Monday, January 10, 2011

"L'heure d'éte ", 14x18, oil on canvas

SOLD
"L'heure d'éte ", 14x18, oil on canvas

This painting was done with a palette knife only and has a lot of nice loose impasto. It is a scene from the little village in Provence, called Saint Paul de Vence.

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Thursday, January 06, 2011

"La Bicyclette", 12x16, oil on masonite, by Maryanne Jacobsen

SOLD "La Bicyclette", 12x16, oil on masonite

Over the past weeks (and actually months! ) I have lost a lot of interest in painting. It definitely started with the BP oil spill back in April. Now there is so much bad news everywhere, and especially regarding the environment, that one wonders if it's the end of the world! The recent mass die-offs of whales in Argentina , as well as fish and birds in the US, and huge floods and earthquakes around the world, has had me thinking that the world that I have known and loved is changing in a negative way.

Today I decided to try to paint SOMETHING! Not an easy task when you have had the blues for a few weeks.

France has always been a place of magic for me, so I decided to start in that place that I love-Provence. I also have had a mean crush on Rod Stewart for the better part of my adult life. So I turned on a Rod Stewart CD (and hit the replay button on a couple of my all-time favorites) and just went into a happy zone. Although in shadow, the bicycle is the focal point of the painting, since it is the starting point in my effort to lead the viewer's eye throughout the painting.




"La Bicyclette" was painted with palette knife only, since I knew I was too lazy to attempt to clean paint brushes in my current lousy state of mind. Let us hope that the earthquakes, floods and massive deaths of birds and fish was just a weird holiday aberation and that the new year will be full of health and happiness for the planet.

Hope everyone has a very happy, healthy and blessed New Year, and thanks for staying with me as I've wandered around in the desert.
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Tuesday, January 04, 2011

"Maui Magic", 18x24, oil on panel-$650, paintings of tropical islands, Hawaii, Maui, palm trees


SOLD

"Maui Magic", 18x24, oil on panel

This painting was done with both palette knife and brushes. Bring the islands into your home with this dramatic painting! It would make a wonderful holiday gift or vacation memento for someone special.

Please contact me if you are interested in this piece. My email address is maryannejacobsen@aol.com.

Happy New Year!



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Thursday, December 16, 2010

"Mission Arch", Sale!- 9x12, oil on linen- Mission Capistrano

SOLD "Mission Arch" 9x12, oil on Raymar panel

This painting is a depiction of one of the old arches at Mission Capistrano in southern California, which I have visited numerous times, and never grow tired of!

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Thursday, December 09, 2010

Motherhood, 16x20, oil on linen, by Maryanne Jacobsen

SOLD"Motherhood", 16x20, oil on linen

I had painted this same scene about a year ago, in a much smaller format, (9x12) Without going into a lot of detail about the circumstances, the painting ended up looking very different from my original intentions, thanks to the fact that I doubted my own abilities. So for a long time I had wanted to do another one, this time in a larger format, but the weeks and months just passed me by.

Always daunted by the prospect of attempting figurative work, I procrastinated until yesterday. Ironically, I was right smack in the middle of checking the values of the grisaille when the phone rang. It was my sister , informing me that my mother is not expected to live more than a few more days. It was the memories of my sweet, lovely mother than kept me painting late last night, long after I knew it was time to stop.

I finished the painting today, knowing that time was not on my side in terms of continuing to paint wet into wet.

Perhaps I'll eventually go back and refine it further. I do see some things that I'd like to change. But overall, I know it is a good painting in spite of the haste I exerted in order to complete it. I used David Leffel's palette because I have come to realize that there are times to push color and there are times when you shouldn't push the color. And I just wanted this painting to be soft and peaceful. David Leffel's palette consists of colors that I rarely use, like burnt umber, terra rosa, raw umber and naples yellow. Until I become an expert at flesh tones, these earth tones make it easier for me to do a more natural portraiture than using pure color.

Motherhood is not for the feint of heart. As a child growing up in Philadelphia, I recall that there was never one day in my childhood that I did not come home from school to a clean house, a healthy supper and freshly washed and ironed clothes. I feel very sorry for the children of today, many of whom know neither what it's like to have a home-cooked meal or to have two parents. It is not the fault of the mothers that must go out to work. But, it is where we have come as a society, as a result of circumstances beyond our control , that has brought us to the state where children rarely have the same luxuries that I myself experienced and that is very sad.

A huge thank-you to Sara and Ashley and Ellie. Without all three of you this painting could not have come about. That being said, I am dedicating the painting to you, mom, because I could not have painted it without thinking good thoughts of you throughout. Thank-you, mother, du fond de mon coeur, for all that you did to make me the person that I am today.

I love you.







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Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Untitled- mother and child


I started this painting today, not realizing how significant it would become.

I had no idea I would get this far with it in one day, but that's what happens when you are preoccupied with other things.

It's not completely finished. I'll write more later.
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Sunday, December 05, 2010

"Moody Bayou", 12x16, by Maryanne Jacobsen, paintings of bayous, atmospheric paintings

SOLD"Moody Bayou", 12x16, oil on canvas

A bayou is a body of water typically found in flat, low-lying areas, and can refer either to an extremely slow-moving stream or river (often with a poorly defined shoreline), or to a marshy lake or wetland. Bayous are commonly found in the Gulf Coast region of the southern United States, particularly the Mississippi River region, with the state of Louisiana being famous for them. A bayou is frequently an anabranch or minor braid of a braided channel that is moving much more slowly than the mainstem, often becoming boggy and stagnant, though the vegetation varies by region. Many bayous are home to crawfish, certain species of shrimp, other shellfish, catfish, alligators, and a myriad other species.

The definition above was taken from Wikipedia.

I painted this painting a few months ago, at the height of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. The catastrophe shook me to the core, and for many months I couldn't paint due to depression and headaches that seemed as if they would never stop.

I am not completely over the trauma of the disaster. Although my headaches have certainly abated, just a few weeks ago my husband and I spotted a large bird, probably a heron, on the beach in our little town, it's legs high and stiff in the air and its head buried irreconcilably in the sand- dead as the dead zone off the Louisiana coast. In my heart I knew what had caused its demise, but I didn't dare focus on it anymore. The future is about hope, and faith and endurance, and without these things it is hard to move forward when the going gets tough.

I have never had it tough. I have never had to go without anything. Sometimes that makes me feel incredibly guilty. The inequity in this world is shameful, and yet I hold to the promises of the Sermon on the Mount, where the meek will inherit the earth and the poor in spirit will inherit paradise, and where those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. Christianity is no longer popular on this planet. That is such a shame to me, because the world needs the teachings of Jesus Christ, the greatest philosopher who ever lived, more than ever before in the history of mankind.

I wish the followers of this blog, regardless of their spiritual proclivities, a very peaceful, joyous Christmas season, and I hope that humanity will someday be joined in total peace and love for each other and for the Creator of this great universe.

Thanks for listening.

If you are interested in this heartfelt painting, please contact Leah Sherman directly at Collector's Gallery and Framery at 941-488-3029.

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Friday, December 03, 2010

"Courtyard Hydrangeas", 9x12, oil on linen, paintings of hydrangeas, palette knife landscapes

SOLD
"Courtyard Hydrangeas", 9x12, oil on wrapped Masterpiece linen (Note: Click on the image for a better view of the texture.)

I am a huge fan of hydrangeas, but have not had much luck growing them here in a subtropical climate zone.

This painting sold last week to a repeat collector. I hope to do more paintings of blue flowers in the future, as blue is my favorite color:0)

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Thursday, December 02, 2010

"Serendipity", bold color, palette knife floral painting, 12x12, texture by MAryanne Jacobsen

SOLD

"Serendipity", 12x12, oil on wrapped canvas-Add a frame for only $25 and receive the painting ready to give as a gift for the holidays! (Note: Please click on the photo to see a close-up of the texture.)

I haven't done one of these gooey paintings in a while. I call them gooey paintings because there is so much paint on the canvas in the end that it literally seems as though I was icing a cake instead of painting a still life floral! These paintings almost always start out as an attempt to conserve paint. since paint is expensive and I am cheap. I try to save what is left over on my palette from the day's painting session, so I spread all the left over paint on the canvas like icing. This usually results in a thick coating of neutral- colored paint, better known as "mud" to artists like myself who save it. But then my efforts to conserve paint go right out the window, as I inevitably have to start all over again the next day with fresh paint in order to finish the painting!

Here is photo of the painting framed:



Anyhow, this painting was done with a palette knife only and was fun to do. It was serendipitous that I had a bunch of flowers, glass vases and an orange at my fingertips when I started the painting, and so I didn't have to think too much about the subject. If you like thick paint and an abstract approach to subject matter, then you'll probably like this.
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Wednesday, December 01, 2010

"Friendship Offering", 9x12, oil on gallery wrapped canvas, floral painting by Maryanne Jacobsen

SOLD
"Friendship Offering", 9x12, oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

After a busy couple of weeks, it was good to get back to painting today! It was wonderful spending time with loved ones and friends over the holidays, but it's always a bit of a relief to get back to normal , too.

This past week was a busy one, but one that will leave many cherished memories in my mind. Over the weekend we invited friends to the house for dinner and a special friend brought me some lovely autumn flowers. Today I decided that I could not let them go to waste, so I painted them, adding the tangelo and grapes, as you can see below:


This painting was done in earth colors, on gallery wrapped canvas.


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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

"Purple meets Orange", 16x12, oil on linen, by Maryanne Jacobsen

SOLDPurple Meets Orange". 16x12, oil on linen

This painting received the People's Choice Award at Friday evening's opening reception of The Venice Art Center's newest exhibit, "Show us your Best". Because most of my newest paintings were placed in my new solo exhibit at The North Port Art Center , I wasn't sure whether to enter this juried show or not. In the end, my husband suggested this piece as an entry, and now I am glad that I took his suggestion. Although I did not attend the opening reception, I understand that the place was packed on Friday night, so I feel honored to have received this award from the votes of fellow artists and the Venice community of art patrons. Thanks to all who voted for the painting!




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Tuesday, November 09, 2010

"Safely Moored-Bass Harbor Head Light", 16x20, by Maryanne Jacobsen

SOLD"Safely Moored-Bass Harbor Head Light", 16 x20, oil on linen

This will probably be the last painting of Bass Harbor Head Light that I will do. I apologize if I have bored anyone but I was trying to improve upon the two I had done before this one. I am definitely happier with the rocks in this one, but I need to keep practicing rocks. They are tricky!

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




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Friday, November 05, 2010

"Cold Morning- Acadia National Park", 12x16, rock study, oil on canvas, original oil

SOLD
"Cold Morning- Acadia National Park", 12x16, oil on canvas

I must confess that I have really been struggling with painting rocks. Ever since I came back from our trip to Maine last month, I have realized how weak I am in painting rocks and rugged structures. I suppose it's because I really don't see a whole lot of rocky structures here in Florida. Everything is flat and sandy so I have nothing to go out and study and paint from.

Anyhow, I struggled with this quite a bit and did it over at least three times. That's what studies are for! I'll keep working at it, folks. I promise. In the meanwhile, this original oil painting has been reasonably priced because it is a study. It was done with a palette knife and has a lot of texture.



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Thursday, November 04, 2010

"Bianca in red", plein air, 12x16, oil on masonite by Maryanne Jacobsen, impressionist portraits, plein air portraits, mudheads, Hensche study

"Bianca in Red", plein air, 12x16, oil on Masonite

This impressionist painting looks great when you are looking at it from across the room. Get closer and it's a lot of knife strokes and heavy texture. It was painted with mostly a palette knife, though I used a brush at the end to give her features some definition. The model was wearing red and was backlit, and the red parasol had a strong influence over the entire composition, so there were some challenges involved in making a convincing statement of light. Although you can't tell from the photo of Bianca below, she had this marvelous little slice of light across her left cheek, and that was the whole reason for the painting!
I was especially happy that I was able to just mass in the hands and make them look convincing.

I am a huge fan of John Singer Sargent, and was fortunate to see some of his paintings recently when I visited the Portland Museum of Art in Portland, Maine. One of his paintings, "Breakfast in the Loggia", always fascinated me, because of the way in which he just massed in the hands with a few deft brushstrokes. Click on the photo of his painting below to see what I mean:

I love impressionism. I am a little sad that it has not reached the level of popularity that we currently see in styles like representational realism. That being said, I'm happy for the painters that paint in that style, but will continue to follow my heart and stick with impressionism.

If you are interested in this painting, simply send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.
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Wednesday, November 03, 2010

New Art Exhibit by Maryanne Jacobsen


If you are in the southwest Florida area this weekend, please come join me at the opening of my invitational art reception at The North Port Art Center in North Port, Florida. The reception will be on Saturday, November 6th, from 4 to 6 PM., with refreshments and beautiful art to soothe the soul!

I will be featuring some of my newest landscapes from my recent trip to Massachusetts and Maine, as well as some popular still lifes and portraits. For more info about the exhibit or to get directions, please call (941)423-6460. The art center will also be featuring a brand new exhibit entited "Idols and Icons". Don't miss it! Hope to see you there!
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