Thanksgiving, Out on Jane's by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Out on Janes, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on Canvas, 16"x20"

So much to be thankful for! For me Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and really appreciate my life.   I’ve never gone hungry, always have had a roof over my head, a terrific and supportive family, a sustaining relationship with my dear husband, and work I’ve found satisfying.

 

That doesn’t mean I’ve never had hard times.  I have, but I try not to focus on them.  Get through them, learn from them, and move on.  This Thanksgiving I’ll focus on what I’m thankful for as a working artist. 

I love my job. 

There’s a beautiful world to paint.

 

My paintings are recognizable anywhere as my own

           

The warm, wonderful and changing light of South Florida provides daily inspiration

I have quality materials, and right now at least, enough of them

A supportive Artist Colony to share with and learn from.

A wonderful studio at a cost I can afford. 

Students where learning goes both ways. 

Collectors who respond to my work in a positive way.

Visitors from all over the world who visit my studio and enrich my life. 

And that’s just a start.  Artists still need to eat, so I'll be cooking the Thanksgiving turkey.  I'm thankful for that, too.  What are you thankful for? 

Have a wonderful and thankful Thanksgiving holiday!

Vistors, Sailing, and Thanksgiving

The studio was busy and full of visitors last week as we held our second painting party with the theme Mostly Monet.  The participants all exhibited great creative enthusiam and had a wonderful time. 

 Monetessori School came to visit and the children enjoyed painting a group painting.  Then they ffollowed clues to a scavenger hunt about the art.  They counted boats and found curlers, looked for an eagle and found feathers.  It was fun for all and the children were quite serious in their discussions about the art, except for one little boy who didn't want to see the paintings at all! 

Many people will sail away and leave the island for the holidays.  As much as they love Marco Island, they'll always call somewhere else home.  But for me, this is my home now, and I'm thankful to be sharing this Thanksgiving with family from afar. 

Sail Away

acrylic on canvas, 5x7

Along with the family and friends I hold dear to my heart, at Thanksgiving I'm always especially thankful for the people who have purchase and collect my paintings.  Some of you have collected my work since I first came to Marco Island and have seen my work change and grow I developed as a Florida landscape painter.  

Some of you have picked up my work because you also have a love of our endangered Everglades.  Some enjoy my work because of the strong forms and bold shapes.  Sometimes a color attracts you, or you just see a painting passage that you love.  When any of these things happen and you purchase the work, a bond is formed between you and the painting, and me.  

In every case I'm thankful for each connection, and for each sale.  As my work and career advance, I'm delighted to have you along for the ride.  You've watched my prices appreciate as I've gained skill and recognition.  Better still, you've brought your friends and your children into the circle.

So when I sit down to a delicious Thanksgiving feast this year thinking of the many things I'm grateful for in my life, you, my collectors, will be among them.  Thank you, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Turkey, Ben Franklin, and More

We spotted this fellow showing off to a few of his friends on a visit to Maine. Isn't he magnificent? Just what Ben Franklin must have been thinking about when the country was choosing the national bird. The turkey, however, lost out to the Bald Eagle. Oh, well. Bald is beautiful, too!

The Fall Arts and Craft fair at the Marco Island Center for the Arts on Saturday had just the right amount of visitors and artists. It was a small, intimate show, with enough time to talk with everyone, artists and collectors alike. Three of my paintings went for home visits, and may be adopted.

I'm taking time out this week to visit with family over the Thanksgiving holiday and will be doing what fits into their schedule this week. Such a pleasure to be with adorable grandsons. You may remember with Nate did a great painting of me painting in my studio last year. I'll cook a large turkey with all the trimmings and share the leftovers, especially the pies, with everyone.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to look at what's important to us, and to remember how fortunate we are to live here on beautiful Marco Island with the natural world so close. Whatever your own situation this Thanksgiving, take a moment to reflect on our troops, so far away from family and friends, in such difficult situations. You can send them a card to let them know that they're appreciated. Thanks to Xerox, (and Diana who told me about it) it's easy and will only take seconds to send a soldier a thank you card by clicking here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving, Pumpkin Daily painting by JoAnn Sanborn

Despite the gloomy economic outlook we have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving week. The majority of us have jobs, roofs over our heads and haven't gone hungry, ever. For the most part we're safe in our homes, have medical care available, systems in place for those less fortunate, and a government that will try to help. Much of the world has so much less, so I'm going to appreciate and be very thankful for what I have.

Personally, I'm thankful for my art, and a place to do it. I'm thankful for a terrific growing family, good longtime and new friends, and a wonderful, supportive husband. I'm thankful for you who take the time to look at my paintings and to read this small blog. I'm thankful to the collectors who enjoy my work and purchase my paintings. I have so much to be grateful and thankful for. Thanks for being part of it!

Now, I'm off to make a pumpkin pie. Have a wonderful, thankful Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin
7" x 5"

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