Six Artists Six Prairies: December 2011

Monday, December 19, 2011

Happy Holidays from the Six Artists Six Prairies Project!

It's the time of year when so many of us are preoccupied with preparations for those special days we share with family and friends. The past couple of years I've taken time out to walk in the prairies with those close to my heart. We enjoy the quiet togetherness, sharing thoughts or none, exclaiming when a bird suddenly jumps out of the bushes and smiling at their calls and song. This year the prairies seem particularly beautiful and the Sandhill Cranes are still flying overhead, calling as they circle. It's a great time to be in nature, appreciating that we still have these pristine places to enjoy in peace. We are so grateful for our conservation partners! The artists of the Six Artists Six Pairies Project wish each of you the happiest of holidays and the joy of wonder and wander!

Mary Jane Volkmann for SASP

Friday, December 2, 2011

Tuscawilla Prairie

Charles Dickinson

Linda and Mary Jane

Here's a photo of one of my paintings and the set up. The light on the dried grasses was amazing. Especially in contrast to the grey and lavender background.

Last Tuesday four of us met at Tuscawilla Prairie to paint. Above are some photos of artists at work. It was a great day. The weather was partly cloudy but that only served to intensify the colors in the prairie when the sun peaked through the clouds. We were painting on some high ground next to the prairie. At one point it started to rain and as I turned around I noticed a young couple checking out the crazy people painting. Surprisingly, I realized I knew one of them. The guy in the couple was a good friend of my son who is a senior at the University of Florida. I turn around and said “hi Calvin, what are you doing here?” And he looks at me just as surprised and says “what are you doing here?” Calvin is also a senior at the University of Florida and he is from Tallahassee. I had a good time catching up with him. He was just on an adventure with his girlfriend checking out the small town of Micanopy. It’s a small world. Plein air painting is amazing. There is always a story.

Thanks for looking.

Steve Andrews

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