"Typical Morning Squawk Box", 14x11, oil on linen by Maryanne Jacobsen

"Typical Morning Squawk Box", 14x11, oil on linen

While we were in Rockport, Massachusetts, I found myself waking up at the crack of dawn, excited to get outside and see the light coming up over the ocean. We woke up between 4 and 5 each morning, drove to the Dunkin' Donuts in the heart of town, and then with our morning coffee in hand, we proceeded to take pictures of the beautiful sunrises and light coming up over the Atlantic in Cape Ann.

One morning we sat right at the old port at Bearskin Neck and watched the fish and lobsterman take crates of fish off their boats in the early morning hours when the light is most magical.



The seagulls were squawking up a storm-definitely ready for the action, as they waited for their chance to steal a bit of stray fish from the looty taken of the fishing boats.

I caught this picture of a gull after he'd stolen some fish. Man, he was fast! He grabbed that fish faster than my cats would grab a Florida lizard!



Anyway, here is a picture that I took of two gulls scooting down to hopefully grab some breakfast. I was unsure whether or not I should attempt to paint this scene, since it was so complicated. In the end, I went for it- just like the gull went for the fish scraps!



Here is another photo of a gull after my coffee. Oh please! Really? It's only coffee and flavored with vanilla, not lobster!

"Motif#1-the Old Lobster Shack", 20x16, oil on linen, Rockport lobster shack, Motif #1, by Maryanne Jacobsen

"Motif #1-the old Lobster Shack", 20x16, oil on linen (Note: Please click on the photo if you would like to see the impasto.)

Funny, when I saw the old red lobster shack at Bearskin Neck in Rockport, Massachusetts, for the first time last Sunday morning, it seemed like an old friend. I knew immediately that I had to paint it!

The weather was raw, but I knew I wanted to return to this wonderful spot, and so we did. We returned on Thursday and the weather was now dazzling- about 70 degrees with fair skies. My hubby took a picture of the famous lobster shack just as the sun was sinking on the horizon. The light quality was spectacular, and I knew I needed to paint this dazzling old thing as soon as I could. The boat was a problem. Gorgeous as it is, I don't like to paint boats. But I did it, since it was in the picture. The painting was done with a palette knife and has gobs of expensive thick paint throughout, so I priced it accordingly.

This scene is an icon around the world. Known as Motif #1, it is a favorite subject for artists past, present and to come. I hope I did it justice. As the saying goes,"Buckley owned it,Lester G. Hornby named it, but Thieme proclaimed it!" All three of these artists were celebrated members of the wonderful Rockport Art Association, which was founded in 1921. The building is lovely, old New England in style with cornflower blue shutters. It was closed when I was there, but hopefully I'll be back to walk its hallowed halls someday.

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