"Superbloom, Lake Elsinore", 12x16, oil on stretched linen, Lake Elsinore, California superbloom, superbloom, poppies

 "Superbloom, Lake Elsinore", 12x16, oil

I was fortunate to visit Lake Elsinore in California, this past spring as the area experienced another beautiful superbloom , as a result of all the rains over the winter months.

The trails were breathtaking with color, and the bright orange poppies made a beautiful compliment with the blue of the lake.

As an artist, I noticed that the light temperature of the area, and California in general,  is much color than that of Florida, and so I found myself adjusting the beautiful blue light, with warmer shadows, and cooler lights.

The family and I had a great time, enjoying the flowers, the beautiful weather and the magnificent scenery.

It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

"Coffee Break", 12x9, oil on panel, coffee, chocolate, still life, painting ellipses, paint study, Ghirardelli chocolate, kitchen art, food art, kitchen decor

 "Coffee Break", 12x9, oil on panel

Lately, I have decided to work on improving my drawing skills, since drawing is such an integral part of painting well.

Today, I wanted to work on ellipses, because they are such an important part of still life painting. Actually, they are an important part of all styles of painting!

Take a lake filled with waterlilies, for instance. You simply cannot paint those waterlilies successfully unless you can paint an ellipse and understand how they change with perspective. Here is one of Claude Monet's famous waterlily paintings:

Notice how the shape of the flower changes as it goes back in perspective.

So I set up a still life with some ellipses in it, and worked on it all day. Yes indeed those things are hard to paint accurately! (At least for me.)

I love the little French sugar bowl and lid that my daughter-in-law gave me a while back, and so I included that in the picture as well as some Ghirardelli chocolate! Yum.

In the end, I think I made some progress in painting ellipses from an overhead perspective.

Maybe, I'll work on some water lilies next....

This painting is available through my website, under the "little gems" collection. Or send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com if interested in purchasing a little coffee and chocolate.

"A Summer Song", 12x16, oil on Canson oil paper, roses, white peonies, cup of tea, strawberries, poolside, still life floral, summer memories, a summer song, Chad & Jeremy hit, summer flowers, lazy days

 "A Summer Song", 12x16, oil on Canson oil paper, mounted on a panel

It's almost the end of summer, and that means cooler weather, autumn leaves, pumpkins and... wait. I am getting ahead of myself!

For now, I want to focus on what is left of these warm summer days. I set this arrangement up on a table near our pool, and contemplated the beauty of summer. Those long days produce luscious fruit, gorgeous gardens, and oh so many lazy days for the children!

When I was a student, I used to love summer vacation because it was my big chance to catch up on my favorite books. I was never much for beaches, (except for the fudge that could be procured at every boardwalk in America!), but I loved the slowness of each hot, sweltering day, and the gentle nights filled with fireflies and the strident hum of the crickets.

I painted this for those cold , wintry nights that will be upon us before we know it. The memories of summer are sometimes what helps us through those dark days when it is sometimes hard to get out of bed.

Although I live in Florida now, I truly miss the chill of winter- the frost- the ice- the bone-chilling cold. And yet I also recall the endless drear of February and March- the slush, the coats and gloves, and driving on slippery streets that are unfit for even reindeer.

So if you would like to preserve a bit of summer for the month ahead, "A Summer Song" might be the perfect thing! The painting is available through my website here. Send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com for pricing info.

Thank-you for reading my blog today, and enjoy the rest of summer!

" Pink and Blue", 5x5, oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, pink and blue, pink and blue flowers, impressionist florals, affordable art, small paintings, little gems

" Pink and Blue", 5x5, oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

This sweet little painting was done in an impressionist style. It has soft, yet vibrant colors throughout and was painted on gallery-wrapped canvas. I also painted the sides in the same color palette, so the painting can be wired and hung without a frame! Yay!

I am selling this sweet little gem through my website. It would make a lovely gift, or a pretty little accent piece to your home decor. Purchase through my website .

"Fur Coat", 6x6, oil on panel, small portrait of people, portraits of women, women in hats, fur coat, staying warm, people watching

SOLD

 "Fur Coat", 6x6, oil on panel

I think the most interesting thing in the world to paint is people. No two are the same, and everyone we see or meet on the street carries their own personal stories and experiences that have honed their characters, affected their demeanors, and sometimes touched our hearts.

Even a fleeting moment in time, like passing someone on the street corner, can evoke memories of someone we once knew who resembled the person on the corner, or perhaps created  thought patterns in our mind as we tried to figure out that person's own individual's story.

This woman in her big fur coat and hat has an enigmatic expression on her face that made me wonder what she was thinking, experiencing, or perhaps toying with in her own mind.

I love to people watch. How about you?

"Little Bluebird",5x7, oil on Ampersand panel, paintings of birds, little birds, Western bluebird, small paintings of birds, bluebird, affordable original art

 "Little Bluebird",5x7, oil on Ampersand panel

This little bluebird is hoping someone will give him a home, because he is tired of sitting on this branch. If you would like to give the little guy a home, you can purchase him for only $95 through my Daily Paintworks link here.

Thanks for reading my blog. Check out all my artwork at my website here.

"Gloucester Pink", 8x8, oil on panel, Rocky Neck, Gloucester Massachusetts, ice cream shop, Amy's Coffee and Cones, pink house, small study

"Gloucester Pink", 8x8, oil on panel

This little pink building was a little ice cream shop in Rocky Neck, in East Gloucester back in 2010, when I photographed it. I have no idea if it's still there (the ice cream shop), but the pink building was adorable to look at, and filled with pink flowers in the front yard. It was directly on the water in Rocky Neck, which is an artsy community in the seaside town of Gloucester.

Although I took the photo years ago, it took me this long to paint it! It was just a quick little 2 hour study. If you like it leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

"Red Lipstick", oil on linen, paintings of young women, women in hats, red lipstick, straw hat and pearls, portrait

SOLD

 "Red Lipstick", oil on linen

I had so much fun painting "La Vie En Rose" a few weeks ago that I decided to paint this cutie again.  

Whereas the first time, I did just a quick sketchy painting, I took more time with this one, and the results are more refined.

My favorite part of the painting? The flowers in the hat of course. It's funny but when you enjoy painting certain subjects, you tend to paint them more than once, and thus you become more and more proficient at that subject. While I'm not proficient by any means in painting flowers, I do paint them often, and for that reason, I saved them for last, knowing that they would be easiest to do when I was tired.

Feel free to leave a comment. I'd love your feedback!