysteries of the natural world and was curious about everything. 

Each year at Christmas time, my mother carefully wrapped gifts every night after my sisters and I went to bed. During our Christmas break from school, I learned the careful and slow art of unwrapping each of my gifts, looking them over and carefully rewrapping them to look untouched. I carefully lined up the paper for the correct creases and matched the re-taping process, then retying the ribbon just so. It gave me a great satisfaction in knowing what was under the tree for me.

Looking back,I realize I was trying to control my responses in advance for Christmas Day. I didn't want any disappointing surprises for the big day. If I didn't get a "good" gift, I would be able to act delighted with it so as not to be rude.

I've always liked to be in control of my environment and circumstances when possible. I am a planner by nature. I don't always get things right but I do try to plan for circumstances. I'm not a free thinker, depending on the whim of others. I tend to be an analytical thinker, which is odd for an artist.

I tend to want to do things for myself and not have to depend on others. That is not good when you're on a team. I don't play well in the sand box. Forcing myself to do so is probably good for me for short periods, but I feel sorry for those who have to tolerate me.

Linda’s Web Site

I’ve been running around like mad this week. I picked up my easel and two cases of canvases donated to the Autumn Paint Out as a gift for the artists from the Gainesville Michaels Store. Bless you general manager Ron Kelly! He is one of my collectors and does more nice things for me than I can name. In this morning‘s mail, there was a lovely card from a dear friend with a donation for snacks for the artists. So many of you have been supportive in this way. Bless you all for your generosity and kindness!

I got my closet resettled and the studio is almost ready for my contractor to get back and do a bit of fix up while I am at Fair Oaks next week. I’m hoping she will have time to put my dart board together and figure out how to hang it for studio parties.

After the Autumn Paint Out, I will have freedom from volunteer work for awhile. I have some fun plans. It has been 12 months since I used oils to paint with. I am pulling out my oils and setting them up in the studio, soI will have an acrylic station and an oil station. It is always so fun to start a medium I’ve been away from for some time.

On Saturday I deliver 2 easels, and canvases to Fair Oaks, then pick up my sweet grandson for a sleep over at Gma’s house. Sunday I drop him off on my way to Fair Oaks for the official opening of the paint out. I won’t have time to paint, but I will be working at the paint out. You can see my paintings inside the tent and see my miniature paintings at the Wood and Swink Post Office in Evinston all the time.

I need a nap!