Summer Lilies, Daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Summer Lilies, 2018, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on board, 5"x7"

There are almost always fresh flowers in my home. Most are just the grocery store variety, but they bring fresh color and life to my table.  Sometimes I just can't resist giving them a longer life through paint.  It makes a nice change from the Everglades.  Hope you enjoy this small bouquet done with the leftovers on my palette.  

Don't forget if you'd like to join me in some Grand Everglades Adventures, you can do so here.  

Lemonade in the Garden abstract daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Lemonade in the Garden, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn 

Acrylic on board, 7"x5"

My lemon tree in the garden is full of almost-ripe fruit. I'll be making lemonade by next week.  The colors in my garden prompted this little abstract. I hope you enjoy seeing something a little different from me now and then!  

Almost Home, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Almost Home, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn 

Acrylic on board, 5" x7"

The sailboat in the distance in this painting has been to the Bahamas and is now approaching it's home harbor of March Island.  Hope it misses the summer storms and makes it home safely.  

Bright Side Daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Bright Side, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on board, 5" x 7"

The Everglades grasses welcome the passing summer storms that soak them to their roots. The bright green of new growth can be seen at the base of each clump and will soon overtake last year's dry remains.

Burrowing Owl, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Daddy!  2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

7"x5"

Marco Island has a bumper crop of burrowing owl pairs this year.  This little guy was sitting on my front porch all alone for a while, then brought his girl friend along to visit.  Now they have a burrow across the street, and only come to visit when the construction trucks get too close.

Most burrows are neater, but this pair is big into decoration!  They've collected a lot of debris to surround and enhance their new home.    Apparently it will attract insects for them to eat.  Babies in the nest just yesterday, but too skittish for a photo yet! 

Blooming, Daily Painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Blooming, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

5"x7"

My mother assigned the small plot of earth between the front and side doors to me at age 6.  I was allowed to pick out a flat or two of small plants at the garden shop and purchase some seeds each year.  She must have helped with the weeding the first few years, and I've had a garden ever since.  

Painting flowers is a nice change from everglades art.  I've never really concentrated on painting flowers, but always have fresh blooms in the house.  Sometimes they're purchased from the grocery, but sometimes I'll pick a little something from the yard. The deep magenta center and the yellow-white edges of this hibiscus are showy enough to stand alone. 

Out in the Glades, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

5"x7"

Busy getting my home studio set up.  What a job trying to fit everything in!  Still, it will be much easier to have everything in one place. 

I was able to donate the rolling walls to the ASCWF's Cooperative Gallery at Coconut Point.  What a pleasure to meet the gallery director who was resourceful in finding both a friend and a truck on short notice.  I'm delighted they'll be put to good use! 

A Little Bloom, Daily Painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

A Little Bloom, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

I've got a number of small vases for single blooms, and while I'm getting organized at home you may see quite a few of these small flower paintings. 

A Little Bloom is a painting of one of the ground orchids I have in my yard.  It's been blooming like crazy and may do it all summer long. 

News! Early Morning Light, an Everglades Painting by Jo-Ann Sanborn

Early Morning Light

11x14, 2017

On May 1, 2017, I closed my studio/gallery at the Esplanade, and am choosing to work out of my home studio for a while.  This will give me more time to paint, more time to visit the Everglades - the source of my inspiration for painting - and more time to do some artistic exploration..

I'll still be self-representing, but am changing my business model.  Blogging will most likely have a place, with the goal of posting a daily painting often.  Sometimes I will have something to say, other times you'll just get a painting.

If you are getting this email, you will be getting a new post with a painting in your mail box more frequently. There will be a link to my website where the painting will be for sale. 

My blog is independent of my once-a-month newsletter, which will still be my main way of communicating with you.  You can reach both the blog and my past newsletters from my website, here. 

There is an unsubscribe notice at the end of both the blog and my newsletter in case you no longer wish to receive mail from me. 

Please forward to anyone you know who might be interested in having a painting in their mailbox.  More to come - later! 
Jo-Ann
 

Palms, daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Palms, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x7"

Small paintings are a great way to start collecting an artist that you love.  Choosing a small work gives you a chance to live with a painting, see how you like it, and whether or not you might like a larger painting by that artist.  

A small painting can be hung on those sliver of walls where nothing else fits.  If you like, you can hang two, one over another or side by side to liven up a narrow space.  Many small paintings look terrific sitting on an easel on your dresser or coffee table.  

The small paintings that I post on this blog are just $150.  When you see one you love, just click on the link to "Daily Paintworks" to see if it's available.  If it is, you can purchase right from the site and I'll ship it to you within a week.

Seaworthy, daily painting by Jo-Ann Sanborn

At one point in my life I did quite a bit of sailing.  I didn't particularly care about going out for an afternoon sail, but I loved being aboard for a week or two at a time.  Life became smaller and richer by being confined.  Time slowed down, and became marked by the sun and the moon, wind and waves, currents and bridges. 

In good weather, the smallest diversions became important--sighting of a seal or turtle or special cloud could be the most important event of the day.  Sometimes plans would have to change with the weather.   Really bad weather could mean holing up in a safe harbor for a day or two with little to do except ensuring the anchor was secure. 

Just last week I caught sight of the Marco Island Micky fleet.  It was comprised of a group of children learning to sail. I always donate a painting for their annual auction in the hopes that sailing lessons will instill a love of being on the water that will stay with those the kids through the years. 

Everglades Palm by daily painter Jo-Ann Sanborn

Everglades Palm, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on board, 5"x7"

"Beauty arrives in the night and hovers just outside our window, shifting and shimmering, floating just beyond the reach of our strings and calipers, unwilling to fit into any box we build for her." 

Art Quote by  James Gurney

Carrot Top by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Carrot Top, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on canvas, 5"x7"

I've been on a palm-painting binge in my daily paintings the last couple of weeks, and there are a few more still to be painted.  Each one seems to have their own personality, just like people!  It was really spectacular light that made this guy glow. Red heads, just like left-handed people are less common, so this guy is pretty special!  

Honored to have Daily Paintworks pick my painting "In the Pink" as one of their auction picks. There's  few hours left if you'd like to bid.  Just click on auction.  

My studio, and By a Waterway, daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

By a Waterway, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x7"

I primarily work out of the Esplanade studio, but am setting up a home studio in the back bedroom of my new home so that I can work there, too.  There's a nice big closet for all the materials artists love to have handy.  My materials includes several types of paint--acrylic, oil, water soluble oil, watercolors, pastels, and a few inks.  Then there's the painting supports--stretched canvas, canvas boards, all kinds of papers, notebooks, sketchbooks, colored paper.  Then something to work with--brushes, pencils, pens with brush tips or not, watercolor pencils, oil and chalk pastels.

Mostly stand at my easel while painting.  I've put in a nice big table so I can sit for drawing and sketching.  That's where I'll do the drawing for an upcoming children's book. At the moment there's a daybed, too, making a comfortable place for family to sleep when the house gets crowded.  

Unlike some artists, I prefer to work in neat surroundings.  I like to know where everything is, and to put it back when I'm finished with it. It helps me to clear my mind for the work at hand, and to focus on the painting in front of me.   I'll post some photos when it's all together!

In the Pink, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x7"

Some people have been watching Shark Week on TV. For me, it's been palm Month.  I started with a large Palm portrait.  You'll see in at the Art Center in September, and I'll put it up on the website soon.  I've done a number of daily paintings of palms, experimenting with some different techniques, colors, and textures.  

My small daily paintings are almost always done on board rather than a stretched canvas.  I choose artichival, materials and usually paint on a surface of a hardboard covered with a  medium-tooth canvas or linen.  I often use panels from RayMar, but equally enjoy the Gessoboard surface. SourceTek has a beautiful linen on birch that's also a pleasure to paint on.  It's a joy to use materials that make a job easy.  

Peonies, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x7"

Coming from New England, it was a pleasure to see all the late spring- early summer flowers in full bloom on my recent trip to visit family and celebrate family milestones.  Peonies just won't grow as far south as Marco Island.  

Yes, the blog seems to have corrected it's problems, and I'm going to give it another try!  If your situation has changed and you only want a once-a-month email, please sign up at my website, here, and unsubscribe at the bottom of this email.

You'll be hearing from me once or twice a week.  Thanks for sticking around. I've missed you!

Construction Madness and Water Babies, a daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Water Babies, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5" x7"

My studio/gallery on the Esplanade is open six days a week, Monday through Friday from 10-5, a little later on Thursdays, and till 2 on Saturdays. THis schedule will be in place until Easter.

The Smokehouse Bay bridge ajacent to the Esplanade is being reconstructed. The surrounding environment is bombarded with loud and persistant construction sounds, accompanied by the wailing sirens of emergency vehicles trying to get through almost umbearable traffic outside.

Parking has become difficult at the Esplanade, too, fueled by record numbers of visitors from colder climates.  And now, Daylight Savings, which always throws me for a loop until I adjust to the darker mornings.  

Right now, peaceful Marco isn't peaceful!  What a difference from the quiet pleaures of the Everglades.  Watching a heron slowly and patiently searching for breakfast, or a palm tree full of life and rippling in a light breeze helps to bring me back from the brink of over-stimulated madness. I'm so glad when I can spend time out there!

I've completed some new work, and placed some new large paintings on the website. If you're interested, take a look.  

Quiet Sunset, daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Quiet Sunset, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x 7" - sold

After searching the Internet for solutions, and trying many of them over the past few weeks, I'm finally once again able to upload photos to my blog, The answer for me seems to be downloading and switching to the browser Chrome. So far, it's lovey.  With a painting to show you, I can write to you between monthly newsletters and keep you up to date on what's going on in the arts and around Marco. Remember, if it gets too much, you can always unsubscribe at the bottom of each post.

What fun it was to be able to attend the Marco Island Center for the Arts Gala last week.  It was held at the Country Club which is always a treat to visit.  I sat with some people who have been helping me out in the studio as well as some good friends.  The night was colorful, delightful, and full of surprises.  Congrats to all who made it possible. To see what else they're planning, click here.

I'll be teaching a three-day workshop through the Center for the Arts next week, so I'm deep in the specifics of teaching art again.  I've made a couple of handouts because I know how hard it is to remember everything a teacher might say.  Having some written words in front of you, and a place to take notes will help to reinforce the lessons.  We'll spent some time in the studio, I'll demo a bit, and we'll work from photos.  Then we'll go outside, and really look at the landscape.  That's where the real learning takes place as students use their eyes and palettes to interpret what's in front of them. Since you may not be able to attend, I'll post some of the information we discuss here for you, too!

Some Upcoming Events!, and Swamp, a daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Swamp, 2014, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x7"

Here's a calendar with some upcoming events  Hope to see you!


Events
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Member Outdoor Show - I’ll be there!
Marco Island Center for the Arts
1010 Winterberry Avenue
10am-4 pm

Sunday, January 18, 2015
Sunshine Studio open for Left Bank Art Show
10-4

Saturday, January 24, 2015 Empty Bowls Cambier Park, Naples
11am - 2pm - Bid on my Bowl!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Art Flicks,
Marco Movies
SOMM, 10AM, refreshments, free with donation request


Sunday, February 1, 2015
Sunshine Studio open for Left Bank Art Show

10-4


Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Art Flicks,
Marco Movies
Annie Leborwitz, 10AM, refreshments, free with donation request

Wednesday, February 11
Marco Island Wet Paint Live
Marco Artists paint “en plein aire” from 9-3

I’ll be outside the studio at the Esplanade
Auction, Marco Island Historical Society, 7 p.m.

Come early to view the finished paintings!

February 17, 2015

Tuesday, Art Flicks,

Marco Movies

Young at Heart, 10AM, refreshments, free with donation request

February 18, 7-2

Farmer's Market, Marco Island
Purchase "You don't Look like Me!" - a children's book about burrowing owls!

Author, Dr. Dolores Burton, Illustrator, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Wed-Fri, February 25-27
Workshop - filling up fast!
Florida In and Out
Art Center of Marco Island

239-394-4221 to register

Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Art Flicks,
Marco Movies
Bottleshock, 10AM, refreshments, free with donation request