"Summer Garden, Rockport",11x14, oil on panel, Rockport, Massachusetts, homes of Rockport Massachusetts, Cape Ann, summer gardens, Maryanne Jacobsen art, Windswept, Old Garden Path, paintings of homes in Rockport

"Summer Garden, Rockport",11x14, oil on panel

Rockport, Massachusetts on Cape Ann has long been a favorite haunt of mine. A favorite activity when my husband and I are there is to take the stroll along the ocean via the Old Garden Path. I have taken that walk dozens of times and never grow tired of it!

This is one of the gorgeous summer "cottages " that line the street called The Old Garden Path. Sitting high and stately  on a slight hill and with a long stone pathway leading to the porch, one can always count on beautiful perennial gardens in the summer. Black-eyed Susan, purple coneflowers, Russian sage- it's a delightful scene to behold as one walks down the street.

I took a photo of this house a few years back and decided to paint it. The home is called "Windswept". I'll bet sitting on that front porch facing the Atlantic Ocean, one can partake of the most marvelous of wind currents!

This painting is available. Please email me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com for more info and thanks for looking!

"Summer Garden, Provincetown", 8x10, oil, Cape Cod, Provincetown, beautiful gardens, summer gardens, New England gardens

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"Summer Garden, Provincetown", 8x10, oil

Provincetown is always a fun place to visit and although the summer crowds make travel on Cape Cod somewhat challenging, seeing all the beautiful gardens in full bloom make it well worth the effort.

Took a bunch of pictures last summer when I was up there for the American Women Artists exhibit in Orleans and finally took them out today and chose one to paint.

Cape Cod was the very first place that my hubby and I chose as a vacation destination when we were first married 44 years ago. Things have changed a lot since then, but the Cape, and Provincetown in particular, will always hold a special place in my heart.

"Summer Garden, Monhegan Island", 8x10, oil on panel, Monhegan Island, summer gardens, floral painting, Maryanne Jacobsen art, Maine, Carina, The Fish House

"Summer Garden, Monhegan Island", 8x10, oil on panel

Monhegan Island is a special little place about 12 miles off the Maine Coast. You can take the ferry from either Boothbay Harbor or Port Clyde. The homes all look fairly alike with lots of grey weathered clapboard that seems to match the soft bluish light that is such a delight to artists everywhere. The island is such eye candy to artists that Monhegan has been dubbed, "The Artists' Island". In the summer, the island comes alive with color as perennial gardens spring up in profusion with giant sunflowers, foxglove, snap dragons, lupine, island thistle and black-eyed susans in abundance.

Summers are warm and lively on the island and the lunch crowd keeps the Fish House on Fish Beach Road hopping throughout the season as you can see below.

 

This perky and effusive garden that I painted lies right on the main path leading up the hill at a place called "The Carina". The Carina is a very versatile establishment selling deli sandwiches, beer and wine, gourmet foods and even hardware!

I've done a lot of paintings of Monhegan Island . You can see some of my favorites here

and here.

Many people use golf carts to get around the island. If I ever go back, (and I hope I will), I may consider that option as lugging my paint gear around in the heat was no fun! (Yes, it gets hot, there, too!)

If you look closely at the above photo you can just make out the garden that I painted and the house behind it.

If you ever go to Maine, do not miss the opportunity to spend at least a day on Monhegan. It's truly a magical, unforgettable place!

This painting is available through Galerie du Soleil in Napels, Florida. Please contact them for purchase info at 239-417-3450.

"Summer Days", 12x16, oil on linen, paintings of girls, dappled light, gardens, girls in hats, books, summer gardens

"Summer Days", 12x16, oil on linen

I have been working on this painting for almost two weeks now, off and on. I let it dry, look at it some more, see flaws and jump back into it. I actually almost thought it was done today until I got it up on the monitor and saw problems with the folds on her skirt.

Such is the world of an artist. We love our craft and sometimes we hate it. Most of the time we love it, though.

I think.

The thing that is very cool abut this painting is that I used a whole different palette in it and ended up liking it!!!!!! Colors I normally never have used or used only irregularly in the past. Earth tones.

I'm realizing the value of earth tones in mixing skin colors. So much easier! Yes!

So anyway, here's the colors I used on this one and when it is finally and truly finished I will post it again!- Indian yellow, cad yellow pale, yellow ochre, cad orange, Napthol red, (thank-you Lori Putnam!) terra rosa, alizarin crimson, Ultramarine blue and  transparent oxide red. And white. Of course.

"Summer Days" is available through Gallery 444.

"Her Garden", 24x24, oil on canvas, paintings of gardens, women in gardens, summer gardens, florals, romanticism, art for romantics, Maryanne Jacobsen

"Her Garden", 24x24, oil on canvas

My garden has always been very special to me. A sanctuary for birds, a place to write down my deepest thoughts, a sunny spot on a cool day, and a shady refuge on a warm day.

I've had many gardens throughout my life. My favorite garden was in my last home in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania. The geese would parade through the denser parts as they headed for the pond behind my home. The deer would gather in droves in the winter months, looking for berries as they sauntered like dancers among the brambles.

From my office, I would stare through the window at the abundance of wildlife proliferating in own back yard and yearn for the day when I would no longer need to be trapped at a desk, but would be free to spend time to my heart's content just tending the roses, pulling weeds from the throats of the holly hocks and wallowing in the splendor of the velvety grass beneath my feet.

Today, my garden is different. The pastels of the north have been replaced by the warm , sultry palette of tropical flowers, and palm trees have replaced the deciduous trees that housed blue jays, hawks and robins.

It hardly matters where I have my garden. I will always treasure the gift of the flowers' scent and the birds that warble in different notes of bird languages.

Very happy to be represented by Gallery 444 in Union Square, San Francisco. This painting is available through the gallery by calling (415) 434-4477