Saturday, April 30, 2011

"Enchanted Pool" after Edward Henry Potthast


"Enchanted Pool" after Edward Henry Potthast
(4x4") - 201124
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Mr. Potthast has many paintings where the figures appear in the same setting. I will have to read more about his process and how he went about posing his subjects. I wonder if, when painting from his own on site studies, he would transpose a figure from one scene to another. I believe so - that would only make sense. I'm not giving up on these pieces where the full on, naked human body offers so many challenges to an artist. At one moment it seems like a simple no brainer - the next it's a conundrum!
Contact me regarding purchase & commission requests. Unless otherwise noted, listed prices are offered to my subscribed blog members. If you are interested in purchasing a painting, but are not yet subscribed, simply enter your email address in the join box on my home page. As a subscriber you will receive special values on your purchases and periodic promotions will give you the opportunity to enjoy my paintings in real life at even more affordable prices!

"In the Summertime" after Edward Henry Potthast


"In the Summertime" after Edward Henry Potthast
(4x4") - 201123
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You guuuuyyyyyssss - come on ....wasn't someone going to point out my glaring and totally embarrassing mistake!!!! Oh my - for the last 1o posts, I have been calling Edward - William. This is just atrocious and completely shameful! Maybe nobody really reads, although I would think there would have been someone among my artist followers who would have spotted the oops. Well - what can I say? Other than life has continued to come at me at nine hundred miles an hour. It just never seems to end and I am honestly completely worn out ... Just the same, I am glad I finally did catch this : ) Maybe I had Prince William on the brain.
Anyway - I think this is the first of these studies where there have been only boys. They just aren't as pretty, are they? Still, I enjoyed the challenge of capturing the boyish stances. This painting would be lovely side by side with "Water Nymphs"!
Contact me regarding purchase & commission requests. Unless otherwise noted, listed prices are offered to my subscribed blog members. If you are interested in purchasing a painting, but are not yet subscribed, simply enter your email address in the join box on my home page. As a subscriber you will receive special values on your purchases and periodic promotions will give you the opportunity to enjoy my paintings in real life at even more affordable prices!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

"Children on the Beach" after Edward Henry Potthast


"Children on the Beach"after Edward Henry Potthast
(4x4") - 201121
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Allrighty - I had a very nice conversation with a highly respected, modern day painter the other day. Amongst other things, we talked about doing paintings 'after' another artist - one who made their significant mark and is long since passed. I had decided in my last post that I wouldn't be including a signature on the front of these paintings, for the obvious reason that they are studies based on another's work. I am now undecided again (did I ever mention I'm a Libra; the scales; every thought must be properly balanced against all others...) and would LOVE more input since this modern day painter believes that my work is interpretive enough to feel comfortable putting a signature on it. (I'd mention you but don't want to put you under any undue speculation!) I'm not convinced yet, but am open to more opinions. This painting has reinforced for me the importance of value relationships and just how much more solid a piece can become with just a tiny little tweak. Geez - you'd think I would have learned this stuff 25 years ago when I was in undergrad studio art class. Maybe I did and I forgot it.
Contact me regarding purchase & commission requests. Unless otherwise noted, listed prices are offered to my subscribed blog members. If you are interested in purchasing a painting, but are not yet subscribed, simply enter your email address in the join box on my home page. As a subscriber you will receive special values on your purchases and periodic promotions will give you the opportunity to enjoy my paintings in real life at even more affordable prices!

Sketch Crawl Hudson NY

Couple of pages from my sketchbook from this week. Spent a beautiful day in Hudson, NY with Jamie Williams Grossman and Gretchen Kelly on a sketch crawl. The one on the right is Warren St and on the left are row houses on the Court Square. Hudson is a great old historic city on the river.  

Number Two by Jani Lori

6x6x2 oil on gallery wrap board
Jani Lori SOLD

Plein Air Oil

Diane Mannion, CHADWICK PARK, 6x8" oil

Lynn Morgan Contemporary Pastel Paintings


"Two to"

20" x 28"
Pastel on paper

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Perfect Day on the Lagoon, a Florida Oil Painting of Waves and Palm on a Balmy Day, by Judy Batterson


Mosquito Lagoon on the east coast of Florida opens out to the Atlantic Ocean. It is a natural ecological haven surrounded by many small uninhabited islands. Sand bars appear at low tide. When the sun is out and an ocean breeze is blowing, this lagoon can be nature at its finest. Clouds seem to be a mile high. It is a beautiful place to be, whether to paint or fish or enjoy the scenery. I had to paint this in many layers to portray the sand and depths of the water. 12 x 18" Original Oil on masonite. $800 Framed

Daily Painting 1253 South of Saint Andrews Plein air Alla Prima

I did this on Indian River Drive a bit South of the Saint Andrews Episcopal church. Its 8 x 10 inches oil, not available on my blog yet, its at the Backus House Gallery till June 1st.

Underpaintings

Diane Mannion, VANDA ORCHID, 8x10" oil

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

"Window View of the Lobster Shack", 14x11, oil on linen, Peggy's Cove, fish shack, lobster shack, red boat, windows with a view impressionist painting

"Window View of the Lobster Shack", 14x11, oil on linen, by Maryanne Jacobsen

Mother's Day is just around the corner and this painting is beautifully framed, reasonably priced, and ready to give as a gift to that special mother in your life.

This painting is overall a success in my humble opinion- loose and generous with paint where it needs to be, and also restrained in areas where more modest color and brush strokes take a back seat to the lush floral bouquet in the foreground. It was tricky trying to do a painting like this, because the background needs to be painted first. The hard part is to keep the background from interfering with the focal point, while still incorporating its story into the overall theme. I hope that I was successful in that.

The background is a scene from a lovely little fishing town in Nova Scotia, called Peggy's Cove. I took some liberties with the setting and hope no one minds that I sat my window sill right smack in the middle of St. Margaret's Bay, overlooking a little fisherman's hut.

If you are interested in this painting, please send me an email at maryannejacobsen@aol.com, or call Leah Sherman directly at Collector's Gallery and Framery at 941-488-3029.

To view more of my paintings, please visit my website at Maryanne Jacobsen, Fine Art, or my blog at PaintDance.

Number Seven by Jani Lori

6x6x1 oil on gallery wrap canvas
Jani Lori SOLD

Weekly Challenge

Diane Mannion, NYC LADY, 6x6" oil
My entry into the Weekly Challenge:

Monday, April 25, 2011

Daily Painting 1252 Tickle Tummy Hill Bridge Plein Air Alla Prima

This is one I did at the last paintout, its not available right now, its still hanging at the Backus House Gallery. This is the view from the front yard of the gallery of the Tickle Tummy Hill Bridge. When you go over it and you are a passenger, you close your eyes and your stomach will lurch. The painting is 5 x 7 inches, oil on masonite. There is some shadows from the frame on the side and top.

Jar Series #6

Diane Mannion, JUST PEACHY, 4x6" oil
A trip to the food store can be an artistic adventure.  Always searching for stuff to paint, I tend to look at things differently, sometimes staring and squinting, considering the colors and shiny bits.  Shopkeepers rush to help me, maybe thinking I need stronger eyeglasses.  When I arrived at the checkout with one tiny jar of baby food and a package of size 2 baby diapers... they asked if my grandchild was visiting.  I nodded and smiled, letting them think I was also hard of hearing.  Didn't want to explain that the jar was to paint, and the diapers were for my geriatric poodle who can no longer hold it in.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

"Water Nymphs" after Edward Henry Potthast


"Water Nymphs"after Edward Henry Potthast
(4x4") - 201121
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I knew I'd eventually get around to study at least one of Potthast's scenes of youngster's in their birthday suits. And now that I have, I intend to do more of them. Of note - I did some research on signing paintings. Mostly looking for a solution on how to sign a thick & juicy palette knife piece. Didn't get an answer to that, but did read some interesting stuff about "the artist's signature" - which leads me to making a decision about signing these studies. The paintings are clearly copies (hate how that sounds - but let's face it....) of another artist's work. In every way except for one. If you look closely at separate areas in Will's work (let's take a body part for example), you see numerous brush strokes of color that are varying degrees of temperature from cool to warm, but in the same value range. In mine, I have mostly chosen only two temperatures of the same color, and applied them very directly. The small size, of course, wouldn't allow for more than two strokes, unless I was using a teeny tiny brush (yick). Just the same, these scenes wholly belong to Mr. Potthast and I will not be adding my Joan Hancock to them on the front. I will, however, make sure to sign the backs with my name as well as: 'after WHP'.
I also want to to address composition here. I am well aware that at dead center of the painting are joined hands of the girl on the left, and the girl in the back. And a bit lower than this are joined hands of the girl on the left and the girl on the right. What's more, there's a fair amount of emptiness around this area because of the lack of any detail in the water. This is an example of not nailing down a mix of color whose value relates very well to those surrounding it. I decided to leave it as it was because changing it carried a very high risk of ruining things altogether. I feel the painting has enough other virtue that the trade off was worth it.
Contact me regarding purchase & commission requests. Unless otherwise noted, listed prices are offered to my subscribed blog members. If you are interested in purchasing a painting, but are not yet subscribed, simply enter your email address in the join box on my home page. As a subscriber you will receive special values on your purchases and periodic promotions will give you the opportunity to enjoy my paintings in real life at even more affordable prices!

Happy Easter!

24x30 oil
Contemplating the Future with Fluffy
Janice Filkins
Original is sold ...PRINTS AND CARDS available through Fine Art America
Happy Easter 

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Number Four by Jani Lori

6x6x2 oil on gallery wrap board
Jani Lori SOLD

"Manhattan Beach" after Edward Henry Potthast


"Manhattan Beach"after
Edward Henry Potthast
(4x4") - 201120
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This was another very challenging study. There's an age old caveat about NOT putting a figure's glance so that it's positioned outside of the image area. It leads the viewer's eye out of the painting as well. I'm toying with breaking this rule here. Actually, I've clearly broken it - haven't I? As I'm choosing what parts of Potthast's paintings study, I have in mind to bring a contemporary aspect to each piece. Obviously you won't find many today wearing 19th century frocks, smocks and big bows on the beach. So I'm hoping that the palette knife strokes and the object design bring us out of the 1800's a little bit. The outward glance is questionable in this piece, but I'm certain I'll be trying it again because I'm not convinced that it can never work.
Contact me regarding purchase & commission requests. Unless otherwise noted, listed prices are offered to my subscribed blog members. If you are interested in purchasing a painting, but are not yet subscribed, simply enter your email address in the join box on my home page. As a subscriber you will receive special values on your purchases and periodic promotions will give you the opportunity to enjoy my paintings in real life at even more affordable prices!

Lynn Morgan Contemporary Pastel Paintings

"After Words"

21" x 27"
Pastel on paper

Abstracted Pink Pipes

Experimenting! Once this dries, the plan is to adding a coat of resin and go from there!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Daily Painting 1251 SOLD The Causeway Park Plein Air Alla Prima

SOLD This one sold today at the Backus House reception. Its 8 x 10, oil on masonite. I painted it at the causeway park in Fort Pierce, perfect out, I had a nice shady spot.

"Little Girl in Green" after Edward Henry Potthast


"Little Girl in Green"
after
Edward Henry Potthast
(4x4") - 201119
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OMG!!!!! Degree of difficulty on this one??? sheesh - let's just say I thought about a suicide attempt more than once. Just kidding - but sometimes a troubling painting can make you want to hang up your apron. I don't actually wear one though - I'm truly an utter mess with my paints and also lazy about changing into something that makes more sense to paint in. Anyhooo - i really can't say where the trouble started exactly, but I became determined on the 6th or 7th attempt to get as close to satisfied as I could. So there ya have it!
Contact me regarding purchase & commission requests. Unless otherwise noted, listed prices are offered to my subscribed blog members. If you are interested in purchasing a painting, but are not yet subscribed, simply enter your email address in the join box on my home page. As a subscriber you will receive special values on your purchases and periodic promotions will give you the opportunity to enjoy my paintings in real life at even more affordable prices!

Number Eight by Jani Lori

6x6x1 oil on gallery wrap board
Jani Lori SOLD

Pineapple Demo

Diane Mannion, PINEAPPLE, 10x8" oil
Demo on my blog under Alla Prima Tab:

"A Place in the Sun", 6x6, by Maryanne Jacobsen, impressionist garden paintings, contemporary impressionism

"A Place in the Sun" 6x6, oil on museum wrapped ampersand Gessoboard-$200 with free shipping, by Maryanne Jacobsen

I know this isn't a great photo of this painting, and I'll definitely try to take another one in the morning when there's natural lighting.

Last week, I bought some sunflowers and used them in my painting, "Sleepyheads with fruit". Afterwards, I took them out in the back yard and put them on a little bistro table we have in the yard under the palm and hemlock trees. My hubby took a photo of me reading in the sunlight and then I got the idea to make it more dramatic. So I ran in the house, threw on my lime green skirt, added a multi-colored scarf as well as my favorite hat. All that was left was to add the glass of wine and as I sat between the lengthening shadows and the harsh Florida sunlight, I knew that my hubby had captured a photo that was paint-worthy!



"A Place in the Sun" was the result, and I am extremely pleased with it, since I have been struggling to make some sense out of painting small. This attempt was definitely a winner in my book, and I think if an artist can paint small then they can definitely be successful at painting most anything! I named the painting after a song that my dad used to play on the family stereo. My dad always did his best to introduce his kids to all types of music, and I owe my love of music to him. Here's the lyrics, if you're too young to remember the song:


"A Place In The Sun"

Like a long lonely stream
I keep runnin' towards a dream
Movin' on, movin' on
Like a branch on a tree
I keep reachin' to be free
Movin' on, movin' on

'Cause there's a place in the sun
Where there's hope for ev'ryone
Where my poor restless heart's gotta run
There's a place in the sun
And before my life is done
Got to find me a place in the sun

Like an old dusty road
I get weary from the load
Movin' on, movin' on
Like this tired troubled earth
I've been rollin' since my birth
Movin' on, movin' on

There's a place in the sun
Where there's hope for ev'ryone
Where my poor restless heart's gotta run
There's a place in the sun
And before my life is done
Got to find me a place in the sun

You know when times are bad
And you're feeling sad
I want you to always remember

Yes, there's a place in the sun
Where there's hope for ev'ryone
Where my poor restless heart's gotta run
There's a place in the sun
Where there's hope for ev'ryone
Where my poor restless heart's gotta run
There's a place in the sun
Where there's hope for ev'ryone...

If you wish to purchase "A Place in the Sun", please visit my blog at Paint Dance. To see more of my original art, please visit my website at Maryanne Jacobsen Fine Art.


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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Daily Painting 1250 Windswept at Ocean Village Plein Air Alla Prima

Main Street Fort Pierce is hosting a big paintout this week, it started today and is going on for the next two days. We paint our paintings and then frame them and bring them to the Backus House gallery where they hang them for us. Its lots of fun and they are feeding us breakfast, lunch and dinner each day! Tomorrow and Friday they will have receptions that are open to the public, 5 to 8 in the evening.

The painting is 8 x 10 inches, not available here right now, you can get it at the Backus House though. Oh, its painted from life, I was sitting under the oak trees. It was in the morning, not too hot at all. But the sandflies or no-see-ums, acckkk! I have some brand new bug spray, they didn't mind it a bit. The painting was finished pretty fast.

Number Six by Jani Lori

6x6x2 oil on gallery wrap board
Jani Lori SOLD

Poinciana and Oranges, a Florida Oil Landscape of Orange Grove, Poinciana Tree, Old Florida by Judy Batterson


A large poinciana tree is in bloom with brilliant red blossoms. Across the path is an orange grove laden with fruit. The interplay of light and shadow is shown by the sunlight on the bright colors of red, orange and green while billowing clouds stand out against a dark sky. Florida heat leads to afternoon thunderstorms, and the painting tells this story. Large and colorful, this is a painting of Florida the way it used to be and can still be found down sandy back roads. In the tradition of the Florida Highwaymen. 21x36" Original Oil on masonite.

Jarring Series #4 Demo

Diane Mannion, BOUGAINVILLAEA, 6x4" oil
Demo on my blog under Alla Prima tab:

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Daily Painting 1249 Delphiniums

These were growing out at Hackberry Hammock. I loved how they looked blowing in the breeze.
The painting is 5 x 7 inches, oil on masonite, $100.

"Chums" after Edward Henry Potthast


"Chums"
after
Edward Henry Potthast
(4x4") - 201118
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Wow. Always while I'm painting, I try to make mental notes of the various and sundry things that I'd like to write about. Things that occur to me only while I'm in the mode. When I finished this one, I thought to myself "I'll take a laundry folding break, then come post and blog about the work.... it'll be great because there were a number of ah ha moments this time....surely I'll remember everything!" Not so. What does stand out, once again, is the remarkable way that a very tiny change in any one artistic element can make or break a painting. Scary, don't you agree? What if I don't know what the one thing is? The more I paint; the more that's revealed; the more confidence I have moving forward. Ironically, I suppose, these tiny paintings that I've been doing for about a year now seem at first to be a 180 degree turn from the direction I was heading about 4 years ago. I needed a B I G space to explore my big voice, and I encourage everyone to do that somewhere along their painting way. The space I need now doesn't have to be so big. I'm finding a way to use my big voice in a small space, if you will, so maybe it's just a 90 degree turn. These studies have sharpened my understanding of value and color temperature - how things can still read successfully without so much contrast guiding the eye over the images.
Contact me regarding purchase & commission requests. Unless otherwise noted, listed prices are offered to my subscribed blog members. If you are interested in purchasing a painting, but are not yet subscribed, simply enter your email address in the join box on my home page. As a subscriber you will receive special values on your purchases and periodic promotions will give you the opportunity to enjoy my paintings in real life at even more affordable prices!

Number Nine by Jani Lori

6x6x2 oil on galleywrap board
Janice Filkins

Jarring Series #3

Diane Mannion, FROG JAM 2, 8x6" oil

Monday, April 18, 2011

"Tiny Village in the French Alps", 6x6, oil on museum quality gessoboard- by Maryanne Jacobsen


"Tiny Village in the French Alps", by Maryanne Jacobsen ,6x6, oil on museum quality gessoboard-$89 with free shipping

Practically everyone that I know these days is painting on these teeny, tiny little supports. I purchased the best quality at my art store in Sarasota yesterday, but I must confess that I am not a fan of painting small.

Nonetheless, I convinced myself that small is good, especially when framed in a thick, luxurious plein air frame and so I determined to persevere with painting small today.

I stuck with an abstract impressionist theme, since I am coming off success in that realm, and this little village in the Brantes area of Provence was the result of my efforts.

If you wish to purchase the painting, please visit my blog at Paintdance and use the Paypal button there. If you wish to see more of my paintings, please visit my website at Maryanne Jacobsen Fine Art.

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Weekly Challenge Entry

Diane Mannion, FROG JAM, 8x6" oil

Lynn Morgan Contemporary Pastel Paintings


"Laundry Day"

21" x 27"
Pastel on paper

Saturday, April 16, 2011

"Hobbit's Hide-Out", 16x12, oil on board, by Maryanne Jacobsen

"Hobbit's Hide-Out", 16x12, oil on board, by Maryanne Jacobsen

My painting "Hobbit's Hide-out" received the first place award at last night's opening reception of "Abstraction" at the Venice Art Center. The art center is a beautiful place, and the people living in Venice are quite proud of it. There are beautiful courtyards with fountains and tropical plants that flank either side of the building. The wine bar was set -up in one of the courtyards last night and there were hors d'hoeuves and other goodies to munch on while the people leisurely strolled around and perused all the art. There is always an accomplished pianist on hand at the receptions to entertain the crowd, and a good time was had by all.

I met some new friends last night, and re-connected with some old friends, too. Overall, it was a wonderful evening- especially for me! A big thank-you to the art center for the generous $500 check for first prize!

Here are some pictures from the reception:

That's me looking very fat in those blue pants as I receive my award.

This is one of the open air courtyards- this one adjoins the restaurant where gourmet lunches as well as wine are offered to guests of the art center.

A lot of people complimented my painting last night. I even met a couple from Pennsylvania who live in Kimberton, which is just outside of my old home town of Chester Springs. Small world!



The pianist....

People had over 100 paintings to peruse in the exhibit. There was also a very cool solo exhibit of tiki heads in an adjoining gallery by artist Maryjo Florjanski.

The painting is available for purchase for $585 through the Venice Art Center by calling (941)485-7136 through May 6th, and includes the frame.

To see more of my art, please visit my website at Maryanne Jacobsen Fine Art.

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