Open House, and Edge of a Woodland, painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Edge of a Woodland, 2013, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on canvas, 20"x24"

 

 

Come Along!

Four Stake Prairie Paintings

An Evening of Art

 

Sunshine Studios Open House

at the Esplanade, Marco Island

in conjunction with The Artist Gallery

 

Thursday, March 21, 5-7 p.m. 

Refreshments! 

 

 

This is the sixth of the Four Stake Prairie Paintings.  Edge of a Woodland features the intriguing Everglades bald cypress during their relatively short leafless period.  When the light is just right, my painting genes quiver and I want to express their unique character with paint on canvas. 

 

I was hoping to get back to the Prairie after the spring rain we had, and see the Bald Cypress sprouting their first little bits of green, but it was not to be.  My first miserable cold in years made it impossible for me to inflict my germs on others.  Now the trees are in almost full green, and you won't see anything like the above painting until a lucky day next winter! 

 

You will be able to see all seven of the Four Stake paintings together  at my studio gallery for an open house event in conjunction with the new Artist's Gallery right around the corner, An Evening of Art.  Three of the paintings have already sold, but the owners have graciously allowed me to borrow them, so it will be the only time to see them all together. Hope you can come! 



Infinate Grace daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

 Infinite Grace, 2013, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on canvas, 30x40

Four Stake Prairie has proved to be quite an inspiration.  Infinite Grace is the second painting I've completed of the site.  Mother's Love was the first.  Infinite Grace sold before I even had it framed, which makes me pleased that someone else saw its special beauty. 

The light was so perfect the day I was there.  The sky was soft and cloud-filled and the bald cypress was positively magical, glowing a rich grey-white in the background.  The palm hammocks stood out dramatically.  Good stuff! 

The bald cypress are deciduous, but loose their leaves for only a short time. They sometimes glow beautifully, and are ghostly presences, with an ancestral quality.   Leaflessness and the right light can give them an almost spiritual feeling. 

Shortly, especially after we've had a spring rain, their leaves will begin to sprout, and by April their character is hidden and they aren't so remarkable in the landscape.    But when the light is right, they are spectacular. 

Watch for them as you travel to Miami. This time of year they may look dead, but will soon sprout small leaves that will fast grow into a cloak of green.