Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Max and Katie

 Katie and Max
Oil on black canvas, 12x12
101 Dogs Project commissions

I met Max and Katie's humans while I was in Minneapolis this summer. They told me that Max and Katie had passed, and they missed them tremendously, but for the moment, weren't going to add new dogs to their lives. For the first time in years and years, they said, they were able to travel as much as they wanted, and while they were sad to be without dogs, they were certainly enjoying their freedom. 

I know the dichotomy so well. When we travel together, which is rare, dealing with the dogs is a huge part of the journey. Bringing them changes everything, sometimes for the better, but usually for the more complicated. 

Right now, I am in Wyoming, on the Big Skies Painting Trip, and Peter is at home with the dogs. Peter is not a big traveler, and I am just lucky and grateful that he's willing to deal with the hooligans.  


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The Busy Bee

"Longmire" fans! I spent a few days in Buffalo, Wyoming, on which the town of Durant is based, in the books by Craig Johnson, and the "Longmire" series on Netflix. I had breakfast at the Busy Bee, where Longmire and friends, and pretty much everyone in Buffalo, dines. 


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Dog of the Day 
Yup, today's DOD is the cutest little kitten ever! 

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A Final Thought
"I would like to paint the way a bird sings." 

- Claude Monet

Thanks to Lisa for the quote and the photo! 




Monday, October 17, 2016

Waterfall in the Woods

Waterfall in the Woods
Oil on canvas, 12x12, bartered! 

I've truly enjoyed the waterfall paintings I've done recently, though all have come from photographs. We live in one of the flattest places in the country! Out here in the west, I'm seeing waterfalls, but so far, have not been able to set up safely to paint them. But I'm taking pictures, and continuing to look for them. I've painted a few, but apparently have only posted one - Waterfall with Birches. I will be sure to post the others soon. 

Part of the fun of painting waterfalls, at least for me, is that I paint everything ELSE first, and then paint the water rushing through the rocks. So it sort of saves the best for last - but it also puts everything on the line. Mess up the water and you mess up the painting. So it's an all-or-nothing sort of thing. 

I've encountered a few other, similar gambles. One is the hair over a dog's eyes. I paint the whole dog first, eyes and everything, then paint the raggedy, shaggy hair over those beautiful eyes. Click here to see Colbyhere to see Woodreau, and here to see Archie. There's not a lot of hair over those eyes, but still, it's alarming. 

A tree in the front of a painting has some of the same risk! 

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One from the Road

Well, OK, two from the road. This Walmart in Gillette, Wyoming, has got to be the best-decorated Walmart anywhere! And below, just a view of Wyoming - big sky, big land and everywhere, barbed-wire fences. 


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Dog of the Day

Saw this dog in Minneapolis this summer. She seemed to love her little outfit! She's got the same crazy markings as Lulu and Doc. Here's a photo of them, that Peter took. Please click on it to see it larger, because Lulu (on the left) looks so hilariously deranged! 


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A Final Thought

"There are always flowers for those who want to see them." 

- Henri Matisse, courtesy of Lynn Hoins


Sunday, October 16, 2016

Heading In

Heading In
Oil on black canvas, 10x10, $125
Available at Seaside Antiques and Art, Wachapreague, VA

Even though we don't get out on the water much, I love living near it and watching the boats. The small boat on the left has been sitting in the mud of the salt marsh for at least five years. The boat on the right was just motoring in after a day's fishing. The light, and the sunrises and sunsets on the Eastern Shore are often magical, tinged with pink and gold and tender blues. 

This painting is one of 12 I made for a 2017 Wachapreague calendar. You can buy one for $19 at Seaside Antiques and Art in Wachapreague, or from me, on the Jacobson Arts website. 

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One from the Road 
I'm traveling right now, on the Big Skies Painting Trip. As I write this, I'm in Sheriden, Wyoming, about to head north and west into Montana. I've been having a great trip, and I'm happy with the paintings I've been making for my sponsors. This country is so huge, and so incredibly beautiful, it's a delight and an exciting pleasure to wander, explore and paint! 

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Dog of the Day 
Could he be cuter? Saw him at the Uptown Art Festival in Minneapolis this summer. If you'd like your pet to be the Dog of the Day (doesn't have to be a dog...), please send a jpg to me at carrieBjacobson@gmail.com

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

The Pink Robe


The Pink Robe 
Oil on black canvas, 10x10, $125
Please click here to email me if you're interested in this painting, or stop by 
Seaside Antiques and Art, Main Street, Wachapreague, VA

It was a cool early morning in the spring, and I was heading out of town to a show. Don't remember which day, what show or anything... But a Main Street resident who still takes the paper had gone out to get it, wearing her robe, and it struck me as a painting and a story and a glimpse into life in a quiet little town. 

This is another of the paintings I've made for the 2017 Wachapreague calendar. It's $19, and you can get it at Seaside Antiques and Art, or from me, either by check or by going to the Jacobson Arts home page and clicking on the PayPal button there, under the photo of the calendar. 


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One from the Road
(I'm on the Big Skies Painting Trip)

In Breezewood, PA, Interstate 70 does a very strange thing. It comes to a complete stop! You're driving along, la-di-dah, at 70 mph, and then all of a sudden, you see signs saying "Expressway Ends." You get to a light, come to a complete stop, take a turn, and then you get on an entry ramp and get back on the highway. Bizarre. I would love to know what politics or persuasion or just exactly what conspired to make this happen! 
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Dog of the Day
It's Scout, our dogs' favorite dog-about-town. Scout takes Bill (seated, in rocking chair) for a walk around Wachapreague pretty much every day. Scout ambles along, making sure Bill gets his exercise ... and also making sure that our dogs get their daily dose of thrilling excitement and obscenely loud barking. She's a wiz at it, that's for sure! It's our dogs' favorite time of day! 

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A Final Thought

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost." 

- Martha Graham


Monday, October 10, 2016

Trash Day


Trash Day
Oil on black canvas, $125
Available from me (click here to email me)
or Seaside Antiques and Art in Wachapreague

This is another of the 12 paintings in the 2017 Wachapreague calendar, which you can buy for $19, either from me, here (expect delivery in November...) or on site, at Seaside Antiques and Art in Wachapreague. I have to say, I think the calendar came out great! There are paintings of the salt marsh, paintings of boats at the dock and in the harbor, paintings of trees in flower around town - and this one, of John and JD, our public works staff. They mow the town property, put up flags on some of the holidays, and collect the brush and the trash. And watch out, generally, for everyone in town. 

For some unknown reason, every time I put the PayPal button on this page, the page crashes. But you can buy the calendar by clicking on the PayPal button on the Jacobson Arts home page (jacobson-arts.com), or by emailing me (carrieBjacobson@gmail.com)

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One from the Road

I'm heading West, on the Big Skies Painting Trip... On my way, I stopped in Elkhart, Indiana, 
to see the RV Hall of Fame. Here's one of the amazing, fun RVs I saw there!
 It's the smallest Airstream ever made, and is amazingly cool. 
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Dog of the Day
It's Lulu, just home after TWO WEEKS at the vet's. She and Doc were neutered a few weeks ago, and just by wriggling, twisting and scratching, Lulu managed to rip her incision open and tear stitches out from deep inside. So our great vet came in on Sunday, sewed her up and then kept her, sedated and caged for two weeks. We have to keep her quiet at home for two more weeks, and believe you me, that's a tall order, but Peter is working hard at it. Lulu is worth it! 

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A Final Thought

"The first mistake of art is to believe it's serious." 
- Lester Bangs