By Kathy Collins
On a recent gloriously sunny day, with a hint of fall in the air, members of the Brandon League of Fine Arts (BLFA) gathered at the Palmer House Bed and Breakfast in Lithia for their monthly Paint Out. Members are invited to go to a variety of places and paint Plein Air. This is a French expression which means “in open air” and is used to describe the act of painting outdoors.
Painting at the Palmer House Bed and Breakfast was also significant for both owner, Gail Palmer, and Brandon League of Fine Arts member, Roxanne Tobaison. Tobaison created a painting of the Palmer House over 13 years ago which hangs in the foyer of the home.
Gail and her husband, Bob, own and run the Palmer House Bed and Breakfast. Gail said, “I am honored to have members of the BLFA come out to paint different areas of the grounds.”
Palmer House Bed and Breakfast is a beautiful retreat close to home. The 8 acre property is tucked behind FishHawk Trails and the Alafia River. It is a perfect getaway for locals as well as out of town visitors.
The Brandon League of Fine Arts holds Paint Outs once per month, except in the summer. Chris Klein is president of the organization and loves to paint outside.
“Plein Air requires you to be intuitive and impulsive because the light is constantly changing.” Klein added, “When picking a place to paint, I like Florida beaches, moss in the trees, oaks and ferns.”
Both Klein and Tobaison agreed that Palmer House Bed and Breakfast has it all.
“This place is so pretty because there are so many points of interest,” said Klein.
“We are here to serve the community. We have grown over the years, and we are grateful to the local community for supporting us,” said Gail.
The Palmer House Bed and Breakfast is located at 2221 Hinton Ranch Rd. in Lithia. For more information, visit www.palmer-house.com or call 654-0961. For more information on the BLFA, visit www.blfa.us.
