Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Hopkins Prairie Revisted

16 x 20

Getting ready for the big show at Prairie Creek Ranch on February 25.  Here's a new one which was finished a couple of weeks ago.   I have to say that I keep coming back to Hopkins Prairie source material from earlier this year when I think about doing something for this project.  It is really neat place.  (I write that and think . .  'it was just a prairie'. . . It's hard to explain but it was much more than that).  This is from a photo I took while hiking on the Florida trail.  Part of the trail goes right through Hopkins Prairie.  This oak hammock is the home of a designated campground.  My son, who is a senior at the University of Florida, saw my posts on Hopkins Prairie and was excited to tell me that he had camped at Hopkins Prairie with some friends.  They had just picked the place at random on a map of the Ocala National Forest.  He thought it was neat place to camp and wants to do a family camping trip.  It's been a while since we've had one of those.  I'm thinking about it.  Anyone else interested?

Thanks for Looking.  And make plans to attend the show at Prairie Creek Ranch.

Steve Andrews

Monday, January 16, 2012

Alachua Conservation Trust Hosts Six Artists Six Prairies


Our paintings will be on display at Prairie Creek Lodge from February 18- March 16, 2012.

Our main event will be February 25, 2012 from Noon-9PM. We will be painting in front of the lodge from noon to dark, rotating artists throughout the day.

Come meet the artists, watch us paint and purchase original framed paintings while enjoying hors d'ouvres and live music. Our painting sales will support the efforts of Alachua Conservation Trust and their many educational and land acquisition projects.

This will be our last formal event for the project, so we are looking forward to seeing our many friends. If you miss the party on February 25, you will have several weeks to browse the paintings and make your selections. You will also have the opportunity to purchase a painting for the permanent collection for Prairie Creek Lodge through their purchase award program. A plaque will be placed next to the donor's painting.



 Linda Blondheim

Friday, January 13, 2012

The Difference a Season Makes

11 x 14

This is a painting from a visit to Tuscawilla Prairie about a month ago.   Charles, Linda, Mary Jane and I painted on the rim of the prairie on a great day.  In the painting I was focusing on the dried reddish brown foliage against the darker olive green across the prairie and the line of bright light on the far side.  I like the way it came out.  The red in the painting looks redder than in the photos posted below, but I would say that of the two images, the painting is closer to the actual color at the prairie that day.  

The visit to the prairie was amazing in the comparison of the colors over just a few months.  When I visited Tuscawilla during the late summer the green was so high that standing down at the base of the prairie you could barely see across to the other side.   On the return visit all of the green had fallen and turned into a deep brownish red.  The photos below vividly document the difference. We don't really think about leaves changing colors in Florida, but just looking at the photos you can see what a difference a season makes.      





Thanks for looking.

Steve Andrews

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Dawn

"Dawn"
Early morning on Paynes Prairie...a nice place to be with a hot cup of coffee!

Scott Hiestand

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Photos from the end of the day at Tuscawilla Prairie








The end of the rainbow, no pot of gold, but a tube of cadmium yellow deep
awaits the adventurer!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Autumn Dance


It was such a colorful autumn in northern Florida this year.  Was it a combination of dry weather and a seemingly slower changing of the seasons?  I just finished this painting of Paynes Prairie.  I was attracted to the scene because of the colors and design everywhere I looked. As I observed I had the feeling that autumn was dancing in the landscape. 

Over the next couple of weeks I hope to put the finishing touches on several prairie paintings I have in various stages towards completion. I'll post them as they find their resting points. 

Mark your calendars because our big event at Prairie Creek Lodge is drawing near!  On February 25 the Six Artists Six Prairies Project will combine forces with the Alachua Conservation Trust, showing and selling the prairie paintings we have done in an effort to support conservation and artists.  More details will be forthcoming in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Happy New Year to everyone!  May this be a special year for each of you!

Mary Jane Volkmann