"A Summer Song", 12x16, oil on Canson oil paper, roses, white peonies, cup of tea, strawberries, poolside, still life floral, summer memories, a summer song, Chad & Jeremy hit, summer flowers, lazy days

 "A Summer Song", 12x16, oil on Canson oil paper, mounted on a panel

It's almost the end of summer, and that means cooler weather, autumn leaves, pumpkins and... wait. I am getting ahead of myself!

For now, I want to focus on what is left of these warm summer days. I set this arrangement up on a table near our pool, and contemplated the beauty of summer. Those long days produce luscious fruit, gorgeous gardens, and oh so many lazy days for the children!

When I was a student, I used to love summer vacation because it was my big chance to catch up on my favorite books. I was never much for beaches, (except for the fudge that could be procured at every boardwalk in America!), but I loved the slowness of each hot, sweltering day, and the gentle nights filled with fireflies and the strident hum of the crickets.

I painted this for those cold , wintry nights that will be upon us before we know it. The memories of summer are sometimes what helps us through those dark days when it is sometimes hard to get out of bed.

Although I live in Florida now, I truly miss the chill of winter- the frost- the ice- the bone-chilling cold. And yet I also recall the endless drear of February and March- the slush, the coats and gloves, and driving on slippery streets that are unfit for even reindeer.

So if you would like to preserve a bit of summer for the month ahead, "A Summer Song" might be the perfect thing! The painting is available through my website here. Send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com for pricing info.

Thank-you for reading my blog today, and enjoy the rest of summer!

"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!