Six Artists Six Prairies: October 2011

Sunday, October 30, 2011

CTF Fall Round Up

Mark Your Calendar
Sunday, November 6, 2011

Hans and Debbie Tanzler's Cypress Grove Farm
Waldo, Alachua County, Florida
See horse and carriage demonstrations, kid friendly activities, hayrides with a horse and carriage. Painters from "6 Artists, 6 Prairies" will be creating art live at this event.

Invitations will be mailed to members and partners soon! To receive yours, and support land conservation, Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Support the event and appear in the program. Shhhh! There will be a silent auction to benefit the CTF.Need directions? Get Directions Here and meet some event sponsors.

Thank you so much to Darleen Randall and Take Away Gourmet for donating the catering for the Fall Round UP! Please show your support by patronizing her business. Visit www.TakeAwayGourmet4u.com

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Another Day in Paynes Prairie

The prairies offer the unexpected!

Charles Dickinson

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Finished Painting

This is the finished painting with the old railroad bridge and Paynes Prairie in the background.
Charles Dickinson

Painting the Prairies

While painting the railroad bridge on the edge of Paynes Prairie, writer David and photographer Kim Stringer stopped by after shooting photos of the prairie wildlife and then photographed this wildlife! I had such a great day painting! The prairie has so much to offer.
Charles Dickinson

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Fall Color on the Prairie

Landscape Paintings

Sometimes it's fun to push the color on a painting, particularly in the fall when all of the possibilities on my palette are available. The landscape comes alive with rusts, purples, reds oranges and wheat colors added to the Florida greens that grow year round. Lots of fun mixing these delicious colors even though they are exaggerated.

Linda Blondheim

Monday, October 10, 2011

Speaking about "The Edge"

The prairies fascinate me with their broad spectrum of vegetation and wildlife. I really enjoy all aspects of the prairie including the landscape that lies on the border. This was painted at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens and looks out over the prairie through the dense brush and branches of this beautiful old tree. I found this old tree intriquing and the view beyond this tree into the prairie just as intriquing!

Charles Dickinson

Monday, October 3, 2011

Mark Your Calendars!

“Last Child in the Woods” author Richard Louv struck such a chord with the staff and board of ACT that we brought him to Gainesville in 2006 to be the keynote speaker for our Conservation Stewards Banquet. He spoke to over a thousand people that week as we carried him around to any group who would listen, and his message forever changed the mission of Alachua Conservation Trust. His book is a compelling investigation into the implications of raising a generation of children without any meaningful connection or comfort with the outdoors. Mr. Louv is returning five years later to Gainesville with a new message in his book, “The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and The End of Nature Deficit Disorder.” Supported by ground-breaking research, anecdotal evidence, and compelling personal stories, Louv identifies seven basic concepts that can help us reshape our lives. By tapping into the restorative powers of nature, we can boost mental acuity and creativity; promote health and wellness; build smarter and more
sustainable businesses, communities, and economies; and ultimately strengthen human bonds. Louv makes a convincing case that we are entering the most creative period in history, that in fact the twenty-first century will be the era of human restoration in the natural world. This encouraging and influential work offers renewed optimism while challenging us to rethink the way we live.

Richard Louv will be speaking and reading at Prairie Creek Lodge on Saturday, October 8th in an evening that includes a social hour and dinner. Florida Defenders of the Environment and Santa Fe College are cosponsoring his visit with ACT – please come for an interesting and inspiring evening, but we do require reservations at: fde@FlaDefenders.org or (352) 378-8465.

~ From the Alachua Conservation Trust, whose latest Gazetteer full of interesting news has just been published!

Our Mission

We are professional artists working together to preserve in paint the beauty and importance of Florida’s prairies. Providing a home to a vast array of native plants and animals, whether resident or seasonal, the unique ecology and vistas of prairies have long been an important part of our culture in this county. Reflected in folklore, literature, music and scientific journals, prairies have stirred our sense of wonder and honed our sense of observation. Finding access to them is not always easy and this access is becoming increasingly limited through development. For twelve months we will be watching and painting six different prairies, observing their dynamic seasonal changes, exploring and discovering their exciting secrets and creating a unique historical record in the process. Working with like- minded organizations, we hope to add our share to the efforts they are undertaking to preserve these unique prairies for future generations.

The Artists

Steve Andrews
Tallahassee Florida

Artist Statement

I am excited to be involved in this project. I was born and raised in Florida and I love to paint the Florida landscape. Unfortunately, at times, that landscape seems to be vanishing before my eyes. It is great to be able to contribute to conservation efforts while at the same time getting to do what I love to do -- paint. When most people think of Florida landscapes they think of beaches and water, but the interior of this state is also amazing. I look forward to trying to show you my view of this part of the state. Thanks for taking the time to check out our paintings of these beautiful and little known Florida prairies and for supporting efforts to protect them.

Linda Blondheim
Gainesville, FL

Artist Statement

I have painted Paynes Prairie for thirty years and Fish Prairie many times. We Americans have a kinship and history with western prairies.There is a nostalgia about them. I want to make Florida residents and visitors aware of the treasures they have here in north Florida. This project is a way to combine my love for the Florida landscape with my desire to preserve the wild places in Florida for future generations.

My prairie paintings are available for sale on this link. Just click on the images:

Linda Blondheim Paintings

Charles Dickinson

St Augustine, FL

Artist Statement

The Florida prairies hold the natural beauty and timeless qualities that are the foundation of powerful landscape painting. Their skies, their flora and fauna, their compositional and atmospheric possibilities make for a beautiful painting experience that I am excited to share with the public and work to preserve.

Scott Hiestand
Ormond Beach, FL

Artist Statement

Florida Prairies--these are not the prairies reminiscent of Conestoga wagons slowly rolling over short grasses while pheasants scatter in all directions. Rather, these are Florida prairies, where Sand Hill Cranes and other wildlife walk among small wetlands, palms, and prairie stands. I look for atmosphere in my landscape subjects--low light or a soft mist of fog rising over a stump filled pond. It is this type of image I hope to bring to you in my acrylic paintings. The next 18 months of my life painting these prairies will be challenging and exciting. I look forward to painting with the other five artists in our group who are the cream of the crop and masters of their craft.

Mary Jane Volkmann

Gainesville, FL

Artist Statement

I have a nearby refuge from the sights and sounds of the city: Paynes Prairie. I enjoy its vistas and the beauty of its many moods. I go there to listen to the birds and critters, to smell the dust and plants, to watch the changing colors of the seasons and even sometimes to watch meteors. As an artist, painting the prairies of north Florida is a way I can share with others the peace, joy and curiosity I experience in them. It is my humble way to add my voice to the call to preserve these special places and their contents for future generations ~ not only of humanity, but also of the birds, critters and animals who take their own refuge in prairies.

Help Us With Your Donation or Sponsorship

This project is a marriage of art and conservation. As stewards of nature we will host several public events combining conservation education and art. Obviously as artists we need to sell our paintings to survive in our profession. To cover the additional items and expenses connected with this project and to help it succeed we are soliciting support, either directly or in kind. If you would like to donate to this project directly, please use the PayPal Donate Button. The in kind contributions we are looking for range from printing, signage, stationery and postage; tables, chairs, tents, lighting, food, beverages and insurance for public events; accommodation while traveling to and residing in prairie areas as well as financial help to cover these and other expenses we would not normally carry as artists. To become a business or corporate sponsor or to help with any of the above, please contact our acting treasurer, Linda, at lindasasp@gmail.com