"Sundown, Balboa Park", 16x20, San Diego, Balboa Park, architecture, San Diego tourism, museums, Maryanne Jacobsen art , impressionism

"Sundown, Balboa Park", 16x20

Balboa Park is an exceptionally wonderful place to visit when in San Diego. The museums and festivals are exceptional, and there's even an area designated for the artist community.

I originally tried to paint this scene en plein air, but became overwhelmed by everything that was going on in the scene. So I snapped a photo and used it for a reference. I loved the backlit late afternoon sky against the contrasting architecture of the buildings.

Don't miss the opportunity to visit the park if you ever land in San Diego!

"Red Door, Legare Street", 12x16, oil on board, Charleston, South Carolina scenes, architecture, homes, beautiful homes in Charleston, red door, dappled light

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"Red Door, Legare Street", 12x16, oil on board

While we were in Charleston for the AIS show, my hubby and I took a horse and buggy ride through the streets of Charleston. Charleston is a beautiful city ,and this was our second carriage ride through the historic  streets of Charleston. I remembered many of the same houses from a few years back, but one in particular caught my eye.

As a lover of color, I was smitten with this beautiful house at #10 Legare Street. Not only is the architecture gorgeous, but since it had a red door  I knew I would have to go back and take a photo of it, so I could paint it.

As luck would have it, there were beautiful dappled shadows across the building in the afternoon light and a little kitty was passing through as well!

We caught a quick photo, and that served as the reference for this painting. I decided to use Kenn Erroll Backhaus's palette for this painting, since I so loved his painting that was in the AIS show and the building was sort of reminiscent of that. Being a wishful thinker, I had hoped that somehow, if I used his palette, my painting would come out as lovely as his!

Okay, I have quite a way to go yet, but overall, I was not too displeased with the painting. One thing that stood in my mind as I painted the dappled shadows was something Kenn told us during the workshop. He said to be very careful that you show that you are depicting either a THING, or the EFFECT of light on the thing. Keeping this in mind, I tried to keep the shadows soft, to create an effect, rather than a thing.

Thanks Kenn!

Happily, I found out this week, that my painting, "Dancing Queens and a Pear" sold on the opening night of the show. What a wonderful event it was and I was so pleased to be part of it.

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

"Three Doors Down", 14x11, oil on linen

"Three Doors Down", 14x11, oil on linen

The house with the pink bougainvillea wrapping around the column is just three doors down from where I live. The owners obviously have a green thumb becuase the whole property is gorgeous to look at. I had been wanting to paint this bougainvillea for a while now, and so yesterday, I finally asked permission to stand on the lawn and paint the house.

Today I went down and spent an hour and a half painting the front porch. After that, I decided the light was changing too quickly so I finished it up in my studio. I am going to try it again on a different day because Is struggled with the dappled light on the door and walkway and need to practice  doing it more often.

"Sunrise at The Captain's House", 14x 11, oil on linen-Captain's House, Rockport, MAssachusetts, Cape Ann, sunrise, seaside gardens

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"Sunrise at The Captain's House", 14x 11, oil on linen

Last week we had the good fortune to stay a few days at The Captain's House in Rockport , Massachusetts.  The inn is directly on the Altlantic Ocean and we went to sleep lulled by the sound of rhythmic waves, and awoke to the orange rays of the sun coming right over the horizon before our very eyes. Although staring out the window of our room at the sunrise was just fine, we usually went downstairs and enjoyed the view from the porch.

I was especially intrigued with the dramatic light effect across the flower bed and house in these early morning hours and that is what I  set about to capture in this painting:

Although a picture's worth a thousand words, nothing can compare to the beauty of this place in person!