Grand Everglades Adventure - Process, and Daily Painting, Sunset Drama

Sunset Drama, 2018, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x 7"

Happy Spring and Happy Easter!

The soft yellow-greens of this time of year and the abundance of flowers ready to bloom are so appealing. It's the end of our dry season, and unfortunately this fire season this year is a difficult one. The fires haven't threaten Marco Island, but the smoke is prevalent and wide swatches along US 41 show the effects of the burns. I hope that the animals are finding ways to safety.

I've seen more deer than usual, perhaps because they've been disturbed. Soon the regrowth will sustain them again. The rains of summer will be most welcome.

If you're coming along on my Grand Everglades Adventure, the videos are below. Please share with anyone who may be interested!  You can get them directly by inserting your email in the box above right.  

Grand Everglades Adventure #3 - Process, Briggs

Grand Everglades Adventure #2 - Marsh Trail

Grand Everglades Adventure - Invitation to come along

Deep In, painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Deep In, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on canvas, 16x20

Happy New Year. 

It's a bit cold today on Marco Island, and most likely a lot colder for you in the north.  

When I started this blog some years ago, blogging was new and my stream was a journal of my artistic efforts and the daily life of an artist. I'm going to give it a try again despite the variety of other internet options.  We'll see whether it's sustainable--both in the writing and your interest-- in the coming year.     

I'll work in the studio today since it's overcast and the light is rather flat.  I'm waiting for a frame for a commission, and about to start a large beach scene for a client who plays bocce on the beach and wants a painting.  Ideas have been stirring around for the last month and it's time to get busy and see how the composition looks on canvas.  

Classes will start here in my home studio next week, so I'll spend some time preparing for that as well.  

  

Textured Palm #2, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Textured Palm 2, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on cradled board, 4"x 4"

You may have seen these textured palms if you visited my studio at the Esplanade.  I'm now working at home, and they are still fun to do.  The paintings are done on a 3/4" cradled board and can be hung on push pins. They're just lovely on a small easel, too.  Hang three in a row to add color to a skinny spot in your home.  

I've got a few more and will show them in the next few days, but if you want special colors let me know.  

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.

Sunmmer Blues, Edge of a Cloud daily painting by Jo-Ann Sanborn

Edge of a Cloud, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on Board, 7" x 5"

Enjoy the beautiful blues and dramatic clouds of summer. Open your heart to the beauty of this wild land.  It is unique in all the world.    

Hurricane plans, and Passing Through, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Passing Through, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on board, 7" x 5"

Today's painting, Passing Through is of a stand of palms during one of our frequent rainy moments.  

Summer rains have come right on time and have already spread heavy rain across our region.  While the wet season brings life-giving water to the parched Everglades, they are less welcomed by humans, since they can bring flooding, violent storms, and hurricanes. If you live in south Florida like I do, it's time to make sure your hurricane plans for 2017 are in place. 

Brett, the first tropical storm of the season was named yesterday. Even though it may be a while before you need a strategy, since the strongest storms come later in the summer, it's best to have your lists made and your plans ready early.  

I've written about hurricane preparedness for artists before.  If you need a refresher, here's a link to a blog post written some years ago.  You can also find official up-to-date information at the FEMA and FL State sites. Both sites are full of information that will help to keep you and your family safe. Meanwhile, the skies and clouds are magnificent!  

Just another Summer Day daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Just another Summer Day, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on board, 5"x7"

The rainy season is underway in south Florida, with rain for at least part of each day.  Still, we have moments of gorgeous sunshine before the clouds come back in.  Just Another Summer Day was done before the clouds closed in again.  

It it was a pleasure to attend the Center for the Arts exhibition Whimsy this week. It's not a large show, so there's plenty of space for each painting to breath, and there was no medium requirement so each artist was free to interpret "whimsy" in their medium of choice.  Congratulations to the prize winners!  Stop in and take a look!

Prairie Friends, Daily Painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Prairie Friends, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x7"

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! 

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
 

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! 

Fall, and Way Out There, daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Way Out There, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on canvas, 12" x 12"

By September, we've had enough of the rains and high humidity, and I long for the crisp blue-sky days and colorful maples and oaks of a New England fall. When my sister was in Hawaii  and I was still in New England, I would send her fall leaves ironed between two sheets of wax paper, so she wouldn't forget her roots!  

In the northeast, the bright yellow-greens of spring transition into the rich, full, permanent greens of summer and gradually fade to the olive greens of fall.  Some years the trees sport magnificent riots of color for weeks, depending on the timing of rain and wind and other factors of weather.  From all reports, this year will be a good one for fall color.   

Here in south Florida, nature is beginning to respond to the cycle of changing light and moisture in much more subtle ways. In the Everglades, the lush greens of summer will slowly fade to the golds of autumn, and then to the pinkish-purplish-grays of the dry season.  Yes, you will see purple way out there.  

Greens are always a challenge to a landscape painter.  We need to be able to vary them to show a variety of  plant life and also distance.  Permanent green is not my favorite color. but I've been given a few tubes by a friend who no longer paints.  I'm getting better at using it by mixing with various reds to make some nice greens.  Still, I'll give a tube of permanent green to the first artist who comes into my studio and asks for it!  

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!

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.  

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