Old Boundary

"Old Boundary"
   I would like to express a very late thank you to all who attended out opening show for the Alachua Conservation Trust. I enjoyed meeting and talking with all of you about art and the prairies.
   It is in the works for a second show at the Visitors Center at Paynes Prairie. Opening dates have not been set as of this post, but as soon as more information becomes available, I will be posting it here.
  
Scott Hiestand

Chicken Run


"Chicken Run"
24" x 30"
Acrylic

   Having painting in and around Paynes Prairie a number of time, I was taken by the amount of small farms, houses and even business that line the prairie rim. I wondered how much of a problem the local wildlife has caused for these residence. Rats, mice, racoons, snakes, fox and even coyotes, I'm sure must rely on a home or business garbage cans.
   We all know the importance of not feeding wildlife, but having a chicken coop makes for a tempting meal for the Florida Red Fox. "Chicken Run" is my latest acrylic painting for Six Artist Six Prairies.

Scott Hiestand

Getting out in the Prairie

Fish Prairie Outskirts 16 x 20

I’m Steve Andrews and I’m thrilled to be involved in this project. I’m a “full-blooded Floridian”, which is rare these days. I was born in Orlando. Both of my parents were born in Orlando. I grew up in Titusville and now live in Tallahassee. So I’ve seen a lot of changes in the Florida environment. I’ve been a professional painter for more than fifteen years. I concentrate on Florida landscapes, and one of my continuing themes is capturing the vanishing landscape of Florida.

So this project is right up my alley. Six artists creating paintings of six Florida prairies in North Central Florida with an added benefit of supporting conversation efforts related to those prairies. "Prairies in Florida?" You ask. If you've driven I-75 you've seen Payne's Prairie just south of Gainesville. The Interstate and Highway 441 cut right through the middle of the prairie. It looks like a giant swamp or a drained lake or something but if you get out in the prairie you will see that every square inch of it is teaming with life.

A good place to check out is the elevated walkway on Highway 441 that leads out about a hundred yards into the middle of Payne’s Prairie. It’s definitely worth a detour if you’re traveling on I-75 and you get a chance to stop. If you’re headed south on I-75 take exit 382 (Williston Road) and head east. At the first intersection turn right on SW 34^th St. and take it until it dead ends into Highway 441. Turn right (south) on 441 and observation walkway is in the middle of the prairie. To complete the detour just head south on 441 to CR 234 and turn right. Interstate 75 is only a couple of minutes away. If you’re heading north just reverse these directions. Last weekend I made this detour while heading back to Tallahassee. Unfortunately I arrived at the same time that this thunderstorm arrived. Fortunately, I stayed around a while and got great photos so you will probably be seeing this storm cloud again.

If you’re like me you’ve driven across this prairie countless times and wondered what the heck was going on. Take a minute to check it out.

Thanks for looking.

Steve Andrews

Prairies and Snakes

Certainly one thing I share with other plein air painters is the occasional encounter with snakes.  One day when I was painting along a canal a weed whacker came up the waterway and as it was chopping the invasive water plants, it spewed them into the air along with chopped bits of snakes which landed a bit too close to me for my comfort. Some of them were still wiggling as they rained down and landed!  As I stood and watched I saw hundreds of delighted birds appear seemingly out of nowhere to swoop down and treat themselves to an unexpected feast.  On another occasion at Paynes Prairie State Park, I happened to look over the bridge and saw a tangle of snakes (see photo).  There were people on the bridge exclaiming "look at the moccasins!" and someone was actually throwing little things at them. When I checked with the park ranger, I was told that they were green water snakes mating, not moccasins.  I read on switcheroozoo that "The Florida green water snake is a common, harmless snake that can be found in weedy marshes and grasses around ponds and along canals, sometimes basking in the vegetation. If threatened or harassed, the green water snake may bite and emit an unpleasant smell. These snakes are active primarily in the daytime, but can also be found feeding on minnows or small fish in the early evenings. Florida green water snakes are excellent swimmers and can dive from logs or tree limbs into the water. They bear their young alive and can have litters as large as 100!"  In researching them further I found an article from the Florida Scientist stating that "U.S. Highway 441 at Paynes Prairie appears to have one of the highest levels of snake road mortality ever reported" and that this same snake was one of the most commonly killed.  Aside from painting, I am using the Six Artists Six Prairies project to learn as much as I can about our prairies and their inhabitants and to share interesting tidbits I find.

Mary Jane Volkmann

Choosing a Painting Spot

I have learned to look very carefully before setting up near wet areas to paint.  I've shared this story with some of you before, but one day when I was out painting alone and deep in concentration I noticed out of the corner of my eye that something in the landscape had changed.  I turned to look and saw that one of these guys had crawled out of the brush at the edge of the water and was approaching me to check me out...  I was sitting with all my paints spread around me.  Not having any experience with these things I had to think quickly and remembered that somewhere I had heard that if you make yourself bigger than something it can help.  (Right or wrong?).  So I jumped up and roared as loudly as I could in the deepest voice I could muster, throwing my arms up in the air at the same time in a threatening manner.  True as Bob, the gator flipped and went running away into the water!  I was a bit shaken, so I decided to finish the painting in my studio...

Mary Jane Volkmann

Clearing the mind and sharpening the senses...

Painting in nature gives me the quietude I need to clear the clutter from my head so I can immerse myself in the incredible world around me, appreciating the fascinating diversity of flora, fauna, colors and design.  As I settle in, I become aware of the smell of the grass and the pine needles baking in the sand.  My ears start tuning in to the music of nature: the call of the birds, the rustle of a critter in the bushes, the cicadas and grunts of alligators. As I focus in on the subject I am painting I become keenly aware of changes around me. I keep a camera handy to record the unexpected and the beautiful. I remember a precious moment of one hot day in particular.  I had my easel up against a bush to try and catch a bit of the shade when suddenly a little bird landed on a twig which was caught on the top corner of my easel.  Knowing the bird would never stand still for me to reach for my camera, I caught my breath and held my brush in mid-air so I could memorize the moment.  I identified it later as a blue-gray gnatcatcher, a bird I had never seen before!  Obviously it flew away, so I cannot share a picture with you, but here is another one I took in Paynes Prairie.  Is this bird enjoying life, or what!?!

Mary Jane Volkmann

Observing in the prairies

Today I was looking back at the pictures I have taken during my walks and painting sessions in Paynes Prairie over the years and changing seasons, remembering how much I have seen and observed, often just by standing still and looking. I came across this lucky shot. Note the guy in the middle with the fish in his mouth! Well, I assume it's a guy... can anyone enlighten me? Ah, so much still to learn!

Mary Jane Volkmann

Prairie Bull

Paynes Prairie, one of the very few place in Florida where a hint of the wild west can be found. Buffalo and wild horses can be seen grazing throught the park area.

Scott Hiestand

Prairie Afternoon
 Acrylic  16 x 20

I try to capture the great Florida clouds formations in this painting. Dry conductions and lack of rain add to the arid landscape that can only be found on a Florida prairie.

Scott Hiestand

Prairie Sunset

Prairie Sunset

Prairies go through wet and dry seasons and can change dramatically with the ebb and flow of waterways. There is nothing like a sunset thrown in to enhance their beauty.

La Chua Trail leads to Alachua Sink and the center of the prairie marsh and wetlands. Abundant wildlife including alligators and migratory sandhill cranes. Platform at trail’s end provides panoramic views. 3 miles round-trip.
Directions: Take SE 15th Street past Boulware Springs Park. Before road takes a hard turn to the left look for the brown park signs on a spur road to the right - Camp Ranch Rd. - From Friends of Paynes Prairie

Linda Blondheim