"La Jolla Wildflowers", 9x12, La Jolla California, yellow wildflowers, nasturtiums, plein air study, Maryanne Jacobsen Fine Art, impressionism, seascapes, Pacific coast, southern California art

"La Jolla Wildflowers", 9x12

Back in April I spent a couple days in La Jolla, California, one of the prettiest places in the whole country! All the rain that California experienced in January and February paid off , because the wildflowers were blooming everywhere! On the hillsides and the highways and byways of southern California, nasturtiums and purple statice were blooming everywhere in a riot of complimentary colors! Although the San Diego area is always lovely, I had never seen the area so verdant before.

So I took the opportunity to go to La Jolla cove and paint one morning. There was a slight breeze and the temperatures were perfect for painting.

The next week proved to be the beginning of a challenging couple months for me, of which I am still recovering. But I am happy that I had the chance to fit in a fun painting before the  problems started.

The additional good news is that this painting recently won a ribbon at the Venice Art Center's summer exhibit. Special thanks to juror Katie Dobson Cundiff.

If interested in this work, please send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.

Please check out my new website at Maryanne Jacobsen Fine Art

"Katie's Pitcher", 12x16, oil on panel, yellow ranunculus, oranges, plein air florals, Maryanne Jacobsen art

"Katie's Pitcher", 12x16, oil on panel

This painting was started a year ago in the garden of friend and fellow artist extraordinaire, Katie Dobson Cundiff. Katie would set up floral arrangements in her back yard once a week, and we could come over and paint them. The set-ups were always beautiful, but even more special was the opportunity to watch Katie paint!

I never finished the painting that day, but took it out yesterday and started working on it again. Unfortunately, I didn't have a photo reference, so I had to wing it.

Overall, I was happy with the way it came out.

Feel free to contact me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com, if you have any interest in this work, and do check out my new website at Maryanne Jacobsen Fine Art!

"Dark Roast with Cherries", 11x14 on Canson oil paper, paintings of roses, impressionism, Maryanne Jacobsen art, cherries, coffee, coffee break, morning coffee

"Dark Roast with Cherries", 11x14 on Canson oil paper

My old computer crashed last week, taking with it the photo editing program that I have used for years. I now am using a MAC, but have no idea how to edit or if the photos of my paintings look the way they are supposed to or not! This image looks dark to me, but I don't know how it looks to others! Very frustrating.

Anyhow, this painting was a nice break for me to do before I start a couple commissions next week. I love painting flowers and especially roses, and the Canson art paper is so much fun to paint on! Unfortunately, it's a little trickier to frame, but it can be done. I think this painting would look great with a linen border and that is probably how I'll frame it.

This painting won a second place Award in The Visual Art Center's "Color" exhibit. Please email me at maryannejacobsen if you have any interest in this work.

"Paisley Scarf", 16x16, oil on linen, beautiful women , women with scarfs, impressionism, gesture painting, Maryanne Jacobsen fine art, Paisley patterns, redheads

"Paisley Scarf", 16x16, oil on linen

I have recently been trying to get more painterly in my approach to portrait painting. So I have been prating 30 minute gesture drawings a couple times a week. The goal of these little gestures is to get freer, more spontaneous, in the approach to the subject, and not working about resemblance to any degree.

After doing about half a dozen of these quick gestures, I decided to try a bigger one with no time limits. "Paisley Scarf" was the result and I was not unhappy with it.

I love the old romantic looks of women from the silent era films and roaring twenties. This was an attempt to re-create that feeling in a woman's portrait.

"Along the Brandywine", 8x10, oil, Maryanne Jacobsen art, Brandywine Creek, Hagley Museum, Breck's Mill, Rising Sun Bridge, metal truss bridges, autumn colors

SOLD

"Along the Brandywine", 8x10

Back in October I enjoyed a lovely afternoon painting along the Brandywine, during the Brandywine Valley annual plein air event.

The original plein air painting that I did that day has sold, but yesterday I decided to try the scene again, remembering how difficult a scene it was for me to paint with the rapidly changing light that afternoon.

Even though this is a studio painting, it was still difficult for me because there were so many elements to deal with-water reflections, foreground rocky mess, trees in shadow, trees in light, etc. I enjoyed it nevertheless as it is best to challenge oneself with subjects outside one's comfort zone.

The subject was the old truss bridge just downstream of Breck's Mill near the Hagley Museum. I believe it is called the Rising Sun Bridge, if I remember correctly. The metal span is supported by stone structures on either side and it is one of only two metal truss bridges left in the area. I'm looking forward to returning there again in the fall.

This  little painting is available. Just send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com , if interested.