"Glad Tidings", 7x9, Christmas, snow scenes, The Hunt, Fox Hunt, Blessing of the Hounds, Chester County scenes, Pennsylvania landscapes

"Glad Tidings", 7x9

Wishing all my collectors, friends and blog readers a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year!

"Autumn Vista at Granogue", 12x16, oil on panel, plein air, Du Post family, Granogue, Plein Air, Brandywine Valley, Hagley Museum, PABV, Paintings of autumn, barns, color, Brandywine Valley, Maryanne Jacobsen art

"Autumn Vista at Granogue", 12x16, oil on panel, plein air

This is another painting that I did during Plein Air Brandywine Valley back in October. I realize that I've been a little late in posting all of these, but I've been busy with some commissions and Christmas preparations.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day when I painted, at Granogue, a Du Point estate in Wilmington known by residents  all around for the water tower landmark that stands on the outskirts of the huge property on Smiths Bridge Road and Montchanin Road just west of the Brandywine, where Eleuthere Irenee Du Post  built a gunpowder mill about 200 years ago. 

Folks can still visit the mill today, called Eleutherian Mills, which is near the Granogue estate, along with Winterthur and the Hagley Museum- all beautiful museums which house much of the history of the storied Du Post family.

I always consider it a privilege to paint here at this beautiful place. Rolling hills,  barns, workers houses, a railroad station and undulating cornfields are just small parts of the estate. The Country House is perched on the top of a hill overlooking the beautiful Brandywine hillside.

Towards the end of the painting, I had to turn my canvas away from the barn because of the sun, but you can see the beautiful cornfields that were behind me as I painted.

I've done a couple paintings at Granogue in the past, and they are all sold. If you would like to purchase this one, it is loaded with thick paint and beautiful autumn colors! Just send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com for purchase info.

Thanks for visiting my blog and come back again!

To read more about Granogue, here is a neat article by the Washington Post, of a party hosted at Granogue by the Du Post Patriarch.

"Autumn in the Country", 11x14, oil on panel, plein air, Chester County, Pennsylvania landscapes, autumn color, farm scenes, original oil paintings, Maryanne Jacobsen fine art

"Autumn in the Country", 11x14, oil on panel, plein air

This was painted during a trip to Chester County. I was intrigued by the shadows on the ground and the colorful foliage.

This painting is available. Please send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com, if you are interested in purchasing this work.

"Morning at the Celery Fields", 9x12, plein air, Audubon Society, Sarasota Florida, Celery Fields, plein air paintings, Strada easel, Maryanne Jacobsen art

"Morning at the Celery Fields", 9x12, plein air

This was painted on location at the Audubon Society of Sarasota's beautiful gardens adjacent to the Celery Fields. The Celery Fields are a natural bird habitat and popular walking spot for Sarasota natives.

It was a bright clear morning when I painted there with the SRQ plein air painters.

It was also the morning that I broke in my new Strada easel.

If you ever visit Sarasota, be sure to take a walk up the hill at the Celery Fields, where you can get an almost aerial view of the wetlands below. If you're lucky, you may see some Roseate Spoonbills!

If you are interest in purchasing this plein air painting, please email me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com for info.

"Coffee Break", 9x12, oil on Canson oil paper, coffee break, Beautiful women, women in hats,, portrait study, all prima

"Coffee Break", 9x12, oil on Canson oil paper

Had fun with this one. May try her in a larger format.

"Windblown Cypress, Pinnacle Point", 16x28, oil on board, cypress trees, California cypress, California coastal art, Point Lobos State Preserve, Pinnacle Point, Maryanne jacobsen art, windblown trees, award-winning art

"Windblown Cypress, Pinnacle Point", 16x28, oil on board

I was very happy to receive a  Third place award  last week at the Venice Art Center's "Branchin' Out" exhibit, featuring- trees! That makes three ribbons in one month!

Trees are a wonderful subject to paint, and the windblown cypress trees at Point Lobos State Preserve in Carmel California are a personal favorite subject of mine.

This painting is very dramatic in person and would make a stunning addition to any wall. If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com.

"Red Rock Country", 8x10, oil on panel, Zion national Park, CyberMonday sale, Virgin River, The Watchman, Maryanne Jacobsen art, National parks, red rocks

"Red Rock Country", 8x10, oil on panel-$350 (free shipping!)

This scene is a view from Watchman Trail in  Zion National Park, which I've painted a few times in the past. It portrays the Swirling Virgin River as it heads towards the turn at the majestic Watchman.

Utah is a beautiful place and was recently voted the third best state in which to retire!

For CyberMonday, I'm offering this painting at half off my usual retail, unframed, with free shipping within the domestic US.

Please use the PayPal button below, if you would like to purchase this painting. By the way, original art makes a lovely Christmas gift!

"Misty Morning, Cortez Fishing Village", 11x14, oil on linen, award-winning paintings, Blue ribbon, fishing village, Cortez Village, Old Florida, old boats, fog, mist, fishing boats, Maryanne Jacobsen art

"Misty Morning, Cortez Fishing Village", 11x14, oil on linen

I was very happy to recently receive a First Place Award for my painting, "Misty Morning, Cortez Fishing Village", at the Englewood Art Center, a division of the Ringling College of Art and Education.

The origin of the painting goes back to a grey foggy morning when I gathered with a group of painters to paint scenes at the Cortez Fishing Village in Cortez Florida.

Cortez is a very popular spot for plein air painters, as it has the most delightful old fishing boats and scenes of Old Florida, not to mention The Starfish Grill on the Water, where artists can congregate after a happy day of painting on the rickety old piers.

This painting is available for purchase. Send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com if you are interested.

"Brandywine Blues", 14x11, plein air sketch, Jasper Crane Rose Garden, bridge over the Brandywine, Brandywine River, Wilmington Delaware scenes, Maryanne Jacobsen original art, Plein air Brandywine Valley, water reflections, Brandywine Park and Zoo, Monkey Hill

"Brandywine Blues", 14x11, plein air sketch

This is another one of the paintings that I did during Plein Air Brandywine Valley week.

The scene is from the Jasper Crane Rose Garden in Wilmington, Delaware. It was a chilly gray day when I painted there, but enjoyable nonetheless with fall colors just beginning to emerge in the trees.

This painting is available for purchase. Contact me via email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com for pricing.

"Wyeth's Muse", 12x16, oil on panel, Andrew Wyeth, Chadds Ford, Brandywine School of Art, Maryanne Jacobsen art, Keurner Farm, Ring Farm, historic places, N.C. Wyeth, original oil paintings, Brandywine Valley

"Wyeth's Muse", 12x16, oil on panel

It is said that the Keurner Farm in Chadd's Ford, Pa. served as inspiration for at least a third of the works by the late Andrew Wyeth. Andrew discovered the farm on one of his boyhood walks and over the years, the farm and its occupants, Karl and Anna Keurner developed a deeply satisfying albeit complex relationship. It was here at the farm that Andrew met Helga, a German immigrant, who also became the controversial subject of many of Wyeth's paintings.

Having spent the greater part of my adult life living in the Brandywine Valley, and treasuring the legacy of the Wyeth's, it is not unusual that I still gravitate to scenes of rural farms with old stone walls and fence lines that dot the hillsides, whenever I visit Pennsylvania.

 Recently, while painting in the Plein Air Brandywine Valley painting event, I had the opportunity to paint at the Kuerner Farm, which was generously donated  by the Keurners to the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum. It was a gorgeous autumn day, and although I really wanted to paint the white farmhouse from the bottom of the hill, another artist had already set up there.

So I painted the Springhouse instead, which is closer to the barn, and I'll post a better picture of that painting in another blog post.

All and all it was quite a moving experience to be able to walk the same well-worn dusty paths of the Wyeth's, Howard Pyle and other masters of the Brandywine School of Art, but I was still disappointed that I didn't have the chance to paint the farmhouse.

So this week I used my reference photo and set out to portray the old homestead in the dramatic mid-day light. I wasn't unhappy with outcome, but I do hope that someday perhaps I'll have the chance to paint the scene again- this time on location.

"Dappled Light", 16x20, oil , Historic Yellow Springs village, Maryanne Jacobsen original art,, Yellow Springs Inn, the Washington Building, Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, Autumn landscapes, Pennsylvania landscapes, original art

"Dappled Light", 16x20, oil (Please click on the image for a better view)

During my recent painting trip to Pennsylvania, I had the opportunity to paint a couple times in the sweet little historic village of Yellow Springs, Pennsylvania. The weather was gorgeous and the trees were colorful and my only dilemma was choosing what to paint in the tiny village!

I decided to set up in the little courtyard between the Washington Building and the Lincoln Building, since the dappled light on the side on the Washington Building fascinated me.

As is usually the case with plein air, by the time, I set up my easel and got around to painting, the light on the building was gone and the building and courtyard were cast in shadow with the exception of the little bench.

Here is what it looked like in less than an hour's time:

Since I was unable to capture the dappled light that had first attracted me to the scene, I decided to paint the scene in my studio, using my field study and photo reference for guides.

 I was pretty happy with the outcome, and hope to do more autumn scenes in upcoming weeks from the trip to beautiful Pennsylvania.

This painting is available . Please email me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com if you have any interest in purchasing this work. And don't forget to visit my new website at Maryanne JAcobsen Fine Art.

"Morning Light, Maple Hill Farm", 10x20, oil, Plein Air Brandywine Valley, Maple Hill Farm, horses, plein air, Winterthur, Children's Beach House, Maryanne Jacobsen art, Wyeth country

SOLD

"Morning Light, Maple Hill Farm", 10x20, oil

I recently returned from a trip to Pennsylvania to paint in the annual Plein Air Brandywine Valley plein air event. For one beautiful autumn week, dozens of excellent painters gather together and have the opportunity to paint at beautiful locations throughout the Brandywine Valley, which is home to the Wyeths and other notables of the Brandywine School of art.

For me, it is a homecoming, because that area was where I lived for the majority of my life.

On one of the days of the event we had multiple choices of wonderful places to paint. I chose Maple Hill Farm , on the outskirts of West Chester, and got there early enough  to find a great location.

There was mist in the fields and everything had a dreamlike quality about it as I set up under a huge tree and surveyed my surroundings.

I had a wonderful audience  as I began my painting, and decided to incorporate a few of the spectators into my painting.

Boy, oh boy! I am not a typical painter of horses and their anatomy, which  is basically  foreign to me. But I endeavored to capture two of them into my painting anyway, as I painted as quickly as I possibly could while they munched contentedly on  the grass.

The reward for getting up at the crack of dawn, heading to an unknown location , and setting up and painting subjects you are not familiar with as quickly as you can is.... a Sale!

I am happy to say that this painting sold during the reception at Winterthur. I never had a chance to get a good photo of it. But I am so grateful for the experience of having painted in that gorgeous meadow, on that brisk October morning, and for the beautiful horses who kept me company as I painted!

"Dark Roast with Cherries", 11x14, oil on oil paper, framed, award-winning paintings, color, Maryanne Jacobsen art, floral, coffee, roses, cherries

"Dark Roast with Cherries", 11x14, oil on oil paper, framed

I was very happy to receive a Third place ribbon at the reception last week at The Visual Art Center's "Color" exhibit.

The Visual Art Center is located in Punta Gorda and offers many wonderful classes, workshops and exhibits throughout the year. Check it out here.

This painting is available. Please contact me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com, for more info about the painting.

"Lovers in the Rose Garden", 9x12, plein air oil study, The Ringling, Museums in Sarasota, John and Mabel Ringling, Mabel's Rose Garden, plein air, wedding venues in Florida, statues, small paintings, Maryanne Jacobsen art, romance, mystery

"Lovers in the Rose Garden", 9x12, plein air oil study

I always love painting at The Ringling, but this week was a bit of an exception. The wind from Hurricane Nate, far away, yet still in the Gulf, was  a force to be reckoned with as I attempted to paint this courting couple in Mabel's Rose Garden. Named for Mabel Ringling, the rose garden is filled with statues of lovers, beautiful roses, and a small pavilion, with a backdrop of ancient canyon trees to add mystery to the charm.

It was that mystery that I wanted to capture in this little study, pitting the dark banyan forrest against the sun-lit statue of the lovers.

The wind whipped everything about. My trash basket flew away dozens of times, and at one point my hat blew off and flew right into the wet painting. Not to be deterred, I held tight to my easel and did the best I could in the two hour time frame I had given myself.

The Ringling, formerly known as the The Ringling Museum, is a real treasure in Sarasota, Fl. Seated right on Sarasota Bay, Ca' D' Zan, the mansion of John and Mabel Ringling, is a jewel to behold. There are museums to wander and manicured grounds to explore, but choosing a cool day is preferable since it gets very warm throughout the year.

The temp was about 91 when I painted this, but the wind took away some of my discomfort.  As I painted, I wondered who the couple were, how the young man had lost his hand and if the fair damsel holding the basket truly cared for him.

It's all a mystery!

This little plein air study is available for purchase. Just contact me at maryannejacobsen@aol.com, for more information.

"An Evening in Zurich", 12x12, oil on panel, Cityscape, nocturne, Switzerland, Zurich, Maryanne Jacobsen art , Münsterbrücke, Zunfthaus Zur Meisen, vacations in Zurich, Fraumünster Church, lamplight

SOLD

"An Evening in Zurich", 12x12, oil on panel

I painted this scene to reflect the warm glow cast over the Swiss city at dusk as the sun is setting. A streetlight casts additional warmth onto the bridge in this fall scene, reflecting Old Town Zurich's quietness after the summer tourists are gone.


A couple walks hand in hand on the old Münsterbrücke, grateful that for now, at least, the bustle of traffic is gone and only pedestrians share the bridge with them.

Warm lights from the windows of the elegant old Zunfthaus Zur Meisen cast warm reflective light onto the Limmat River, and it is fabled that ghosts of ancient guildsmen, artisans and vintners still traverse the hallways of the museum where their collections are kept.

Across the street stands The Fraumünster Church, another historical relic in Old Zurich's history. It is built on the remains of a former abbey for aristocratic women . The monastery buildings were destroyed in 1898, and the church building today serves as the parish church for one of the city's 34 reformed parishes. A landmark in Old Town, the Church's clocktowers reflect the time on every side of the spire.

I painted this in muted tones to reflect the atmosphere of a nocturne in Old Town Zurich. If you have ever traveled to that beautiful city, perhaps this painting will evoke some special memories for you. I certainly hope so!

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