"Farmhouse Morning", 8x10, Pennsylvania landscape, Amish country, pumpkins , autumn, front porch, red wagon, fall, pumpkin season

  "Farmhouse Morning", 8x10

Back in the fall, we took a trip to Amish country in Pennsylvania. We stayed at an organic farm, and the owner introduced us to all his chickens, roosters, goats, cows and ponies.

We had an awesome week and the farmhouse was especially rustic and cozy. I so enjoyed sitting on the porch in the morning, having my coffee, and watching the hens and roosters come up on the porch and walk around.

There was also a kitten who lived under the porch that became my best friend after I gave him half of my tuna salad lunch.

It took me a while to get together the nerve to paint the porch scene. There was a lot going on with the light and shadows, the stone walls and perspective and I was a little intimidated by it.

But I knew it was a good composition and so I set my mind to painting it, and this is how it turned out.

Overall, I was happy with it, but think it would be even better in a larger format. We shall see if I attempt that or not.

Thanks for visiting my blog. See more of my paintings at my website.

"Father Serra's Garden",11x14, oil on linen, Father Junipero Serra, Carmel Mission, Beautiful gardens, Mission gardens, statues of saints, California missions, California art

 "Father Serra's Garden",11x14, oil on linen

Junípero Serra Ferrer, (November 24, 1713 – August 28, 1784) was a Spanish Franciscan friar who founded a mission in Baja California and the first nine of 21 Spanish missions in California from San Diego to San Francisco. He began in San Diego on July 16, 1769, and established his headquarters near the Presidio of Monterey, but soon moved a few miles south to establish Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo in today's Carmel, California.


The missions were primarily designed to bring the Catholic Christian faith to the native peoples. Other aims were to integrate the neophytes into Spanish society, and to train them to take over ownership and management of the land. 

Serra was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988, and Pope Francis canonized him on September 2015 during the Pope's first visit to the United States. I painted a similar version of this garden and statue back then, and it was well received, so I decided to paint the scene again, in a slightly different format.

Whenever I have visited California, it is almost a must for me to visit one or more of Father Serra's missions. They are all tranquil and lovely. My favorite of the missions is Mission Capistrano, which I've painted numerous times, but the Carmel Mission in Carmel, where Father Serra established his residence and is buried, is a close second.

The painting above is of Father Serra's Garden at the Carmel Mission, also known as Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo. It was close to closing time when I was there that day, and the long shadows added an air of mystery to the little garden alcove. Adding to the enchantment, the statue of Father Serra had the smallest slice of butterlike light cascading over his head and down his shoulder, an almost seeming continuation of the rapidly melting late afternoon sunshine that was snaking down the terra cotta roof, where it made a nose dive and finally came to rest over the figure of Father Serra.

I wish the fountain had been on, as the fountain itself was still bathed in that lovely light and a little running water would have added additional drama.

To inquire about this painting, send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.

"The Beach House", 16x20, oil on panel , Florida Keys, Duck Key, Beach house, hibiscus, tropical gardens, Florida gardens, Florida landscape, palette knife painting

  "The Beach House", 16x20, oil on panel (Note: please click on the image to see the detail)

Quite a while back, we had a family vacation in the Florida Keys. When your kids are guys and young adults, it's hard to interest them into taking a vacation with you. Right?

But upon proposing the Florida Keys, the guys all changed their minds.

In case you are out of touch with civilization, "The Florida Keys are a string of tropical islands stretching about 120 miles off the southern tip of the U.S. state of Florida, between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. They’re known as a destination for fishing, boating, snorkeling and scuba diving. The southernmost city of Key West is famous for Duval Street’s many bars, Mallory Square’s nightly Sunset Celebration and the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum." ― Google

Although the ultimate destination was Key West, accommodations there were a bit pricey for a family of 5 adults, so we elected to rent a villa on Duck Key instead. Duck Key is located about in the middle of the island chain, and was named by British General George Gauld  in his chart of the Florida Keys. The name comes from the shape of the island, which resembles a duck's head when viewed from above.

We stayed at the Hawk's Cay resort, and one morning I took a walk and came upon this pretty house with a garden full of hibiscus and other flowers. I came across the image recently when looking at old pictures and decided to paint it.

I took some liberties with the colors but overall I was pleased with the outcome. The painting was done mainly with a palette knife and has thick impasto throughout. If you are interested in purchasing this painting, here is the link to my website.

Thanks for visiting my website. Feel free to leave a comment as blogs can get very lonely!

"Bangs and Baubles", 12x16, oil on Canson oil paper, portraits, portraits of women, beads, necklace, beautiful women

 "Bangs and Baubles", 12x16, oil on Canson oil paper

I painted this model many times over the years. She has a classic beauty about her, and even, features.

When I first began painting in 2006, she was one of the first young ladies that I painted from life in a studio setting. I wonder what she looks like now- almost 20 years later!

If you like this portrait send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.

" Boat Heaven", 11x14, oil on linen, boats, boat heaven, Monhegan Island, Maine islands, small islands, red house, fishing boats

" Boat Heaven", 11x14, oil on linen

This is one of many paintings that I have done of Monhegan Island, an idyllic little island about 10 miles off the mainland of Maine.

The red house has had a few owners, and each one has modified the home somewhat, making it a little difficult to draw and paint from an architectural standpoint.

It sits at the head of swim beach, directly across from the tiny island of Mañana. There were many small boats scattered along the beach path on the day that I visited. I loved the way they created a direct path to the couple, who were the secondary point of interest in the painting.

This painting is available through Gallery 444 on Post Street in San Francisco.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

"Saint Davids Waterwheel", 11x14, oil, landscape, waterwheel, St. Davids, Pa. Main Line Philadelphia, Eastern University

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 "Saint Davids Waterwheel", 11x14, oil

Eastern University has a beautiful campus on the Philadelphia Main Line, at St. Davids. I visited there many times when my son went to school there, and later when I would come to paint the incredibly scenic ponds, flower gardens, wild geese, and magnificent old stone buildings.

But the waterwheel was always my favorite focus point. This is a late spring, early summer view, when the Tiger Lillys are blooming in June.

There are many walking paths and the surrounding neighborhood with its regal old homes also make for a painter's paradise.