Bittersweet Memories

SOLD"Bittersweet Memories", 12x16, oil on Claussens linen

I named the painting "Bittersweet Memories" in keeping with the dramatic essence of the piece. The elements of an empty goblet, a lemon and peel, and blood red roses set against a midnight backdrop add romance, intrigue and a little mystery to this elegant still life. I have always been idealistic in a romantic and impractical way and so is this still life painting, if you think about it. The glass is empty, and all that remains are elements that are sour and thorny. Nevertheless, I didn't see it that way when I painted it. I saw a romantic grouping of beautifully colored and variantly shaped elements placed under a mysterious (chiaroscuro) light setting.

This painting was done a while back and I am thinking I would like to do more still lifes in the future, with the chiaroscuro lighting effect that worked so well in this painting. Right now I am working on a commission piece, but I definitely will be switching gears to some still life contemporary realism pieces soon, so stay tuned!

Renaissance child-final- paintings of children, little girls in bonnets, Renaissance fair

SOLD"Renaissance Child", 9x12, oil on Vincent Masterpiece linen

I painted this a couple weeks ago and had a feeling it wasn't quite finished. Today, I took it out and worked on it some more, and now I'm happy with the result. If I still have it a couple months from now, I'll probably make some additional changes, but right now I feel that I captured the winsome expression on the little child's face.

You can compare the two paintings below, to see the subtle changes that I made today.

Maryanne Jacobsen added the following additional info about this painting on September 25th, 2009:

Thanks to the many people who left KIND comments about my most recent painting, "Renaissance Child". Sadly, it is not always possible to have a live model when painting portraits and therefore one must paint from photographs. I utilized the photo below, which was taken from the Wet Canvas free reference library and cropped it, to come up with the reference for "Renaissance Child".


I was hooked on the beguiling look on this youngster's face and I have come to find out that I was not the only one drawn to her image and determined to paint her. Fellow Daily Painter, Kay Crain confided that she has been thinking of painting her also, but I beat her to it! Yesterday, I also discovered that talented San Antonio portrait painter Susan Carlin has already painted her! So she beat me to it! Obviously great minds think alike.

For those who wondered about the inspiration for the painting, now you know.

I am not going to sell this painting at this point in time, as I felt she had some show-worthy potential, but thanks for looking!

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"Sun-kissed", tropical island, palm trees, beach sunset painting

SOLD"Sun-kissed", 10x8, oil on canvas panel

Lately, I have been feeling as though my artistic journey was stagnated. I couldn't see any progress in my work and felt as though I had reached a plateau in my painting ability. With that in mind, I knew I needed some help and a change in my approach to painting. So today I took a class with award-winning, nationally recognized artist and illustrator, Ron Sanders. Ron really helped me approach this little painting in a brand new way. He helped me look at composition, values, color and brushwork in ways I had not considered or understood before. I feel I am going to make a breakthrough , if I continue to focus more on these critically important aspects of a successful painting. I am very pleased with the way this came out, as I feel it shows definite improvement over my most recent landscapes. I am looking forward to learning more from Ron, and building upon what I am learning!

Note: I worked on this until almost 10PM and need to try to photograph it tomorrow in better lighting. Hopefully, I'll still like it in the morning light!

In the Butterfly Garden, MArie Selby Gardens, butterflies, hollyhocks, tropical gardens

SOLD
"In the Butterfly Garden at Marie Selby's", 11x14, oil on linen

Marie Selby Gardens is one of my favorite places to visit and to paint. If you ever are visiting Sarasota, Florida, don't miss these lovely botanical gardens with their tropical plants, giant banyan trees and waterfront view. There's also a restaurant where you can lunch out on the patio and enjoy the sunshine!

Red Unitard- dance art, ballet art, paintings of dancers

SOLD
"Girl in the Red Unitard", 16x 12, oil on linen (Note: Please click on the image to see the detail better)

I am having so much fun re-connecting to my former ballet students who are on Facebook, from my days when I was the artistic director of a ballet school and company in Pennsylvania. I painted this portrait of one of my students, Ashley Walker, in her red unitard. The painting took a second place ribbon in an art show about a year ago...


The painting really can't do her justice, and I think since I am a little more accomplished this year, than I was when I painted this, I may try it again. I can now look at the photo of her and see that I didn't get the tilt of the head quite right, and I made the neck a little long. I recall that it took forever for me to paint the hands!Sheesh! When will hands get easier?

I am very, very happy to see that my former students are doing well in the ten plus years since I've last seen them!

Lake Trasimeno-Umbria

SOLD
"Lake Trasimeno-Umbria"- 10x8, oil on canvas panel

Three million years ago, there was a shallow sea in Umbria. A depression formed by geologic fractures allowed the birth of present-day Lake Trasimeno, a lake in Italy's Lake District that is slightly smaller than Lake Como.

Historically, Trasimeno was known as The Lake of Perugia and this name makes it easy to understand the importance that the lake has always had for the whole of north-western Umbria and for the Tuscan Chiana district. In prehistoric times, this lake was extended so as to almost reach Perugia.

This painting was done with a limited palette using both knife and brush. Thanks very much to Kathy Schmocker for the use of the reference photo for this painting.

If you would like to purchase this painting, please contact me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.


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Cocky-cock-a-doodle-do!

SOLD
"Cocky", 8x10, oil on canvas, (Note: Click on the photo to see a close up of the texture.)

I am delighted to have been chosen the artist of the week at The Top Artists' Directory!

Just click the link and check it out and please visit my website here, to see my latest paintings and exhibit information.

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Bleeding Heart

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"Bleeding Heart", 12x12, oil on wrapped canvas (Note: You can click on the picture for a better view.)

I usually am not a fan of my own artwork, but this piece speaks to my heart on many levels. Suffice it to say, that it never takes much to make me cry. Whether it's a silly old movie, or a dog with soulful eyes, I am guaranteed to cry at the drop of a hat.

That being said, there is something very beautiful about the sadness in this painting- something poignant and unfulfilled begotten in a world of broken promises. I consider myself incredibly blessed, with a husband of many years who loves me and still brags about me in ways I find silly and embarrassing. So this is not about me. This painting is about others, and the sadness they feel when the people they most love and respect let them down. If I could sit face to face and talk to them, I'd tell them all the same thing. The world will let you down. But God will not.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”- Matthew11:28-29

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Beauty in the Garden

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"Beauty in the Garden", 9x12, oil on linen

I painted this young lady quite a while back, but I had it in my mind to go back to her one day and fix a color temperature problem in her dress. Last night I finally took the painting out and fixed the problem. (I had put two warms next to each other, where her arm met her dress.) Although I saw a few other things that I felt could be improved upon, I decided to let her be. She has a tranquil beauty and serenity that is rather mesmerizing, and that is one of the reasons I have been reluctant to sell her. She was inspired by a painting by an old master of a young girl in a garden that I found in a book about paintings of roses.

Even though this painting has had some color temperature problems, it has been in quite a few exhibits, including the 145th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings, in Philadelphia, Pa., sponsored by the Philadelphia Sketch Club. I'm sure this girl with the red sash will see other exhibits as well.

I am hoping that now that summer is over, I'll have some new opportunities to do some portrait painting from life soon.

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Seaside Villa

SOLD
"Seaside Villa", 10x8, oil on canvas panel

Uncomplicated and direct, with a quirky horizon line. Don't worry about it, though. It's just paint.

If you are interested in this painting, please contact me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com for purchase information.

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