"Summer Blooms and Berries", 11x9, oil on panel, by Maryanne Jacobsen, impressionist painting, garden floral, roses strawberries, romantic floral painting

 "Summer Blooms and Berries", 11x9, oil on panel

This is the first painting I have been able to do in about a year, so I feel  grateful I was able to turn it out.

I have compression fractures in my spine that greatly affect my ability to paint now. So although it took 2 days and a lot of rest in between brushstrokes, I was able to finish it.

I hope you like it and if you would like to purchase it through my website, just follow this link to my website.

#impressionism #Softflorals #still_life #Strawberries

"A Night on the Town", after Cortes, 6x6, oil, Small paintings, Parisian scenes, impressionism, turn of the century, walking in Paris, after Cortes

 "A Night on the Town", after Cortes, 6x6, oil

I have been working on painting in a looser , more impressionistic style. I've been studying the work of Eduard Cortes, and his magnificent Parisian city scenes. Painting this little vignette gave me a chance to continue to mimic his style. 

I am still struggling with tremendous back pain as I paint, but I am hoping I will eventually be able to paint more comfortably, and larger as well.

Thanks for following my blog.

"Midnight in Paris', after Eduard Cortes- 11x14 oil in panel, Montmartre, streets of Paris, a night on the town, back in time, nostalgia, old masters, Eduard Cortes, impressionism

 "Midnight in Paris', after Eduard Cortes- 11x14 oil in panel

I had to take a long hiatus from painting, due to a back injury. It has been almost a year since I even felt a desire to paint again. But the desire has begun to stir again, thanks to healing and the necessity to keep my brain busy.

Standing for any length of time is still painful, so I did this painting over a period of 4-5 days, taking long breaks in between to rest.

I have not been inspired to paint much, not just because of back pain, but because of other changes in my life, including becoming a caretaker for my husband of 54 years.

But last week I finally made up my mind to try and recover somewhat of the skill I have lost over time, in not painting or even trying to keep up with the new works that so many talented painters are doing these days.

So I resorted to looking at the works of my favorite artists, past and present, to try to get inspired.

Once again, and not for the first time, the incredible impressionist paintings of Eduard Cortes caught my attention and took my breath away. His scenes of Paris are so masterful, and yet they almost look like they were painted en plein air- so fresh and spontaneous are they. 

My painting above is a far cry from the master's work, but artists have always been advised that it is  a good practice to copy or mimic the work of the old masters in order to learn from them.

I have not been back to Paris in many years, but I will never forget how much fun my husband and I had on our wild, crazy trip to Paris  about 25 years ago.

Painting this scene from Montmartre was good for my soul, reminding me of the good times Ken and I have had over the years, and in the end, it is those memories that sustain us during the trials of life.

I am going to continue to try to start painting regularly again, in the hopes I can start regaining my former skills.

Thanks for the beautiful memories, Mr. Cortes, and for inspiring me to paint again by trying to learn from you. I wish I could have met you and taken lessons from you, and perhaps even painted with you in Paris. Your work has inspired many, the least of whom is me.

"Distressed", 9x12, oil on Arches oil paper , on panel, paintings of girls, impressionism, children

 "Distressed", 9x12, oil on Arches oil paper , on panel

This is the first painting I have done in 5 months! At least I didn't forget how to paint! I had a bad vertebrae fracture back in October, that has prevented me from painting. This one wasn't easy. I still have tremendous back pain when I stand, so I had to sit-down every 10 minutes to rest.

At least I finally painted something. I like the softness of it. Maybe this will be a new style for me.

Thanks for checking out my blog. This little lady can be purchased through my website. If interested, here's the link.

"On a Shelf", 6x12, oil on panel, roses, pink roses, green bottle, impressionism, glass

 "On a Shelf", 6x12, oil on panel

I've had these artificial flowers laying around for years. I put them on a shelf today and painted them for the second time in 2 days.

I admit, that they were not very easy to paint. I hope my struggles don't show too much.

If you would like to purchase this  little painting, just send me a message at maryannejacobsen@aol.com, and thanks for looking.

"Petals and Coffee", 11x14, oil on linen, impressionist florals, roses, serenity, cherries, coffee, MAryanneJacobsen fine art, Impressionism

 "Petals and Coffee", 11x14, oil on linen

I am happy to say that this impressionist floral was juried into the American Impressionist Society's National Exhibit last fall, and has also just been juried into the American Women Artists annual online exhibit!

I enjoyed telling the story of these roses through paint strokes while evoking a peaceful atmosphere through the softly painted background. 

At the last minute, I decided to add the cherries to add more color harmony to the foreground.

For more information about this painting, please send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.

"La Vie en Rose", 9x12, oil, French songs, straw hats, rose, life in pink, pretty women, women in hats, rose colored glasses, red lipstick, original art, impressionism

 "La Vie en Rose", 9x12, oil

The title of my painting, "La Vie en Rose," translates from the French to "Life in Pink" in English. It is a phrase often associated with a state of blissful happiness and seeing life through a rosy lens.

The girl in the painting personifies grace and femininity. Although she is not smiling, in her pensive state her demeanor exudes confidence, daring the viewer to read her thoughts; inviting the viewer into her world of romantic fantasy. Her straw hat is embellished with pink roses symbolizing beauty, growth, and a connection to nature. 

I painted this while listening to Pandora Internet radio's French Cafe station, blending my favorite music with the challenge of capturing beauty within a harmonious balance of nature and mystery.

I had a lot of fun painting this, probably because I love all things French, and even managed to enjoy a glass of wine while painting! I think the wine added a little "je ne said quoi!" Don't you?

If you enjoyed the painting and this post please feel free to comment below. The painting is available through my website. Follow this link for purchase information.

"The Beach House", 16x20, oil on panel , Florida Keys, Key West, paintings of Florida gardens, Duck Key, Hawks Cay Resort, tropical gardens, palette knife paintings, impressionism, hibiscus, beach house

 "The Beach House", 16x20, oil on panel (Note: please click on the image to see the detail)

Quite a while back, we had a family vacation in the Florida Keys. When your kids are guys and young adults, it's hard to interest them into taking a vacation with you. Right?

But upon proposing the Florida Keys, the guys all changed their minds.

In case you are out of touch with civilization, "The Florida Keys are a string of tropical islands stretching about 120 miles off the southern tip of the U.S. state of Florida, between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. They’re known as a destination for fishing, boating, snorkeling and scuba diving. The southernmost city of Key West is famous for Duval Street’s many bars, Mallory Square’s nightly Sunset Celebration and the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum." ― Google

Although the ultimate destination was Key West, accommodations there were a bit pricey for a family of 5 adults, so we elected to rent a villa on Duck Key instead. Duck Key is located about in the middle of the island chain, and was named by British General George Gauld  in his chart of the Florida Keys. The name comes from the shape of the island, which resembles a duck's head when viewed from above.

We stayed at the Hawk's Cay resort, and one morning I took a walk and came upon this pretty house with a garden full of hibiscus and other flowers. I came across the image recently when looking at old pictures and decided to paint it.

I took some liberties with the colors but overall I was pleased with the outcome. The painting was done mainly with a palette knife and has thick impasto throughout. If you are interested in purchasing this painting, here is the link to my website.

Thanks for visiting my website. Feel free to leave a comment as blogs can get very lonely!

"Windy Day at Winterthur", 16x16, oil on wrapped canvas, plein air, special sale, Winterthur Museum, gazebo, autumn, colorist art, impressionism, Du Post family

 "Windy Day at Winterthur", 16x16, oil on wrapped canvas

This painting was painted on location on a very windy autumn day in Wilmington, Delaware, at the beautiful Winterthur Museum, former home of the wealthy DuPont family. I recall it being windy because my easel blew over three times that day!

Below is an image of the brick overlook in Daffodil season. 

My favorite time to paint at Winterthur is in the fall when the colors are incredibly vibrant. 

In keeping with the scene, the colors in the painting are vibrant and warm, and the painting would add a sense of light and energy to any  room! It is being sold unframed, but framing options are available for an additional charge. 

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you enjoyed the artwork here!

"Winter Cheer", 8x10, oil, winter, yellow roses, impressionism, windowsill paintings, wintry weather

 "Winter Cheer", 8x10, oil

I haven't painted or posted much in recent months. Hurricane Ian did a lot of destruction to our little town and to our home as well. So my husband and I have been working for days on end trying to get our front and back yard repaired. The storm took down two huge trees (which luckily didn't hit the house) But they created a lot of destruction in the course of their own demise. In addition, our "bird cage" , which is the large aluminum structure that covers and protects our pool and lanai, collapsed and our roof needs to be completely replaced. It's been a lot of work and frustration over the past two months, but I determined to get back to painting recently.

The above painting is my attempt to get looser and less left brained in my approach to painting. I have always enjoyed doing windowsill paintings, which is what I call paintings of florals with a window as a backdrop, and so winter storms up north recently were the inspiration to paint something warm and inviting against a cold wintry background.

I hope to continue to post regularly in the future!

"June Lilacs", 16x28, oil on hardboard, Monhegan Island, Monhegan Island painting, June day, Lilacs on Monhegan, poppies, Maryanne Jacobsen Fine art, impressionism, cats on Monhegan, Maine art

 "June Lilacs", 16x28, oil on hardboard (note: click on the image for better detail)

A few summers ago, the hubby and I took a trip in late June up to a favorite haunt of ours- Monhegan Island, Maine.  We took the ferry from Port Clyde on a foggy, cold morning and I fervently hoped I wouldn't get seasick, as I have been known to do in the past. But the hour long ferry ride is so worth what awaits you when you get to the island!

Monhegan is a painter's paradise, and of course I had brought my paints. After dropping our luggage off at the beautiful Island Inn, we took the customary walk up the hill, breathing in the brisk, though refreshing salty sea air, and admiring the usual array of new perennials  in the garden at  Carena's. We had never been there in June before and as the scenery there is constantly changing due to  the weather patterns, I drank in the new vegetation against the familiar backdrop of houses. 

The red poppies looked especially vibrant that day  against the rest of the environment, muted as it always is until all the fog burns off. The lilacs were also in full bloom along the path, and the usual array of stray cats were there to greet the new  ferry arrivals.

I am not typically an artist that prefers muted scenes, but I choose to try to capture this one, because it is so typical and beloved of those mornings on Monhegan when the air is full of atmospheric perspective, and that tiny island feels ever so other-worldly and mystical.

This painting was painted on a heavy hardwood. It needs a sturdy frame to support it (see below)and I hope it will become a happy fixture in someone's home who loves Monhegan Island as much as I do.  Thanks for visiting my blog!

"I see your True Colors", 9x12, oil, paintings of beautiful women. portraits, impressionism, MAryanne JAcobsen fine art

 

"I see your True Colors", 9x12, oil

Sometimes things are never as they seem on the outside. I have always been a curious person. I sit reading a book with my phone next to me, so I can look up any word I am not familiar with. I rarely find any, but when I am introduced to new words, I appreciate theft I have learned something new.

People are like that for me, too. I study people. I try to understand what is going on in the inside- their thoughts, feelings and fears. I have often wished for a kindred spirit that I could also share my inmost thoughts and fears with. To this day, I have never found that person. And it feels lonely.

As this painting developed, I was conscious of the fact that this young woman, who I was creating mainly from my own imagination, was hiding a great deal. There is a poetic quality to her. She is beautiful, sad and wistful at the same time. What is she thinking? I'll leave that to the viewer's imagination, but I have my own ideas.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

"Down to the Sea", 12 x16, oil, eucalyptus trees, impressionism, palette knife landscape

 "Down to the Sea", 12 x16, oil

This was painted over the top of an unsuccessful painting. I  really enjoyed watching the bad one go away. I used a lot of palette knife in this one though it's hard to tell from the photo.

Feel free to click on the image to see it better and if you'd like to purchase it, please visit my website here.

"Autumn Windowsill", 8x10, oil on linen panel, window sill, autumn floral, impressionism, small impressionist paintings, color, autumn

 "Autumn Windowsill", 8x10, oil on panel-$350

This little painting was a lot of fun to paint. I used a photo reference from last year's trip to Chester County, where we stayed in a charming 200 year old farmhouse as my inspiration for the painting.

You can see below how the sunlight was cascading through the window at a sharp angle and poured across the sill.

Inserting the colorful flowers into the serene scene was the fun part!

This painting is available for $350. To purchase through PAypal, just follow this link to my website.

"This Table is Reserved", 12x16, oil, fine dining, restaurant art, old world charm, paintings of interiors, Maryanne Jacobsen fine art, impressionism, all prima, restaurant reservations, limited palette

"This Table is Reserved", 12x16, oil

I can't believe how long it has been since I added a new blog post! I am going to try to keep this blog more to date in the future.

Here is new painting that I recently finished.

I was trying to create a  feeling of romance and intimacy through the use of soft edges. I also tried to understate the waiter and keep the eye moving around the canvas. Overall I was happy with the result.

Please let me know what you think!

"Dappled Morning"-12x16, oil, Brandywine Conservancy, Farm to Table Plein Air, Land Art Events, Chadds Ford, Pa., plein Air. MAryanne Jacobsen art, red barn, Chester County Pennsylvania paintings, impressionism, dappled light

"Dappled Morning"-12x16, oil

I have been attempting to document on this blog the paintings from my recent trip to Pennsylvania, in which I am painting as a juried artist in the Farm to Table Plein Air event, which will culminate October 26th at Rose Hill Farm with a palette to palate extravaganza open to the public. The event will benefit the Brandywine Conservancy, and tickets to the event will be available in September.

The above painting was painted on the first morning at Fenton Farm in Chadds Ford. I had blogged previously about how much I enjoyed painting at this gorgeous property. This first morning I felt like I was in heaven. Birds were chirping all around me, roosters were crowing and a gentle waterfall was cascading over the stone wall at the entrance to the property.  The weather was as perfect as an artist could want,  and our hostess, Mrs. Fenton, is an absolutely lovely woman, who went out of her way to be helpful and make all the artists feel at home.

The painting in progress........

There was dappled light everywhere , and the challenge for me was to make notes on my drawing so I would remember which areas were in light and which were in shadow as the light changed. There was a lot going on in this scene, and I had to keep editing and deciding what to leave in, and what to leave out.

I was almost at the point of calling the painting done, when the tree above me suddenly decided to rain down a pollen deluge! Within minutes, my painting was covered with little greens specks!

Not sure if I got them all out or not, but whatever remains will add some character to the work, I'm sure!

To learn more about Farm to Table Plein Air, Land Art Events, and the Brandywine Conservancy, please follow this link to my website.

"Summer Moonrise", 12x24, oil on board, Impressionism, California trees, eucalyptus trees, Maryanne Jacobsen art, Moonrise, summer moon

"Summer Moonrise", 12x24, oil on board (please click on the painting to better see the texture within)

If you read my blog, you'll know that I have an ongoing love for eucalyptus trees. They have a lyrical quality in the way they nod carry themselves- sometimes nodding their heads like naughty children and more often then not curling and twisting like a dancer performing a strange adagio.

This is another painting of a eucalyptus cluster. it was painted on a board and has soft muted colors and texture throughout.

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

"Invitation", 22x28, oil on wrapped canvas, paintings of courtyards, Provence, wine, happy places, sunlit alcoves, Maryanne Jacobsen art, impressionism

"Invitation", 22x28, oil on wrapped canvas

Whenever the dog days of a Florida summer get me down, I endeavor to find that special place in a different part of the world, where I can escape the humidity and torrid heat of Florida summers.

In this case I chose aa shadowy alcove in a sunlit courtyard, shaded from the heat but still fragrant with summer scents and lit with warm reflected light. It could be anywhere in Greece, Italy, Provence, maybe.

But wherever it is, it is a happy place and I am going to stay there for a while with my glass of wine!

Subscribe to my website newsletter and receive a very special savings on this painting for a limited time only. Just click this link to subscribe and you will start receiving my newsletters and special offers right away.

Thanks for stopping by!

"Day Lily Cottage", 9x12, oil on panel, carriage house, Pennsylvania landscapes, Amish country, Day Lillies, summer, impressionism, Maryanne Jacobsen Fine Art

"Day Lily Cottage", 9x12, oil on panel

I painted this scene recently while visiting Pennsylvania's Amish country. The carriage house sat back from the road and was surrounded by an abundance of day lillies.  A day lily is so named because the flower that opens in the morning only lasts one day! This would be sad if the lillies were not so prolific!

Anyhow, here is my plein air sketch of the scene:

I used water-soluble oils when I was traveling last week, but decided to re-paint the scene using traditional oils. The water-soluble oils are great for traveling, but I'll never give up my traditional oils.

"Summer Courtyard", 12x16, oil on panel, Provence, courtyard, bougainvillea, impressionism

"Summer Courtyard", 12x16, oil on panel

The cool light in an afternoon courtyard.... Summer is at its height and the lush bougainvillea vines trail lethargically from the ancient buildings . The dazzling light  from a nearby hillside erupts suddenly into the tiny courtyard and a songbird's call breaks the warm silence.

It's summer. It's Provence. And everything is beautiful.

For purchase  information regarding this painting, please send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.