Laughing Horse Art

Friday, November 7, 2025

“Sylvia Laughter”

In 1997 I asked a neighbor of mine, Sylvia Laughter, If she would pose for me for a project I was working on. I was taking a class on Renaissance painting by Frank Covino. She was so gracious and put on her native costume as she was a Navajo or Diné Native American. Sylvia has passed away,regrettably, but her legacy will live on almost forever. I have never done anything like this since. It is painted on a wood panel with sculptural layers. So if you touch the painting, you can feel the texture of her lace dress and her jewelry, etc. What a beautiful woman she was. I offered it to the Navajo nation as a donation, but they said that they’re deluged with offers all the time. So I thought I might as well hang onto it. It’s a beautiful painting

I learned in Frank Covino‘s class that the masters, such as Leonardo da Vinci, painted in this style and that’s why their paintings have lasted for centuries. My canvas paintings won’t last as long.

This is a copyrighted work.

Saturday, April 8, 2023

“Bott’s Beauties”

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

ALL TIME FAVORITE CARDS (and some new ones) for sale!

"Pink Hollyhocks" by Julie Jacobsen
All rights reserved

"Gray Cat with Gold Flowers" by Julie Jacobsen
All rights reserved

"B B Kitty" by Julie Jacobse
All rights reserved

"Fairy Dog Mother" by Julie Jacobsen
All rights reserved

"Red Apples and Butterfly" by Julie Jacobsen
All rights reserved

"Red Poppies" by Julie Jacobsen
All rights reserved

"Hobbs" by Julie Jacobsen
All rights reserved

"Abstract Orange Tulips" by Julie Jacobsen
All rights reserved

I haven't written in my blog for quite a while! It's been quite a year! Because of all my health issues (cancer, etc.) I have developed terrible tremors in my hands but I had brain surgery called Deep Brain Stimulation. It's quite a process of fine tuning but I'm getting better all the time. Hurray.

These cards are all $3. 50 a piece with a minimum purchase of 4 to a set to make it worth my while with packaging, etc. If you pick them up at my house I won't charge postage. Email me for details at skoobit@msn.com and I'm also on Facebook. You can Instant Message me your address on there.

These are my most popular images. So don't wait to grab your favorites. They will sell out soon.

I'm starting some new ones and hope to have some exciting fresh cards soon!

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

AT LONG LAST THE SET OF FLOWER CARDS IS READY!

"Nature's Amazing Contrasts"

by Julie Jacobsen

"Bee Happy"

by Julie Jacobsen

"Inside We Have Hope"

by Julie Jacobsen

"Red Poppies"

by Julie Jacobsen

These fresh flowers will be just what you need to brighten your day. Each card is 5" x 7" and can be popped into a ready made frame so easily. What a great gift for a friend! Just $14.00 for a set of 4 plus postage if you are unable to pick them up. That can be arranged through my email: skoobit@msn.com.

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

TWO LARGE OIL AND ACRYLIC PAINTINGS

“The Parkin Mansion”

By Julie Jacobsen

Limited Edition Prints and cards available

This is actually the Devereax House in Salt Lake City, Utah that has been inserted in a scene from Richard Paul Evans New York times best selling book The Christmas Box”. It was commissioned by him.

My daughter was the model but it turned out to look like me. I researched to find out what the original wall looked like.

This is the 2nd painting I did of this house. The first one I had sold to an owner of a tool company in trade for a table and miter saw for my husband. When Richard Paul Evans wanted to buy it he jacked up the price. So that’s how I came to do a newer and much more complicated painting.

“America’s Favorite City”

By Julie Jacobsen

Open Edition Prints and post cards available

“California Street”. This was a commission for a two year anniversary. If you look in the taxi you’ll see the couple with their info on the license plate. It features all the San Francisco characteristics such as pigeons, shopping lady, etc. All of my paintings are done with a complicated layering process. I start out with brilliant under paintings. Then layer over and over. I wanted the white buildings to all appear different. So each has a different bright under painting. The perspective was extremely difficult.

SHARPIE MARKERS AGAIN ON RAW CANVAS!

All three were drawings on raw canvas. Then I sprayed an archival finish that protects against the sun. It’s incredibly fun to do this! I have no idea how many markers I have but it’s a lot. They blend so well. I’ve done others and they’re back a ways on my blog. Believe it or not but the second cat is a type of Persian!

Monday, August 30, 2021

ANOTHER SWEET KITTY!

"BLUEBERRY"

Original Art by Julie Jacobsen

My daughter, Beth, has the sweetest kitty named Blueberry. She is the sister to Pippi which I painted a portrait of and previously posted. Two weekends ago I was visiting at their house and got a full dose of kitty loves. Blueberry is a snuggler and who can resist those big blue eyes. Her name truly was an inspiration for my watercolor portrait. Blueberry in the blueberry bushes. Super fun to create and paint!

Okay! Back to posting!

“Inside There is Hope”

Original Art by Julie Jacobsen

Well, I just have to gripe for a minute. We finally broke down and bought an Apple Computer. We thought we could do this. No sweat. We have iPhones and iPads but we’ve had a PC for years and we’re computer dummies. The computer froze. So I’m doing this post on my phone. Grrrrr.

I’m putting together a flower set to sell and this is one of them. It seems everyone wants flowers on their cards. Women do anyway. Plus I love to paint them. I will post when the set of four is ready.

I love these tulips! They brought us perky hope after winter and over a year of Covid 19. So I had to include them in my set. Just one more card to paint. Yay! I was going to feature some old favorites but these new ones will be very fun. I hope you’ll agree!

Saturday, May 22, 2021

I TOLD YA! MORE KITTY PAINTINGS!

"Lovely Theo"

by Julie Jacobsen 2021

"Luna"

by Julie Jacobsen 2021

"Theo"

by Julie Jacobsen 2021

I suddenly realized that I better start posting. I looked and noticed that the blogs I have followed for quite a long time had all disappeared off the side of my blog! When that happened-I don't know!

So!!! Snap to! Here I am! Long absent and not active. I'm changing my ways!

Here are the latest cards that I have created for my lucky relatives and friends. They have the originals and I'm sad to say that I can't enjoy them in all their textured beauty unless I visit them from time to time. But they might appear in a series of beautiful card sets in the not too distant future. Is that a cliche? But I'm serious about it as I just had a set of my last cat cards sell out very quickly and there were some sad people that didn't raise their hands and say, "Me! I want some!" Then zip. It was done.

I have to admit I love painting these soulful felines as they bring such joy and can be quite a challenge. It takes hours of time to work out the textures that shimmer or dim in the light. The eyes are especially challenging and I use a magnified light to see every detail. Believe it or not but they have many layers of colors that can be solid or translucent. Tricky to do!

Sunday, April 18, 2021

A NEW POST AT LAST!!!

"Hobbs" by Julie Jacobsen

2020

"Hobbs is a very special new member of my daughter's family and this is a card I made for my grandson's birthday. It was difficult to get all the variations of values and color without muddying the painting but I'm so happy with the way it finally turned out.

I always like to point out that I'm not a perfect artist and that point was proven with this project. I had the card almost finished and it just didn't look right at all! I told my husband and he said maybe I could save it. Right then I ripped it up and threw it away. No sense worrying about what to do.

I did that with a sweater that I bought last year. It was beautiful. I waited until it got cold enough and it was too tight in the neck. I tried to stretch it out and I thought maybe I could redesign it. Nope! It went to the thrift store. Not worth the worry and someone else will enjoy it.

"Red Poppies" by Julie Jacobsen

2020

Here's another watercolor that I really enjoyed doing. I had taken this picture quite a few years ago and just kept putting it aside. Finally it hit me that this was the next card for someone. I made some choices with the composition in this one. For one thing it's always more pleasing to have an uneven number of the main subjects. That's why there are 9 flowers and buds.

I have quite a few new cat paintings to post-coming up!

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

SOLD OUT!!! No more cards!

"The Fairy Cottage and Goldfinches"

Julie Jacobsen

I can't believe it! I don't have a single card left to sell! But never fear-next year will bring new ones. I did reproduce this image of the Fairy Cottage that Chris built in our backyard and it was our Christmas card for 2019. Gorgeous bright yellow goldfinches are having a feast in the wintertime!

I just might offer this one for sale in a winter collection or it might be one with animals in general. Here are some others that I've painted recently:

"BB"

Julie Jacobsen

"Bentley"

Julie Jacobsen

"Princess"

Julie Jacobsen

"Koi"

Julie Jacobsen

"Tulips"

Julie Jacobsen

"Ivy"

Julie Jacobsen

"Boy"

Julie Jacobsen

I just realized that I have many more that I've painted but I'll post them later. It's obvious I love cats, right? Actually "Bentley" is really the second dog that I've painted and he's very special. My daughter, Beth, and her family lost Bentley this year. I won't be offering that for sell. It just doesn't seem right.

I'm looking forward to a more productive 2020!!!