"Another Degas Moment", 11x14, oil , paintings of dancers, ballet, dance art, after the show, afterglow, ballerina painting, the life of a dancer, tutu

 "Another Degas Moment", 11x14, oil 

I had painted this same scene about ten years ago, and decided to have another go at it. This was the result.

I remember that warm, wonderful glow that myself and my dancers felt after a successful performance. At West Chester Ballet Theatre, the company danced different ballets each year, with the exception of the Nutcracker which was an annual event and treat.

When you get a standing ovation at the end of a show, you know that all that hard work was worth it! Knowing you did your very best, and the audience loved it, lets the dancer know  it's time to rest those weary feet.

Those were special years when I was Artistic Director of West Chester Ballet Theatre, and these many years later, I still stay in contact with many of my students and their families.

Email me at maryannejcaobsen@aol.com, if you have any interest in this painting.

"Swansong", 16x20, oil on linen panel, Swan Lake, ballet, ballet art, ballerina portrait, Odette, Swan Song, on pointe, classical dance, paintings of dancers

 "Swansong", 16x20, oil on linen panel

Odette is the tragic heroine in the classical ballet Swan Lake. Odette is a princess turned into a swan by the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart's curse, who wants his evil daughter Odile (the Black Swan) to wrestle the handsome Prince Sigfried's heart away from the gentle Odette. The ballet is a love story of enchantment and tragedy, as only the Prince's undying love can break the curse and free Odette and the other swan maidens of the sorcerer's curse.

When I was artistic director of my ballet company back in the 1990's, we performed a full length Swan Lake 2 or 3 different times. The challenges of staging a ballet of this magnitude on a small company were tremendous, but I was ambitious and the rewards of re-creating the magic of that ballet eventually overshadowed the work that was involved. I have painted this scene before, but had the urge to paint Odette again in memory of the many hours of love I put into the restaging of that ballet !

Ballet, art, and music are all similar passions. When one has an artistic passion, it dictates their lives for that particular season. Luckily for me, I no longer need to do an entrechat quatre in order to fill my passion. 

May every creative person continue to fill the world with beauty, through music, dance, art, and poetry!

"First Pointe Shoes", 9x12, oil on panel, ballet art, little ballerina, first pointe shoes, young dancer, master class, Vaganova method, dance, ballet, on pointe, paintings of dancers

 "First Pointe Shoes", 9x12, oil on panel

To a budding young ballerina, nothing in the world is as important than her first pointe shoes! As the former director of a large ballet school and regional ballet company, parents would often anxiously ask me if their daughter was ready to go on pointe.

Obviously, this question will depend on many things. Here is a very good article that discusses this issue and although every child is different, your child's teacher is the best judge of when she will be ready.

I painted this to commemorate your little dancer's special day. It was painted in the impressionist style, and after the Vaganova training method that I used as a syllabus in my own school.

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please use this link.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Leave a comment if you enjoyed this post.

" Tango", 12x16, oil on linen, Latin dance, ballet, dance art, ballroom dance

" Tango", 12x16, oil on linen

Before my art career began, I was a dancer. I took ballet classes 4 to 5 times a week until I was in my mid-fifties, at which point I decided that painting was a lot easier on my joints than dancing. I was director of a large dance school for many years, and Artistic Director or a regional Ballet Company join the suburbs of of Philadelphia.

The love of dance never leaves you, once you get bitten by the dance bug. After moving to Florida and quitting ballet, I tried ballroom dancing with my husband. I absolutely loved it, but unfortunately, he hated it. So rather than look for a new partner, I quit as well. Today I still take line dance classes for fun and to keep my memory sharp, but it can't replace the joy I used to feel in ballet class.

The Tango is my favorite latin dance. It epitomizes the passion of the Latin people and the syncopated sultry rhythms of Spanish music.

I did enjoy painting this one, if only for the memories it brought back of thousands of dance classes over the years, and hours spent at the barre honing technique.

To all dance lovers out there, keep on dancing. 

"Everyday People", 11x14, oil on linen panel, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Degas, Impressionists, people in museums, Maryanne Jacobsen Art, ballet, Little Ballerina, Harley Davidson, Misty Copeland

"Everyday People", 11x14, oil on linen panel

This is my favorite room in The Philadelphia Museum of Art.  It's a favorite because of some of the beautiful Impressionist landscapes in that room by Renoir, Monet and others. But mostly it's my favorite room because of The Little Ballerina, Aged 14, by Eduard Degas. I often get annoyed with Degas's paintings of dancers because I feel that he mis-represents their bodies and feet. But with the little dancer, he totally epitomized the perfect form for a ballet dancer to have.

As a former ballet company director, I would become very excited when I would find young dancers  with forms like this. It meant that they would be able to dance professionally if they wanted to. So many girls work so hard to become wonderful dancers, only to find out that their body types are not appreciated in the professional world. Misty Copeland is an exception, and I admire her tremendously for her professional journey.

I snapped this photo one day and decided to paint it this week. I loved the juxtaposition of the old world paintings against the modern people admiring them. Harley Davidson sweatshirts, casual attire, cell phones- what would the Impressionists have thought?

Anyhow, if you are interested in this painting, just send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com
 Thanks for reading my blog.

"First Pointe Shoes", 9x11, impressionism, Maryanne Jacobsen art, ballet, young dancer, Vaganova method, Kirov ballet, Margarita De Saa, John White, Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet Society

"First Pointe Shoes", 9x11

As a former ballet instructor and director of Rock School West, it was very important to me to train my little students correctly. I chose to study with Margarita de Saa and John White at The Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet Society in Narberth, Pa. and to take their intensive Vaganova training course as well. The course followed the strict Vaganova syllabus used to train the young dancers in St. Petersburg , Russia who went on to dance with the Kirov Ballet and is a successful proving ground for dancers worldwide. The Vaganova method is a tried and true training method for ballet dancers and to this day it serves me well in Zumba class!! I am proud to say that one of my young dancers, Taylor Stanley, went on the become a principal with the New York City Ballet!

The little dancer in my painting was painted in the impressionistic style, but although her face is vague, I did want to show her Vaganova training in both her attire and her carriage. Dancers familiar with the pedagogue will recognize it.

Email me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com if you are interested in this painting.

"A Degas Moment", 14x11, oil on linen, paintings of dancers, ballet, young dancers, pink, tutus

SOLD

"A Degas Moment", 14x11, oil on linen

I painted these dancers awhile back- maybe 8 months ago. Although I was pretty happy with the painting at the time, I also knew it needed some refinement.

Today I took it out and worked on it most of the day. I softened edges, increased contrast in areas that were focal points (the dancers) and simplified the fireplace, which was one of those old world fireplaces with painted tile all around. Beautiful in person, but a dog to paint!

Keeping in mind that's it's better to suggest than to render every detail, I just concentrated on simplifying the fireplace in order to keep it in its place- a background. Overall, I am happy with the painting now and I can honestly say that it looks amazing in person!

This painting is available through Gallery 444, in San Franciso.

"Contemplation", 14x 11, oil on linen, paintings of dancers, ballerinas young dancers

"Contemplation", 14x 11, oil on linen

I have not done a figurative painting in almost a year, mainly because I have just not been inspired. So I was really, really happy to find such a beautiful photo of three young dancers in repose on Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's Facebook page.

A huge thank-you to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre for kindly giving me permission to use their photo as a reference for this painting!

I think I need to paint more dancers.It was so much fun!

Note: This painting is not for sale at this time.