Portrait of a Palm, daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Portrait, 2013, JoAnn Sanborn

oil on board, 7"x5"

 

It might interest you to see the progression of  a daily painting.  The one above is the final product, signed and ready to be framed for sale in the studio and shown in my gallery at Daily Paintworks.  It is a painting of a single Everglades palm, worked in oil on board over several hours, each time refined until I was happy with the outcome.  

 

I thought I might be done when I finished the second version, but analysis showed it needed more work.  The lack of a light source weakens the whole, so in the final version shadows added beneath the canopy add dimension, and the grasses are integrated and balanced with the canopy.  As you move down the page you will see the progression from the bottom up.   

 

In this second pass, color is added to the grasses and canopy.  Compliments of purple and yellow add a little zing to the ground, while adding some color character and adding connection between the grass and the tree.

My goal was to portray a single palm to show it's character, without the distractions of my usual mantra of palms, water, prairie.  The palm was placed on the canvas with intent to ensure the edges form interesting and varied negative spaces to move your eye around the palm.  At this point the greenery of the palm and the grasses have no real connection and the painting lacks a definable color strategy. 

Light on Forms, and Orange Crush painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Orange Crush, 2012, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on canvas, 16x12

I've started teaching again, which always keeps me on my toes.  I love to see what and how my students are working on, and get as much from the class as I hope they do. 

This series of classes is about light in the landscape.  We started by talking about how light moves around the most basic of forms, a cone, cylinder, a box and a circle.  Most forms in the landscape can be made with these simple shapes. 

I brought flashlights with both warm and cool bulbs, and a red and white ground, and the shapes.  I think the most surprising thing the students discovered was how much red light bounced from the ground and onto the form.  It was a good lesson in reflected light, and they'll be more ready to see it in the landscape when they go outside.

They did a great job of painting balls, getting lots of roundness using a warm and cool palette.  It was a nice start and they are terrific! We'll work on atmospheric progression next week.  

Orange Crush, today's painting was a lot of fun to do.  I love the sherbet colors.  Some of the oranges are a favorite right now, and exploring them in the landscape, for me, anyway, required some balance.  It all has to do with a commission I'm working on.  More on that later.   

Light in the Landscape Class, and December Dusk painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

December Dusk, 2012, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on canvas, 24x48

 

 

 

A new year begins with such promise.  Most of us love the idea of starting fresh.  it's a blank canvas.  What will you paint for the new year? 

 

Thinking about Light in the Landscape is a great way to start. I'll be teaching at the Marco Island Center for the Arts for a four week class on Monday afternoons in January.  We'll talk about how the light moves around forms, how it's different for different times of day, and about certain atmospheric conditions. 

 

Classes start with a short introduction to the subject, and we spend the rest of the time painting.  You can work from your photos or mine. 

 

So come along if you'd like to learn more about painting light.  We have a good time and learn a lot, too.  

Learn, learn, learn!

Quiet Calm, 2011, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on Canvas, 24"x36"

available

The list of classes at the Marco Island Center for the Arts has been posted on their new website.  There's still a few kinks to work out, but you'll be able to see the options and to sign up right there!

I'll be leading a critique class in November.  I say leading, because that's what I really believe critique is about.  Critique is about options.

You may have painted the best possible painting, but along the way you've made choices.  Once choice leads to another, and sometimes the focus of the painting is lost as well.  We'll review the principles of art, and explore successful innovation.  We'll have fun, and talk a lot of art with plenty of time for painting, too.  There won't be instruction in any special medium so you can choose your own.  You can sign up for my critique class here. 

I'm really excited about the quality of some of the workshop instructors this year. 
One of my favorites is artist Dreama Tolle Perry.  She and her partner host the delightful radio talk show Artists Helping Artists, and she's the author of several books as well.  Dreama walked into my studio last year and used my clear over-the door- shoe holder turned paint storage as a hint for artists on her show!

Her work is colorful, cheerful, and heartwarming.  She'll be teaching a three day workshop on Marco Island in January.  You can sign up for her class either on the Art Center's website or from Dreama's workshop page.  In any case, sign up early as she will only take 15 students and many of her other locations have already sold out!
Continuing to learn is important to an artist, otherwise we get stale.

Think about expanding your horizons and challenging yourself with a class or workshop. You have something to look forward to, and you'll be pleased with the results!

Rock Star, Inside or Out? Daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Rock Star, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5x7

One of the questions I’m most often asked is “did you paint this outside, or in the studio?” My answer more often now than in the past is that I painted inside. Years of time were spent painting outside a couple of times a week. I still visit the Everglades every chance I get, and usually take a number of photos to work from.

These photos are not carefully composed to ensure I get every detail, but casually taken to remind me of what I saw. It could be the way the light hit a particular feature of the landscape or perhaps the way a palm frond thrusts up into the sky. In any case, a glace will transport me back to the time and place and I’m ready to begin.

You can’t learn to paint landscapes inside. I harp on this theme often, since I teach a landscape class inside. You must get outside in order to see the relationships of time, space and color for yourself. All of the lessons I give inside can prime you, and help you, but you must study the natural world from observation to learn to paint the landscape well.

When I’m outside, my paintings are more responsive and immediate as I react to the reality of the wind, sun, light, and foliage. More choices are in my face, and I must work quickly and loosely to capture the scene. 

As a more mature artist, I find that studio time allows me to be more reflective and thoughtful. My paintings delve deeper into the well of knowledge I’m still acquiring. I can make and change choices of features, color, light and time of day.

Is one better than the other? I don’t think so. I’ve come to believe that working both inside and outside helps me to see better, think better, and develop more deeply as an artist.

Art Class, Palm trees and Painting

Two Palms

Today’s palm tree painting was started as a demo in the Landscape Class lesson on Trees. They were done quickly in order to demonstrate in response to questions, but I like what was happening and the painting may have potential. 

Each student had taken a photo of a tree or some trees, and worked on painting from photos. We talked about the character of trees, the way light works on them and through them, and how the same rules of atmospheric progression apply. We often found ourselves looking at the lush foliage outside the window to help us define a concept or illustrate a point.

Here’s a rather poor photograph of the class’s excellent results on our water day!

I love teaching, and will post a schedule for my classes on my website by September for those of you who want to plan ahead. I’m also working on some terrific workshops by some really great artists for the Art League next season. Keep in touch!

Art League's New Directions, painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Radiant in Spring, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on archival board, 5"x7"

The Art League of Marco hired a new director recently, after nearly a year of search for just the right person.  D (yep, that's the name, just the letter!) Michaels, hailing from Colorado, seems like a great fit.  She's a tiny dynamo with an upbeat attitude and a warm smile, and community partnerships in mind.

She's slowly getting her feet under her--remember the Art League was in a bit of a pickle with both funding and image problems, on a bit of a slippery slope.  There's a sound financial plan in place now, a new enthusiasm among the members, and things are looking up. 

D's a connector, and looking for ways for the Art League to partner and build relationships with friends and community organizations.  One of her first ventures was to partner with the Naples Children's Museum, soon to open, but already beginning to offering  some exciting and FREE classes for children at the Art League right here on the island. 

The Art League will be very involved in Arts Afire! next week.  First, March 11 and 12th, Art in Bloom, will be presented at that Art League, a partnership with the Calusa Garden Club.  In addition to having their annual awards show at the Art League, Garden Club members will interpret the work of local artists in flowers for the gallery show.  They'll have some outdoor vendors of garden related items as well. Should be fun. 

The second weekend, March 19 and 20, will be the Art League's Celebrate the Arts.  They were kind enough to reschedule this weekend at the City's request to coordinate with the last weekend of Arts Afire!  The Marco National arts and crafts show will be held on the grounds, as well as two full days of arts and entertainment on the big stage, and a car show besides!  I'll be there with my only tent show of the season.  Come out and support Marco's Art League.  You'll have a great time!

Check out the class lists, too.  There are several good ones!  Landscape class starts tomorrow with an optional day April 1st painting out in the Everglades.  Don't miss!

Teaching again and Clyde Butcher!

Jo-Ann Sanborn and Clyde Butcher at the Fakahatchee Safari taken by fabulous Everglades photographer Jay Stanton

Do you paint, but want a little jump start on the Florida landscape?  Paint what you see but don't get what you  want?  Have trouble with clouds? 

I'm teaching a class focusing on Florida Landscape starting March 8th at the Art League of Marco Island.  You're invited to come along!   Four Tuesday mornings will be short and sweet classes indoors all about the landscape.  We'll cover trees, skies, water, atmospheric progression, and a lot more in the two hours we have together each week,

Then, on April 1, I'll lead a brave and hearty group out to spend a morning painting in the Everglades. The "plein air" day will be "stand alone" from the class, and you can take one or both. 

Actually, you don't really need to be brave or hearty either.  We'll be on solid ground, not in the water like famous Everglades photographer Clyde Butcher who loves to wade with the alligators!

Come along, it'll be fun!  Sign up online or call the Art League of Marco Island to register today.

Negative Spaces

Orchids, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on Canvas, 36"x24"

Generally I try to avoid negative people, preferring the upbeat attitude of the positive around me.  But negative space in painting is a whole different thing. I welcome it, and find it's something every painter should consider when composing a painting.  

Positive space is generally the objects we are painting, in this case the orchids.  Negative space is the space between the objects.  Negative space can greatly affect the composition of the painting.

In the painting above it was the negative spaces that drew me to the subject.  I loved the way the blooms rose high above the leaves.  The negative spaces between the thin flower stalks and their supports and the thick, powerful leaves below jutting into the negative spaces around the basket could provide interest and variation.

I'm not sure this painting is done, and the photo above crops it a little too closely, however, here are some things to think about regarding negative space:

1. Negative space should always be considered in the composition of a painting
2. Negative spaces can contribute to shaping a positive object in the space.
3. Negative spaces can help you define space and distance in landscape.
4. Negative spaces should vary in size or shape within a painting.  (Exception is the stylized face becomes vase type of use)
5. Negative spaces can be used to help define hard and soft edges in a painting.

Color Confidence Class

Color Confidence is over, and what a wonderful class it was! I’ve asked my students to pose for you with their favorite piece. You can see how different the subject matter and styles are. In the four short weeks we covered color mixing, color value, color harmonies and color temperature. Color for me is an inexhaustible subject and there’s always something new to learn.

My next class will be Tuesday mornings starting March 8th, acrylics and the Florida Landscape. We’ll discuss the parts of the landscape, trees, clouds, water, and atmospheric progression in short two hour bites. Maybe some homework? I’ll give handouts and we’ll critique at the end of every session.


Because the class is the short and sweet variety, only two hours per session, there’s not enough time to go outside and paint. As artist Stapleton Kearns says “learning to paint the landscape inside is like learning to swim on the sofa.” So I’ve asked the Art League to add another day and we’ll take a morning to paint out in the Everglades. You can call the Art League of Marco or sign up online if you’d like to come along!

Improve this Painting, by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Because someone recently told me that critiques of my own work were very helpful to them, here's a painting I'm working on that could use improvement.  I thought I had finished this painting, and put it aside to frame, but when I looked at my photo of it, I realized that the balance is off and it will need to be reworked.  Balance is one of the most difficult things to teach, but is critical to making a good painting.

The colors are lovely and the single palm fine.  The problem is with the clouds.  All of the forms in the painting are pointing to the single palm.  If the sloping direction of the clouds was in the other direction, the painting would come into a better balance.

In addition, the grasses at the bottom of the palm look too tight and heavy on one side.  They were forced together because of the small amount of higher earth so close to the waterl.  This happens in the Everglades, where the some plants need to keep their feet just a few inches higher than the surrounding wetlands, and where there's not much soil they clump up tightly.  For the paintings sake the grasses would look better on the canvas if they were spread out a little and lightened.  Their shape could be made more interesting, too. 

Luckily, in acrylic paint this is easy to do.  I work very thinly. so there won't be a big buildup of paint to deal with.  It may just be a matter of working a little more blue into the clouds on the right and dancing some light into the grasses. 

On the other hand, sometimes when you make one correction all the relationships in the painting all change, and it can be hours to get it right. OK, get to work!

Limited Palette, Winter Prairie painting by Everglades Artist JoAnn Sanborn

Winter Prairie, Jo-Ann Sanborn
acrylic on canvas, 11x14

Colors all have value, and it's important to know where the colors you use fall on a value scale.  Every now and then I'll use a limited palette, and find that it helps sharpen my value observation. 

Winter Prairie, today's Everglades painting, was done with a limited palette of Liquitex acrylic colors Indanthrene Blue, Quinacridone Crimson, Naples Yellow, and Transparent Burnt Sienna and Titanimum White.  And to tell all, in the end I used a there's a touch of Pyrole Orange in the trunks of the palms. The blues needed that little punch of orange for contrast, and the Naples Yellow was too grey to do it. 

With only a few color choices, it's less easy to get distracted or seduced by the color, and easier to make the right value choices.   It's always a surprise that the paintings end up as colorful as ever but the values seem to fall into place more easily. 

I'll be teaching a class in Color Confidence at the Art League of Marco Island and you can sign up online now.  We'll have a good time! 

Art Class, Light Descending painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Light Descending, 2010, Jo-Ann Sanborn
acrylic on canvas, 30x30"

Everglades painting Light Descending, along with a painting by artist Inez Hudson, tied for the People's Choice award at the Artist Colony at the Esplanade Art Walk this month. The vote was close, with the ever-popular art of Tracy Gudgel in second place.

There was a nice turnout, much better than expected for a slow September. We're fortunate to have some great music, and the musicians had a great time jamming favorite songs towards the end of the evening.

You can put the October 27th Art Walk on your calendar right now if you want to be part of these Last Wednesday Art Walks on the Esplanade. Come along and pick YOUR favorite painting.

I'll be teaching Acrylics Short and Sweet starting Tuesdays, October 26 for four weeks. It seems that people don't have the time or the funds for a longer workshop in these difficult times, and the short, two-hour classes have become quite popular.

We'll work on all the basics of a good painting in the two hours, with a short lecture and demo, and ending with taking a look at what we've accomplished. There's a Color Confidence and a Florida Landscape class coming up as well.

We have a lot of fun, and you'll go away with some bits of knowledge that you may have forgotten since art school or never really absorbed. Handouts, too. Several of my students have been repeating my classes for years, telling me that they're still learning something new. So am I -- that's the pleasure of teaching.

Sign up today at the Art League of Marco Island, 239-642-6367. I'll look forward to seeing you!

Dancing on a Foggy Morning by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Dancing on a Foggy Morning

11x14 acrylic on canvas

$325.00

Today's Everglades painting was started as a class demo in my recent Color Confidence class. Many instructors will finish a painting during the demo, and find that sales to students can supplement teaching income. I'd rather the students get to work on their own paintings rather than watch me work to the finish, and the time frame is usually too small to create a quality work.

So I use my own paintings to demonstrate techniques and applications during the class, not worrying about the final outcome or a good finish. This little painting was used to demonstrate a variety of discordant color techniques, and way to bring them together, so it was a mess of color and composition errors.

Still, there was something worth searching for in it and I couldn't just discard it. Gaining the final moody harmony was a struggle, but the results are quite satisfying.

By the way, we had a lovely time at the Friends of the Fakahatchee annual dinner last evening at the Port of the Isles. They're my charity for the Artists at the Esplanade Give-Back month and will receive a portion of my sales for April.

Color Bias, Reaching for the Sky, daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Reaching for the Sky

5x7, acrylic on canvas

$150, framed

I'm teaching a color class right now, and one of the things we did last week was to make our own Color Wheel. We discussed color wheels, and made our own, using the traditional primaries of red, yellow and blue.

Ten students chose their reddest red, yellowest yellow, and bluest blue, with the goal of making a twelve hue wheel with the values equal from the three colors. Students could make three-quarters of the wheel perfectly, but one quarter needed the addition of other colors to come out perfectly.

The pigments we use all have a color bias towards either warm or cool. If your yellow was cool, for example, and your red was cool, the resulting color would be too cool/dull for a nice warm, bright orange, since both the cool red and yellow would contain some blue. If your choice was warm yellow and warm red, a nice orange would result. Mixing a nice purple could be the issue if your blue and your red were warm. The yellow bias of the colors would make the purple duller than if you had a cool red and blue.

That's one reason why a three color palette, plus white and maybe black, will give you a wide range of colors but you still will not be able to mix every color that you want. A palette with a warm and cool of each primary offers more versatility.

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!

Wet Paint,Catching the Light daily painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Catching the Light

5x7, acrylic on board

$150

My class on Acrylic Basics is going well, with twelve talented and delightful students. When the Education Committee asked me to try four two-hour classes to be held within a month, rather than my usual four day intensive workshop the Florida landscape. The goal was to offer classes to monthly visitors as well as residents.

I wasn't at all sure it would work. I worried. How would there be time for our "talking time?" How could the students possibly learn something and paint it in such a short time

Well, it's working out just fine. We start the class with the day's subject--yesterday was composition, and between some discussion and a handout, students were at their easel in no time working away. Fortunately, they are not adverse to a little homework, and will be bringing their own homemade value scale in complete next week for our session on value. All the while we're learning to work with the acrylic paint, and I'm learning too as we talk and share.

On the subject of Wet Paint, my husband and I hosted a cocktail party for the artists and sponsors of the Marco Island Wet Paint Live event last night. It was a fun event with a great turn-out, and everyone is looking forward to paint-out day.

Wet Paint Live, now in it's third year, will be held the last Thursday in January. There's fewer artists this year and more sponsors, which translates into a stronger event. Paintings of participating artists will be displayed at the Marco Island Center for the Arts the week before the event, and participating artists have the opportunity to include two paintings in a silent auction.

The event provides scholarships for Marco Island students, and is presented by the Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Marco, the Marco Island Center for the Arts and the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts. Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber for $35. Don't miss it!

Judge's Comments, In the Marsh daily painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

In the Marsh
7" x 5" acrylic on Panel
$150 with FREE shipping and handling in the US

This view of the Everglades is the frog's eye view! In the Marsh has tall grasses high on each side framing the open water. Perhaps following the open water will take me to something special, always just around the bend. More than likely it will be more marsh, but if you look closely or are just lucky the landscape may show you something special. It may be an animal, an orchid, or the light hitting something in a way to highlight it's uniqueness. Always keep your mind and your eyes opened to appreciate nature fully.

A while ago, in response to another blog, I defended the right of an art show judge to say nothing. However, I also am a firm believer that critique teaches more than a lesson, because the words relate to directly to the canvas at hand. This is remarkably valuable and appreciated when the response of the judge is documented, not only to the artist who did the work, but to the others hearing or participating in the critique.

RayMar, an artist painting panel company, has a contest each month to highlight the work of Internet artists. When the winners are announced, the winning paintings are shown with both the year and the month judges comments on display. Tom Browning, a fine Western landscape artist, was the year judge.

You can see the results here. If you look back, you can see the results of each month, and learn about the monthly judges. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Art Class, Art Show, Jane Hitler Park, Marco Island Sculptures

There's no daily painting today, and my order for the small canvases I've come to love has been delayed. I'll wait for them before painting another daily even though I have got some others that aren't nearly as satisfactory.

So here's something different! Today's image is of a beautiful double white bird of paradise brought to me as a gift from by my gardening neighbor. We share a love of the natural world and are just delighted to live here on beautiful Marco Island. I'm making a number of images black and white for my class next week and this will be one of several that are something other than the Everglades. Not everyone shares my passion for that landscape!

The Boca Grande show is this weekend, so please stop in if you're in the areas. It should be a very nice show. I'll have a couple of large paintings as well as a nice selection of dailies. We'll travel home after taking down on Sunday night.

Monday morning starts my yearly workshop, Acrylics and the Florida Landscape. I've been focused on having everything all ready for that. The paperwork is done--there will be lots of handouts because it's really hard to absorb everything in four days. I"m still collecting my materials. I bring tons of materials, and paints because it's important that students try new things. It's a sharing class, and I tell students not to bring anything they aren't willing to share.

If you'd like to see the plan here's the student outline. We cover a lot of ground in the four days, and the students will do six to eight paintings. It's a lot of fun and I look forward to it. It's not too late to sign up at the Marco Island Center for the Arts.

I'm speaking very briefly today as a member of the City's Arts Advisory Committee at a sculpture and park dedication. Jane Hitler, and early Marcoite left funds for a liner park along Smokehouse Bay. The park has recently been re-designed and will be dedicated today at 10. Part of the re dedication will include the unveiling of Kent Ullberg's beautiful sculpture of the almost extinct Ridley Sea Turtle, Journey's End.

The sculpture is a donation from the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts throught the generosity of gallery owner Dean Knox. The Foundation has placed three sculptures around the City of Marco Island including Jo Saylor's Willow Whistle in front of the Marco Library, Kent Ullberg's First Born, at the entrance to Residence Beach, and now Ullberg's Journey's End at Jane Hitler Park. Hope you're familar with all of them!

Following all this there will be some wonderful family visits in April. I'm not going to have much access or time for the computer in the next couple of weeks, so please be patient and I'll post when I can!

Sex after 50, Invitational Art Show, Morning Parade daily painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Morning Parade

5x7 $150

Is it the clouds or the palms that are parading this morning? I got ready for a two day art show, packed the car, and worked on this painting yesterday between a busy schedule of home, obligations, and party. The Marco Island Center for the Arts board is interested in offering an artist's forum, since this is something artists asked for in a brainstorming session last year, but they've had trouble getting the artists to actually attend. This brown bag luncheon on art marketing was no different, with only very few artists in attendance. What do you think could make this work so that the Art League artists will want to come?

Later in the day I demonstrated, while the Center hosted guests from a number of Marco Condos as part of their new membership drive. It was fun to meet old friends and new, and talk about the class I'll be offering on Acrylics and the Florida Landscape in March. You can learn more about the class or sign up at the Center. If you live here, stop in. It's a wonderful facility with a great gift show and many class offerings.

After that it was time to party with a group of island women gathered to hear more about Sex After 50 by Dr. Francine Barbetta, author of "A Pebble In His Shoe. She had spoken at the Marco Island Yacht Club earlier in the week, and this gathering was for women who wanted to know MORE. As any gathering where the subject is sex, or any gathering with good friends, we howled with laughter over things we knew and didn't know. And we were sworn to secrecy, so I can't say any more about . . . . ! Thanks, Betsy, for a great party! I think it will do wonders for membership at the Yacht Club!

Later today I'll set up for the Naples Invitational Art Show. This is a wonderful show, located in lovely Fleishman Park, just south of Coastland Mall, between Rt. 41 and Goodlett Frank Road. If you can find Dillards you can find this show! The show is a benefit for Eden Florida, an organization that supports children and adults to autism. I'll donate a painting for the silent auction to benefit this cause. The show will offer a wide variety of arts and crafts, with many artists who only do this one show in the area. There's something for everyone and a great food court, so come on out and enjoy. Your purchases will help support artists in these difficult times, and your entry donation will help the cause of Eden. I'll be there all day Saturday and Sunday, and look forward to seeing you!