Bloom, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-AmmSanborn

Bloom, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

oil on board, 8" x 8"

This bloom was left over when the rest of the bouquet had past, so I took it to the studio with me one day.   Instead of painting it in the little vase,  I set it in a garden, so it will have flower friends surrounding it forever.  

Painting, and Distant Yearning, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Distant Yearning, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x 7"

People tell me all the time that they wish they could do what I do -- paint.  If you are serious about painting, it's never too late to start.  You can learn about the principals of painting by listening to other artists, either by taking classes and by watching teaching DVDs and online videos.  You can read books and magazines about the "how-to."  

But to really learn to paint, you must put brush to canvas again, and again, and again.  It's only when you have put miles on the brush that with trial and error, that you learn to paint. So go paint...and then paint some more!

Principals and Elements, and a Pond, Daily Painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Pond, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x 7"

Elements of design - Tools used to create an artwork

Line

Shape

Direction’

Size

Texture

Color

Value

Principals - How the Tools are applied

Balance

Gradation

Repetition

Contrast

Harmony

Dominance

Unity

Just somethi

Sailing Day daily painting by Everglade artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Sailing Day, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x 7"

Sailing used to be one of my pastimes. I'm reminded of it's pleasure when I see a ship under sail on the horizon.  A sailing vessel will suddenly take on a life of its own and rush forward as the wind fills the white sheets, blowing them up against the blue sky.  A few nights ago sunset on the beach showed only two ships under sail.  For today's painting I added a few more, reminiscent of  the Connecticut shore and Long Island Sound.  But the clouds are Florida, and the sunset was spectacular!   

Alone, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Alone, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5" x 7"

Original painting of a sabal palm near a waterway in the Everglades. 

I've had a visitor the last couple of weeks--my brother from New England.  He comes every year at this time and dirties the towels, brings sand from the beach in on his feet, talks a lot and wants dinner every night. Patriots games are required watching.  He's house handy, and will help me out doing almost anything I ask, loves to cook on the grill, gives honest, thoughtful opinions on my questions, admires my art and is delightfully easy company. 

I'm thankful to have two wonderful siblings.  Hey, Judy, it's your turn! 

Sizzling Sunset daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Sizzling Sunset, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5" x 7"

Sunset on the beach a few nights ago inspired this daily painting.   I'm making an effort to use more of the warm colors since paintings have been a little on the cool side lately.  Funny how the eye --and maybe the spirit, too, hungers for variety.

I was delighted to have artist Richard deHann and his wife stop in for a visit.  He's a Canadian artist, staying in Port of the Islands for the express purpose of exploring the Everglades.  He's knowledgeable about the area and the Everglades ecosystems. It was a pleasure to visit.  You can read his recent blog posts about his trip here. 

Quiet Dawn daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Quiet Dawn, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5" x 7"

From a Boat, daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

From a Boat, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5" x 7"

There's nothing nicer than getting out on the water.  A boat trip has been a treat ever since I was a small child.  On Marco Island in the summer you have to plan around the almost constant threat of s thunderstorm.  Now we're  coming into the time of year when you can be almost sure of having a day trip without threat of rain.  

There are many small deserted islands.  Some of them are made up entirely of mangroves, not easy to get out and explore, Once, Florida was ringed by mangrove islands, protecting the shore from the force and power of strong storms. 

Some of these little islands have sandy shores.  It's easy to pull a boat up for a shelling walk.  In the early morning dawn hours you may feel as if you could be living a thousand years ago or were the last person on earth.

As the world population grows places of beauty and peace and yes, isolation, need to be preserved. The wild places give our souls room to breathe.  

Upcoming Workshop, Rainy Day, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Rainy Day, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 7" x 5"

There are more people around and the traffic in my studio is beginning to build.  Drier days are slowly replacing the wet days of the rainy season.  As an artist  who gets the inspiration for the paintings outside by looking at my subject matter, the beautiful Everglades, I'm looking forward todays with a little less humidity. 

I'll be teaching my Florida Inside and Out workshop in early December at the Marco Island Center for the Arts, and am hoping for good weather.  We'll spend half a day inside, learning the craft of painting, and half a day outside observing nature to see for ourselves.  

Students really seem to love this class, and there are already some sign-ups.  If you are interested in the class, you can sign up online or get more info here, or inquire at the Marco Island Center for the Arts.

Birds, and Soft Morning, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Soft Morning, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 7" x 5"

One day last week I took my coffee out to the patio, drawn by the call of a cardinal.  I hadn't seen one for quite some time, but following the sound of their song, I found a pair darting from tree to tree.  The male was bright red and his mate more somberly dressed.  Just then the pecking of a red-bellied woodpecker on one of the large sabal palms drew my attention.  There were two of them!  Just past the sable, a snowy egret was having breakfast in the vacant lot next door.  Moving closer, I saw a small flock of young ibis searching out food in the water-filled swale by the road.  To top it off, an osprey was fishing over the bay.  

It amazed me to see such a wealth and variety of bird life in the space of a few moments right from my small patio in a nearly urban area! Living close to nature is one of the best reasons to live on Marco Island.  

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