The Devon Horse Show Lady, 6x6, oil on panel, ladies in big hats, purple hat, Big hats, Devon Horse Show, Horse shoe millinery, portraits of women

 The Devon Horse Show Lady, 6x6, oil on panel

It's always fun to go to The Devon Horse Show and see all the ladies in their fancy hats. While I wouldn't be caught dead in one of those, I admire their creativity in dressing for the occasion!

This fun little portrait is available through my website- collections- "Little Gems". Just click here to purchase.

Thanks for checking out my blog. Come back again.

Molly Magpie, 6x6, oil on panel, small paintings of birds, bird paintings, magpie, European magpie, beautiful birds

 "Molly Magpie", 6x6, oil on panel

I recently finished a mystery by Ruth Ware, called The Death of Mrs. Westaway, where magpies figured prominently in the story. We don't have a lot of magpies in America, but there are plenty of them in England and Australia. The story took place in Cornwall, and if you have never read any Ruth Ware mysteries, you are missing something.

Anyway, the story inspired me to learn more about magpies, which is what led to this painting. We think of magpies as crows, which of course, they are. But there are varieties of magpies with red bills and blue feathers that are quite lovely. 

If you like paintings of birds, you can purchase Molly through my website here.

And if you are interested in good mysteries, check out Ruth Vare's books here. 

"Red Onion", 6x6, oil on panel, onion, food as art, red, red onion, allaprima, painting every day, Maryanne Jacobsen, small studies, art practice, painting from life

"Red Onion", 6x6

Painted as Day 2 of my challenge to paint something from life every day.

Here's my reference:

My son made the shadow box for me a few years ago and it has really come in handy!

Email me if you are interested in this little gem. My email is maryannejacobsen@aol.com.

Have a great Sunday!

"Hazy Beach Day", 6x6, oil on board, Maryanne Jacobsen, beach paintings, hazy day, little girls at the beach, red bucket, sand, waves, surf, impressionism

"Hazy Beach Day", 6x6, oil on board

I've been studying the paintings of the 19th century impressionists and the beautiful way in which they handled water and clouds. Water, like clouds, is something that is hard to paint from life, for the simple reason that both clouds and water are moving constantly.

The best we can do as artists is to try to paint the movement of water with some degree of passion and emotion, otherwise, the water has no movement and appears lifeless. The best we can do when painting clouds, is to try to portray their ethereal qualities with a light hand, as clouds have no borders. As Don Quixote said in Man of La Mancha, (though he wasn't speaking of clouds, but of the hem of Dulcinea's garment),  they are like gossamer, sheer, gauze-like, yet having substance that changes constantly through varying times of day and light temperatures.

In this painting, my goal was to create that warm hazy light that we sometimes get on summer days, when the sun is trying to break through, but isn't quite there yet.

I hope you enjoy this painting, because I enjoyed painting it!

"Window Seat", 6x6, oil, 6 inch squared show, grapes, sunflowers, still life

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"Window Seat", 6x6, oil

This is one of three paintings that were juried into Randy Higbee's annual 6x6 inch squared show this year. I always love the show, and this year the entries were exceptional. Honored to be included in the show for the third consecutive year, and happy that two out of three paintings have sold, including, "Window Seat". Thanks for all your hard work, Randy and staff at King of Frames!

"The Red House, Swim Beach", 6x6, oil , Monhegan Island, Venice Art Center, award-winning paintings, MAryanne Jacobsen art, boats, red

"The Red House, Swim Beach", 6x6, oil

Was delighted to find out that my little painting of the Red House on Monhegan Island was awarded second place in the Venice Art Center's Mini and Maxi show this evening.

I almost didn't enter the painting because I was confused about the size requirements for the show. Turns out that the paintings had to be either very large or very small. The painting that I took over to receiving was only an 11x14, but I soon learned it was too large. So I went home, picked up this little guy and brought him back to the art center.

So happy I did!

The painting is framed in a beautiful Randy Higbee floater frame and can be purchased through he Venice Art Center.  You can call them at 941-485-7136 for purchase information regarding this little gem.

Here I am at tonight's reception with good friend and fellow plein air painter Karen Hitt. Karen rec'd the third place ribbon for her lovely little watercolor of Venice. Congrats, Karen!

"Thinkin' Spring", 6x6, oil, hyacinth, blue hyacinth, purple hyacinth, banana, small studies, quick studies, red apples

"Thinkin' Spring", 6x6 oil on panel

I di this quick little hyacinth study last night and the light was pretty poor. So I had to finish it up this morning.

Here's my reference:

 I'd never painted hyacinths before so this was a first. They are definitely tricky! However, the beautiful scent was a charming accompaniment to the soft music in the background as I painted.

If you are 'thinkin' spring', you can find these lovely little hyacinths in Trader Joes this week!

If you are interested in purchasing this little study, just send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.