Everyone needs a little Sunshine, 2012, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on Canvas, 16"x12"

Every now and then I return to abstracting.  This painting came easily in the early morning hours as the sun rose, covering the start of a painting that was going nowhere. 

Sometimes, completely changing the focus of a canvas works to get the creative juices to flow.  The prior buildup of paint becomes the background for both inspiration and transformation. 

We've become so afraid of the sunshine that most of us are not getting the Vitamin D we need for good health. If you don't get out for a couple of hours a week without any sunscreen, check with your doctor to be sure you're not Vitamin D deficient. 

Everyone needs a little sunshine, whether you get it from a beach walk or a pill!

An Abstract Painting

Abstract Grid



acrylic on canvas, 30x30

Good morning.  While I still haven't resolved all the issues and work I had hoped to complete by taking a month off from writing this blog, I've missed you all and have decided that this blog, despite some problems with it, is important to me. 

I've been experimenting with both methods and materials, and really enjoyed doing this abstract piece.  While the Everglades landscape continues to be my muse, doing something completely different expands our thoughts and challenges us in new ways. 

In this piece, I used tape to block off the grid in the beginning, and added layers and layers of paint and glazes and more tape on and off, until the depth I was working toward was created.  Some layers were glazed on lightly, in other cases opaque paint was used.  There's a bit of gold in there, too. 

I'll show you some other new work and let you know what's going on in the arts on Marco Island as we go along.  In the meantime check my website for upcoming classes.  Thanks for waiting me out! 



Acrytlic paint potential, painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Today's painting is one that was started some time ago. Working a painting surface over and over can deepen and enrich the painting, and this painting has had multiple layers applied. I brought it out again yesterday to discuss in my acrylic class.

It was the last class in a series of four, and the subject was using acrylics in a variety of ways. We talked about how it's a magical medium and how few artists use acrylic paint to it's fullest potential.

The above canvas is one of four I brought to class to illustrate a variety of techniques. The canvas had been covered with a layer of thick gel medium, applied with a palette knife and allowed to dry before beginning the painting. The uneven surface added texture and interest as the paint was applied. Some iridescent paint has been worked into the surface, so it's got a nice glow, and the negative spaces hhave been painted again and again in a variety of colors.

It's fun to try something new, and to learn new techniques. Each of my students was able to find a way to glaze, texturize, get a glow or manipulate the paint in a way that was new to them. They probably won't use the techniques all the time, but have gained some new understanding of the range of opportunities with acrylic paint. Thanks, Class. It was fun!

Naples National, Future of Art Fairs, Abstract daily painting by artist JoAnn Sanborn

Abstract 5
3 1/2" x 2 1/2" (8.9cm x 6.4cm)
mixed media on paper
$65 with FREE shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

When I arrived home from the show last night I was tired of talking and thinking about the Everglades, so decided to get out my abstract box. I keep special papers and parts of paintings that are no longer useful in a small box ready for use in small, abstract works. The decisions needed to complete an abstract are the same as for any painting, but it was fun to be working with something besides a brush and paint, and the new subject matter refreshed my mind. Hope you like it!

The Naples National Art Festival is always an exciting show, and this was no exception. The new load in and load out procedures seemed to work, and an impressive number of volunteers were helpful and effective. Thanks to the new collectors and old friends who purchased my work or stopped by to visit. The pleasure of hearing about your joy in my paintings brings me great satisfaction.

My booth was well located by the back gate, and from what I could see, sales were light since few patrons carried bags or larger items. Although some exhibitors did very well, every exhibitor I spoke with said that art fairs sales are decreasing. Since many of the outdoor shows are expensive to get into, and three days of time and effort to do, many artists will be making hard decisions about participation in shows next year.

An article in the National Association of Independent Artist Autumn 2008, newsletter suggests that in addition to the economy, decline in art market revenue is affected by the fact that the younger generation does not purchase original art because they do not recognize it's value. The synopsis of concerns state that an aging population of dedicated collectors, increased appearance of flagrantly derivative and buy/sell work, additional agendas by producers, and lack of new, young craftspeople all are having an effect.

Does "American made" arts and crafts carry the same weight in the marketplace as it has in the past? What can we do to ensure the appreciation and continuation of the value of the arts to our society?

New Year, Shades of Winter Daily Painting by Everglades Artist JoAnn Sanborn

Shades of Winter 5x7

Sold

I love the fresh start of a New Year! How does the New Year look to you?

If you take the time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished during the past year, you may find that the list is longer than you think. Focus on the things that you did—changes you made, skills that you learned, marketing techniques that you tried, new techniques that you learned, collectors you’ve met, paintings you’ve sold. Are there some things that you didn't get done? Are they still important to you?

Now look ahead to 2009. Days will pass and months will go by despite our gloomy economic outlook. Will you be filled with paralyzing fear of the unknown or are you hopeful for the future? What can you accomplish in the year ahead? Make a list and include the small steps necessary to make it happen. Add a couple of “stretching things." Stretching things are the things that scare you, but are great for good personal growth.

It may turn out to be a better year than we expect. Be ready! By the way, all your resolutions don’t have to be artsy. I’ve looked at my last year’s resolutions and I’m off to call my sister! Have a wonderful 2009!

Falling Leaves

Here are a couple of mixed media illustrations from another children's story just completed and delivered. This one is about the end of summer, where the woodland friends are eating ripe berries of the blackberry patch and later, asleep in the falling leaves. It's a cute story and a challenge to illustrate since the subject matter is so far from my usual. The client has some very definite ideas about what each illustration should contain. My next assignment is about bees, so I'm sketching bees and meadow flowers! I draw and sketch until the characters come clear and I'm comfortable with each of them before I begin the final paintings. Bringing me back to drawing is one of the best benefits of this assignment, but working with watercolors gives me a new appreciation for those who do it well!

Art Business, West Wind, Daily Painting by Jo-Ann Sanborn

I've added a new box to the blog, linking you to artists who blog about the business of art. Art is like any other business and an area where most artists welcome help. Top of the field is Alyson Stanfield, who writes and produces podcasts about the business of art on the Art Biz Blog. Every Thursday she posts a question that make us think about where we fit into the BIG picture of life. It's fascinating to read the different positions of artists from all over the world. Don't be wary of blogger/artists Barny Davey in Art Print Issues even if you're not a print artist. His thoughtful blog is full of helpful information about becoming a better art business person. Harriete Estel Berman in Ask Harriete has developed a series of Professional Guidelines for artists that you'll find helpful. In addition, she welcomes and answers questions about the art business, as does Alyson. As an artist are you the best business person you can be or do you have more to learn? Check out these art business bloggers by clicking on the link on the right side of the blog, about half way down!

Today's painting is still influenced by the wind! Who would have thought it could be so windy here on Marco Island from a storm so far away? By the end of the day yesterday the winds had subsided and the sun peaked out. We're still watching Ike and hoping that the targeted folks in Texas have prepared well and will find shelter from the storm.

West Wind
7" x 5"

Sold

Out for a Walk, Daily Painting by JoAnn Sanborn

If you live on Marco Island and haven't been to the Town Center Mall on the first Wednesday of the month you're missing something special! You can sit back and sip something cool from the Crazy Flamingo as Island musician J. Roberts plays his delightful easy listening music to a appreciative crowd and artists gather around to paint. Art and music! The Blue Mangrove Gallery and local artist Tara O'Neill set up a number of easels at the tables around the gazebo where people are welcome to take up a brush. Children and adults are welcome, but children should not be left unattended--it's a family affair. They've had a great response to the event and it's a lot of fun, so put it on your calendar for next month!

Speaking of children, today's painting reminds me of a mother out for a walk with her kids. There's always one who has to get too close to the water!

Out for a Walk
7" x 5"

Sold

Investing in Art, Watching Ike, Daily Painting by Jo-Ann Sanborn

Yesterday's Naples Daily News article Artful Investing discusses whether art is a financial opportunity in these challenging economic times. Certainly if you have certain French Impressionists works in your collection, you have seen the prices rise to astronomical heights. The prices of many American artists are also seeing a nice return. The international art market is growing, and many dealers feel the Russian art market is both hot and affordable. However art as an investment can be just as risky as any other investment. There's a great deal of satisfaction in looking at a painting you love, but any return can only be realized if you part with the work. If your budget puts you below the "blue chip" art market, then emerging artists is the way to go. The painting can bring you much pleasure, is affordable, the artist will be grateful, and just like any speculative stock can be fun to watch.

Watching Ike
7" x 5"

Sold

Hurricanes and Babies, Salute to the Sun daily painting by Jo-Ann Sanborn

My friend Shannon is an art teacher in Fort Meyers. Lucky kids! She's one of the most creative people I know having wide-ranging artistic expression. At the moment she hasn't any grandchildren while many people our age talk of the nothing else. She decided to take a sabatical having nothing to do with art, and spent part of her summer holding babies in a Rumanian orphanage. As part of her reporting requriements she'll need to do a presentation, and to help with that kept a daily sketchbook log of her activities. It's so charming that I wanted to share part of it with you. You can't see her work on the web yet, but I'm encouraing her to make that her next project!

Meanwhile, there's hurricane watch as one hurricane after another continues to make it's way across the big pond. Most of the south has one eye on the weather as we continue to go about our daily business. We're pretty well prepared for hurricanes after years of going through hurricane seasons. We've gotten more savy about when to go and when to stay. We've plenty of water and hurricane supplies, have a list to take with us if we must evacuate, and know what to do to prepare prior to the storms. In the back of my mind I'm even trying to get mentally prepared in case things get really ugly. It's a reality I hope we never have to face, but a hurricane threat is very real and a hurricane three or more is a very strong storm. Make your plans now!

Salute to the Sun was a pleasure to paint after all the rain we've had!
Salute to the Sun
10" x 8"
sold

Breakfast Bananas, Daily Painting by Jo-Ann Sanborn

These little bananas were broken off the tree when storm Fay passed by last week. They didn't look very good, quite small and still green. A few days in the garage and they were perfect for a yummy breakfast. We love eating something that can be grown right on our very small, lot. There's a pineapple growing from the top of a pineapple we purchased, a lemon and lime tree, some basil, and a wonderful rosemary bush growing in our yard. Some really good tomatoes would be nice, but the plants take a beating this time of year and only the cherry tomato looks promising. We find that we're reading labels more carefully and trying to chose produce that's grown close to us. It's fresher and doesn't require high transportation costs. A new collector yesterday told me that they often go into the Everglades, and before seeing my work didn't really notice the landscape, but now they see my paintings everywhere. I'm truly humbled by such a compliment! The wonderful Everglades landscape gives much joy when you take the time to notice its uniqueness. Where's today's painting? I've been working on the children's story illustrations, but they're not quite ready to show, and on a studio painting, and didn't get today's painting finished. Oops!

Lone Palm Daily Painting by JoAnn Sanborn

While it's great to live by water, every now and then nature give you a little surprise, as yesterday when I looked out to see a higher than normal tide coming right over our dock! No storm surge had been forcast for our area and we're quite far south in Florida, but this little surprise must have been a nudge from the shoulder of Hurricane Gustov as he passed by on his way to ravage New Orleans.

I had Clyde Butcher's Muck About in mind as I painted this lone palm and watched the water rise. The Butcher property is pretty far inland, but do you think that the people taking the walk on Sunday got into water a little higher than expected?

Lone Palm
8" x 10"
acrylic on canvas
$225 with free shipping and handling in the US

Children's Story Illustrations, Full Studio

I'm working on illustrations for another children's story, so spending a lot of time sketching raccoons, honey bears and falling leaves. This is the first small, preliminary watercolor. Sorry the colors don't balance properly--the background smudges should be blue-green tones but the camera would not cooperate this morning! As you can see from this first effort, there's a lot to work on. The composition leads you right out of the painting instead of keeping you in the scene. The leaves look contrived, and the trees aren't properly constructed. But the colors will work - honestly, they do - and my watercolor skills get better with each go round. I'll show you another when my set of five is complete and I'm satisfied with the results!

In the meantime the studio is filling up. There's some nice new things from my work over the summer. My show at the Art League comes down today so space will get even tighter. Next week one of my galleries is moving and will be returning paintings until after the move. It's tight, but you are always welcome. Just call ahead if you'd like to make a studio visit! Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Afternoon Calm daily Painting, Stars and Mushrooms

On my morning walk today the little sliver of a moon was so brilliant it lit up the shape of the whole round moon, and Orion was bright in the eastern sky. It was a little earlier than usual so the light of dawn didn't begin to diminish the twinkle of a million stars. The dawn quiet was peaceful and soothing. As I turned back the lower western sky held no stars--could they be hiding behind clouds? We haven't had a day without any rain for weeks now and colonies of white capped mushrooms are sprouting up all over Marco. Anyone know if they're good to eat?

Don't forget the poster contest for the Naples National Art Show yesterday. The due date is September 1, so if you're going to enter you don't have much time. Get the specifications from the application because they're a little different than last year. If you win you're guaranteed a spot and receive a free booth space! Got to try!

Afternoon Calm
7" x 5"

acrylic on board
Sold

Florida Home and Design, Daily Painting by Jo-Ann Sanborn

My good friend Kira Krumm, an international design maven of great renown, recently surprised me with a copy of Florida International Home and Design Magazine. Inside was an article about one of her designs including a photo of one of my paintings in the entrance foyer to the home. She wanted the owners to get the feel for their elegantly designed Florida home as soon as they got off the elevator. Unfortunately the magazine doesn't let you read the issues, so you'll have to look at the photo here or pick up the magazine. Kira's taste is exquisite and her website a work of art, visit it and see another of my paintings in the article, under Home Tours, "Urban Chic meets Marco Beach"! It's one of the last photos in that set.

Kira and I will be working together to encourage and support the arts as members of the City of Marco's Arts Advisory Committee. Together with several other appointed members, we will advise the City on matters of the Arts. Should be fun.

Water View
7" x 5"

acrylic on board
$150 with FREE shipping and handling in the US

Art Market, By the Gulf Daily Painting

As money tightens and our middle America customers are spending more on necessities, the purchase of art is one thing that can be denied or delayed. As a result, many artists are realizing reduced sales in the current economy.

Partly because prices have risen over the years and partly in response to this economy, my practice for the last year or so has been to do at least three small daily paintings a week, The small paintings can a miniature of a larger painting, but never exactly the same, a study for a larger painting, or just playing with the paints and colors for the pure joy of it. Since I don't do copies of my paintings (some call these "prints",) these small paintings are ideal for beginning collectors, for people with small spaces or small art budgets, or as gifts. I sell them framed in a lovely gold fame and they've been quite popular.

These small, "dailies" can be inspired by the morning sunrise, the moon over the palms, a walk on the beach, just about anythng. They're fun to do and are definatley helping me to grow as an artist. Because my name is on them, I want each and every one to be the best it can be and be able to stand alone. That's why you're seeing this painting that was sold to a dear colllector as a gift last week instead of the one I painted yesterday. It needs another pass or two with the brush before it's ready to be out in public!

By the Gulf
7" x 5"

acrylic on board
Sold

Blog Comments, Breezing Up, painting by JoAnn Sanborn

Our headlines this morning "Could Have Been Worse" and "Fay leaves Marco Soggy" pretty much sum up the experience of the last couple of days here on Marco Island. I love watching the palms sway and bend in the wind and am amazed at their ability to take a beating and keep on their feet! And the needed rains came.

Thanks to the many people who wrote to wish us well, with special thanks to artist Bonnie Luria, Internet friend, creative blog writer and welcomed, attentive commenter. However it's clear that many of my dearest friends and relatives, as well as some fabulous art collectors, have something to say but are clueless about how to leave a comment on a blog. So here goes:

The comment spot is that last spot in the day's posting, under the day's writing, after the paypal button if there is one, and after a list of labels that help the search engines know what the blog is about. It's the last thing on each days page, directly after "posted by Jo-Ann Sanborn"

Once you find the comments spot, click on it and a comment box will come up. You write your comment there. You may have to verify some letters to make sure you aren't spamming, hit "publish" and after a while your comment will appear. I'll get an email telling me you've commented.

You can post it anonymously if you wish, and no one will see the email address. If you don't do it anonymously, someone can click on the highlighted name and an email or blog of the person who wrote the comment will appear. It's called connecting. Some people create an email identity just for this purpose.

If you get the blog in your mailbox each day rather than check on it directly, you will need to get to the actual blog before you can comment. If you comment by replying, your comment will come to me eventually but does not appear on the blog. Here's your procedure:

Near the bottom of the page at the end of the post is a line that states "posted by Jo-Ann Sanborn Daily. It's in blue on my machine and should be "live" on yours. You should be able to click on this and the full blog will come up and you can follow the instructions above.

So, be brave! Someday when you've got a comment, leave it for all the world to see!

Breezing Up
7" x 5"

SOLD

Get Your Feet Wet Daily Painting by Joann Sanborn

Tropical Storm Fay, or Hurricane Fay, will be stopping by Marco Island sometime in the next 36 hours, and oh, yes, she has our attention. Anyone with any sense on the Florida coast takes the threat of a potential hurricane seriously. All eyes are following Fay's progress and taking preparations even though we're not yet sure of her path.

Two days ago we tied down the boat, and yesterday we took up the dock furniture and cleared off the lanai. Hanging plants and orchids are tucked among the roots of the mixed border hedge. We have easy to prepare food on hand and plenty of water. And we're relieved that we replaced all the old sliding doors on the back of the house with hurricane code doors this past spring.

Although the local news does a great job of coverage, we go to the NOAA site for the best and most accurate information. The discussion is the best part of the site because it tells the rational behind the forecast and helps with making decisions about the best course of action. Look for it as a click-on above the charts. So we're ready for rain and wind, and probably some landscape damage and power outages. There's some potential for storm surge too.

On the other hand, a storm like this is just nature's way of giving a much needed seasonal bath to this part of the world. The wind will blow away all the debris that clutters up the native palms giving them a natural haircut, and spread their seeds around. The rains will bring extra water to the nearby Everglades and the many forms of life that depend on a good dose of rain now and then to flourish. Storms like this are necessary to the health of our environment. We've just got to learn to make good decisions about how to handle them!

Even with storm preparations I had time to finish Getting your Feet Wet. Hopefully, we won't!

Getting your Feet Wet
7" x 5"

Sold

Spirit Sisters

The five palms trees in this painting look just like sisters. Are they actually related or just dear friends who think alike? We'll never know, since how plants relate to each other is not something we're often concerned about. I liked their similar appearance and height, and the way they had distanced themselves from the brush in the background. Perhaps some bird carried their seed to this little bit of higher ground and they were all able to flourish. Now they're proud and tall, and if there's enough land around them just a few inches above the swamp they'll be able to see their offspring grow up around them.

Many of us spend much of our lives in beautiful paradise on Marco Island, yet are unable to have our dear families near. I must admit to a little envy of those who have convinced their offspring to join here! At least we're not rooted to the spot and can take of to visit when we get missing them too much!

Spirit Sisters
7" x 5"

Sold

Children's Story Illustration Change from Everglades!

I've just delivered the first six illustrations for a children's story called "The Berry Good Berry and Nut Company" Let me introduce you to Sammy Squirrel and his helper Midget Mouse. Midget is throwing her worries to the wind at Wayward Willies, and the friends are relaxing at Sally's Swill. Yes, Sally's Swill - no comments, please! After a lot of sketching (how does a squirrel's shoulder look when he's moving, where is a mouse tail actually attached?) I used mixed media, including watercolor, watercolor pencils, and India ink pens and brushes. Faber Castell artist pens with brush tips were new to me and a pleasure to use. Quite a change from my usual Everglades. I'm sure it will help me to grow as an artist. How far out of your comfort zone in life are you willing to go to grow?