Bright Bouquet, 2018, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on canvas, 12"x 12"

Explore Tigertail Beach with me!  

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?  

Classes and more! Daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

 Floral, 2015, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 7" x 5"

If we haven't spoken via newsletter, email, or social media, Happy New Year! I'm going with hope rather than despair, since it's so much more satisfying!     

It's been a busy time with the increase in traffic and the studio now open six days a week from New Years to Easter.  I've been slow to blog, spending more time on social media.  You can read my January newsletter on my website, and sign up  to receive it once a  month if you want. 

I will teach a three day workshop at the Art Center in March and hope to see you there.  More information here.  

In the meantime, at the request of visiting artists, I've been teaching at the Esplanade studio on Monday mornings.  The classes are structured with a single subject each week so you can take just one, or keep coming for as long as you are able. January's subject is the landscape. We'll paint "water" next Monday. Come along!  February will be all about color. There's a new "page" at the top of the blog with more information. 

You will hear from me from time to time here on this blog, and I may start posting the daily paintings again.  We'll see!  

Five Roses daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Five Roses, 2014, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 7"x5"

 

 

 

How do you start your work day?  I open my studio most days far earlier than the posted 10 a.m.  I have coffee there, and sometimes a muffin as my day begins to take shape.  My palette is usually ready, and there are always a  number of larger paintings needing attention.

 

Most often, I'll warm up by doing a small painting, one of my 5"x7" daily paintings.  Sometimes I'll do a quick study from a larger painting I'm considering since it's a good way to work out any composition issues.  Other times I'll work backwards from a painting already done, focus on just a small area of the scene, or paint a single tree from an on-hand Everglades photo.

 

But sometimes I'll focus on something outside the Everglades.  This little bouquet of roses was in the house of a friend.  I took a couple of photos just to remind me of softness I wanted, and got to work.  Hope you like it! 

 

 

Table Bouquet, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Table Bouquet, 2013, Jo-Ann Sanborn
oil on board, 5"x7"

It's fascinating to me that most of the artists I know all see our world just a little differently.  I see the light in broad swaths, while one friend sees it in tiny dots, and another takes little notice of it perfering to emphasize colora movement.  One artist I know revels in painting exact replicas of a scene, while I prefer a looser interpretation of a subject.

 I'm usually drawn to subjects who's shape creates interesting negative spaces around it.   Negative space is the space surrounding the object, while the object itself is considered postive space.  

That's why the palm trees in the Everglades are such a wonderful subject for me.  Their fronds are bold against the sky, and their trunks are a strong vertical movement in a largely horizontal landscape. 

Today's little vase excites me in the same way.  Each branch, reaching out for space, is defining a negative space around it's edge, and each of these spaces are varied and interesting to me eye.  If the flowers were all in a ball shape, or I had to paint every petal, I wouldn't be nearly as interested in painting it!  

Rosey, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Rosy, 2012, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 7"x5"

I'm going to take a break from this blog for a while.  I'll keep the website updated, at http://joannsanborn.com, and post new dailies on http://dailypaintworks.com.  Thanks for your support and for your interest in my work.

In the meantime, know that I'm wishing you the best, whatever your occasion. 

What can a Rose Say? poem by Margie Driver

A rose can say I love you and want you to be mine,

A rose can say I thank you for being so very kind,

A rose can say congratulations, whatever the occasion may be,

A rose can say I miss you and wish you were here with me,

I rose can say I'm sorry if I've hurt you in any way,

A rose can say get well soon, May God bless you today,

A rose can say I wish you happiness, and the best for you each day,

I rose can say farewell, when someone goes away,

A rose can say hello, I'm thinking of you today

There's just so many wonderful things that a rose can say,

A rose can say goodbye when a loved one is laid to rest,

No matter what there is to say a rose can say it best. 

Pink Glow daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Pink Glow, 2012, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 7"x5"

pink scented blossoms

garden picked, maybe gifted
enjoyed either way

First Haiku, be gentle please!  It may be the balanced but uneven negative spacing in today's painting, colors are reminicient of cherry blossoms, or the heavenly scent of the last of the gardenias  in my garden, but flowers are definately on my mind and brush!

Some of you commented that the previous flower painting was a nice change from the landscape. Here's another mini. We attended a lovely wedding on Long Island, and these flowers were on each table. I love flowers, and was fortunate enough to be given a bouquet to take home. When I frame it this little painting will be a little gift for the bride.

Thanks to all of you who were patient with my while I learned how to manage this site and put my work up on a regular basis. I've been sending you morning paintings since mid-June. Time for me to take a little break and reconnect with family. I'll start again, though sometime in August. I can't be away from the easel for long.