"Wish You Were Here", 11x14, oil on panel, Maryanne Jacobsen art, Galer Winery and Estate, Peonies, paintings of peonies, wine, Kennett Square attractions, Chester County Wineries, still life, impressionism, AirBnB

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"Wish You Were Here", 11x14, oil on panel

My husband and I have been using Airbnb and VRBO for years. With very few exceptions we have been very happy with these sites, which offer an eclectic array of alternatives to hotels.

A recent trip took us to a lovely Cottage on the grounds of the Galer Winery and Estate near Longwood Gardens in Chester County, Pa.

The cottage overlooks the vineyard, and it is the perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. The peonies were blooming and we were greeted by bouquets of peonies in our room when we arrived. The interior is charming and quite cozy, and we loved the views from the window and front porch. The booking also provides for a complimentary wine tasting!

I couldn't resist setting up a little still life using the peonies to full advantage, as you can see from the finished painting above.

I hate telling about the little gems that we have found along our winding roads, but this one was just too good not to brag about. If you are looking for a great place to stay for a romantic weekend in the Brandywine Valley, I highly recommend this little gem of a cottage!

If you would like to purchase my painting, "Wish you were Here", just follow this link and use the PayPal button. And if you like my work, don't forget to follow me on Instagram and sign up for my newsletter through my website.

"Drama Queens in a Green Vase", 12x16, oil on linen, paintings of peonies, white peonies, Maryanne Jacobsen art, impressionist florals, outdoor still life

"Drama Queens in a Green Vase", 12x16, oil on linen

This was the first time that I ever attempted to paint a grouping of white flowers. I think the reddish centers of these peonies gave the painting the extra color needed to keep the painting from being boring.

I used a fairly limited palette of two yellows, two reds, and two blues, plus Winsor Green, and I found that this helped me from getting confused about how to mix the warm and cool neutrals.

When I look back to the first paintings that I did of peonies earlier this summer, I can see that I am becoming more proficient with painting these difficult, but beautiful blooms. This is probably the last of my peony paintings for awhile, since they are now out of season. Hopefully by next summer I won't forget what I learned this summer!

"Peony Party", 10x20, oil on linen, paintings of peonies, Maryanne Jacobsen art, white peonies, pink peonies, summer flowers

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"Peony Party", 10x20, oil on linen

I always look forward to June when I know the peonies are blooming up north. That means that they'll soon be making their way to markets further south. It's a short season, so I have been on the lookout since May.

As soon as we came back from Boston, (where I saw dozens of peonies, by the way!) I found what I was looking for in a local supermarket.

So I've been painting peonies over the past few days. Here' my favorite of the three paintings that I did. I decided to call it "Peony party" because the brightly colored place-mats that I set them on gave the set-up a festive feel.

If you love peonies as much as I do, enjoy!