Art Mundo's Brush With Nature Day at Adam's Ranch to Plein Air Paint

Art Mundo's Brush With Nature Day at Adam's Ranch to Plein Air Paint

It was a gorgeous and magical day of painting at Bud Adam's ranch with fellow artists today!  Bud is so gracious to allow us to come out and enjoy the beauty of his ranch, the animals and the incredible natural scenery.  By the way, Bud is an accomplished photographer, and the Indian River Magazine features one of his photos on the last page of each edition.  He's known for conservation and good stewardship of his land, and his landscape and wildlife photos attest to that.

I didn't take as much time to take photos this year as I took scads of photos last time I was out, but didn't get much painting done my first time out either.  It's a big area to drive around and scope out. After my first experience, I knew pretty much where I wanted to set up this time and so I got to painting.  But I thought I'd share the photos I did take today because it was just so GORGEOUS!!!

Since I paint in oils, there is always something to tweak and/or clean up before showing them off. Lots of little pieces of gunk stuck to my last painting, so it's going to have to dry so I can clean it off. Once the oil is dry, I then add a coat of Liquin to make the colors pop and give the piece a bit of a sheen.  Then that has to dry before I can scan it for a good photo to post.  So I will share my two finished paintings in a week or so.  For now, here are the photo.

This is the first scene I painted this morning.  Rain was predicted and it came and went before I even started.  This is a huge pasture and ideal for painting.  However, as the morning wore on, the wind picked up and about blew me away.  It was rather exciting, though, to paint some gray, moody skies to add atmosphere to my painting.  After finishing the first painting, I cleaned up, loaded everything into my car and headed to the oak hammock farther in for my second painting.

The sun was out by noon and it was gorgeous, though still windy.  I would have loved to set up and paint here, but there was literally nowhere to park my car to get it off the road.  Since it's a one-lane road, that wasn't happening.  A studio painting is in order for this one!

This is a closeup of horses in the huge pasture where I did my first painting.  I've never painted a horse!  Maybe I will give it a go with these beauties.  :-D

This is actually where the ranch we are allowed into begins.  That's a primitive old cabin, and it has the only bathroom out there.  Beyond that, it's the woods baby!

This is a closeup of the cows in the big pasture I did for my first painting.  They are simply blobs of burnt sienna and orange in the distance in my painting.  I absolutely LOVE the grayed greens and naples yellow in the trees in this photo.  Another painting perhaps!

The one-lane road along the canal - took this on my way back out at the end of the day.

Same one-lane road along the canal on my way out to the oak hammock.  Another nice shot for a studio painting!  I love the contrast of the reddish color bushes in front of the green trees in the scene!

Looking back before the last bend to go out toward the rustic cabin this afternoon.  It was becoming the "golden hour" with long, beautiful shadows.

More horses at play in the pasture of my first painting.  They kind of disappeared once I set up to paint.  Hmmm

Last bend on the way out this afternoon.  Good one for a studio painting.

Another of the last bend on way out.

On the way out the gate to the ranch offices and entrance.  Love the lone palm tree!

Oak Hammock where we were painting in the afternoon.  All the trees protected us from the wind and it was an absolutely lovely couple hours of painting!

Huge old oak in last pasture before going out last gate to ranch office.

Palm thicket - not something I'd try to tackle painting!  But I thought it was interesting.

Canal area off oak hammock where we were painting.  I really wanted to set up and paint out here for my second painting, but it was way too windy, and I'd had enough of that for one day.  ;-)

Brenda,  an artist I met today from Palm City was sitting next to the sulphur pond doing a plein air watercolor.  Her work is amazing, and my friend and I are wanting to set her up to teach a watercolor workshop at Art Mundo.  She teaches 5 acrylics classes a week at the Stuart Art Store.  I decided to put her into my second painting and it turned out great.  Plus she was happy to oblige! She was with her friend Jennifer and the so the four of us linked up, had our lunch and painted away. 

Making the left turn onto the east loop that goes to the oak hammock and tree house.

Another photo of the spot on the canal off the oak hammock.  There's so much color out there!!!

I hope you enjoyed touring Adam's Ranch with me.  Let me know what you think of our Florida habitat.  It's taken me about 20 years since leaving the beauty of the mountains and high desert of New Mexico behind, but I've finally grown to love painting palm trees and the wild beauty of my native Florida!