"Mary's Garden", 12x12, oil, gardens, relaxation, women in hats, mothers day, sunflowers, table in the sun

 "Mary's Garden", 12x12, oil

I've painted this little scene a number of times. It was from a photo that my husband took of me reading a book in our back garden. 

In this one, I gave myself brown hair for a change, even though I'm a blonde. I loved the bright sunlight on the table and flowers, while I myself sat fairly sheltered under an old oak tree.

This could be any wife, mom or daughter on her day off-just enjoying the sunshine, a good book, and a glass of white wine!

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

Thanks for visiting my blog!

"Springtime, China Cove", 12x16, oil

 "Springtime, China Cove", 12x16, oil

I have painted this same scene numerous times in the past and I never get tired of it. The gorgeous Pacific Ocean stretching way back into the distance with the various little peninsulas stretching out in between makes for a wonderful study in creating distance and atmosphere in your paintings. 

I won a first place ribbon with my first rendering of China Cove, way back in 2015, judged by renowned watercolor artist  Vladislav Yeliseyev. The award landed me representation at a gallery in Sarasota, Florida. The painting was put in the front display window and immediately sold.

I have a wonderful memory of painting at Point Lobos State Preserve during the Plein Air convention in Monterrey 10 years ago. It was there on my second trip to the Preserve that I veered further south and discovered the beautiful little cove that was hidden away in a protected niche of the sanctuary. This is where the seals would come and play and nurse their cubs in the springtime. The waters were a translucent blend of vivid emerald and turquoise and cerulean blue, such as I had never before seen together in one place. So I set up my easel and paints, and allowed the beauty of that place to become a part of my memory. 

All around me I could hear seals barking, gulls reeling and nature in all its glory responding to this beautiful sanctuary of peace and tranquillity.

Here are some pictures from that day.

I have been blessed to paint in many beautiful places in this great country, but Point Lobos Preserve on the Pacific Coast will always be way at the top of the list of my favorite places to paint and visit.

If you are interested in this painting, please send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

"Afternoon Shadows, Cortez Fishing Village", plein air , 11x14, Cortez Fishing Village, Starfish Grill, plein air, Old Florida, Gulf Coast

 "Afternoon Shadows, Cortez Fishing Village", plein air , 11x14

This was painted back in 2016 at the scenic little Cortez Historic Fishing Village, on Florida's Gulf Coast.

After first asking permission to paint of two men who seemed to be part of the place, I set up my easel right at the edge of the water, behind where you see the figure in my painting. I selected a great composition of two boats and the little fish shack that lies in the distance on the water as my composition, and had begun painting when someone came along and said, "Lady, you'll have to move so we can load the barge."

Well, of course! This is plein air and this is a working fishing village. So I packed up all my gear and moved to the foot of the walkway that goes up to the covered pier.

It turns out that the two men who I'd asked permission of were somewhat (I'm being kind) inebriated and had no work connection to the place at all. They stood nearby as I painted all afternoon and discussed politics, terrorism and how to change the world. It was different from listening to the gulls screech and I found after a while that I was kind of glad they were there. One even offered me a live starfish, which I dropped to the ground after realizing it was alive. You can see one of these friendly characters in my photo below.

I do miss painting in the great outdoors! The world is alive when you paint it from life. 

I haven't been to Cortez in a very long time. We used to eat lunch at the Starfish Grill, but I'm to even sure if it's still there or not. Check out this scenic little fishing spot if you are ever in Manatee County. It's definitely Old Florida!

"Ghost Trees, Pescadero Point", 9x12, oil on linen, Ghost tree, Cypress trees, Monterrey Peninsula, 17 mile drive, Carmel, Monterrey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, California art. Witch trees, Maryanne JAcobsen fineart

 "Ghost Trees, Pescadero Point", 9x12, oil on linen

The Ghost Tree and windblown cypresses make a definite statement along the beautiful 17 mile drive stretch of ocean highway on the Monterrey peninsula at Pescadero Point. The ghost tree stretches with its witchlike limbs into the sky directly behind a grove of twisted cypress trees. 

It's hard to stop there, but a little further along there is a small place to park and take pictures. The day we were there it was overcast without much contrast, but the scene was still impressive.

No wonder this area is a magical place for artists to paint!

Thanks for visiting my blog. I have many paintings of California on my website as well. 

"Morning Novena", 11x14, oil, Maryanne Jacobsen art, Carmel mission, Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, Carmel-by-the-sea, Carmel California, Calfornia missions, mission trail

 "Morning Novena", 11x14, oil

When I visited the Carmel Mission in California a few years back, the steeples were under construction.

I have wanted to paint this beautiful church for a while now, but was put off by my reference photo, showing the construction site.

I finally decided to work around the obstacles and this was the result. The day I was there an elderly woman was just exiting the church with her walking stick. I thought about how poignant the scene was, with the devout old lady probably making her daily novena. And that is when I decided on the title.

I usually prefer painting buildings in bright sunlight, but I decided I needed more practice painting buildings in shadow.

If you are ever in the Monterrey peninsula, be sure to visit this serene and lovely mission built way back in 1770 and restored in 1940. It is also called Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, but the Carmelites just call it the Carmel Mission. 

To read more about the mission, just go here.

Thank-you for visiting my blog. Please also visit my website at https://www.maryannejacobsenfineart.com for more California art!

"Napa Garden", 11x14, oil, Napa valley, paintings of gardens, A good year, wineries, chardonnay, Sterling vineyards, Gallery444, San Francisco, oil paintings

"Napa Garden", 11x14, oil

There are few things that feed my soul like beautiful gardens, flowers, and glorious sunshine. A little chardonnay is additional icing on the cake. 

My hubby and I had so much fun a few years back when we took a trip out to California and visited Napa and Sonoma Valley wineries. There were so many wine tastings that I can't even remember the names of the wineries anymore.

We took an aerial ride up to Sterling vineyards and had a wonderful lunch there overlooking the breathtaking vistas below us.

Our little Airbnb was beautiful and we took time to visit one of my galleries that represent me in San Francisco- Gallery 444.

Overall, it was an amazing trip, and one of many we've enjoyed over the years since our son moved to California years ago.

Although having loved ones living far away can  make us grandmothers feel sad at times (I miss my grandkids), there are some benefits to having kids live in lovely places!

Thanks for visiting my blog.

 

"The Garden at the Four Arts', 11x14, oil, plein air, Palm Beach Florida, Society of the Four Arts, Lighthouse Plein air festival. bougainvillea, pink

 "The Garden at the Four Arts', 11x14, oil, plein air

This painting was painted at the Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach, Fl., during the Lighthouse Plein Air Festival. I loved the vibrant pink of the bougainvillea, and the sun on the pergola in the background.

The Society of the Four Arts Gardens are a treat to visit if you are in that area.

If you are interested in this painting, feel free to send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.

"New Horizons" 11x14, oil, Rockport Massachusetts, fishing boats, Bearskin Neck, nautical, paintings of boats, harbor, Cape Ann

 "New Horizons" 11x14, oil

This fishing boat can frequently be seen in the little harbor of Bearskin Neck in Rockport, Massachusetts.

I was attracted to the contrast of light on the boat against the dark background of the seawall behind it.

I hope to someday return to Cape Ann and Rockport. We used to stay there every summer for many years until our favorite Bed and Breakfast, The CAptain's House was sold about 5 years back.

If you would like information about this painting, please email me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.

"Humble Abode 2", 8x10, oil on linen, Florida Cracker House, Marjorie Kennan Rawlings, Cross Creek, The Yearling, Florida Art, original art, impasto, thick paint, MaryanneJacobsen art

 

"Humble Abode 2", 8x10, oil on linen

I was going through some photos today and came across a group of photos I had taken a few summers ago after a trip to "Cross Creek", the backwoods Florida home of author Marjorie Keenen Rawlings. Rawlings is most familiar to us through her beloved work  The Yearling, about a boy who adopts an orphaned fawn,. The book won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1939 and was later made into a movie, also known as The Yearling.

I discovered that few people know much about Rawlings, though many have read The Yearling in school.  So here is a little history about Rawlings from Wikipedia:

In 1928, with a small inheritance from her mother, the Rawlingses purchased a 72 acre (290,000 m²) orange grove near Hawthorne, Florida, in a hamlet named Cross Creek for its location between Orange Lake and Lochloosa Lake. She brought the place to international fame through her writing. She was fascinated with the remote wilderness and the lives of Cross Creek residents, her Cracker neighbors, and felt a profound and transforming connection to the region and the land.Wary at first, the local residents soon warmed to her and opened up their lives and experiences to her. Marjorie filled several notebooks with descriptions of the animals, plants, Southern dialect, and recipes and used these descriptions in her writings.

As one enters Cross Creek, the first thing that you see is a sign that says the following:

 In spite of the excessive heat, humidity, and lack of creature comforts, Rawlings embraced this wild harsh land that few today would want to call home.

The painting that I did above, was not of Rawlings home at Cross Creek, but of a replica of an old Cracker Shack that was on the property and served as a home to the hired help. The humbleness of the property is evident, but what is not evident is the sense of profound peace and stillness that emanated the grounds.

Save for the occasional crowing of a rooster, the place was wrapped in a blanket of quiet serenity. 

Above is a photo of the cracker shack , and which served as my reference.

I have enormous respect for the people who braved these harsh lands and forged their homesteads upon ground that  many today would consider uninhabitable!

I enjoyed doing this painting in my air-conditioned studio. It reminded me that I have much to be thankful for and also reminded me that I would have a hard time surviving on a remote homestead such as the one that Rawlings lived upon and called home! Yet overall, I could appreciate the sense of mystic loveliness that Rawlings described and which was etched on the sign above.

"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.

"Raining Rose Petals", 12x9, oil, floral painting, impressionist roses, American impressionist society, colorful floral painting, Maryanne Jacobsen art

 "Raining Rose Petals", 12x9, oil

This painting was painted in the impressionist style and was juried into the American Impressionist Society's Fall online exhibit. I have always loved painting impressionist florals and this one was no exception.

Although each rose was painted with her own distinct personality, the center rose stands center and foremost, among her more colorful friends. They are all flamboyant and showing off; they are in their prime although their petals are starting to drop.

But these roses will never wilt to nothing. They were captured in a moment of time, for the viewer to enjoy forever!

I hope you enjoyed these lovelies. Please email me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com, if you would like price and purchase information.

The Devon Horse Show Lady, 6x6, oil on panel, ladies in big hats, purple hat, Big hats, Devon Horse Show, Horse shoe millinery, portraits of women

 The Devon Horse Show Lady, 6x6, oil on panel

It's always fun to go to The Devon Horse Show and see all the ladies in their fancy hats. While I wouldn't be caught dead in one of those, I admire their creativity in dressing for the occasion!

This fun little portrait is available through my website- collections- "Little Gems". Just click here to purchase.

Thanks for checking out my blog. Come back again.

"Autumn's Glory", 22x28, oil on wrapped linen canvas, autumn, fall scenery, paintings of autumn, impressionist landscapes, water scenes, vibrant landscapes,

 "Autumn's Glory", 22x28, oil on wrapped linen canvas

Autumn is my favorite time of year. It's the time for Mother Nature to show off one more time, before the winter months strip the landscape bare of color and hope. It's a time for her to demonstrate her resilience even in the midst of deterioration and loss.

This is a scene along French Creek which I used to frequent often back in the days of living in beautiful Chester County, Pennsylvania. I have painted this same scene numerous times and never grow tired of it!

If you are interested this painting, please send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.

Thank-you for visiting my Paint Dance today!

"Poolside Arrangement", 9x12, oil on panel, oranges, red roses, fruit basket, poolside floral, garden party, little gems, small paintings for sale

 "Poolside Arrangement", 9x12, oil on panel

Years ago I painted a larger version of this scene for a gallery and it sold right away. I decided to do a smaller version of the same scene, because it is so very pretty! I set up the fruit basket and bouquet of roses on a table right next to our pool one day. I loved the contrast of vivid colors and the shadow design that the basket made in the sun. The painting began outdoors and I finished it inside because I wanted to preserve the shadow pattern.

This sweet little painting would make a lovely gift that brings sunshine into a home every day of the year!

It is being sold for $300.00 through my website. Click here to purchase.

"Alone with her Thoughts", 9x12, oil, paintings of thinkers, paintings of woman, small affordable paintings, little gems

 "Alone with her Thoughts", 9x12, oil

Sometimes just being alone can be a beautiful thing. Planning dinner, planning a trip, a vacation- whatever- our minds can take us to so many places. The important thing is to make sure that our thoughts are peaceful, kind and loving, as much as possible, because "As a Man thinketh, so Shall he be."

Then, we can be quite happy with our own thoughts!

What places does your mind take you to? This painting was done during a workshop with incredible artist Derek Penix. I still recall how much I enjoyed that workshop, back in February 2020, even though we were all on the brink of the terrible Covid pandemic.

Here's to happy thoughts today!

If you are interested in this painting, please use this link to purchase through my website.

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