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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

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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

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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!

The Messy Closet

Linda’s Web Site

This week I’m tackling my storage closet in the studio. I need to lend my easels to the Autumn Paint Out committee for the event. The easel was in the back of the closet and there are tons of frames, paintings ,tools and endless other items shoved in front of it. As nice as my studio is, it is too small. I am a pack rat when it comes to art supplies and frames.

I decided to get rid of a lot of old frames, and some that were odd sized. I will probably burn some failed paintings too while I’m at it. This is one of the projects that you dread, because it takes days to do. It messes up the studio and you wonder what to do with half of the items you pull out. I had put this off for over a year, so getting the easel out forced me to do it. I may as well do it right. 

Next week I’ll be driving artists around at Fair Oaks in Evinston for a week for my volunteer job. I hope to see you there. 

Blue Cypress Lake Road Ranch

Linda's Web Site

Studio Parties

I have four studio parties a year, always in the same months and always with the same themes. People like to know they can expect the party and what its theme is. They are all food themed. I am not a wine and cheese kind of gal. I make real food. I stopped serving alcohol at my parties about 15 years ago. Everyone said people won't come. They were right and wrong. The free loaders who used to come stopped. Those are the folk who show up at every art opening, eat and drink as much as they can and never buy art. Getting rid of them was really a blessing. Now, true friends and collectors come to the parties.

Sometimes the party is a wash. Today is my annual Hot Dog Picnic party.  A tropical storm blew up almost overnight in the gulf and now there will be rain out here in the country. My studio assistant who works at all my parties called five minutes ago to tell me she is sick as a dog. Great! Not her fault. My dart board for the party arrived but it is not assembled. I can't figure out how to put it together. My handy girl is out of town on a job, so it won't be ready in time. My sister and I will be eating hot dogs and potato salad for about a month. It is ok. These little problems come up now and then. If four or five people come, I'll be very pleased.

All is not lost. The effort I put in will yield success in the future. The post cards I sent, the promotion of my studio, serve as reminders to my collectors and potential collectors, making them ever aware that I am here and I welcome them to my studio, not just for parties.  I'm here and the picnic will be ready at 11 AM. Ya'll come on out for a visit today!