I haven't painted in a few months due to a fractured vertebrae in my back, which has been very painful.
But because it is the season for snow and wam coats, and Christmas carolers, I decided to post this sweet little painting from a year ago.
It reminds me of a bygone era and a simpler time. I hope that you enjoy it.
This is a plein air painting that I painted on my lanai, a few years ago. I set up the flowers and fruit on the table next to the pool, and went to town painting it.
It became a study for a larger work that I did, called Reverie, which won a first place ribbon under esteemed judge Aline Ordman.
I used that wrought iron table often for plein air still life setups. Sadly, it got so rusty I had to through it out.
Let me know what you think of this painting in the comments below!
Thanks for visiting. Be sure to check out my website at Maryanne Jacobsen Fine Art.
I've had these artificial flowers laying around for years. I put them on a shelf today and painted them for the second time in 2 days.
I admit, that they were not very easy to paint. I hope my struggles don't show too much.
If you would like to purchase this little painting, just send me a message at maryannejacobsen@aol.com, and thanks for looking.
Back in the fall, we took a trip to Amish country in Pennsylvania. We stayed at an organic farm, and the owner introduced us to all his chickens, roosters, goats, cows and ponies.
We had an awesome week and the farmhouse was especially rustic and cozy. I so enjoyed sitting on the porch in the morning, having my coffee, and watching the hens and roosters come up on the porch and walk around.
There was also a kitten who lived under the porch that became my best friend after I gave him half of my tuna salad lunch.
It took me a while to get together the nerve to paint the porch scene. There was a lot going on with the light and shadows, the stone walls and perspective and I was a little intimidated by it.
But I knew it was a good composition and so I set my mind to painting it, and this is how it turned out.
Overall, I was happy with it, but think it would be even better in a larger format. We shall see if I attempt that or not.
Thanks for visiting my blog. See more of my paintings at my website.
Quite a while back, we had a family vacation in the Florida Keys. When your kids are guys and young adults, it's hard to interest them into taking a vacation with you. Right?
But upon proposing the Florida Keys, the guys all changed their minds.
In case you are out of touch with civilization, "The Florida Keys are a string of tropical islands stretching about 120 miles off the southern tip of the U.S. state of Florida, between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. They’re known as a destination for fishing, boating, snorkeling and scuba diving. The southernmost city of Key West is famous for Duval Street’s many bars, Mallory Square’s nightly Sunset Celebration and the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum." ― Google
Although the ultimate destination was Key West, accommodations there were a bit pricey for a family of 5 adults, so we elected to rent a villa on Duck Key instead. Duck Key is located about in the middle of the island chain, and was named by British General George Gauld in his chart of the Florida Keys. The name comes from the shape of the island, which resembles a duck's head when viewed from above.
I painted this model many times over the years. She has a classic beauty about her, and even, features.
When I first began painting in 2006, she was one of the first young ladies that I painted from life in a studio setting. I wonder what she looks like now- almost 20 years later!
If you like this portrait send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.
This is one of many paintings that I have done of Monhegan Island, an idyllic little island about 10 miles off the mainland of Maine.
The red house has had a few owners, and each one has modified the home somewhat, making it a little difficult to draw and paint from an architectural standpoint.
It sits at the head of swim beach, directly across from the tiny island of Mañana. There were many small boats scattered along the beach path on the day that I visited. I loved the way they created a direct path to the couple, who were the secondary point of interest in the painting.
This painting is available through Gallery 444 on Post Street in San Francisco.
Thanks for visiting my blog today.
Eastern University has a beautiful campus on the Philadelphia Main Line, at St. Davids. I visited there many times when my son went to school there, and later when I would come to paint the incredibly scenic ponds, flower gardens, wild geese, and magnificent old stone buildings.
But the waterwheel was always my favorite focus point. This is a late spring, early summer view, when the Tiger Lillys are blooming in June.
There are many walking paths and the surrounding neighborhood with its regal old homes also make for a painter's paradise.
Sometimes if I have a good linen panel that I paid decent money for, I'll end up doing a really lousy painting on it. In the past, that would have really bothered me, because these linen panels can be very expensive! Recently, I solved the problem of guilt over a lousy painting on an expensive panel by taking it outdoors, sanding it down by hand till the surface becomes as smooth as I can get it, and then putting a nice thick coat of Gamblin white ground on it.
The portrait above was painted on just such a surface. I wasn't able to get all of the impasto marks completely smooth, but they were smooth enough to do this portrait, and I was pretty happy with how it came out.
I think I could have been a little bolder with the light on her red hair, but otherwise, I was okay with the result.
Have you ever felt like you wasted something and figured out a way to salvage it?
Let me know in the comments below.
Thanks for visiting my blog, and do come back again!
This painting is reminiscent of an old fashioned girl. She is demure , but beautiful and I can picture her carrying a parasol down a tree- lined street with Spanish moss dripping towards the ground.
Most of this was painted from my imagination.
If you have any interest in this little gem, it can be purchased through my website by sending me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com
I tend to eschew supermarket flowers. They never really turn me on the way an arrangement in a floral shop can. But who can afford the luxury of floral shop flowers anymore? I can't.
I have flowers I my garden, a typical Florida garden. But the flowers I love, like delphiniums, peonies, hydrangeas, hollyhocks and roses, don't grow here. Well, some roses grow here, but I haven't had luck with them.
So the other day in Publix, I picked up an expensive arrangement of the usual- carnations, daisies, and two roses and brought them home. After looking at them for a couple days, I decided to paint them. Here's my set-up:
While painting, I always listen to Pandora. I recently heard a song called "Supermarket Flowers" by a British singer /songwriter named Ed Sheehan. It's a lovely little ballad about his mom and I cry every time I listen to it. I sent it to my three sons and told them I want this played at my funeral. They rolled their eyes. But I bet one of them will remember it when the time comes, hopefully.
Thanks Ed, for this lovely song. I saw that you wrote it back in 2017, but I have no idea why I haven't heard it until recently.
If you would like to listen to "Supermarket Flowers" just follow this link.
If you would like to purchase the little painting through my website, please go here.
Thanks for visiting my blog. Please come back again soon.
This painting combines two of my favorite things- horses and vineyards.
I chose a limited palette for this scene, which created a nice harmony throughout.
Please let me know what you think of this painting in the comments below!
Thanks for visiting my blog. Please take a moment to visit my official website as well at https://maryannejacobsenfineart.com .
I have had many mutts over the years, but none as dear as Mutsky, who would hang out under the trees all dreamy-eyed, as if waiting for the bonny lass of his dreams to come along.
Sadly, Mutsky, didn't realize, it was too late for that.
Did you have a favorite dog growing up? Was it a mutt? Tell me about it in the comments!
By the way, Mutsky needs a home! If you are interested in purchasing this sweet little canine, send me a message at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.
