January Paintouts sponsored by WCPA

From West Coast Plein Air: Painting locations for January. We meet at 9:30 on Friday mornings.

Jan. 4 and 11: We'll paint along Grand Blvd. on the Cotee (short for Pithlaschacotee) River in New Port Richey. Meet in the parking area of the old Hacienda Hotel and we'll go from there. To get there: from U.S. 19 in New Port Richey, go east on Main St to Bank St., the Hacienda is on the northwest side of Main and Bank.

Jan. 18 and 25: we'll paint in Anderson Park, Tarpon Springs. Meet in the first parking area on the left when you enter the park. Directions to Anderson Pk: The park entrance is on the East side of U.S. 19, between Tarpon Ave. and Klosterman Ave.
Any questions call Jenna at 727-457-6174. Hope to see you there!

Tuesday paintouts from the PAPTC

January 8th we will paint here at McKee's Botanical Garden. Its located at 350 US Highway 1 at the southern gateway of Vero Beach. It opens at 10 am and admission is $6.00.

Linda Blondheim Art Studio

NEW Plein Air Monthly

A once a month plein air class in the North Central Florida area. We will meet at various locations around North Central Florida for painting and instruction.

9 AM- 1:00 PM beginning Saturday, January 5th

As the weather gets hotter in the spring and summer, we will meet at 8 AM in the spring and 7 AM in the summer..

Anyone can come, no matter the experience level. We will study alla prima painting, color mixing, values, composition, brushwork and other components of plein air and landscape painting. This will be a relaxed casual class with lots of painting time and cameraderie. I'll be happy to give advice on equipment, supplies,travel, and marketing. This class is the outdoor version of my monthly open studio class.

Locations to include:

Kanapaha Gardens

Rum Island

Paynes Prairie State Park

Farms and Ranches

The Thomas Center

Lake Alice

Any place we all want to go!!

Fee: 30.00 Payable at each class.

Beverages and snacks provided

Supply list provided

Register: lindablondheim12@hotmail.com

Paint Out in Gainesville, December 8-9

The Grove Street Neighborhood, in honor of the 15th OPEN HOUSE OF JIM WILSON'S WILDLIFE DRAWINGS ART STUDIO located in the Grove Street Neighborhood is inviting area artists of all ages to come paint at Dreamers Garden in the Grove Street Neighborhood on Saturday and Sunday, December 8th and 9th, 2007.

Dreamers Garden is located at the corner of NW 10th Avenue and NW 4th Street. It will be open from 10 AM- 4PM on Saturday, December 8, and from 1 PM - 4 PM on Sunday, December 9, for all artists. This is an opportunity to celebrate the creative spirit in all of us. We look forward to seeing you there.
Jim Wilson has been a professional wildlife artist for over thirty years, creating detailed pen & ink and Prismacolor pencil drawings. Appreciative private and corporate collectors throughout the world continually enjoy the dynamic realism of Jim's art. His workshop/gallery is located at 1014 NW 4th Street in Gainesville.
This plein air paint out at Dreamers Garden is free and open to all. Come join us celebrate Jim Wilson’s Wildlife Drawings and Dreamers Garden, the Grove Street Neighborhood Community Garden.

For further information, please call,
Maria H. Edwards, Tel. No. 352-258-1238
e-Mail: maria0407@bellsouth.net

Tuesday paintouts from the Plein Air Painters of the Treasure Coast

Hi Everybody,

This tuesday December 4 we will paint at Heathcote Botanical Gardens in Fort Pierce. Heathcote Botanical Gardens consists of an assortment of specialty gardens including a Japanese Garden, Reflection Garden, Herb Garden, Rainforest Display, Native Plants Garden and a Palm & Cycad Walk. Its a lovely and fun place to paint. They are open 9 to 5 and admission at this time is $6.00.

From downtown Fort Pierce you can go one of two ways: The more scenic route is to go south approximately 3 miles on Indian River Drive. Turn right (west) on Savannah Road. Go approximately .2 miles. The Garden parking lot is on the right. OR, go south on US 1 from downtown/Orange Avenue area approximately 2.5 miles through the Virginia Avenue intersection. Pass Gardenia Avenue, which is the next stoplight. Proceed one more block to Savannah Road (no stoplight). Look for a Super Video Store on SE corner at Savannah Road and Heathcote signs. Turn left (east) onto Savannah Road; go two blocks. The Garden is on the left.

Heathcote Botanical Gardens in Fort Pierce offers a variety of Florida plant collections including native plants and flowers,..

Paint The Town

Calling all "Plein Air" artists: Annual "PAINT THETOWN" plein air painting competition- April 10-12,2008 in St. Petersburg, Fl. Exhibit upto three 2-dworks created on location during 3-day event. Best ofShow "Purchase Award" at least $1000 and othermonetary prizes. Works will be judged Satuday April12th. Awards ceremony and "opening extravaganza"Saturday evening, 6pm @ Interior Motives Gallery. Allworks must be for sale. Artists to receive 55% shareon sale of their work. Deadline for juried entry isJanuary 15, 2008. Jury fee is $20 for SPRAA members(with annual membership fee of $25.) or $35.00 fornon-members. Send 3 sample images of plein air work(digital only) with check payable to SPRAA, Inc. SASEto SPRAA, Inc., PO Box 76543, St.Petersburg, Fl 33709. HERE

Painting Dates for December -WCPA

The West Coast Plein Air group will be painting on Friday mornings at Brooker Creek Preserve for the month of December. We invite all interested artists to join us! Meet at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the education center. To get to Brooker Creek, take East Lake Rd. (also known as McMullen-Booth Rd.) to Keystone Rd. in Tarpon Springs. Go East on Keystone Rd. to entrance to the preserve--it will be on the right (South). Follow into the park to the last parking area. Address: 3940 Keystone Rd., Tarpon Springs. For further info, call Jenna at 727-457-6174 (cell) or Rose at 727-455-9022(cell).

Member News

Member News

Deborah Paris

Deborah Paris will teach a five day workshop for oil and/or pastel at the Fredericksburg Artist School January 14-18, 2008. Deborah's work has been featured in Southwest Art, The Pastel Journal, and American Artist. For more info about Deborah and this class, go to her blog,

www.deborahparis-apaintinglife.blogspot.com

New PAF Member- Welcome

Please welcome Regina Briskey from Alachua FL as a new PAF member. They are assigned to Hogtown Plein Air Painters. Here is their info:



I have been a professional painter and sculptor most of my life, and painting outdoors is something I did of necessity when doing commissions of livestock. I use oils, mostly. My studio work can be viewed at dabbertgallery.com; and my website is under construction. I participated in the AAONF Paintout Reunion last Feb, and enjoyed it SO MUCH. The weather was invigorating. I enjoyed meeting so many great people and am looking forward to becomming part of a group here.

eMail: briskeyr@windstream.net

Tuesday paintouts from the Plein Air Painters of the Treasure Coast

This tuesday October 23 and next Oct. 30 we will be painting at the Village Shops, 6270 Highway A1A, Vero Beach. This is a ways north of Vero, near Indian River Shores. I may be a bit later than usual, around 10 am. I usually paint near the florist shop.

Hope you all can make it,

Lori McNamara

Tuesday paintouts from the Plein Air Painters of the Treasure Coast

Hi Everybody,

Tuesday, October 9th and October 16 we will paint at Fort Pierce Inlet State Park. It opens at 8 am. I usually am there around 9:30 till noon or a little later. For critiques, find me at 11:30 and we can discuss the paintings if you desire.

Fort Pierce Inlet State Park is located four miles east of Fort Pierce, via North Causeway.
Google Local - 905 Shorewinds Drive 34949

Its an interesting park with views of the inlet to the ocean, the ocean, and it has a nice nature trail with an oak hammock. There are pavilions and restrooms. View of inlet:

There is a fee of $3.00 for one person in a car, $5.00 for two. I am not sure where I will paint, look out for my red jeep cherokee.

Looking forward to painting with you all!

---

For the Love of Art Demos

Jan 25-27, 2008

Tuscaloosa, AL

3 Days of Demonstrations with Four Fine Artists

Kevin Macpherson: Painting a Landscape

Scott Burdick: Painting a Portrait

Quang Ho: Painting a Still Life

C.W. Mundy: painting a Figure

Includes a casual supper, four lunches in the Crystal Room, dinner in the Grand Salon at North River Yacht Club, live entertainment, tours of the Warner Home and the Westervelt-Warner Museum.

This is a rather expensive outing, but if you have the means and time you can't find a stronger group of excellent artists to watch working. For details contact Demo

Exhibitions

News From Val Sandell- Sarasota


One of her plein-air pieces painted at the High Springs Paint Out will be included in the American Women Artists National Competition. "Hay Bales," painted on the road to Camp Kulaqua, will be going to LeKAE Gallery in Scottsdale. East meets west.
And to further support the fact that the Gainesville area is one of the most beautiful in the state, her landscape titled "Rocky Shoal" was accepted in the Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional, to be held in Naples, FL. The painting depicts the Santa Fe River at the base of the suspension bridge in O'Leno State Park.

You can see Val's paintings from these exhibits at her updated we site HERE

Congratulations to Val!!

Plein Air Painters at Studio Waltz

Several painters from the Tampa Bay group have been invited to paint en plein air during Studio Waltz (its 15th year!) on Saturday, October 6. We'll be painting from 10:00 to 5:00 at the first stop of the tour, Coachman Park at the Clearwater Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave. in Clearwater FL. Studio Waltz is a wonderful event that gives the public a chance to tour studios of various artists in the Clearwater/Dunedin area. Maps of the open studio locations will be available at the library that day. See you there!

TBPAF Painting Days October

For the month of October: We will be painting out on Friday mornings at 8:00 at Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs. Meet in the last parking area on the left before the causeway.

Directions to the ParkFrom U. S. Highway 19 or Alternate 19: Traveling north on U.S. Highway 19 or Alternate 19 turn left on Klosterman Road and go to Carlton Road. Turn right on Carlton Road and go to the stop sign, turn left onto Curlew Place. Go to the next stop sign, which is Florida Avenue, and turn right. Go 2 miles to the red flashing light and turn left onto Sunset Drive (which dead-ends into the park.)

Hope to see you there!

Tuesday paintouts from the Plein Air Painters of the Treasure Coast

Hi Everybody!

This tuesday, September 25 and next October 2, we will paint at White City Park which is south of Ft. Pierce. From US1 you take CR712 or Midway Road. Go West on Midway Road till you get to the park on your left. Its a lovely little park, with a windy road that goes to the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. I try to get there around 9:30 and stay till noon or later. I drive a red Jeep Cherokee so you can look for that and find me.

Check out my new blog for the Treasure Coast Art Association, I will post things going on there and I am planning on putting these paintout invitations on there too, so if you don't get an email look there. http://treasurecoastartassociation.blogspot.com/

I am looking forward to painting with you all again!

Below is tuesday's painting, we will be back there October 2nd.

Happy Painting! Lori

Tampa Bay Sept. Painting dates

TBPAP are painting in the following locations and days throughout September. Come on out and join us---


Tuesdays--9:00 am -- Ft. DeSoto Park. Meet at the southern-most parking lot of North Beach near the bathrooms. Go to North Beach, turn in first parking lot, past the fort. Contact Don for info at 727-347-3061 (home#).

Fridays--8:00 am -- Robert K. Rees Memorial Park at Green Key, New Port Richey. Directions: Take U.S. 19 north through New Port Richey. About 1/10 mile north of Main Street light, go left (West) on Green Key Rd. (There is a large sign for "Value Lodge" on corner of this street). Go west to end of road, meet in parking lot. Call Jenna for info at 727-457-6174.

Product Test

Dear All,
Many of you know that www.frenchcanvas.com is one of my sponsors. I do product testing for them and they have a new masonite panel covered with a primed canvas. I've tried the product, and it is a well made panel and fairly light weight. An excellent product for plein air work. The panels are available in a wide range of sizes. You can find out more by visiting French Canvas's website at www.frenchcanvas.com and clicking on Masonite Panels. If you place your order by phone (800) 934 3424 by September 15, 2007, and mention me, they will give you a special 10% discount.

Love,
Linda Blondheim

IPAP

Hello, Everyone~
I've decided not to join IPAP and will not be organizing a local event for this year's IPAP World Wide Paint Out. Have fun painting wherever you are!
All the best~
Aliye

IPAP Worldwide Paint Out

Greetings, All~

I am considering membership in International Plein Air Painters (IPAP), and spoke with Jacqueline Baldini today. She told me that there aren't any Florida groups registered for the Worldwide Paint Out this year (Sept. 7, 8 & 9). Is anyone planning to participate in the event in their local area? If so, please share location, times, etc. Thanks! Will post if we organize one in North Central Fla.

Happy painting!

Aliye Cullu
Gainesville, FL

Painting Sunflowers

Dear All, I
am forwarding this info from a PAF member. I know nothing about this, but you may enjoy it.
Love,
Linda


Dear Artists:

This weekend I will be in the "Field of Gold" painting sunflowers and hopefully a few interesting figures will fall into my composition. The field of sunflowers is in full bloom right now so I will be taking advantage of this opportunity. The sunflower is a beautiful example of the golden mean. For information type in the golden mean and sunflowers and enjoy the various web sites. Hope to see you there! If you need to get a hold of me call me at 813-417-5867.

Kerry


Last year hundreds of people visited the Sunflower fields in Dover, FL. The farmer, Mr. Jones, started this field (approximately 7 acres) last year and people enjoyed it so much that he planted sunflowers again. Sunflowers are short lived in Florida. They have to be plowed under before the seeds hit the ground to make way for the strawberries.

Plein Air painters have permission to paint the fields and will be welcome. The rules are "do not disturb the sunflowers" by picking or pulling them up by the roots. People take pictures and they want everyone to enjoy them. If you need to pick a sunflower go behind the fruit stand.

The fields are just beginning to bloom right now and it is unknown when the peak will be.

Directions: I-75 to Brandon. Route 60 East through Brandon about 7 miles. Look for Brandon Farms on the right hand side. Bring umbrellas & water. Watch out for fire ants in the fields. Bug spray & cream for bites.
Early morning is a good time.

Brandon Farms Market
Contact: Debbie Holt
Mailing PO Box 93
Address: Sydney, FL 33587-
Physical 3931 State Road 60 East
Address: Dover, FL 33527-
Phone: (813) 685-4208
Fax: (813) 764-8098
Operation:
Roadside Stand/Market
Products:
Beans/Cantaloupes/Corn/CucumbersPeppers/Potatoes/Squash/Strawberries
Cucumbers-Pickling/Eggplant/Grapefruit/Grapes/Strawberry Products/Syrup/Tangerines/Tomatoes
Honey/Hot Sauce/Jam/Lettuce/Watermelon
Mangoes/Onions/Oranges/Peas

Updated location for TampaBay Fridays

We are meeting at Shelter 2 (instead of 1 as in previous post) at Anclote River Park, 8:00 a.m. on Fridays through August. There's a refreshing place to swim here, so bring your suit and lunch if you'd like to join us. All other info remains the same as previously posted. Call Jenna at 727-457-6174 for more information.

TampaBay Painting Days for August

We'll be painting at the following sites on Tuesday and Friday mornings throughout August. Find a shady spot, a little breeze, and get into the view!

Tuesdays: 9:00 am, at Ft. DeSoto. Directions: Take 275South to Pinellas Bayway; after you pass the toll booth, turn south(left) at the light (look for sign for Ft DeSoto Park and/or Tierra Verde). Go to North Beach parking lot to northwest corner of lot. Meet on the beach side of the footbridge near there. Call Don with questions at 727-347-3061 (home #).

Fridays: 8:00 am, at Anclote River Park. Directions: Take Alt.19 North through Tarpon Springs, to Anclote Blvd. (ABC Pizza on west corner) Go west on Anclote Blvd to stop sign at end. Go north on Baillies Bluff and the park come up quickly on the west. Meet near the first shelter/restroom area. Call Jenna with questions at 727-457-6174(cell) or to find us that day.

Paint the Parks - Top 100

Congratulations to Hope Barton (PAASA) and Karen Hitt (VPA) for being included in the 2007 Paint the Parks-Top 100 national competition. Formerly known as "Arts for the Parks" this is a very prestigious event for landscape painters.

Hope's painting "Big Cypress Swamp", and Karen's "Up from the River Bed" will be included in the traveling national show starting August 1-September 15 at Westboro Fine Arts in Topeka KS. It will then rotate to several venues throughout the country.

Congratulations Val Sandell

PAF member Val Sandell from Sarasota has achieved Signature status with the American Impressionist Society. HERE

Happy for you Val!!!
Love,
Linda

Tampa Bay Plein Air

Five Courageous plein air painters faced the heat, 94F,92% humidity, felt like 104 F!!! But we painted in one of the most beautiful and gorgeous area of the Florida west coast Key Vista nature park around Anclote River.

Here are some pictures that have not melted yet. Enjoy

Selling Guerrilla 9x12 pochade box

Hi, if anybody in the Tampa Bay group is interested in a Guerrilla 9x12 pochade box with a pastel tray (for 40 half sticks).
Brand new never used!! Still in box. $150.

Send me a note.

Virginia

July Paintouts Tampa Bay

We continue to paint en plein air throughout the summer in the Tampa Bay area! Please join us in July at the following days and times:
TUESDAYS--Phillipe Park -- in Safety Harbor; meet by the Indian Mound at 9:00 am. Directions: To get to Phillipe Park, take McMullen-Booth Rd. to Enterprise. Go east to end, take a left and then a quick right into the park, and follow signs to the Indian Mound; call Don Eaton w/ questions at 727-347-3061

FRIDAYS--Key Vista Nature Park -- in Holiday We will continue to paint here throughout the month; meet in the parking lot at 8:00 am. Directions: Take Alt 19 north through Tarpon Springs, go west on Anclote Blvd to stop sign at end, go north on Baillies Bluff about 2 1/2 miles and Key Vista Park will be on the west side of the street.
Call Jenna at 727-457-6174 with questions.

Tuesday paintouts from the PAPTC

I am stopping our weekly paintouts for the summer, it is just too hot for me.

Lori McNamara

2007 Crescent Beach Paint Out

Island Fine Art will host its third annual Crescent Beach Paint Out August 15-19 at their gallery in St. Augustine, Florida.


All plein air artists working in two-dimensional media are encouraged to apply. We have room for 30 artists at our event this year. Application deadline is July 15th, 2007. Island Fine Art is located at 6279 A1A South, just ½ mile north of the 206 bridge in Crescent Beach. For application forms or more information visit www.islandfineart.com or send an email to paintout@islandfineart.com.

In Memory Of Charles Sovek

I'm so sorry to announce that Charles Sovek has died. He was a warm generous man and did so much for the landscape painting community of the world. He will be missed by many of us who read his books and corresponded with him.

Still Life With Corn Pumpkin and Gourd
9x12 inches
acrylic on board
By Charles Sovek



Love,
Linda

Family Business

Friends,
David,our fearless webmaster, will be away on family business for a few weeks. If you need help with anything, please contact me instead. Save your notices for the web site for a few weeks. If it is something important, I will post it to the blog for you.


Remember to use plenty of sunscreen this time of year and try to paint early or very late in the day. We want to avoid skin cancer!!

Happy painting.

Love,
Linda

Congratulations to Jose Rodriguez

Award-winning Belleview painter lives for his art

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By BARBRA HERNANDEZ, VOZ LATINA
BELLEVIEW - Jose Rodriguez doesn't like to be called an artist. The renowned Belleview painter instead simply describes himself as a "painter."

Rodriguez was one of four local artists recently awarded with best-painting prizes in a contest sponsored by Marion County's Growth Management Bureau. His "Salt Springs Run" and "Silver Springs" won him a best-painting award and an honorable mention, respectively. For this Army veteran, picking up the paintbrush is more than just a hobby; it's his passion.

"That's my life. That's who I am," Rodriguez said. "I live to paint, and I paint to live."

His love of the canvas began more than 30 years ago with a horse portrait he painted while still in high school.

"My parents still have that on the wall," Rodriguez said.

Ever since, he has put his hand on more than 300 paintings and murals throughout a successful career as a multimedia artist and designer.

Rodriguez describes his style as part impressionist, part realist. His palette is filled mostly with vibrant earthly tones that perfectly emulate the colors of nature, his main inspiration. The lining of clouds during sunset, the movement of water down a river and the flight of birds make up some of Rodriguez's favorite scenes to paint.

"I just feel like this is what it's all about - trying to capture what you see and trying to show people," said Rodriguez, who also teaches graphic arts at The Villages High School.

More than showing them, Rodriguez takes admirers of his art to a place of comfort.

"Most people that see my paintings, they say, 'I want to be there,'" Rodr’guez said.

It is that which has won him the respect from many, including other local artists.

Jarry Stapleton has known Rodriguez for the past two years, and both are members of Ocala Plein Air Painters, a group for those who like to paint outdoor scenes. She described his paintings as "easy to live with and colorful." Nothing is missing from them, she said.

Perhaps, that comes as a result of the intensity with which he takes on every new project, as witnessed to by Stapleton during the painting workshops the group holds every now and then.

"He puts his whole self into it," Stapleton said.

Rodriguez is so serious about every stroke he makes on the canvas that, for him, it is like an obsession sometimes.

"I call it the artist's curse," he said. "You want them (spectators) to see what you see."

Fortunately for him, that "curse" has been more of a blessing in his career.

Many times, his work has been compared to that of classics, such as Monet. Although Rodriguez does not deny his deep admiration of the French impressionist, he is quick to assert he always strives for authenticity in his paintings.

"It's flattering and all, but I'm not trying to be Monet. I want to paint like Jose Rodriguez stuff," he said.

And that is something he plans on doing for the rest of his life.

"I want to paint until I can't lift the paintbrush," Rodriguez said. "I want to be that 100-year-old man that still paints."

Contact Barbra Hernandez at 732-5807 or barbra.hernandez@star-banner.com.

Paintout days in June for Tampa Bay

We will be painting at these locations in June. Mark your calendars and Come on out and paint with us. These locations have been picked for shade and breezes!

Tuesdays:
Meet at 10:00 a.m. in picnic parking area at Maximo Park. For information or questions, call Don (home number 727-347-3061) or Jenna (cell 727-457-6174).Directions: from St.Petersburg take 275 South to last exit before getting on Sunshine Parkway bridge. Turn right and Maximo Pk is right there.

Fridays:
6/8 and 6/15 at 8:00 a.m. - meet at Anderson Park in first parking area on left. Call Jenna w/questions (727-457-6174(. Anderson Park is north of Alderman Rd. on east side of U.S. 19 in Tarpon Springs.
6/22 and 6/29 at 8:a.m. - meet at Key Vista Nature Park in Holiday. Call Jenna w/questions. Key Vista can be reached by taking Alt.19 north through Tarpon Springs,go west on Anclote Blvd. then north on Baillies Bluff Rd.

Tuesday paintouts from the PAPTC

This tuesday we will paint at McKee Botanical Garden. Its located at 350 US Highway 1 at the southern gateway of Vero Beach. It opens at 10 am and admission is $6.00. Its a very lovely place to paint with lovely flowers and plants. If you have a Heathcote Botanical Garden pass it will be good for Mckee's too. The dinosaur display is up also so it should be fun to see.

They have asked us not to wipe brushes on the grass or dump our paint cleaners either.

Hope to see you there, Lori McNamara

McKee Botanical Garden

Color Camp with Larry Moore

September 7-9, 2007

O'Leno State Park

High Springs, FL

Accomplished artist and teacher Larry Moore leads intrepid campers through intensive color camp instruction. Emphasis on color theory, mixing, relationship and application.

O’Leno is one of the prettiest parks in Florida, and I’ve seen a lot of ‘em. We’ve rented the group cabins and Meeting Hall, so we can learn and paint from sunup 'til sundown. Cabins sleep between 4 and 10, many have their own bathrooms, kitchen and yes even electricity! And, because we’ve rented through Monday, you don’t have to check out until Monday morning if you want to stay a little longer.

This is shaping up to be one of the best workshops in the state of Florida. Great instruction from an award winning, nationally acclaimed plein air painter, on site lodging, painting from dawn to dark, and talking art around the camp fire. I expect this workshop to fill as fast as it did last year, so please email me ASAP if you want to attend, and I will put you on the roster. Your spot will be confirmed when I receive your deposit.

Fee: $350.00 per person includes 3 nights Cabin fee

Don’t want to stay in a cabin? $300.00 per person and you are on your own for lodging… and no s’mores for you!

Deposit: $50.00 non-refundable at registration

Make check out to Larry Moore and send to Jackie Schindehette at: 2020 NE 12 Place, Ocala, Fl 34470.
Final payment will be due the first day of the workshop.

Miami Plein Air Competition

June 2 - "Beyond Deco" Plein Air Competition
in Miami Beach FL sponsored by Miami Deco Preservation League. $900 in prizes, $35 entry fee. Paintings exhibited at Miami Beach Visitors Center Gallery, 1001 Ocean Dr, through the month of June. 25% sales commission. Details and application at MDPL.

Bogus Art Show Scam

EPA member Linda Apriletti reports that a show being promoted to artists is a scam. It is being billed as Miami Contemporary Art Exhibition to be held 15-19 Oct 2007 at Biscayne National Park in Miami. The Park Service reports, "Biscayne National Park has no record of the show for that period." See details at Bogus Show

Caution

For all painters in North Central Florida


I urge you to stay indoors and do not go out to paint during these terrible fires. The health department is asking everyone to avoid as much smoke exposure as possible. Also, the fewer people out driving around in the woods, the better for the teams trying to stop the fires and evacuate rural residences. Paint in your studio this week. My prayers go out to those families who have been evacuated and to the firefighters, Red Cross workers, EMTs and volunteers.


I am heading out Thurseday morning to paint in the Forgotten Coast Paint Out, then to teach in North Carolina. I will be back around the first of June. If there are any web site or blog issues with PAF, please write to David Johnson webmaster@pleinairflorida.org while I am away.

Love,
Linda

Art Show at Edenlawn Plantation

Next Saturday there will be an art show (May 12) at Edenlawn Plantation, 13377 Indian River Dr. Jensen Beach, Florida. For all artists interested in setting up, we will be arriving at 8:30am and the show will run from 10-4.

The plein-aire painters of Eden worked there for a month and this Saturday's event will be a show and sale of that effort. However, we are opening it up to all interested artists. The owner, will also be selling plants and books. There will be tours of the plantation during the show at 11, 1 and 3 o'clock.

News From Marge Drew

Please take a moment of time to meet my newest GUEST ARTIST, Mary J. Gray. Her paintings are beautiful. Her energy is positive, dynamic and contagious! It is so much fun to be able to paint with her en plein air. Learn more about my friend and fellow artist, Mary J. Gray by clicking on this link which takes you right to her beautiful plein air paintings.

HERE

If you wish to know the names and the sizes of her paintings, please put the cursor over the painting and all the information about the painting will be revealed. Thank you for taking the time to look at Mary J.'s wonderful art. Please contact Mary J. by using her email link which you will find at the bottom of her bio material on the Guest Artist page and let her know how you enjoyed her art.

I will continue to accept artists for this Guest Artist page. This service to showcase an artist is a Free Gift. It is designed to help artists working in any media and or style to get themselves organized. The artists have such fun doing it. It is easy to do even if you do not have computer skills, so if you or your artist friends are interested in becoming my Guest Artist, please contact me with my email link: margedrew_art@yahoo.com In the SUBJECT line please put: interest in being Guest Artist.

Sincerely,
Marge' Drew
http://www.artworksofmargedrew.com


rgedrew.com/pages/updates.htm#guest

Paint Outs Criteria For Professional Painters

This post is for those of us who make our living painting. I have put together a fairly strict critera for making decisions about whether I will do paint outs around the south. If you are starting out as a painter or just doing paint outs for the fun and socialization, this would not apply for you. There are dozens of paint outs now and we are constantly getting invitations to do them. This may not be your cup of tea, but I think if enough of us insisted on these amenities, we would have better sales and would not be taken advantage of.




My List



The paint outs are invitational only.

The promotors provide lodging and at least one meal per day to artists as well as cold bottled water and soft drinks each day.

Artists are not charged anything to participate but the promoter receives 40-50% commission on retail sales. There are no auctions. The paintings are sold at retail prices only at patron parties.

A wet room is provided for the duration with sales incouraged throughout the duration of the paint out.

There is paid advertising in style magazines and art sections of regional papers.posters, and invitation mail outs to art patrons for the exhibition.


Most of these events are aligned with a charity organization and most of them have a lot of corporate sponsorship to offset advertising and other costs. The artists do not have to foot the bill.

No awards are given as the emphasis is on sales and networking with potential patrons.

There is a web site set up to show the artists information and incourage patrons to read about the event and see daily paintings.

Stand up signs are given to artists which they take to painting locations to show patrons where they are painting.

A booklet is made which has the artist bios and paintings, which are given out to patrons.



This is the minimum compensation that a professional artist should expect for these events.

Linda Blondheim

White Springs Paintout Report

Suwannee Valley Plein Air Painters (SVPAP) and the City of White Springs sends a big thank you to the 18 artists from Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Tampa and other places that participated in the White Springs Paintout on Apr 18th. Also, to Plein Air Florida for their promotion, advice and support. Everyone had a great time, the weather was good and we had quite a few artists that sold paintings. The town was very pleased and there are plans to make this an annual event. Next time there will be ample lead time so more artists can plan to attend.
--John Larner

PAPTC Painting Site

This Tuesday and next, May 3 & 10, PAPTC will paint at Heathcote Botanical Gardens in Fort Pierce. The Gardens consist of an assortment of specialty areas including a Japanese Garden, Reflection Garden, Herb Garden, Rainforest Display, Native Plants Garden and a Palm & Cycad Walk. It's a lovely and fun place to paint. They are open 9 to 5 and admission is $6.00.

From downtown Fort Pierce you can go one of two ways: The more scenic route is to go south about 3 miles on Indian River Dr. Turn right (west) onto Savannah Rd. Go about .2 miles. The Garden parking lot is on the right. OR you can go south on US-1 from downtown/Orange Ave area about 2.5 miles through the Virginia Ave intersection. Pass Gardenia Ave, which is the next stoplight. Proceed one more block to Savannah Rd (no stoplight). Look for a Super Video Store on SE corner at Savannah Rd and Heathcote signs. Turn left (east) onto Savannah Rd; go two blocks. The Garden is on the left.

See you there -- Lori

Some of the bromileads and coleus at Heathcote.

Painting the Impressionist Landscape Workshop

June 5,12,19,26
Center Place Fine Arts
Brandon FL

TBPAP member Kerry Vosler will help you understand how to interpret what you are seeing into simple color values, and teach you techniques used by Russian and French masters of Impressionism. This class is en plein air and for adults and mature teens. She will demonstrate frequently and show you how to mix beautiful color. Supply list is available at the center.


Kerry has been a professional working artist for 20 years and is adept in pastel and oil. She studied portrait, figure, and sculpture under great masters such as Daniel Greene, Robert Liberace, Judith Carducci, and Impressionism with Lois Griffel and John Wurderman.


$125 Register at CPFA or call 813.685.8888

Report on Epcot Center Paint Out

L to R

Dorothy Gardiner, Kathy Wobie, Durinda Cheek, Mary Jane Volkmann.

Joe Taylor

Thursday night for dinner.

L to R

Linda Blondheim, Dorothy Gardiner, Stewart Jones, Durinda Cheek

L to R

Joe and Gloria Taylor, Durinda Cheek, Dorothy Gardiner

L to R

Barbara Perrotti, L Diane Johnson, and Durinda Cheek

As you can see we had a swell time at Epcot Center this year. It was wonderful as always. Thousands of visitors, in fact that is the most I have seen in the four years I have been there. Everything, including the weather, was perfection.

Love,

Linda

Tuesday paintouts from the PAPTC

This tuesday April 17th, we will be painting again at Peterson's Grove in Vero Beach. To get to the grove, take route 60 from Vero Beach heading west. Turn north (right) onto 66 (CR-615). Drive about a mile and its there on your left. Park along the animal pens so their customers have a place to park. I will probably get there around 10 am.

Peterson's grove is very cool, they have lots of quaint little sheds, old farm equiptment, interesting plants and animals. Pigs, ducks, chickens, pigeons, etc. Its lots of fun just to walk about. Look forward to seeing you there!

Lori McNamara

From PAF Member Marge Drew

Please take a look at the plein http://www.artworksofmargedrew.com/pages/updates.htm#guest air paintings of Robert Rohrich. This is the direct link to see his work as my guest artist. Robert, a Palm Coast, FL resident is an oil painter, member of PAF, ECPA, and PAASA. He is a very active painter. He also is in a show at Island Fine Art in Crescent Beach (with 2 other artists) The address there is 6279 A1A South; St. Augustine, FL. I would refer you to their website but unfortunately it has not been updated for shows since Nov 2006.. Their webmaster is in a graduate program and extremely busy.
If you would like to send Robert a message about his paintings you will find his direct email link at the end of his background information. I am sure that he would love to hear from you.
I invite any of you who do not presently have a website to be my guest artist. It is free, it is fun and also a great way to learn what kinds of things need to be pulled together if you are thinking of building a website, in addition to being able to share your art on line for a month with your friends, family etc. I do this as a gift.
Marge' Drew

Epcot Center Invitational
Art in The Garden Annual Festival




Selected PAF members will be painting in the World Showcase at Epcot Center on April 20-22 2007. This will be our fourth year at the Garden Festival and we are all very excited to be there. I will post pictures and stories after the event. The following artists will participate in the Epcot plein air event: Dominic Avant- Sarasota, Linda Blondheim- Gainesville, Durinda Cheek- Riggold GA, Charles Dickinson- St Augustine, Cynthia Edmonds-Winter Park, Elisabeth Ferber-Orlando, Dorothy Gardiner- Largo, , L Diane Johnson- Carey NC, Stewart Jones- Winter Park, Linda Pence- Gainesville, Charles Schaefer- St Augustine, Joe Taylor- St Augustine, Mary Jane Volkmann- Gainesville, Kathleen Wobie- Micanopy

Tuesday paintouts from the PAPTC

This tuesday April 10th, and tuesday April 17th, we will be painting at Peterson's Grove in Vero Beach. To get to the grove, take route 60 from Vero Beach heading west. Turn north (right) onto 66 (CR-615). Drive about a mile and its there on your left. Park along the animal pens so their customers have a place to park. I will probably get there around 10 am.

Peterson's grove is very cool, they have lots of quaint little sheds, old farm equiptment, interesting plants and animals. Pigs, ducks, chickens, pigeons, etc. Its lots of fun just to walk about. Look forward to seeing you there!

Lori McNamara

Heidi Edwards Exhibit at Arts on Douglas

Heidi Edwards Exhibit
Saturday
April 7, 2007

4 - 7 PM

The show will be up through April 28, 2007
Art on Douglas
123 Douglas Street
New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Upcoming Exhibit

Kanapaha Hosts Art Opening and Book Signing: Spring in the Gardens.



Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, Gainesville, Florida, offers tribute to the warm season with “Spring in the Garden”, a showing of fine art by six artists, five of whom are members of Plein Air Florida: Trish Beckham, Betty Blitch, Linda Pence, Mary Jane Volkmann and Kathleen Wobie. The paintings of local landscapes are in oils, acrylics and watercolors. Most were painted on location at sites including Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. The opening is scheduled Friday April 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. in Summer House at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. “Spring in the Garden” will run through July 6.



The event will also feature the premiere signing by Gardens' director Dr.Don Goodman of his newly released book, Summer of the Dragon. The book's title derives from a chapter of the same name that describes an alligator attack that cost Goodman his right arm. The work, which is described by Goodman as "memoiresque, but not a memoir," includes tales of a lifetime of interactions with animals and plants, some of Gainesville's colorful eccentrics, misadventures of student days and the story of Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. Thereafter, the book will be available at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens and local bookstores.

Plein Air Event - Concorso Rapido Dunedin Florida

April 14, 9 am – 5 pm (Saturday)
Concorso Rapido
Rescheduled

Everybody is invited to participate in Concorso Rapido.
Due to rainy weather the event was cancelled and is rescheduled to take place on
April 14th. Meet at 9 am at Paper Players – The Treehouse Garden Collection, 437 Virginia Lane, downtown Dunedin, to get your paper stamped. Take the day to do your plein air painting in the Dunedin area then turn in your work by 5 pm for judging. Refreshments are served at the awards party. The fee to participate is $15.00.
You may register in advance or the day of the event. The fee is: $15 DFAC members, $25 non-members, and $15 students w/ valid ID. For more info call Kaya or Catherine at 298-3322, or e-mail Kaya at kaya@dfac.org.

Posting Events

Dear All,

If you are going to post events and paint out information, please include the Who What When Where along with whether the painting locations have bathrooms, nearby restaurants, good or poor parking, footpaths, etc. You will also want to include the major access roads and simple directions for those painters who come from out of the area along with any fees.

Love,

Linda

Florida Artist Group Annual Symposium

Daytona Museum of Arts and Sciences

May 18 - September 3, 2007
Reception, Friday May 18

I am proud to be a member of this prestigious organization and I'm sure there are other PAF members as well.

Beginning with an opening reception Friday May 18th, and running through Sunday, September 3rd, this exhibit consists of works created by the oldest professional artists' organization in the state’s history.

The Florida Artist Group (FLAG) was formed in 1934 by a group of prominent artists in the Sarasota area called the "Gulf Coast Artist Group”. This group included Fred Messersmith (then head of the Stetson University Art Department), Hilton Leech, Lois Bartlett Tracy, and at least a dozen more of the most well established artists in the Gulf Coast region. The gradual inclusion of a wider membership base led to the eventual name change to “The Florida Artist Group”. In 1949 FLAG was incorporated as a State not for profit organization.

Over the years the group has exhibited in several museums around the state of Florida, including the St. Petersburg Museum of Art, the Miami Metropolitan, Cornell and the Boca Raton Museum of Art.

Every spring the group holds a members’ exhibition and symposium in a different Florida location, bringing in prominent out of state judges and speakers. This year’s judge is Dr. Donald Kuspit. Donald Kuspit is one of America's most distinguished art critics. Winner of the prestigious Frank Jewett Mather Award for Distinction in Art Criticism (1983), given by the College Art Association, Professor Kuspit is a Contributing Editor at Artforum, Sculpture, and Tema Celeste magazines, the Editor of Art Criticism, and on the advisory board of Centennial Review. He has doctorates in philosophy (University of Frankfurt) and art history (University of Michigan), as well as degrees from Columbia University, Yale University, and Pennsylvania State University. He has also completed the course of study at the Psychoanalytic Institute of the New York University Medical Center. He received honorary doctorates in fine arts from Davidson College (1993) and the San Francisco Institute of Art (1996).

Dr. Kuspit will be presenting a program to the group on Saturday, May 19th at 1:00 pm at the Plaza Resort and Spa. For information on attending his lecture, please contact Sydney McKenna (904) 824-2414.

Tuesday Paintouts from the PAPTC

Hi Everybody,
Tuesday we will paint again at Fort Pierce Inlet State Park. The photo is a view of the park. The Park is located four miles east of Fort Pierce, via North Causeway. Google Map

It's an interesting park with views of the inlet to the ocean, and has a nice nature trail with an oak hammock. There is a fee of $3.00 for one person in a car, $5.00 for two; they may have changed though. I am not sure where I will paint, look out for my red Jeep Cherokee. I get there around 9:30 or 10:00 am. Feel free to come when you want and stay as long as you like.

Happy Painting!
Lori McNamara

Wekiva Report

Friends,

This report is a bit late but I've been a bit busy. This is a group photo of many of the painters and staff from the Wekiva Invitational Paint Out in March.

It was a great event and many paintings were sold. The facilities were primitive but fine, cabins in the state park. We were treated royally, with catered meals, and a comfortable dining hall where we could relax, watch movies or paint at night. Some of the painters brought slides of their paintings, others brought books.

This was a wonderful event because most of us lived together at the camp for a week, and had a lot of social time, talking shop and just being kids together again. It was essentially, summer camp for painters.

The place was very pretty with lots of good painting sites. We were well taken care of. You can see more photos of the event on my Florida Paint Out Blog on the link list to the tight on this page.

Love,
Linda Blondheim

Goodbye to Yahoo

Dear Friends,

Effective immediately, please send all messages to the PAF blog if you are a team blogger, and occasional messages to me lindakblondheim@aol.com or lindablondheim12@hotmail.com if you are not on the blog team. http://www.pleinairflorida.blogspot.com/ I am closing down the Yahoo message service. I have gotten tons of very positive feedback from members about changing to the blog and no regrets, so I think we are on the right track.

The PAF blog will be for messages, workshop listings, reports on plein air paint outs, places to paint, exhibition announcements, etc. I want to keep the blog about our members and what they are doing. Also, the blog has a Comment feature at the bottom of each post, where anyone can make comments about each post. Just click on comments, type in your comments. You must have a blogger account to post in the comments.

Remember to use the web site for calendar listings, finding out of state and instate plein air info, your artist page and so forth. http://www.pleinairflorida.org/ and it is of course much more extensive than our blog will be. Send info to be posted to the PAF Website to David Johnson: webmaster@pleinairflorida.org

Goodbye to Yahoo message service and hello to Blogging for PAF.

Love,

Linda

Visit Plein Air Florida Website

The PAF Blog is a great addition for members to share info and news. But, your missing much if you don't also visit the Plein Air Florida website regularly. There you will find a Calendar page that lists paintouts, exhibits, workshops and other events. You'll also see sections for each PAF group describing their events, Artist webpages that introduce our members and their artwork, News stories of activities, Highlights of members' accomplishments, an alphabetical Members List, Hints to make your painting experience more enjoyable, Galleries that exhibit plein air paintings, and a Links page that provides helpful resources for painters.
See it here: Plein Air Florida Website

Oil Painting Class with John Larner

June 2,9,16, 2007

Create A Dream Workshop Center

30 NW Veterans Street

Lake City, Florida

For beginners and improvers

$50.00 for all 3 days

To Register: call 386.752.6954 or email
jlarner@se.rr.com

This and That About Our Transition to Blogger from Yahoo

TO: PAF members

I would like to suggest that you now start posting messages directly to the blog, as it is set up and ready. If you cannot figure out how to get on the blog team for PAF send me your messages and I will post for you. You will need to check your spam filters to find the invitation if you did not receive it. As I said previously, please leave posting to the leaders of your individual groups so that we do not have multiple posts of the same information.

RE: Posts about other peoples workshops

Please let the workshop teacher do their own posting or send it to me at my email and I will post. We are getting lots of posts from people other than the workshop teachers and it gets annoying after a time to keep getting post after post about workshops from people who are not teaching. All workshop teachers are welcome to post their own workshops but please do it yourself or give it to me to post for you. Do not ask your friends to do it for you. If you want to have friends pass them back and forth in your individual group emails, that's great, but not through PAF please.

I am shortly going to close this yahoo account so please switch over to reading the blog asap.


For those who are inexperienced in blogging, a blog stands for web log. It can be updated every day and is more attractive than a message group like Yahoo. Spam is controlled by me( owner of the blog ). Since people cannot post to the blog unless I invite them, spam will be at a minimum. It is possible to upload images as well as text, and live links to web sites. I have already begun to add web sites for Plein Air Florida members. The blog looks like a web page. If you wish to have non- Florida Plein Air information shared, please ask David to put it on the PAF web site. The blog is for members only, not out of state plein air organizations.

If you feel the need to post regularly and you have not received the invitation from me, please send me your email. If you want to just receive the posts in your email box, please put your email address in the FeedBlitz sign up box on this page. I believe if you will give this a chance, you will be very pleased with the blog.

Love,

Linda

L Diane Johnson Workshops

Each link is a complete Information/Registration package in PDF format:

SOFT PASTEL LANDSCAPE WORKSHOP 3-days

August 24-26, 2007

Historic Yates Mill County Park in Raleigh, NC

Pastel-Workshop-August 2007

SEPTEMBER SONG LANDSCAPE WORKSHOP 5-days Comprehensive in Acrylic, Oil & Pastel

September 24-28, 2007

Historic Yates Mill County Park in Raleigh, NC

Landscape-Workshop-September 2007

BREATH OF AUTUMN LANDSCAPE WORKSHOP 5-days Comprehensive in Acrylic, Oil & Pastel

October 15-19, 2007

Historic Yates Mill County Park in Raleigh, NC

Landscape-Workshop-October 2007

AUTUMN SPLENDOR LANDSCAPE WORKSHOP 5-days Comprehensive in Acrylic, Oil & Pastel

November 12-16, 2007

Historic Yates Mill County Park in Raleigh,NC

Landscape-Workshop-November 2007

About Blog Posting Privileges

Friends,

I have sent out about 20 invitations to be a team blogger. I have only had responses from David Johnson and Lori McNamara. If you want to post to the blog, you must respond to the invitation to open the Google blogger account. If you did not get the invitation, check your spam filter.

The FeedBlitz Email sign up here at the blog sends the blog messages to your email but does not allow you to post. They are two different things.

Love,

Linda

Linda Blondheim Art Camps

Linda Blondheim Art Studio

Gainesville, FL

Let's Study Color!!!!

Studio Art Camp

Saturday, July 14, 2007

9 AM-5 PM

Breakfast and Lunch included

$75.00

8 spaces left

This camp will focus on the way color works and on color mixing for painters. We will study the relationship of color to the elements of painting. I like to approach color with practical application and exercises, not doing boring color charts all day.

Design and Composition I - Plein Air

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville, FL

Saturday, October 6, 2007

9 AM-4 PM

Notebooks, snacks, and beverages provided

$65.00

13 spaces left

Entry fee for the Gardens is $5.00

Design and Composition II -Plein Air

Oleno State Park in High Springs, FL

Saturday, November 10, 2007

9 AM-4PM

Snacks and Beverages included

$65.00

15 spaces left

For those of you who have taken my Design and Composition Workshop, this one is more detailed. It is an intensive look at the design elements which make up good art. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn and study good design out on location.

Entry fee for the Park is $4.00 per car

Contact: For more info call the Studio at 386.462.5726 or email lindablondheim12@hotmail.com

White Springs Paintout

April 28 in White Springs, FL

A one day paintout in this old Florida town on the Suwannee River near Lake City and Gainesville is co-sponsored by the city and Suwannee Valley Plein Air Painters. It is open to all artists with $400 in prize money and only a $20 entry fee. Deadline is April 19. See details of this event at SVPAP Webpage

Welcome Plein Air Florida Members

Friends,


I believe this will be a great blog for us to pass information to each other and to share activities. If you would like to have your URL link included, please email it to me at lindablondheim12@hotmail.com And if you wish to post to the blog, send me your email address.

Love,

Linda