"Dark Roast with Cherries", 11x14, oil on oil paper, framed, award-winning paintings, color, Maryanne Jacobsen art, floral, coffee, roses, cherries

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

I was very happy to receive a Third place ribbon at the reception last week at The Visual Art Center's "Color" exhibit.

The Visual Art Center is located in Punta Gorda and offers many wonderful classes, workshops and exhibits throughout the year. Check it out here.

This painting is available. Please contact me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com, for more info about the painting.

"Lovers in the Rose Garden", 9x12, plein air oil study, The Ringling, Museums in Sarasota, John and Mabel Ringling, Mabel's Rose Garden, plein air, wedding venues in Florida, statues, small paintings, Maryanne Jacobsen art, romance, mystery

"Lovers in the Rose Garden", 9x12, plein air oil study

I always love painting at The Ringling, but this week was a bit of an exception. The wind from Hurricane Nate, far away, yet still in the Gulf, was  a force to be reckoned with as I attempted to paint this courting couple in Mabel's Rose Garden. Named for Mabel Ringling, the rose garden is filled with statues of lovers, beautiful roses, and a small pavilion, with a backdrop of ancient canyon trees to add mystery to the charm.

It was that mystery that I wanted to capture in this little study, pitting the dark banyan forrest against the sun-lit statue of the lovers.

The wind whipped everything about. My trash basket flew away dozens of times, and at one point my hat blew off and flew right into the wet painting. Not to be deterred, I held tight to my easel and did the best I could in the two hour time frame I had given myself.

The Ringling, formerly known as the The Ringling Museum, is a real treasure in Sarasota, Fl. Seated right on Sarasota Bay, Ca' D' Zan, the mansion of John and Mabel Ringling, is a jewel to behold. There are museums to wander and manicured grounds to explore, but choosing a cool day is preferable since it gets very warm throughout the year.

The temp was about 91 when I painted this, but the wind took away some of my discomfort.  As I painted, I wondered who the couple were, how the young man had lost his hand and if the fair damsel holding the basket truly cared for him.

It's all a mystery!

This little plein air study is available for purchase. Just contact me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com, for more information.

"An Evening in Zurich", 12x12, oil on panel, Cityscape, nocturne, Switzerland, Zurich, Maryanne Jacobsen art , Münsterbrücke, Zunfthaus Zur Meisen, vacations in Zurich, Fraumünster Church, lamplight

SOLD

"An Evening in Zurich", 12x12, oil on panel

I painted this scene to reflect the warm glow cast over the Swiss city at dusk as the sun is setting. A streetlight casts additional warmth onto the bridge in this fall scene, reflecting Old Town Zurich's quietness after the summer tourists are gone.


A couple walks hand in hand on the old Münsterbrücke, grateful that for now, at least, the bustle of traffic is gone and only pedestrians share the bridge with them.

Warm lights from the windows of the elegant old Zunfthaus Zur Meisen cast warm reflective light onto the Limmat River, and it is fabled that ghosts of ancient guildsmen, artisans and vintners still traverse the hallways of the museum where their collections are kept.

Across the street stands The Fraumünster Church, another historical relic in Old Zurich's history. It is built on the remains of a former abbey for aristocratic women . The monastery buildings were destroyed in 1898, and the church building today serves as the parish church for one of the city's 34 reformed parishes. A landmark in Old Town, the Church's clocktowers reflect the time on every side of the spire.

I painted this in muted tones to reflect the atmosphere of a nocturne in Old Town Zurich. If you have ever traveled to that beautiful city, perhaps this painting will evoke some special memories for you. I certainly hope so!

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