"Hunt Country" 9x12, oil on panel, paintings of horses, Radnor Hunt, hunt country, Chester County Pennsylvania, Plein air painting

 "Hunt Country" 9x12, oil on panel

Two years ago I participated in Plein Air Brandywine Valley for the 8th or 9th year in a row. I always enjoyed returning to Chester County, Pennsylvania for this awesome fall paint out. The fall colors were always spectacular, as were the many gorgeous locations where we were permitted to paint.

On this particular bright autumn morning, the group was set up at a private residence and horses were already grazing in the meadow.

The morning light was clear, the air was crisp and to top it off we suddenly heard horns in the background.

Knowing we were in hunt country, the artists raced across the road with cameras in hand to capture the scene as the Radnor Hunt approached to the tune of beagles barking and horses prancing through the woodlands.

The horseback riders of Radnor Hunt graciously came over to chat with us for a bit before they continued their pursuit of foxes and we returned to our easels.

This is the second year that the Paint Out has been cancelled due to Covid. The hubby and I are going to go up to Pennsylvania in mid October and I hope to have a chance to do some painting of that gorgeous fall foliage that I so miss down here in Florida.

This painting is available. Please contact me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com if interested.

Foghorn Morning, 12x24 oil on panel, seaside cottage, Ocean Point Maine, Maine landscape, foggy day, Don Demers, Maine seascape

 "Foghorn Morning", 12x24. oil

I think it was at least 10 years ago or more that we took our first trip to Maine. It would be the first of many trips that we would take there.

Maine has a rugged, ethereal beauty. Although there are days that are drenched in luminous sunlight, there are also all those foggy days where it is like the world has been submerged in fairy mist.

On one such morning my husband and I decided to leave Boothbay Harbor and drive to nearby Ocean Point, where I had heard that renowned marine artist Don Demers was going to be doing a plein air demo. We found the site and just started following a ragtag group of artists dragging their easels up the road towards the beach.

The site of his demo was the home of one of Don's friends, and the house sat squarely on a beautiful piece of ground on Shore Rd. overlooking the ocean and various small islands including Ram Island and it's lighthouse.

Although the day started out clear, before long the air became misty and the fog started coming in. In the distance a foghorn blew intermittently as Don finished his painting. The property on which the demo was held was called "Seven Lights" , because according to the owner, you can see the lights from seven different lighthouses on the surrounding islands.

I took a photo of the house next door, which had a lovely seaside Victorian style, and that is the subject of the painting. I tried to re-create the feeling that the house was being shrouded in mist as the fog set in. 

Hopefully, I was somewhat successful.

It has been quite a while since I felt like painting. I have had health issues in recent months that have drained me of my energy. I hope this new painting will be the beginning of many more as I continue to feel better.

Thanks for visiting!