Summer Lilies, Daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Summer Lilies, 2018, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on board, 5"x7"

There are almost always fresh flowers in my home. Most are just the grocery store variety, but they bring fresh color and life to my table.  Sometimes I just can't resist giving them a longer life through paint.  It makes a nice change from the Everglades.  Hope you enjoy this small bouquet done with the leftovers on my palette.  

Don't forget if you'd like to join me in some Grand Everglades Adventures, you can do so here.  

Burrowing Owl Painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Whooo? 2018, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on board, 5” x7”

The burrowing owls are just so cute and a delight to watch. I’ve done several paintings of them, one as a commission and some just to enjoy. Babies are being spotted in many of the burrows, keeping Mom and Dad busy supplying food and attempting to keep them corralled. They have adapted to living with people quite well but prefer the sand and space of open lots rather than those with more landscaping or in the Everglades. This painting is available if you’d like to take her home.

Grand Everglades Adventures Videos are available here. 

Grand Everglades Adventures- #5 and Wisely, daily painting by Jo-Ann Sanborn

Wisely, 2018, Jo-Ann Sanborn 

Acrylic on board, 7” x 5”

Here’s another burrowing owl painting. I can’t resist painting them this time of year when they are close to the burrow and the babies are just newly out. Their little peanut shapes, often silhouetted as they stand on a T stake, makes them an irresistible subject. 

Coming along on my Grand Everglades Adventures?  The newest video, #5, Process 2 is  here.

Gardinia, daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Gardenia, 2018, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on board, 7”x5”

It’s time to do a little gardening. I’ve been pulling a few weeds and cleaning up the beds in the early morning before it gets too hot. I put in three more plumbage for the second time around, hoping they’ll come around to liking it in a spot they don’t seem to. 

But the gardinias are glorious and the scent heavenly. I’m enjoying a fresh one each morning, some to admire and some to paint. 

How does your garden grow?  

1000 posts and an abstract daily painting

Out and About, 2018, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on board, 7” x 5”

I’ve been writing blogposts since 2007, and today's my 1000th!  Blogging was new when I started back in 2007, and something to be tried.  The word means "web journal" and that's how I used it, writing 100-200 posts most years, about the activities of an artist and things I've learned on my art journey and want to share.  

Blogging started as a way to connect people all over the globe. In art, blogging grew out of the Daily Painting movement's need to get work in front of collectors regularly, and I'm a daily painter.  I've met some wonderful art friends and collectors over the internet even though there are some I will never meet in person.  Blogging has  widened my world. 

I almost gave it up a couple of years ago but it is too much a part of me, my history.  I write a few times a month to keep in touch.  It seems less formal than my monthly newsletter, and it gives me the opportunity to show you the small paintings I still do several times a week.  

So do you follow any bloggers?  Who are your favorites?  Let me know in the comments below.  

Are you coming along on my Grand Everglades Adventures?  There are four videos so far, and you can see them here:

Grand Everglades Adventure Invitation

Grand Everglades Adventure #2 - Marsh Trail

Grand Everglades Adventure #3 - process of painting

Grand Everglades Adventure #4 - Briggs

I'm still learning some of the technical aspects, so be patient with me!

Lemonade in the Garden abstract daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Lemonade in the Garden, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn 

Acrylic on board, 7"x5"

My lemon tree in the garden is full of almost-ripe fruit. I'll be making lemonade by next week.  The colors in my garden prompted this little abstract. I hope you enjoy seeing something a little different from me now and then!  

Almost Home, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Almost Home, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn 

Acrylic on board, 5" x7"

The sailboat in the distance in this painting has been to the Bahamas and is now approaching it's home harbor of March Island.  Hope it misses the summer storms and makes it home safely.  

Three in the Sun, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Three in the Sun, 2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on archival board, 7" x 5"

When the sun comes out in the rainy season, there's high humidity and it's very hot.  Still, sunshine is always welcome.  It makes for Everglades landscapes with strong value definitions in the palms.   

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.    

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!

Burrowing Owl, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Daddy!  2017, Jo-Ann Sanborn

7"x5"

Marco Island has a bumper crop of burrowing owl pairs this year.  This little guy was sitting on my front porch all alone for a while, then brought his girl friend along to visit.  Now they have a burrow across the street, and only come to visit when the construction trucks get too close.

Most burrows are neater, but this pair is big into decoration!  They've collected a lot of debris to surround and enhance their new home.    Apparently it will attract insects for them to eat.  Babies in the nest just yesterday, but too skittish for a photo yet! 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! 

Wishing you

a perfect mix of

the sparkle of Christmas,

the joy of giving,

and a big dose of love.

Merry Christmas!

***

The studio will be closed from

Dec 24, 2016 to January 3, 2017

reopening January 4, 2017

Monday studio classes will start

January 9, 2017

Painting, and Distant Yearning, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Distant Yearning, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x 7"

People tell me all the time that they wish they could do what I do -- paint.  If you are serious about painting, it's never too late to start.  You can learn about the principals of painting by listening to other artists, either by taking classes and by watching teaching DVDs and online videos.  You can read books and magazines about the "how-to."  

But to really learn to paint, you must put brush to canvas again, and again, and again.  It's only when you have put miles on the brush that with trial and error, that you learn to paint. So go paint...and then paint some more!

Pick of the Garden, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Pick of the Garden, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on canvas, 7"x 5"

If you are reading this, you are reading my blog.  The word blog means "web log," This blog has been mine since I started writing it in 2007.  It's like an artist's diary.  If you look back at the earlier posts you will see many of my earlier paintings and what was important to me on certain days in the past.  You have to sign up to receive my blog by putting your email in the box at the top right. 

I usually write two blog posts a week. The subject can be whatever comes to mind.  Early on I did quite a few teaching-type posts, and sometimes get back to that when I have a class scheduled.  Sometimes I write about the fabulous Everglades landscape--every time I visit, I feel like I've received a great gift from nature.  Some posts are about places visited or art exhibitions  attended, or a new tool I've discovered. It's a pretty mixed bag!  

My newsletter is a little different, published once a month.  I post my three newest fine art paintings and let you know about my schedule and any upcoming classes along with an article of interest. If you sign up to receive my newsletter either from the sign-up in the studio or through the website, you become eligible to win a daily painting, drawn randomly three times a year. 

Thanks, as always, for your interest in my work!

Construction Madness and Water Babies, a daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Water Babies, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5" x7"

My studio/gallery on the Esplanade is open six days a week, Monday through Friday from 10-5, a little later on Thursdays, and till 2 on Saturdays. THis schedule will be in place until Easter.

The Smokehouse Bay bridge ajacent to the Esplanade is being reconstructed. The surrounding environment is bombarded with loud and persistant construction sounds, accompanied by the wailing sirens of emergency vehicles trying to get through almost umbearable traffic outside.

Parking has become difficult at the Esplanade, too, fueled by record numbers of visitors from colder climates.  And now, Daylight Savings, which always throws me for a loop until I adjust to the darker mornings.  

Right now, peaceful Marco isn't peaceful!  What a difference from the quiet pleaures of the Everglades.  Watching a heron slowly and patiently searching for breakfast, or a palm tree full of life and rippling in a light breeze helps to bring me back from the brink of over-stimulated madness. I'm so glad when I can spend time out there!

I've completed some new work, and placed some new large paintings on the website. If you're interested, take a look.  

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