"Pinnacle Point", 16x28, oil on board, Maryanne Jacobsen art, cypress tree, Point Lobos State Preserve, Carmel art, windblown, palette knife art, award-winning paintings

"Pinnacle Point", 16x28, oil on board

This beautiful old cypress tree stands atop Pinnacle Point, at Pinnacle Cove, a hiking trail at Point Lobos State Preserve in Carmel, California. The tree is a testament to endurance-its wild wind-blown beauty gracing the top of the granite rocks that overlook a sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean. Painting it brought me back to the first time I hiked that path, my heart catching in my throat as I approached the top of the steps. Truly, Pinnacle Point is a place where I left my heart one day, and I hope that  this east coast girl will have the chance to return again some day.

This painting won Third Place at the Venice Art Center's "Branchin' Out" exhibit.

Please contact me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com, if you are interested in this painting.

"Late afternoon, China Cove", 8x10, oil on panel, Maryanne Jacobsen art, Point Lobos, China Cove, Plein air convention, Monterrey, Carmel art, Pacific Ocean, sheltered coves, seals, plein air

"Late afternoon, China Cove", 8x10, oil on panel

I recently returned from a trip to California which included a week at the Plein Air Convention in Monterrey, as well as a side trip to San Francisco and Yosemite National Park.

While at the #PACE15 convention, I had another wonderful opportunity to paint at China Cove in Point Lobos. Point Lobos is eye candy for artists- an artist's Paradise on earth! It was a horrendously windy day on the first day of the convention, and while the other artists headed to Asilimar Beach to paint, I took the road less traveled by and headed to China Cove, which is just sheltered enough that it was peaceful and calm in those late afternoon hours when I set up.

Lest you think I am kidding about eye candy for artists, here's what it looked like from the walking trail where I painted...

 Do not miss the chance to visit one of the most breathtaking spots in the entire world if you happen to be in the mid-coast area of California. Here is the official web site for the state preserve of Pt. Lobos- Point Lobos State Preserve.

I happened to notice on the website that the steps leading to China Cove are now closed until further notice due to erosion! Whew! So glad I had the opportunity to paint there a few weeks ago before they closed the path!

The seals were also lazing about the shoreline with their pups while I was there. It was such a treat!

This was my second trip to the area. I do hope that it is not my last!

"5th Hole- Pebble Beach Golf Links"-8x10, Pebble Beach Golf Course, paintings of pebble beach, leaning cypress, ice plants, pacific coastal art, golf pro art

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"5th Hole- Pebble Beach Golf Links"-8x10

Pebble Beach Golf Course is world-renowned. The best golfers the world over have played this course, including Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods!  I could understand why after taking a drive along the famous 17 mile drive that stretches from Carmel to Monterrey and along the beautiful Pacific Coast that the Pebble Beach Golf Course calls home. As we passed the course, we ran into a couple deer that were taking their time sauntering among the holes along with the golfers!

There was an abundance of gorgeous objects for an artist like myself to feast my eyes on, in addition to the deer, which included the wind-blown cypress tress, the spreading pink ice plants and golden poppies as well. Overall, the Pebble Beach area is not just a golfer's paradise, It is an artist's paradise as well!

PS: I'm now thinking of taking up golf!

If you have a dad or hubby who is a golf enthusiast, this painting would make a great Father's Day Gift! If he can't play at Pebble Beach, he can at least imagine it! Right?  (Sigh.)

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com, and please check out my website here.

"Cypress Cove", 12x16, oil on board, Point Lobos, Cypress grove, cypress trees, Carmel art, Monterrey cypress trees

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"Cypress Cove", 12x16, oil on board

This is the first painting that I did after returning home from California a couple weeks ago.  I never had a chance to post it because I've been busy with a large commission. I decided to take a break from the commission for a week or so, and now I need to catch up on my blogging!

Cypress Cove is a beautiful cove in Point Lobos where there are ancient cypress trees that literally hang from the cliff side! One of these is called Old Veteran. Here's a photo of Old Veteran that I took on the day we were there:

Note: Please do not use my photos with permission!

Further along Cypress Grove Trail are clusters of cypress trees rising above the headland above waters that are an almost unbelievable shade of bluish-green. That was the scene that was the inspiration for the painting above:

It's hard to appreciate the color of the water from a photograph, but even from the photo, you can see the strong viridian colors in the water!

It was a rather complicated scene to paint, but I did enjoy it , as it brought back such lovely memories of such a beautiful place! To learn more about Point Lobos State Reserve, you can read about it here.http://www.pointlobos.org/