Early Morning Melody

Early Morning Melody

Oil on black canvas, 48x48

Please click here to email me for info on price, location and availability

Overnight, the cold spring turned into hot summer, and my body hasn't caught up. Setting up my tent for the show at Paradise City, I found myself just drenched in sweat, for the first time this year, really. 

Part of me hates being all sweaty and sticky, and another part of me feels it's healthy, that the sweat draws out a whole bunch of bad stuff and flings it away into the humidity. 

This painting - a large version of one I painted a few months ago - makes me remember "the cool, green breathing of the leaves;" the sweet scent of new, thin grass; and the winter-cold earth warming. It was only a few weeks ago, but feels like a different era. 

I'll have this and some other exciting new pieces at the Paradise City Arts Festival this weekend in Northampton, MA. I'll be in Booth 909 in the Arena Building. Hope to see you there! 

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Funny Signs

Above, I found "Beaver Ruin Road" to be a hilarious sign. I'd like to hear about the event that occasioned the naming of that road! Below, a friend sent in this sign... Looks like Archie Bunker might be alive and well after all, selling real estate in Rhode Island! If you see a funny sign, or an amusing scene of any kind, please send me a jpg at carrieBjacobson@gmail.com

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Growing Up Fast

Above, Doc and Lulu a couple days ago. 

Below, the same pups on the same steps, a couple months ago. 

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A Final Thought

"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. 

It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science." 

- Albert Einstein

Golden Fields

Golden Fields

Oil on black canvas, 36x60

Please click here to email me for price and availability

I work hard to take good photographs of my paintings, and for my birthday, Peter gave me a good camera, a real camera (not just my phone). I'm still learning my way around it, and can already see that it's going to help. 

The one thing I can say is that, in most instances, if there has to be a gap between the quality of the paintings and the quality of the photographs, I'd rather have the paintings look better in real life than vice versa! 

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I'M HEADING TO New England on Wednesday, to take part in the Paradise City Arts Festival in Northampton, MA. The show runs from Saturday through Monday at the Three County Fairgrounds, 54 Old Ferry Road, Northampton. I'll be in Booth 909, in the Arena Building. It's a really fun show, filled with high-end art and craft, beautiful stuff. There is an entry fee, but there's a coupon for a discount on the website. And one of my paintings is featured on the webpage about the show!

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Yes! Cowart Street! I should have gotten someone to take a photo of me with a cowscape beneath this sign. Next time I'm in Chattanooga, for sure! 

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Dog of the Day

This is Lisle's cat, looking affronted that I dared to drive down her street 

here in Wachapreague. She marched along in front of the car 

for quite some time, until she finally headed to a lawn, 

where she could stare at me accusingly. 

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A Final Thought

"Art and love are the same thing: 

It's the process of seeing yourself in things that are not you." 

- Chuck Klosterman

Blue Canada

Blue Canada

Oil on black canvas, 16x16, $385

Sold

                                                   

Years ago, Heather MacLeod - a friend and amazing artist - and I drove to the Atlantic Provinces in Canada to explore and paint. I didn't do a separate blog for the trip, but you can read about it and see paintings on this very same blog, starting here, June 9, 2010, and running to July 17, 2010.

I think we both loved the Atlantic Provinces. For me, the Gaspe Peninsula (think southern bank of the St. Lawrence Seaway) and Cape Breton were my favorites, but I loved all of it, and even made a slight push to move there, when I got back home. But winters are brutal. Brutal.

I believe we were in Cape Breton Island when we saw this blue-roofed garage with a blue truck inside, under a blue sky, with a silvery-blue tree in the foreground.

I've been thinking about this painting for nearly six years. I knew it was a painting, a beautiful painting, as soon as I saw it.

On Tuesday, I turned 60, and my birthday present to myself was to make this painting. It took me this long, and this much thinking, to gain the courage and skill and imagination to paint it the way I wanted to see it.

When people ask my how long it took me to make a painting, I sometimes hem and haw, and this is why. The actual painting only took a few hours. But in essence, it took six years and a few hours.

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Potatoes or pavers? 

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Dog of the Day

Koko, Abby and the puppies have made a mess of our yard, digging holes all over the place. The other day, Smokey fell into one and couldn't get out. I made sure he was OK first, then I took the photos, then I got him out. A minute later, he was back in. For all I know, he liked it! 

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A Final Thought

"If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, 

will answer you: I am here to live out loud." 

- Emile Zola

I Shall Be Released

I Shall Be Released

Oil on black canvas with gold, copper and aluminum leaf, 30x30

Please click here to email me for price, shipping and availability

When I was in my 20s, I was sure that people in their 60s were all but dead, spiritually, emotionally and of course, physically. I was pretty sure that there was no imagination in their lives, that most of the doors had closed - and they didn't really mind. 

I turned 60 on Monday, and I am glad to say that I couldn't have been more wrong, at least about myself and, I'd dare to say, my friends, my husband and my post-60 family members. 

I've never felt more alive! I've never had more creative ideas, a richer imagination, more daring. I've never felt happier; I've never felt more fear; I've never had the determination I have now. 

In many ways, I feel like this painting. I feel like all life is leading me somewhere, and the path is in color. The goal is bright and shiny and maybe a little scary - but it is rich with color and movement, imagination and promise. 

You all, who read my blog and buy my paintings, sponsor my projects and support me in countless ways, you're all along with me on this journey, and you're all making it possible. I am so very grateful. Thank you. 

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An amazing coincidence

 

MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND, I participated in a show in Crozet, VA, about five hours west of here. I did the show last year, and it was pretty good, so I thought I'd try again. I was elated when the show used my art on their postcard! I was also thrilled to find they'd used it on their poster and program. 

The show is in a beautiful part of Virginia, the edge of the Shenandoah Valley. It is lush and clean and full of birds and bullfrogs and gorgeous scenery - but not so many buyers. I had an OK show, selling two paintings, but it was difficult to do and, I admit, disappointing. 

One amazing happened, though! I went up to a man in my booth and asked him if he'd like to buy a painting. He said he loved them but no, he was from Arizona. Where? I asked.

"Tucson," he said. 

"Oh, yeah? My dad and stepmother live in Tubac."

"Oh, really? My wife has art in a gallery in Tubac."

"Which one?" I asked, somehow knowing I already knew the answer.

"Sweet Poppy," he said. 

And sure enough, that's where I have my paintings in Tubac. Sweet Poppy. Isn't that amazing? Her name is Sandra Montgomery, and her website is www.oldwindowart.com. And that's what she does, paints on old windows. Very cool! 

Above, Sandra Montgomery and me. Below, my van, where I camped at the Crozet Art and Craft Festival. Most people camped in a concrete-covered area just past this field, but I loved the quiet, and the greenery and the solitary camping. 

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Dog of the Day

Met this beauty in Tubac. She makes me think of Kaja,

 our long-gone part chow, part German shepherd. 

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A Final Thought 

"It is good to love many tings, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done." 

- Vincent Van Gogh

Woody

 

Woody

Oil on canvas, 12x12

The 101 Dogs Project is chugging along, and I am loving it and the paintings coming from it. Soon, I'll have them up on a page on my website, Jacobson Arts (jacobson-arts.com). For now, there are photos to be taken, and surprises in the works, so no page yet. But it's coming! 

Meantime, if you want to read about the project, and maybe even become a sponsor, you can find out more here. I'm donating money from each painting to one of four dog-related groups that I've chosen, and you can read about them here. In addition to the painting, you can receive stuff - or choose not to have the stuff, and have me donate more money instead. 

Woody is one of our dogs. He's a bichon who'd been bought from and returned to a pet store at least twice. He was scared of everything when we got him; it took a year before we could pet him - and he's still not crazy about it. He has his personality quirks, for sure, but he is a good dog, and an ever-constant companion. 

And so, he's also the Dog of the Day! 

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A Final Thought 

"You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star." 

- Friedrich Nietzsche

Take Me to the River

 Take Me to the River

Oil on black canvas, 36x60

sold

The people of Richmond came out to Arts in the Park last weekend, in spite of lousy weather, cold temperatures, mud, slop and even some downpours. It was an excellent show for me, all because the good folks who live in Richmond didn't let the weather keep them inside. 

A happy buyer with "Take Me to the River."

My first experience with rain at a show was years ago in Mystic, CT. It was either my first or second Mystic show, and while the Saturday was OK, on Sunday, it poured. Sheets of rain. Torrents. Many of the artists packed up and went home, but I stayed. For starters, we lived only a few miles away, and I had nothing better to do. Also, I had committed to the weekend, to being there, and I felt that I should honor my commitment. 

So I sat there in the rain, and lo and behold, sold seven paintings. It was a miracle, really, and taught me a good lesson. 

Rain has ruined a lot of shows in which I've participated - but it hasn't ruined all of them. I'm grateful to everyone who slogged out in the rain and cold and mud, to look at and even buy art. Thank you! 

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Dog of the Day

Saw this guy out in Arizona, guarding the Arivaca Road.

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A Final Thought

"A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because 

all things in nature are dark, except where exposed by the light." 

- Leonardo DaVinci