Visiting an Artist's Studio or Gallery, Happy Dance daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Happy Dance

5x7, acrylic on board

Sold

Those of us who have space in the Artist Colony at the Esplanade on Marco Island are doing the Happy Dance, just like the palms in today's Everglades painting. You may be quite comfortable visiting an art gallery or an artists studio, but if you're not, here's a few tips.

I've often had collectors visit my home studio. They've called ahead, know my work, may have something new in mind, or just want to see what's new. When I know someone is coming to visit I usually make my studio as neat as possible, and stop painting to spend time with the visitor. It's a little different at the Artist Colony.

At the new Artist Colony at the Esplanade and we're open to the public for many hours a day in a combination studio gallery. Anyone is welcome to come in, wander around, and see what's going on. Here's some advice to make stepping into an artist space a little easier:

Do come in. We're open because we want to introduce you to ourselves and our work. We may be at the easel painting or doing other chores like packing a painting for shipping or sketching out our next painting. Don't worry about interrupting us. We'll probably greet you, tell you what we're about, and then let you wander.

The work will probably be all around you, so feel free to take as long as you want to enjoy the work, and to identify any artwork that you'd like to know a little more about. Certain artists works will most likely to appeal to you more than others. We understand that.

Talk with us about what you see. It's OK to ask questions about the subject matter, the technique, or the color or design decisions that the artist has made. "Why did you paint the sky purple?" or "What is the inspiration for this painting?", are questions most artists will be happy to answer. It is best not to ask questions that are clearly geared to obtaining trade secrets.

It's OK to not like everything. Art is very personal. You will probably like one artist's work more than others, and you will like certain paintings from the same artist more than others. If the art is original and considered, each piece will have a unique feel and response and it's OK to like some more than others. The artist probably does, too.

You don't have to buy. The purchase of a new piece of art is rarely a spur of the moment decision. Take your time, look at the work, and decide the style and subject matter are something you'd like to live with. You can start to follow that artist, become familiar with their work, and eventually become a collector.

However, when you do fall in love with an original, you should immediately indicate your interest in the piece to the artist so that you are not disappointed if a painting you especially like is sold to someone else.

Enjoy your visit. We'll be glad you stopped in. You may find that looking at, learning about, and talking about art is enjoyable. Come back often!

What is Art? At Water's Edge daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

At Water's Edge

5x7, acrylic on board

$150

Today's daily painting of a still morning at the edge of the swamp reminds me of the quiet places in my soul. Elusive, but treasured when I can find my way there.

What is art? Empty Easel asked this question on their blog this week. The question provoked thought, so I've done a little research on the subject.

Many of the objects we value and admire in museums are useful, if beautiful, objects of everyday living in the past. For centuries those with the means to have beautiful things around them did, and those who could not envied them.

The idea of art as art emerged during the Renaissance when beautiful objects became valued for themselves rather than being something practical and useful. Then along came Andy Warhol who showed us that almost anything can be art, totally confusing many people.

How to determine whether beautiful, everyday things are crafts, or might be art? Tolstoy says it is only " upon this capacity of man (the viewer) to receive another man's expression of feeling (the artist) and experience those feelings himself, that the activity of art is based."

Artist Shelley Essak, in her essay What is Art for about.com makes sense with her answer of form and content. Form being the design and materials, and content being the artists portrayal of intention and our reaction to it.

An artist works at creating art because they have a need to create, to find ourselves and our spirit through our work. Yet the reaction and response of the viewer is as necessary to the art as is the need of the artist to create. What's your take?

Artists in Spaces, In the Pink, daily painting by Everglades artists JoAnn Sanborn

In the Pink

5x7

Sold

Things seem to be calming down a little as the Artist Colony at the Esplanade begin to settle into a new routine. There are still issues to deal with and things that come up every single day that require attention. Seventeen different artists, many who didn't know each other, with their own ideas, styles and baggage all doing something new and innovative together is quite a challenge.

One for all? We're working on it. Individuals making decisions for the group good rather than self-serving? We're working on it. Hosting a fabulous Open House next month to celebrate our good fortune? We're working on it. Learning about the needs and cares of each other? We're working on it. Having this kind of a life-changing art experience? Priceless!

We're all learning new things. A studio gallery is a combination of a studio, where an artist usually works alone, and a gallery, where the public is invited to see the artwork. Although I had done several demonstrations, it took me a while to get used to work standing quite close to the front window to paint, and anyone walking past might stop to look.

There are interruptions to the work, but happily some end in making new friends or making sales. I'm at a point now where I am fairly confident of at least getting a daily done, and will write the blog regularly, so once again you'll be hearing from me three times a week.

The public who comes to visit tell us how much they like to visit. I like it, too, and feel very fortunate indeed to be part of this exciting experiment.

Nikon, Rob Hazzard, Everglades painting by artist JoAnn Sanborn

Today's painting was a gift to my daughter and her husband nearly 17 years ago. It hangs in New England, in a lovely traditional living room, comfortable among antique wood furniture and the lovely creams and yellow colors they've chosen for the room.

This was my second Florida painting. I was still not at all familiar with the foliage here, and it's probably some Alligator Flag or some pickerel weed. If I remember, I got carried away by the light and reflections. I'm still enchanted by the light and reflections in the Everglades.

The reason we're going so far back in time today is that my favorite little Nikon Coolpix camera, used to photo my daily paintings was dropped and broken. Oops. That's why the last couple of photo of the dailes were a bit "off."

Diligent searching indicated that my camera can be replaced at a reasonable cost, but it will take a while to get here and I just don't like my husbands big fancy camera. It doesn't quite understand what I want.

My painting now has come companions. A corner of that New England living room has become an artist's studio. My daughter's husband, Rob Hazzard, has become a fine artist, and has a number of paintings you might enjoy seeing. Take a look!

Sunflowers, Chad Oliver, and me! New Day daily painting by Everglades Artist JoAnn Sanborn

New Day

5x7, acrylic on canvas

$150

The Southwest Florida environment continues to delight and amaze me. The sea of sunflowers in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, that appear in October most, but not every year, are just beautiful.

I learned about them through the newscast of NBC-2 reporter Chad Oliver, who often covers stories of interest to me and to others who love this environment. I can't seem to upload the video, so here's a link to the page that tells the story and a video of the scene.

Chad also covered the Artist Colony at the Esplanade this week. It was a pleasure to work with him and his cameraman. The segment about the artists was aired several times, but if you missed it, you can see it here. Thanks, Chad!

Singing the Blues, Daily painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Singing the Blues

5x7, acrylic on canvas

Sold

Events are moving along well with the new Artist Colony at the Esplanade. The third vacant storefront will be filled with a group of artists who met earlier this week to organize. This space was originally envisioned to meet the needs of a number of Marco artists who don't have the time, work, money or commitment to fit into the larger spaces in a cooperative arrangement.

However, when the interested group met to organize, they decided that they each wanted to be able to leave their materials and to have a spot to call their own, so they will limit the number of participants to fit into the space.

I'm a little disappointed for those who can't be accommodated immediately and would have prefer ed a more inclusive arrangement, but it's a great group of artists who will work hard to work together to make the space a special art place. They'll be in operation around the first of November, after doing some preliminary work to the space to prepare.

Singing the Blues, just finished, has been traded to artist William Ward Mosley for one of his works, given to me last spring, when we agreed to trade. Bill and his wift Pat stopped by to check out the new studio space yesterday, a perfect time to pay my debt and give them their choice of a daily painting.

Meanwhile, I'm finding that moving into new studio space takes some getting used to. I've started to make it my own by putting some of my inspiration things around. I've got a few art books to inspire me when I need a boost. I've painted a couple of dailies, and will start a larger piece today. It's time to let go of the organizational stuff and get to work!

National Wildlife Refuge Week, End of the Day daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

End of the Day

7x5, acrylic on canvas

$150

I love a win-win partnership and that's just what's being celebrated in Collier County this week. It's National Refuge Week, and shared funding between the Florida Department of Transportation Enhancement Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge Roads Program and the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast Refuge Complex has provided new access to the Marsh Trail at the north end of the 10,000 Islands Wildlife Refuge.

The improvements include a parking lot, an information kiosk, a boardwalk leading to the trail, a watercraft ramp. There will be a handicap accessible observation tower by the end of November. The new access will be of particular interest to kayakers, who can glide through the marsh grasses silently, really becoming part of the landscape.

There are over 550 National Wildlife Refuge System properties throughout the US with the primary mission of wildlife protection and preservation. The first refuge was established over 100 years ago by Teddy Roosevelt at Florida's Pelican Island to protect birds from plume hunters who nearly decimated the population because the feathers were used in such large numbers on women's hats.



No thoughts of feathery hats for these two. We were exhausted at the end of the first day for Artist Colony at the Esplanade, but filled with a great sense of satisfaction! Studio and gallery space has been cleansed with a sage smudge to get out any fail-store-cooties without triggering the fire alarms and we're welcoming friends old and new Wed-Sat. Hope you'll stop in!

Stary Night, Hunter's Moon painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Hunter's Moon

12x12

If you were up early and outside this morning I hope you took a moment to look up into an absolutely dazzling morning sky. The stars were gorgeous, bright and twinkling. Brightest planet Venus was clear in the low eastern sky and the constellations were perfectly outlined above.

A good way to tell if you are seeing a planet or a star is that stars twinkle and planets do not.
According to Night Sky Info, twinkling of stars, technically known as stellar scintillation, is caused by the Earth's atmosphere. Because stars are so incredibly distant from us, any disturbances in the atmosphere will bounce around the light from a star in different directions. This causes the star's image to change slightly in brightness and position, hence "twinkle".

There's some great stories about twinkling stars here or you can enjoy this wonderful Starry Night presentation of Van Gogh's paintings. Thanks for sharing it, Carolyn!

Less and More, Big Cypress Autumn painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Big Cypress Autumn

24x36, acrylic on Canvas

Available

Today's Everglades painting is one that just came back from a gallery on Captiva Island. I've sold paintings there, but nothing so abstract. My guess is that sea and shore paintings are more popular than Everglades in that area.

Posting the dailies may be a little spotty in the next couple of weeks. Organizing the Esplanade project was more time-consuming than I had hoped, and although things are moving well there's more to be done in organizing the group gallery. It's a lot of work preparing my new space, and packing up to move the studio. I'm behind on some promised commissions, although I did finish one this weekend. There are other issues to deal with, too, and something had to give. It was today's daily!

Today we'll travel to New Port Richy and pick up the paintings that have been on exhibit at the NPR Gallery there for the last two months. Eight hours round trip. It was a nice opportunity, but nothing sold, so I'll have those paintings back in inventory. Tomorrow it's off early to begin cleaning up the new space in the Esplanade. The big move will be on Friday.

Other news is that I've become as affiliate of Alyson Stanfield of ArtBiz.com Her book, I'd Rather be in the Studio is chock full of information for a self-representing artists and the materials she produces are always worthwhile. If you are an artist and haven't read her book, order it today! She's starting a Cultivating Collectors class that sounds terrific. You can click on the link above, or there will always be one on the right side of the blog.

Hopefully the thunder rumblings outside this morning won't make the trip to New Port Richy a wet and miserable one!

Boat Trip, On the River, daily painting by Everglade artist JoAnn Sanborn

On the River

5x7, acrylic on board

$150, framed

Marco Island is the first and the largest of the 10,000 islands. Protected since the 60's, the 10, 000 islands wild life refuge is home to the largest mangrove forest in the world and a number of endangered species.

A boat trip from Marco Island to Goodland will show you a few more of the islands, and bring you other rewards as well. As you lose sight of the buildings on Marco the sounds of civilization fade, if you can let time slip away it could be a hundred or a thousand years ago.

The light sparks on the water, and a soft breeze gently moves the higher branches of the trees. A silver fish jumps with a rainbow splash. A ray of sunlight spots a great blue heron in the mangrove legs, his head turned and his sharp eyes watch the water for lunch. A red shouldered hawk sits high on a bare branch waiting for some small creature below to venture into the open and become his prey.

If you're very fortunate, you might see the flock of roseate spoonbills that frequent the tidal sandbar off to the right. You are most likely to see them early or late in the day. The spoonbills, arge wading birds are one of the most striking birds found in North American. It's a bright, almost shocking pink, nests in the dense mangrove forests, and consumes a varied diet by wading in shallow water with bills partially submerged swinging its head back and forth in a sideways motion. When it senses prey, the bird snaps its bill closed and swallows its prey.

If you don't live nearby and your're not able to take the trip yourself, you can get a virtual tour here and a map of the islands here.

Choices, Soft and Still daily painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Soft and Still

5x7, acrylic on board

sold

Today's daily painting is a soft and quiet Everglades scene. The landscape here has so many voices, from active to passive. Nature chooses for us, we don't get to choose what the day will be like. If we could, what would you choose?

It’s especially difficult to choose for someone else, as a new collector pointed out to me a few days ago while looking through my daily paintings to pick one out as a gift for friends. “I know what I like, but choosing for someone else takes much more thought." she told me as she looked again and again. Her personal choices tended towards the more colorful, active landscapes, and but she thought her friends would prefer something more peaceful and serene.

After spending some time, she finally used the process of elimination to reduce her choices to five. She wanted to be able to mail the real thing, a gift in a box, not a gift certificate, so I finally packed up five of the small daily landscapes so that she could take them home, elicit the help of her mother who also knew the couple, and ponder the paintings at her leisure.

She came back two days later comfortable with her choice. You can see it here. I reassured her that if the gift recipient looked at the blog and chose another, it would be an easy matter to exchange for the one they might prefer. She went off happy with her gift choice, and I’m delighted to have made a new friend. Thanks, Janet!

Agony of Art, Not a Breeze painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Not a Breeze

24x30, acrylic on canvas

This Everglades painting is my entry for the exhibition "Show of Shows" at the Naples Art Association. This is a member show, no jurying, so you get to see a nice variety of art and exactly when the artists choose to enter. The reception will be Friday, September 25th, from 5:30-7:30, and cost $10 if you're not a member, but you'll get wine, and some nice refreshments.

When I sent in the entry for this show the painting was only a small seed in my brain. No problem, I though. I'll just send in a title and paint the painting in time to be done for the submissions.

Ugh. The painting just wouldn't come. I started several times and struggled over the composition and color choices. The painting accompanied me to the artist luncheon for critique, where I received several excellent suggestions. Unfortunately most of them were forgotten as I struggled on, still unable to bend the painting to my vision.

Occasionally, on rare and joyous occasions, I've gotten into the "zone and had a great painting just flow off the brush with amazing ease. Other times something gets in the way of doing it right! Could it be my worn out brushes? Do I need a new palette? A fresh approach? Some new subject matter? Clearing my mind? Opening my mind? Gaining additional knowledge? Too much knowledge? Ugh, the frustration!

Why is it that sometimes the most difficult things come easy to us, and easiest things so hard? The painting was finally framed at noon on Saturday and delivered by one. I don't like cutting things quite that close!

Reality! Along a Stream daily painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Along a Stream

5x7, acrylic on board

$150, framed

Art Tabletalk, a group of professional artists who meet once a month to talk art, met yesterday and could talk of nothing else! Artists at the Esplanade is becoming a reality!

Marco Islands not-for-profit arts agencies, the Marco Island Center for the Arts and the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts have joined forces and graciously agreed to become leasees of vacant retail space in Marco Island's Esplanade. The artists involved will be required to maintain memberships in both organizations.

The two organizations will jointly sublease three storefronts. Two will be for seven artists who will open studio galleries in shared space. The third will be reserved for a group artist cooperative gallery where there will be working and display space, provided they can organize in an acceptable way.

The agreement is temporary, and we'll have to be flexible as time passes. Each party can cancel with a 30-day notice. The Esplanade will be looking for paying tenants once the economy approves. Artists traditionally have improved an area until they are priced out. We're used to this, and will just have to move on when the time comes. In the meantime, we'll be paint some fabulous paintings, having some fun, and make new friends in the community.

We'll start to move in some time around October 1, with perhaps a Grand Opening in November as part of the United Arts Council's Celebrate the Arts! Stop by and say hello!

Take a Deep Breath, daily painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Take a Deep Breath

5x7, acrylic on board

Sold

Do you notice the sound of the frogs, a gentle breeze rustling the palm fronds or the eagle soaring overhead? If you live in South Florida, take a moment to enjoy the nature that's all around us. In addition to unique and amazing wild life, like the gopher turtles and the owls, and sea turtles, the very air can give you joy.

The sunsets and sunrises this time of year are almost always glorious shows of natural light. Sometimes the late show is quite dramatic as the storms roll through, like in today's Everglades painting. Other times it's the quiet layering of soft salmon, mint green and a gentle turquoise on the horizon as the sun comes up that might make you sigh with delight.

As you go about doing whatever it is that you have planned for today, at some point step outside, take a deep breath and listen to what our earth might have to tell you. It just might make your day!

Artists at the Esplanade, Lovely Morning daily painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Lovely Morning

5x7 Acrylic on Canvas

$150 framed

It is a lovely morning today, with only a few clouds on the horizon as the sun comes up, both in today's painting and on Marco. But many artists on Marco Island, involved in the potential use of provided studio space at the Esplanade, are holding their breath and crossing their fingers rather than enjoying the view.

We haven't had a good nights sleep in a month! There are eighteen of us so far, Nine looking for studio space and another nine hoping for group gallery, or co-op space. It's expected that the gallery space will draw many other Marco artists as the plan becomes reality.

In order for the proposal to the benefit Esplanade management, the boards of Marco's two non-profit art agencies, the Marco Island Center for the Arts and the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts must agree to lease the space from them and then sub-lease it to the artists. And the devil is always in the details.

These community organizations are doing a terrific job of trying to keep the idea alive while struggling through the necessary nitty-gritty to make it work. Leases are being review by lawyers and insurance issues are being investigated to ensure the protection of the non-profits. Potential costs are being considered, and everyone agrees it shouldn't cost the non-profits. The boards of both organizations will be meeting this week to determine whether or not they want to participate.

In any case, should one or both step up, the artists of this community will owe them a a huge debt of gratitude. They chose to be innovative, progressive, excited and open to the idea, and now are doing the hard work and critical thinking necessary to make it. Artists at the Esplanade can and should work to the benefit of all.

We should have answers by the end of the week. However you work for the best, prayers, lucky charms, positive thinking, energy flow, now is the time!

Snail Kites, Still Morning, a daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Soft Rain

5x7, Acrylic on Canvas

sold

Snail Kites are medium sized hawks that flourish in lowland freshwater marshes like the Everglades. In the Big Cypress basin, snail kites use the Lostmans and Okaloacoochee sloughs, Hinson Marsh, and the East Loop and Corn Dance units of Big Cypress National Preserve. They thrive in shallow open water that is clear and calm.

The males are a blue-gray and the females are soft brown with a longish tail and rounded wings. They're birds of prey, in the same family as other hawks and eagles. They fly with much wing motion, always looking down to search out their favorite food, the pond, or apple snail. Apple snails are a large, freshwater snail, and provide the kite with 99%of it's food.

The snail kite is dependent on the hydrology and the water quality of it's watersheds. Watersheds in southwest Florida have experienced pervasive degradation due to urban development and agricultural.

Drainage of marshland has reduced the habitat of the pond snail, limiting the food supply, and egg taking by collectors in the 1950's drove the number of Snail Kites down, but the species may be rebounding a bit today.

Why Snail Kites? We have a huge population of snails in our yard this year. Recently a large hawk landed in a small space between the house and a mixed border. We wondered what it might have been after. I've been researching the hawk, and because of it's clumsiness, it's red beak and legs, it might have been a snail kite.

Better after a snail than some of the other creatures it might have been! Of course it was gone by the time I got my camera.

Working from Home, In the Pink daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

In the Pink

5x7, Acrylic on Canvas

$150, framed

I've been fortunate to have two dear sisters-in-law visiting here on Marco, one for the past month, another for the last two weeks, and a brief daughter visit over the weekend. Phew!

Like most Marcoites, we welcome the visits of those we love. There's sharing and laughter and catching up. There's help too, since neither of these two would sit still a minute when there was something to be done. Then our guests are gone, our tummys are expanded and our houses are all too quiet.

Visitors are a special challenge when you work from home. Sometimes there are guests staying in the studio, although that was not the case this time. Sometimes we just get too busy showing off paradise and washing the towels, and painting has to take a back seat.

When you work from home no one realizes you should be two hours into your working day when you linger over coffee. Their vacation must become yours. So this month I missed a couple of deadlines, and an opportunity. Yet, I made a few deadlines and an important meeting.

Guess it's a balancing act, and it all worked out. I'll miss them.

Everglades Painting by artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Today's Everglades painting is one that I've been working on for a while. It's not done yet because I can't get it quite right. I like the color scheme, so it may be the color temperature. The light is cool, and the colors are as cool in the sun as they are in the shade. Warm up the shadows? Tried it. Warm up the light and cool down the shadows? Tried it.

On the other hand, may be it's the composition. There's a problem with the integration of the parts of the landscape. Rather than look like two groups of friendly palms, these look more like a confrontation ready for a gang war.

So, this holiday weekend with family visiting and so many things on my mind I don't have a "daily" for you. But feel free to comment on this 18x24 size that's driving me nuts!

Clyde Butcher Muck About, Muck About daily painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Muck About
5x7 acrylic on Canvas
$150, framed

It's Labor Day weekend, and I urge you to take a ride out to the Everglades, visit Niki & Clyde Butcher in their Big Cypress Gallery, and if you haven't done it, participate in a Swamp Walk.

Every Labor Day weekend, the Butchers invite you to their property for their annual Muck About. You can bring lunch, they'll have bottled water, and picnic among the cypress trees. Clyde and Niki will be on hand and available to talk with you. A guide will take you on a walk through the swamp, and introduce you to the flora and fauna of the area, and maybe some of the swamp denizens as well.

Cost in the past has been $25 for the swamp walk. This year, it's $75, but you receive a $50 gift certificate for the gallery as well as the walk. Guides have changed from rangers from the Big Cypress Preserve to Dragon Fly Expeditions, and according to the website the walks will be much more intimate. You can make reservations and learn about what to wear here and check out a video showing a walk.

It's quite an experience, and if you haven't done it I highly recommend it.

Marco Island Arts Ordinance, Just a Few Clouds daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Just a Few Clouds

6x6, acrylic on canvas

$125, unframed

Today's Marco Island Eagle headlines with an article about the proposed Arts Ordinance for Marco Island. Proposed by the Arts Advisory Committee of the City, and now before the Marco Island Planning Board. The ordinance would require new commercial properties over 5000 sq.ft. or those renovating up to 50% to pay a small fee either to purchase art of their choosing and approved by the council, or to put the money into a fund for the purchase of art elsewhere in the City.

You've often heard me speak or read me here about the value of art to us as humans. Art in our community is very important. Art both helps to build community through shared experiences, so important on Marco since almost everyone comes from "somewhere else," and art helps to expand our minds as we contemplate the what, why, where and how of it.

Today, lets look at art from a business stand point. People want to live where there are art events and art opportunities. Communities having these amenities have an edge over those who do not. This means that every realtor on Marco Island should be in favor of this ordinance.

It's a fact that the Arts return dollar for dollar spent. Every dollar spent on the arts comes back to a community by helping to sustain business growth and provide business opportunities, as well as making a community a desirable place to live.

We're a community of permanent residents now. Lets provide for something beyond the beach!

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm a member of the Arts Advisory Committee for the City. The committee advises the City Council on Arts affairs. This committee has been working for five years to produce an ordinance for the city. Now let's get it passed!