Morning on the River, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Morning on the River, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on canvas, 5"x7"

Enjoying the dawn with a good cup of coffee in hand is a simple morning pleasure.  The sky delights with soft bands of pastel color changing from hour to hour and different from day to day.  Dawn is counted as the time the sky begins to lighten until actual sunrise, which takes place the moment the sun peeks above the eastern horizon. 

The time of today's painting has the sun firmly in control of the sky, but the softness of a new day is still evident, and the merry little breezes won't tease the water until later in the day. 

Morning Stillness Everglades painting by JoAnn Sanborn

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Today's small Everglades painting worked out just the way I hoped it would. An artist often starts with an idea--the idea, or an idea, is really the reason for painting at all! The idea for this small painting was to capture the very still, quietness of the early morning. I love this time of the morning, when it seems that the whole world is just holding it's breath waiting to greet the sun and a new day. The Everglades landscape is infused with a soft light. It's quite still, so the reflections in the water are without ripples. Many days I take a short walk in the early morning to wake up and greet the day, and find early dawn a perfect time for the mind to reflect on the natural beauty of our fabulous landscape and be glad for it.

Back to the idea. Sometimes the idea for the painting gets changed into beautiful colors as the palette takes over. Sometimes the forms change according to the needs of the canvas. Sometimes an artist reacts to what's happening and develops the painting in a different direction from the original idea. Sometimes there are miserable false starts until the idea is diminished out of existence. But sometimes it all comes together the way it's supposed to, and there's a great sign of "hooray!" at the finish.

Going my Way? Daily Everglades Painting by JoAnn Sanborn

The morning skies here on Marco Island and over the Everglades can be so beautiful. The light comes up slowly and the colors changes are so subtle that you have to look carefully to see them. Sometimes there are little puffs of clouds taking on the colors of blue, grey, and sometimes pink in a golden sky. Sometimes layers of yellow, pink, green and blue change places slowly as the sun rises. Sometimes, there's a thin layer of bright light right on the horizon, and the rest of the sky filled with dark clouds. But you can be sure that every single morning is unique and different.

JM Turner, a British painter who's rich, voluminous skies have inspired generations of landscape artists is someone that every painter of light wants to emulate. Haldane Macfall, an art critic, wrote of him in 1920 as..."All that is vital in modern art was born out of the revelation of Turner". If you're not familiar with his work take a look and learn more about him. Then sit outside early some morning and watch the morning show in the sky.

Today's painting just wouldn't photograph quite right. My simple camera has trouble discerning between the thin, glaze layers of colors and blurs them rather than defines them!

Going My Way
7" x 5"

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Big Cypress Marketplace, Morning Sky Daily Everglades Painting by Jo-Ann Sanborn

The Big Cypress Market Place , US 41 just south of 951, will hold it's grand opening this weekend Today the delightful banjo group Marco Island Strummers will be playing around noon, and a bluegrass group add their music later in the day. The Marketplace includes the Big Cypress Winery, where you can taste and learn the history of Florida wines, a food court, and of course the "fleas," a nice line-up of merchants selling most everything. The owners are working hard to include art and artists, and there will be an artist market section near the winery. Some Marco Island artists will be painting throughout the grand opening weekend. I'll be painting there tomorrow, Saturday, from 9-11. Stop by and say hello!

Were you up early enought to notice yesterday's morning sky was just beautiful, with moving storm clouds and glowing morning light? I came in from my walk and got right to work on today's daily painting, eliminating the homes of my neighbors and focusing on the sky!

Morning Sky
7" x 5"
acrylic on Panel
$150 with free shipping and handling in the US