One more Snowman, a Winner and a Store

Snowman  #9

acrylic on board, 5"x7"

Hope you're enjoying this seasonal snowmen sampling! I promise to get back to the Everglades landscape soon. If you were not able to aquire one my painted snowmen this year, don't worry.  I'm already thinking about making the Snowman Extravaganza an annual event.  You can see the 2011 Snowmen here. 

If you are in the frozen North land during a good snowstorm this year, please send me a photo of the snowman you or your family make as inspiration for next years group! 

Congratulations to the winners of the Fall Painting Give-Away!

Shown here with their choice, "Catching the Light"

Three times a year I give away a daily painting to people who receive my newsletter.   I'll ask someone for a number from one to 600.  I'll write it down, and then look up who's name is next to that number on my email list.  They win!  The numbers change as people subscribe or unsubscribe, so I have no way of knowing who's name is even close to the selected number.  I was delighted to see that people dear to my heart won this month! 

You can be eligible by signing up for my newsletter, and once you are signed up you will be included in every drawing for as long as you receive the newsletter. 

I'm trying something new.  Promoting Sue Smith's book made me think that you might like some other things I like, so I've started an Amazon store. 

Featured are things I like and use, books I've found especially useful, as well as some things you might like as gifts for artists or people who like art.  I'll see where this goes and will change it out seasonally.  In any case, if you like shopping at Amazon, look for MY AMAZON STORE it on the right sidebar of my blog.

Early Evening, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Early Evening, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on canvas, 7"x5"

Winding southward from Orlando, the Florida landscape flattens and slopes gently into a broad marshy swath known as the Everglades.  Various sources attribute the name as coming from Native Americans who called it Pa-hay-Okee, ttranslating into "grassy waters," from the Latin word “glades” as beautiful, or the old English for “a grassy place.”  Supporter of its preservation, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, called it “river of grass.”

The Everglades is all of these things, and more.  Response to the place varies widely.  Some say it’s a miserable place, full of bugs and snakes and dark secrets.  Others know it for its magnificent sunsets, mysterious wetlands, and exotic wildlife.  The world has recognized the importance of the Everglades and named it a World Heritage Site.  

In addition to serving as one of our world’s important natural purifying and providing systems, the land supports many species of flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world.  Over 60 endangered or threatened species call the Everglades home, and its glades and dells host a multitude of orchids, some found nowhere else in the world.

The Everglades environment is made up of a complex system of interdependent habitats.  They include cypress swamps, hardwood hammocks, open prairies, deep water sloughs, and deep mangrove fringes sloping gently into the marine environment of the Florida Bay.

This is the landscape that has become my inspiration and my muse.   I'll write more about the Everglades in the next few weeks.  Some of it will be revised information that I've written before, and some will be new.  Let me know what you think.  Thanks!

Seaside Health, Time Alone daily painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Time Alone
5" x 7" (12.7cm x 17.8cm)
acrylic on Panel
$150 with FREE shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

I've often painted a single palm, off by itself. Time Alone is another palm character study. While we love being busy and having visitors, some time alone is also necessary for our well being.

Walking on the beach, or near any large body of water is positively restorative for me, alone or with others. The sound of the waves is soothing to me, the light brightens my spirits, the cries of the shorebirds direct me away from the days problems, and here on Marco the warmth and swaying palms add to the enjoyment.

I never knew that there was a chemical reason for feeling so good after a walk on the beach, but according to local author Tom Williams's article Seaside Secrets,in last Sunday's ETC, it's the negative oxygen ions caused by the waves that makes us feel so good. Sorry that I can't seem to find the article to reference, but you can get the idea from this WebMD article.

There's also mounting evidence that negative ion generators help with depression, increase oxygen to the brain, and maybe even protect against germs in the air. That, combined with allowing your skin 1/2 hour of sunshine to help your Vitamin D. uptake means a walk on the beach may be the best thing you do for yourself today.

From the Water, Daily Everglades Painting by Jo-Ann Sanborn

From the Water

Sold

Do you remember the Christmas angel who filled my hanging basket with a lush supply of living plants. It's taking off and looks more beautiful each day. I wanted to do something special for that kindly angel. She went on a short trip recently leaving the care of two lovely cats to me. While attending to them, I found a photo on her fridge, and took it home to make a "daily" just for her and put the finished painting on a small easel on her front hall table rather than framing it, for a pleasant surprise. Happily, she loves it!

My daily painting serve many purposes. In this economy they are affordable for anyone who wants to begin collecting original art. They're a great way for me to warm up in the morning in preparation for a larger piece. I can try out a new idea, palette or composition. But most importantly they're teaching me to be a better artist as I work on them at least three times a week.

You can see a my daily paintings and the work of other local artists by coming to the Esplanade this Saturday. The Marco Island Foundation for the Arts will be having their Left Bank Art Show. It's a casual art show without the need for any special equipment. You can show a few pieces of art by leaning them up against the railing. It's a chance to meet the artists and talk about your work. Contact MIFA if you're interested in showing. Put it on your calendar as a fun thing to do this Saturday. We'll be there from 10-4 and hope to see you!

Dana Souza, In the Distance Daily Painting by JoAnn Sanborn

The loss of Marco Island Parks and Recreation Director Dana Souza is a huge loss to our community. I was saddened by the news that Dana will be taking a position elsewhere. Dana has played a very big role in building our community by touching and including so many different people and organizations with a style that's inclusive, rather than in any divisive way. Dana was also a big friend of the arts, and actively promoted the arts on Marco.

I was on the first Charter committee after the City was incorporated, so I feel a vested interest in what goes on. It's just plain painful that after 10 years we still can't come together as a community and get it right. Some people blame our contentiousness on having too many people from too many different places, that we don't have a shared, common background. Some say that there are too many power frustrated, middle management people retired, with too much time on their hands. Some relish controversy as democracy at work. Whatever the reasons, Dana was a friend of the arts and a community builder, and we'll be sorry to see him go.

Today's daily Everglades painting, In the Distance, is a small version of the palms on the beach series I've been working on. I'll deliver a couple of paintings for display at the Morgan Stanly office today and finish my entry into the Naples Art Association's Founders show. You can see my painting Kindred Spirits in the Naples Art Association's Show of Shows

In the Distance
7" x 5"

Sold

Big Cypress Marketplace, Morning Sky Daily Everglades Painting by Jo-Ann Sanborn

The Big Cypress Market Place , US 41 just south of 951, will hold it's grand opening this weekend Today the delightful banjo group Marco Island Strummers will be playing around noon, and a bluegrass group add their music later in the day. The Marketplace includes the Big Cypress Winery, where you can taste and learn the history of Florida wines, a food court, and of course the "fleas," a nice line-up of merchants selling most everything. The owners are working hard to include art and artists, and there will be an artist market section near the winery. Some Marco Island artists will be painting throughout the grand opening weekend. I'll be painting there tomorrow, Saturday, from 9-11. Stop by and say hello!

Were you up early enought to notice yesterday's morning sky was just beautiful, with moving storm clouds and glowing morning light? I came in from my walk and got right to work on today's daily painting, eliminating the homes of my neighbors and focusing on the sky!

Morning Sky
7" x 5"
acrylic on Panel
$150 with free shipping and handling in the US

Autumn Equinox, Brilliant Morning daily painting by JoAnn Sanborn

Today is the Autumnal Equinox, and the official start of fall begins 11:44 a.m. this morning. This is one of two days a year when the sun crosses the equator and night and day are exactly the same length. The sun will not cross the equator at this exact same point for another 26,000 years! This is because the sun is rotating like a top, wobbling a little, and also rotating around the sun. Simplified, at certain times of the year the northern hemisphere is away from the sun, and cooler, and certain times the southern hemisphere is nearer the sun, and warmer. Celebrations of the equinox have existed in many cultures and have many forms, but are usually centered on the completion of the harvest and preparation for winter. If you are interested in the history and religious aspects of the Equinox you can find more information here.

Here on Marco this movement of the earth will mean a gradual decrease in high temperature and rain. We'll dry off and cool down in preparation for the the Winter Solstice in December. In the meantime our mornings will be brilliant with sunshine.

Brilliant Morning
7" x 5"
acrylic on board
$150 with free shipping and handling in the US

Marco Island Orion Bank Artist Appreciation

Everyone who attended the Marco Island branch of Orion Bank at the innovative "Artist Appreciation" Series last night seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly. I was very pleased to be the featured artist and did a short talk about my work and a demonstration of how I begin a painting. Keith Dameron, Orion Branch manager sponsored the event and has held three previous art evenings. Refreshments are provided by the bank and Paradise Seafood, and the Marco Island Center for the Arts is a partner. Thanks, Chris & Keith, for all your help! These evenings are well attended by an interested crowd and have become community events. An auction of one of my paintings was held to benefit the Art League of Marco, and depending on the amount bid, the winners could choose from a variety of paintings. Bidding was hot and the Art League will receive a donation of $1000 for the winning bidder. Many thanks to all who bid! The winners spent quite a bit of time deciding between two paintings. My husband and I will take the two paintings to their house next week so they can see them in place to help them decide.

It was an honor to have people so interested in what I do, and I thank each and every one of you who came out last night!

Storm in the Glades

Do you think art can be taught, or is it a gift? We can learn the basic principals, and the theories, but what makes an artist successful? Certainly knowledge of art principals is necessary, but beyond that how do we judge? Mastery of certain fundamentals is necessary. Making a lot of money? Becoming a household name? Developing an artistic signature? I've been thinking about this because I have been invited to be part of the Artist Appreciation Series at the Marco Island Orion Bank, and will take part in an event on July 10, from 6-8. Hope you'll be able to attend. You can find more information about attending here.

Today's painting is almost as murky as an artist's success. We've had so much rain, typical for this time of year, and today's painting is no exception. Storm in the Glades is a loose, free work, subdued due to the downpour!

Storm in the Glades
20" x 16"

acrylic on canvas

Sold

December Morning

Looking back, 2007 was a mixed year, full of highs and lows including some great travel, friends, ArtQuest, a fabulous family week, and far too much time spent in doctors offices, mostly with my dear husband. We'll go into the new year still seeking solutions.
It's been a year of growth as an artist. There's a lot more competition than a few years ago, and I'm sharing my precious Everglades with a number of artists where once I was almost alone in painting them. Working hard to meet these challenges will help me to stand out and to make me a better artist. Let's look forward than backward. One of my resolutions will be to spend more time at the beach! Let's hope one of your resolutions is to purchase a Sanborn painting! Happy New Year!

Sold