"Beauty amidst the Ruins", 12x16, Mission San Juan Capistrano, California missions, Beautiful gardens, California history, Maryanne Jacobsen fine art

"Beauty amidst the Ruins", 12x16

Mission San Juan Capistrano is a place of quiet peace, gorgeous gardens and ghostly whispers of the past. 

Echos of long ago struggles can hardly be detected in this place of serene fountains, gracefully curved arches and seasonal flowers, yet the missions stretching along the California coast  have a long history that profoundly shaped the culture and founding of California and the history of its ethnic peoples.

I've visited and painted at Capistrano many times and never tire of its beauty. The old church was destroyed by an earthquake at least a hundred years ago and the ruins of that church are a solemn reminder of nature's fury and lack of favoritism.

This painting reflects a bit of both- the light and shadows cascading over the rocks of the ruins, while the lush fragrant gardens beyond beckon us into a season of hope. It's a joy to visit the Mission. Someday I intend to go back again, when this COVID mess is over!

"Sunroom at Chanticleer", 12x16, Chanticleer Gardens Wayne Pennsylvania, St. David's, botanical gardens on the Main Line, palette knife paintings

 "Sunroom at Chanticleer", 12x16

This was painted with a palette knife only. Once in a while it's fun for me to keep my palette knife skills intact. I chose this sunny porch scene, which is off of the sunroom at Chanticleer, a lovely oasis of gardens surrounding a lavish estate in St. David's , Pennsylvania.

I've done other paintings of this lovely place, including Chanticleer's Garden and An Invitation to Rest. Chanticleer is a lovely botanical estate to visit any time of the year!

For more info about Chanticleer including hours and ticket prices, visit their website here.

Thanks for visiting my blog. If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.