Gardinia, daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Gardenia, 2018, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on board, 7”x5”

It’s time to do a little gardening. I’ve been pulling a few weeds and cleaning up the beds in the early morning before it gets too hot. I put in three more plumbage for the second time around, hoping they’ll come around to liking it in a spot they don’t seem to. 

But the gardinias are glorious and the scent heavenly. I’m enjoying a fresh one each morning, some to admire and some to paint. 

How does your garden grow?  

Grand Everglades Adventure #4 Video and Reflections, a daily painting

Reflections, 2018, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5" x 7"

When looking at reflections, if the subject is dark, the reflection is lighter, and if the subject is light, the reflection is darker.  But every now and then nature surprises us and there won't be much difference.  Sometimes you see amazing and unexpected light effects. That's why its important for a landscape painter to get out and see for yourself.

Follow along on my Grand Everglades Adventures thru video!  Grand Everglades Adventure #4 is a visit to Briggs Nature Center, an off-site boardwalk of the Conservancy of SW Florida..  If you want more information about the boardwalk and what you might see, click here. 

If you missed one of our Grand Adventures, the click on the links below.

Grand Everglades Adventure #3 - Process 

Grand Everglades Adventure #2 - Marsh Trail

Grand Everglades Adventure Invitation

Glow, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Glow, 2017Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5: x 7"

Rain on the Beach, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Rain at the Beach, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on archival board, 5" x 7"

If you're not careful, your walk on the beach could end up a drenching--because in South Florida, when it rains, it pours. Still, the light is fabulous, and everywhere you turn you can see something magical.  Just the place for a landscape painter to be! 

Five Sisters, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Five Sisters, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on board, 7" x 5"

These five palms look like they've grown up together. Are they really a group of siblings?  

Owlish, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Owlish 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5" x 7"

I've been working on the second book in the Owlivia series.  This story is about Bully Billy, and will be out before Christmas if all goes well.  In the process of creating the character, I've tried out several different personalities.  This chunky little character is cute, but didn't make the cut into the book.  

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.  

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.  

If you didn't hear from me on Friday, it's because you are not signed up to receive my monthly newsletter.  I'm balancing a fine line between enough and too much.  The newsletter goes out once a month, usually on a Friday.  If you'd like to subscribe, you can do it here.  This blog goes out on Tuesday's and Fridays.  Thanks for reading!  

Dancing on the Beach, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Dancing on the Beach, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5" x 7"

A change of season always has me sorting and cleaning out, Today it was brushes--something I've sadly neglected for years.  Today, when the first three brushes I picked up were totally unusable because of dried paint or destroyed bristles, I knew it was time.  

Acrylic paint is pretty hard on painting brushes.  I use mostly hog bristle.  They stand in water while painting continues until the water needs changing.  Keeping the water level below the ferrule to try and prolong the life of the brush means that its fairly frequent--at least a couple of times in a morning of painting. 

A through cleaning means to take most of the paint off with a paper towel, rinse under running water while separating the bristles, and then brush in my hand with a mild liquid detergent until the water runs clean.   Despite this, paint tends to linger in the bristles near the ferrule until the near end of the brush is stiff with paint and only the tips have any spring.  Sometimes they get worn down until the brush has a point where one was not intended.  The manufactured bristles usually splay out, and the loose ends can leave bits of paint in all the wrong places.  

So, I sorted, and sorted until I had a nice pile of usable brushes, and a very large pile of "others." Sadly, the rejects are still on the shelf--just in case I should need a really stiff brush someday!   Happy Fall!  

Art shows, and Friends in a Field, Daily Painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Friends in a Field, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5" x 7"

Although it's a quite time of year on the island, there two new art exhibitions  going on that you might want to know about.   The Marco Island Center for the Arts is having a show called "Electric Summer Nights".  The reception will be held on Tuesday, August 11 at 5:30. Stop in to see our local artists interpretation of this interesting theme.

Another exhibition is one of 2-D and 3-D art at the Marco Island Historical Sociery.  This one includes quite a mix of media, and again supports local artists.The reception will be held Wednesday, August, 12 at 5:00 p.m.

Both can be viewed through August.  I don't have any work in either, but encourage you to enjoy each one.  Let me know your thoughts about them!