Luncheon for the Arts on Marco Island

Bird Centerpiece

Calusa Garden Club

Last Friday's Luncheon for the Arts was a wonderful success, with about 215 people from all segments of Marco Island coming out to honor the arts.  Harpist Kim Adamson provided delightful gathering music to get everyone in the mood and Forrest Nickols beautiful and inspiring photo of a rising heron in full plumage greeted everyone. 

The reception table was exceptional, getting everyone in on time and solving any issues quickly and with grace.  The table hosts were fabulous in both inviting people to the event and making them feel at home.  Artists and dignitaries were sprinkled throughout the room. 

The Marco Island Hilton Resort and Spa did a splendid job of feeding that many people without fuss or disturbance, and were able to offer free parking as well.  Yummy chocolate cake completed the meal. 

The Calusa Garden club provided centerpieces for each of the 22 tables, and a large display for the entrance.  One lucky person at each table got to take one home.  They were creative and distinctive and gave a wonderful, natural air to the event. 

If you missed it, you can see the opening film, Rita Blitt's "Caught in Paint" here.  And, if you couldn't come but want to see the arts remain strong on Marco, donate to the Marco Island Center for the Arts.  A rebirth, or renewal is well underway, thanks to new Executive Director Lynn Holley and a supportive board. 

Two regrets.  I completely forgot about taking photos!  Phooey!  And only one of our seven City Council members, Mr Wayne Waldack, attended.  Were the rest too busy to attend a free lunch in support of the arts?  Their loss.

Luncheon, October Aftertoon daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

October Afternoon

acrylic on canvas, 5"x7"

I'm a little behind.  The painting is an October afternoon, but I'm not getting around to posting it until November.  It's been a really busy couple of weeks getting ready to present a Luncheon for the Arts, in support of the Marco Island Center for the Arts. 

Over 200 people from all segments of the island community are expected.  We've been filling goody bags in my living room.  The wonderful image on the front of the bag by photographer Forrest Nichols makes it look like a flock of birds taking off. 

The programs for the event were finalized last night, and my job this morning was to print them while I wrote to you!  I had purchased extra ink knowing I would need it.  BIG Glitch!  I have a new printer, and the extra ink cartridge I had on hand was the wrong size.  Same number, too big.  Ugh.

Life is like that, and so is painting.  You get it all planned out and fate has other plans.  You can either roll with it or fight it.   Sometimes I choose to fight, but today, I'll roll.  It will get done, just later than I planned and the rest of the day will have to be adjusted to accommodate my error. 

Sadly, I'd whine if there was anyone hear to listen, but hubby is still sleeping peacefully. 

The luncheon will be tomorrow, at the Marco Island Hilton at noon.  It's a one-hour FREE lunch, but it is hoped that you'll do your part by opening your heart to "support."  If you haven't been invited and would like to come along. please let me know early today.  

Meanwhile I'll put all this aside and spend the day in the studio, painting.  That's really where I belong!   

An Arm or a Leg, Stone Crab daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Stone Crab, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x7"

Florida Stone Crab season is here, and the crabs are gorgeous with large, chunky bodies and elegant black tipped claws.  The crabs have eight legs used for swimming or walking and two developed into large claws used for pinching and crushing prey and predators. 

Stone crabs are much desired for their claw meat, which resembles lobster in texture and taste.   When the crabs are caught for food, it is most often the large, crusher claw that is harvested. The claws are designed to be removed easily when the crab is in a life-threatening situation, and a crab may be able to survive an attack by leaving a claw behind.   When broken in the right place, there is little blood loss and quick healing.   A crabber will grab the crab from behind and twist firmly.  The claw pops off and the crab is thrown back into the water where it will regenerate the lost claw. 

Stone crabs can be found in shallow tidal areas with soft bottoms and places to hide, like rocks, jetties and oyster reefs.  Oysters are one of their favorite foods.  In and around Marco Island they are caught in the Gulf from mid-October through mid-May in baited traps placed on bottom

The meaty claws are sold for food, and are traditionally served with a mustard sauce.  You can find some other great receipes here.  While I don't like thinking abou the having an art or a leg torn off, I must confess that I like the idea that it's a renewable food source!

Natural World, Bright Light daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Bright Light, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x7"

I've felt connected to our natural world since I was a child.  I'd stop to smell the breeze on the salty air of Gloucester, MA, where I grew up.  I loved to find little a special rock, a beautiful leave, or a bits of sea glass for my treasure box.  My garden here contains many such "bits."

With so very many people in the world now, (we're approaching seven billion!) it's easy to lose touch with nature.  Our natural world needs the stewardship of those who care, and its hard to care if you are out of touch. 

No matter where you are, try to enjoy a "quiet moment" each day, outside.  Listen to the sounds of nature.  Is it quiet, with nothing stirring, or do you hear voices of birds, insects and other animals going about their daily business? 

Enjoy the magnificent beauty of the sky any time of day.  Notice how the color blue changes from the horizon to the zenith.  Mark the edges of day by greeting the sunrise or noting the day's end. 

What's the smell on your breeze?

October Artwalk on Wednesday! Technical Difficulties again, and Art Luncheon

 Artist Colony at the Esplanade

October ArtWalk

Wednesday, October 26th, 5-8 p.m

Grid, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on canvas, 30"x30"

Anyone who knows me knows that I struggle with the technical aspects of the new age.  Every now and then I suffer from an embarrassing technical glitch.  I push the wrong button, add the wrong code, or something unexpected happens. 

Did I preview my post? Yes!  Did I see there was a problem?  Yes!  Did I try to fix it?  Yes!  Oops! I am so very sorry if you received a "mess" from me yesterday.  Gone to you WRONG with no way to stop it!  UGH!  Despair! 

I'd rather try something and get it wrong than not try at all, but have a very red face when it involves YOU!  Please accept my deep apology.

In other news, there will be a Luncheon for the Arts, in support of the Marco Island Center for the Arts at the Marco Island Hilton on November 4th. Parking and the luncheon is free, but there will be a request for support. New Executive Director Lynn Holley has written a short film for the event! Reservations are required, so if you are on the island and would like to attend, please email me (joann@joannsanborn.com).

Florida Panthers, Panther Glade daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Panther Glade, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on board, 5"x7"

There are only about 120 Florida panthers left in the wild. They live in and around the Everglades in only 5% of their historic range. They are often killed by cars, but earlier this year, unfortunately, one of them was shot and killed. The panther was found in April on private property bordering the Big Cypress National Preserve in the Everglades, and believed to have been shot within a week prior to its discovery.

The Florida Panther is listed as an "endangered" species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the killing is being jointly investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) special agents and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).  So far no one has been charged with this crime. 

The beautiful big cat is a reclusive animal, and most Floridians will never see one in the wild.  I haven't, even though I've painted out their habitat for years. Learn more about Florida panthers you can attend the first annual Florida Panther Festival on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at North Collier Regional Park in Naples.

The Panther Festival is free, with the goal of promoting the safe coexistence of people, pets, livestock and panthers. To see a video and learn more, go to FloridaPantherNet.org. 

Gator Passage, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Gator Passage

acrylic on board, 7"x5"

The Everglades landscape is made up of such simple and ancient elements of the earth.  Palms, water, prairies, and sky comprise almost every view.  It should be simple to paint, especially after years of looking and learning about the environment. 

But nature isn't simple.  All of those elements are continually being redefined by the movement of the sun through the sky, the wind on any given day, various reflections, the movement of clouds as the day progresses, and any combinations of the elements.

Painting the magic of the Everglades is still a challenge for me, and although I've been experimenting a bit with other mediums and other ways of applying paint, I expect to find challenges in painting the Everglades landscape for quite a while yet. 

Natural world, Inlet daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Inlet, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x7"

 

I'm fascinated by inlets in the Everglades, places were the water and sawgrass disappear around a bend.  I wonder what's just beyond what I can easily see.  Who lives there and what are their lives like?  Could an alligator be lurking there waiting for his breakfast, or a great blue heron waiting to snatch up a fish.  And if they do, how will it affect the natural world THEY live in?

There is a whole natural world going on a level usually ignored or unnoticed by us. Like being in an elevator with foreign speakers--we hear something, but usually don't have a clue what is really going on.  

We may hear a crow outside the window, loud and raucous.  It might annoy us and we might try to shoo it away.  What's really happening?  Is he out to drive us nuts or does he see a snake or a cat and is warning his family of eminent danger.

Could it be that in the natural world, living things are going about their daily lives with many aspects paralleling human life?  What are we missing?  Drama?  Distress?  Or maybe just the hint that it's time for a nice nap. 

Depth and Mystery, Morning Light painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Morning Light, 2011. Jo-Ann Sanborn

8"x10", acrylic on linen board
Sold

Our landscape is full of wonderful complicated colors full of depth and mystery, not always easy to capture.  I used layers of glazing to get the rich glow in the background. 

I painted today's painting on linen board, a new support for me.  I've tried painting on stretched linen in the past and found that it would stretch and sag beyond my comfort zone as I scrubbed in the many layers of acrylic paint. 

Using quality materials is important to me.  Canvas on board is the choice for my daily paintings, and when my custom supplier stopped making them, I had to look for another source. I did some research, ordered bits of what seemed interesting, and am in the process of try out several new types. 

One supplier had an acrylic primed linen on board, but not in the small size I like best for my landscapes.  Still, the thought of being able to use linen with my type of painting made me want to give it a try, so I ordered three of the 8x10's and fell in love. 

Linen takes up more paint than the cotton and it feels different.  Better?  Probably. 

We'll see where the relationship goes, and cost is a concern.  Still, I'm excited about Wind River Arts acrylic primed linen on gatorboard.  You might like it, too. 

Outspoken, Studio painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Outspoken, Jo-Ann Sanborn

Acrylic on Canvas, 36"x24"

Outspoken is about boldness.  The brushstrokes are heavy and defined, and the palm dominates the background.  The sawgrass is dense and barely let the palm through but it somehow got a foothold and prevailed.  The light glows softly and the result pleases me.  I'm painting again!

Finishing the book Embracing the Everglades, redoing the studio, and updating my website has really cut into my painting time.  While I've been creating, I haven't been painting as much.  The endorphins are high when I view a blank canvas, and the discipline of painting at least a little almost every day can be as addictive as a daily run for some people.  I'm anxious to get back to a regular schedule.   

Sometimes, for an artist, a break can be refreshing.  Somehow the brain is still working on painting, and when you go back you find that you've figured something out, grown in another direction, or have learned something new.  Your style may have changed a little because of the break, because you have, too. 

So I'm looking forward to the next few months.  Marco will be energized by the return of the snowbirds.  The Everglades will be more inviting to visit with fewer mosquitoes and showers.  I'll be back to painting a regular schedule. 

I'll be experimenting with some new techniques.  I want more texture, more movement and interest in the brushwork, but also want the interior glow of a luminous painting.  Can these be both obtained in the same painting? Glazing?  Transparent Color?  Substrata? Additives?   We'll see. 

New Book! Embracing the Everglades by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Embracing the Everglades

a book about the Everglades

by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Done!  I've spent any available time in the last six months putting together a book of my paintings.  Some of the paintings in Embracing the Everglades go back years, and others are new.  It's been fun to revisit the older paintings.  Some are better than others, and some, good or bad, will always be favorites.  Some make me think of the challenge of painting them, and others fairly flew off the brush. 

Many of you have one or more of my paintings in your home, and I thought of you often as I complied and edited the book.  I count you among my friends, and am very appreciative of your support and confidence in me. 

It's a self-published book, and I was somewhat limited by my own photography issues.  I know some photos are not perfect, but felt it was worthwhile to include the painting.  I've written and re-written, edited again and again, and am sure you'll find a typo or two.  UGH! 

As I began to learn about the Everglades, I found much of the written material available was overly simplified or too scientific, not easy for a layman to digest.  What's a hydroperiod, really?  In many cases the material was contradictory or arbitrary.  So I've included information I was able to discover about the Everglades and how its systems work, and used my paintings to illustrate the landscape, and also how humans interact with it. 

I believe that a healthy Everglades is important to the Gulf of Mexico and to our planet.  I've included information about how to get involved if you'd like to help protect and preserve the Everglades. A dollar from the sale of each book will go to Everglades protection. 

If you'd like see a few pages, it's over on the right-hand side of the page.  I've had a great time putting it together.  Hope you'll enjoy Embracing the Everglades!   

Bras for LIFe Fundraiser

Heavenly Bodies

Jo-Ann Sanborn

BRAS FOR LIFE has a website!

You can see all of the wonderful entries into this fun Marco Island Center for the Arts and American Cancer Society on Marco Island fundraiser through the miracle of the Internet.

Click to view the BRAS FOR LIFE website

On the Bras for Life site, comments (in the information at the end of the post) are welcome and all suitable will be published. Use "anonymous" if you prefer to remain private.

If you place a bid, your information will be kept private and you will only see the highest bid appear under the bra. Bid information can also be called into the Marco Island center for the Arts. (239-394-4221)

Bid information on the bra site will be updated daily until 4 p.m. on October 6th, the day of the Auction.

 Auction

October 6th, 6:30

Marco Island Center for the Arts

1010 Winterberry Avenue

Marco Island, FL 34145

Hope to see you there!

ArtWalk tonight!

ARTWALK TONIGHT! 

5-8 Wednesday, September 29th! 

Oh, dear!  Have to admit that I didn't get today's daily finished.  It was a little larger than usual, 8x10 but that's no excuse.  I know you enjoy seeing works in progress, so thought I'd post anyway. 

So, what distracted me?  First, I had a visitor to the studio and just had to enjoy his beautiful outfit.

 Second, this happy heron came calling.  Who could resist spending some time watching him? 

If it goes well today I'll have the above painting finished and at ArtWalk at the Artist Colony on Marco tonight.   What will be happening? 

Check out my Studio Renovations!

Betty's Mom's 90th Birthday!

Bras for Life on display!

A wonderful collaborative painting by the Colony Artists!

(take a chance to win it!)

Refreshments and music!

If you are on Marco, don't miss it!

  5-8 Wednesday, September 29th! 

Heavenly Bodies preview at ArtWalk

Heavenly Bodies is my entry into the "Bras for Life," a breast cancer fundraiser to be held at the Marco Island Art Center for the Arts on October 6th.  The bras are all cleverly designed to be a fun play on words.  The members of the Marco Island Artist Colony who made bras will preview them at this months ArtWalk, Wednesday, September 28 from 5-8 pm. 

If you attend, in addition to the bras, you can wish Betty Newman's mom a Happy Birthday.  She'll be 90!  You'll also see the Artist Colony first collaborative artwork, and can take a chance on winning it! 

You will also be among the first to see renovations to my little world, my section of the studios.  I've been wanting to paint since we moved in two years ago, and never liked the green walls.  So I went to work, got a little help from my friends, and my bit of Artist Colony space went from this

to THIS in  just three days.  

It's really quite grand and I'm thrilled beyond words.  Come see for yourself! 

Twelve Palm Trees

Twelve Palm Trees

by the Artist Colony at the Esplanade

The Artist Colony at the Esplanade is just about to start the third year in our present location.  We're very grateful that in this dismal economy we have such terrific space to work in.  We've been a bright spot for Marco Island, drawing people from afar to visit our studios and see what's new. 

Today's painting is a first!  Its a collaborative painting, done in part by each of the artists.  Artist and photographer Lee Horton, conceived the idea.  He asked each of the artist in the Colony to paint a three-inch interpretation of a palm tree. He then assembled the paintings into a shadowbox and took the above photo.   

They are fabulous!  Lee took the finished mini-paintings and framed them all in a shadowbox to create this beautiful and collectible artwork. Can you guess which artist painted which piece?  Visit our website to give you a clue!  (Hint, mine is at top right)

The painting is on display at Rightside Studio.  If you like it, you can take a chance to win it in a drawing later.  I've already bought my ticket! 

With a little help from my friends, A New Day daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Before the Show, Jo-Ann Sanborn

 acrylic on board, 7"x5"

$150 framed and shipped

Things are heating up in the studio. I made a decision to upgrade my space a little since it looks like the Artist Colony might have another year in our wonderful Esplanade location. (picture me knocking on wood)

What started out as a small painting project quickly blossomed into a huge renovation! I somehow thought that I could do it myself. I made a plan, bought the materials, gathered my tools, and went to work. It quickly became apparent that I was totally delusional about my time, my strength and my tools. Reinforcements were necessary, and quick!

Fortunately for me, a family friend just happened (thank you, God!) to be on Marco, and came to my aid with superior tools and some better ideas. That, and the help of another friend who has been so good to me in so many ways quickly put the project back on track. I'm very grateful to them both, and also to my studio mates who are both patient and supportive.

The "sticks" are gone, some beautiful floating shelves have taken their place. By the time of my next scheduled shift on Wednesday the painting should be done and I'll be putting things back together.  Stop by at the next ArtWalk, September 28th and help me celebrate!   Photos, and more on our exciting September ArtWalk soon.

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!

Odds and ends

Here's just a few things that occured during my blog hiatus.  I received this photo from one of my collectors and was delighted to see my work in this lovely setting. 

I began cleaning the garage.   I was very careful reaching into dark corners, fearful of the brown recluse spider.  My garage had gotten to the point whare a recluse would be right at home!  Didn't finish this, still working!

Lynn was the lucky winner of the quarterly daily painting drawing.  I draw a winner quarterly from those who receive my quarterly newsletter.  You can sign up here.  Once you receive the newsletter, you are eligible for as long as you receive it. 

I'm redoing our website.  If you haven't visited for a while you can see progress here.    In addition, I hope to have a big announcement by the end of the month.  Stay tuned! 

An Abstract Painting

Abstract Grid



acrylic on canvas, 30x30

Good morning.  While I still haven't resolved all the issues and work I had hoped to complete by taking a month off from writing this blog, I've missed you all and have decided that this blog, despite some problems with it, is important to me. 

I've been experimenting with both methods and materials, and really enjoyed doing this abstract piece.  While the Everglades landscape continues to be my muse, doing something completely different expands our thoughts and challenges us in new ways. 

In this piece, I used tape to block off the grid in the beginning, and added layers and layers of paint and glazes and more tape on and off, until the depth I was working toward was created.  Some layers were glazed on lightly, in other cases opaque paint was used.  There's a bit of gold in there, too. 

I'll show you some other new work and let you know what's going on in the arts on Marco Island as we go along.  In the meantime check my website for upcoming classes.  Thanks for waiting me out! 



Pondering, by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

I'll be pondering for a while.  You'll hear from me now and again but without the regularity of the first 600 posts! 

Some larger paintings are calling to me, and I need to work on them without the distraction of the daily paintings.  There's another project I'm working on that will be a surprise.  As always, I'm doing some art community work, this time working to sustain the future of Marco Island's Art Center.  Let me know if you want to help. 

I'll be teaching in the fall and again in 2012.   A Method for Critique will be information that you can use in reviewing your own work or should you be jurying.  We'll cover some principals of art, and when they work and when they don't.  Bet there'll be some great discussion there!  You can see the dates/times on my website, under events, so sign up early.

I love my FASO website, but it needs to be updated and I need the time for that.  I need to consolodate my emails, spend some time on my email list, and regroup.  Decide what's important to others, and what I can let go. 

Combined with family responsibilities, I'm not going to be sitting around in fuzzy slippers eating bon-bons, although I'd love to do that, for maybe an hour some time. 

And I'll be back, once I figure out if I'm writing for myself, my collectors, my artist friends, the arts community or any/everyone, and what's the best outlet for connecting and sharing information.

In the meantime, you can "like" Sanborn Everglades Art on Facebook or connect with me on Twitter (twitter.com/jsanborn) or add me to one of your circles in Google+  Let's keep in touch.  Otherwise, I'll miss you!