Panda Magic, painting of panda eating bamboo

SOLD"Panda Magic", 8x10, oil on canvas

A trip to San Diego would hardly be complete without a visit to the city's world class zoo. This zoo rivals any zoo I have ever visited, and although I hate to see animals in captivity, I was assured by friends that this zoo would make me feel better about that. In truth, I was very impressed with this zoo, as it has gone to great lengths to re-create the natural environment that the animals would normally live in. The animals are very well cared for, and when one considers that man is the greatest threat to some of the most endangered of the species found here, it makes sense to try to house them in a beautiful place where they can be nurtured and cared for.

The pandas are on loan from China, and are the most popular of the exhibits at the zoo. I captured the photo of this lovely little panda munching on bamboo shoots in the dappled sunlight, and decided that the panda would be my first painting when I got home from my trip. Here is my reference photo:
Is it any wonder that these animals are so beloved by humans?

I have been asked and consented to donate this painting to Pandas International, a non profit organization dedicated to helping preserve this beloved endangered animal. It will be available for purchase through their Black and White Extravaganza and Silent Auction, to be held in February 2010. If you would like to read more about the pandas at the San Diego Zoo, please go here.

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"Dreaming of Castles-Denmark", 11x14, oil

SOLD"Dreaming of Castles-Denmark", 11x14, oil on Masterpiece wrapped linen

My youngest son took a trip to Denmark to meet his paternal relatives in his first year of college some years back. The trip was remarkable in many respects in that it triggered a trip for his dad and I as well, just a year later. I have wanted to paint this scene for some time now, though I never had the confidence to attempt it before, truth be known.

Today I decided 'what the heck, just go for it!'

Here is the reference picture that I used of my son Scott on a dock staring at the beautiful Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød, Denmark.

Note: Please do not use this photo without my permission! Thanks! It's personal!

We Jacobsens have family there in Hillerod, Denmark, a stone's throw from the castle and I hope that if they are reading this that all is well with them. I still have wonderful memories of our dinner together in their lovely garden one midsummer's night, drinking Vouvray and telling many stories. I remember the day that we toured the castle together. Here is the Jacobsen family's coat of arms, that we saw that day at the castle:



Cheers to family and life and all that is lovely and good!"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
Phillipians 4

Sorry, this painting is not for sale.

mark

St. Augustine-bottom of Bridge Street-oil painting

"St. Augustine, Bottom of Bridge Street"- 16x20 , oil on linen

I originally posted this painting a couple of weeks ago, but today I decided to revise my painting of "St. Augustine- Bottom of Bridge Street".

I knew the painting had potential, but as usual when I am trying to paint alla prima (in one session), I become tired towards the end of the painting session and things get compromised. In this case, I just threw in the background palm tree without much regard to composition. I knew it was a flaw , but I didn't want to mess with it, since I knew that the overall painting was still quite good and very expressive.

Normally, whenever I try to revise a painting after it has dried, I totally screw the whole thing up. Today I decided that I should take my chances, and that is what I did.

The gesture of the bougainvillea (which is the focal point of the painting) directs the eye towards the palm tree, which leads the eye to the little sailboat. Hence the viewer's eye is led through the composition in a circular fashion. I think I am starting to get the hang of all this! Anyhow, I am quite pleased with the painting now,which is a view of the doorway into the courtyard of The Sanchez House, in St. Augustine, a lovely old historic house that was built by Jose Simeon Sanchez, one of the Spanish colony of Florida's first and foremost statesmen. Crafted of coquina stone, the house hosted the prosperous and distinguished Sanchez family until the 1950's.

Here is the original post that I did a few weeks ago, so please compare the two paintings side by side and let me know if I improved the painting overall!



Bridge Street in St. Augustine is one of my favorite streets. It has a couple of real old quirky homes on it with wooden doors that just seem to scream out, "Paint Me! Paint Me!"

Today I did just that. I painted this old wooden door, set in stone at the bottom of Bridge Street on the site of the old Sanchez House, and crowned with a garland of bougainvillea for good measure. I happened upon this gorgeous scene while out for an early morning bike ride a few weeks ago while in St. Augustine. The camera was set on some sort of weird setting, but no matter. I was determined to paint the scene regardless of my lousy photography!

Thanks so much for visiting my art blog. Please visit my official website here.

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A Parrothead's Paradise-Key West art

"A Parrothead's Paradise", 9x12, oil on Masterpiece wrapped linen canvas (Note: Click on the photo to see the impasto better)

If you don't know what a Parrothead is, just google Jimmy Buffett, or click this link about Jimmy.

The colors in this painting will definitely make you think of mangos and Margaritas, (or at least that's the way my mind works!) This was painted en plein air on a beautiful Florida morning, and it has beautiful thick passages of juicy impasto.

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God's Palette-large original landscape

SOLD"God's Palette", 24x36, oil on canvas

This painting has been a favorite of mine and has never been offered for sale before. It has been hanging in my family room since I painted it back in the fall of 2007, and has also been in a few shows, but now I have decided to replace it with one of my vineyard paintings. I used a reference photo that I took one day out at French Creek, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. It was a beautiful autumn day and the trees were at the height of their glory. I used a combination of both brush and palette knife on this painting.

St. Augustine- cracker style house, plein air

SOLD"St.Augustine-old Florida Garden"-9x12, oil on wrapped canvas

I visited St. Augustine this week and it seems I never get tired of the quirky architecture in that ancient city. You can pass a gorgeous Victorian mansion on one corner, turn down a side street and be greeted by an old ramshackle house with a tin , generally called a Florida cracker house. The main style of architecture in the historic district was strongly influenced by the Spanish for a time. The later colonial period brought the architecture of colonial America into play, and the two and three story wooden houses with the second story porches is the style that I most readily connect with St. Augustine. Whatever style you prefer- St. Augustine homes are old-very old- and like fine wine and mature women, their facades are filled with character and a comfortable familiarity that borders on déjà vu.

Even though the heat was practically unbearable this week, (96 degrees with very high humidity) I got out and painted quite a bit.

This was painted with palette knife only and has thick passages of paint. To see the impasto better, check out the photo below, in which I photographed the painting outside and the impasto shows clearly: (You can also click on the photo to see it better)

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Boat on Matanzas Bay-Plein air

SOLD
Boat on Matanzas Bay, St. Augustine, 8x10, oil on canvas

I got up early this morning and walked down to the sea wall on Matanzas Bay, in the heart of St.Augustine's historic district. The light was grayish golden and everything in the water and on the far island (Anastasia Island) was backlit and in sillouette. So I captured the moment and luckily only had a short walk back to the Inn where I'm staying, as the heat is dreadful! I could not crop the photo of the painting, since I am away from home, but hopefully you get the idea!

Here's the scene I painted, editing out the foreground boat. The lighthouse is on the far shore to the far left, and can just be seen.

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Wildflower Heaven

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"Wildflower Heaven" 6x8, oil on canvas- (Note: Please click on the painting to see the detail better.)

You'll think that you've died and gone to heaven when you see enter this lovely little garden. This painting was done with a palette knife only and has layers of thick, juicy impasto and vibrant color.

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"A Copper Kettle, Fruit, and a dusty bottle", 12x16

"A Copper Kettle, Fruit, and a dusty bottle", 12x16, oil on Claussens linen (Raymar panel)

This is the first still life painting that I ever did, so I've been kind of attached to it even though it's not very refined. If you are interested in this painting, please send me an email at maryanne jacobsen@aol.com.