Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Flower Painting | Floral Still Life | Small Oil Painting | Daily Painting | Geranium Joy by Carol Schiff 8x10" Oil

What could be cheerier on a dreary day that a bright red flower painting?  Geraniums are always a favorite in my home.  This one is painted on stretched canvas and looks fantastic in a bold black frame.

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This will brighten up even the darkest, most boring corner of your home.

detail
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Once again, my goal was to keep my colors clean and bright and my strokes simple and bold. I think I achieved my goals in this flower painting.  Thanks for viewing my daily painting today.



www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com
www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Monday, December 28, 2015

Tulip Painting, "Dancing Tulips" 9x12" Oil Still Life

When spring was here, tulips were blooming everywhere.  They always remind me of my grandmother's house where they surrounded the walkways.  The house was old, my father was born there, with no paint, and early in my life, no electricity.  I also remember the dreaded outhouse!

$165 + 16









Saturday, December 26, 2015

Impressionist Floral Painting, Daily Painting, Roses and Pear, 14x18x1.5" Oil

In early November, I attended a workshop with Elio Camacho.  I have to say it was four hard working, but enjoyable days.  He is a wonderful instructor and has given me to courage to attempt new techniques.

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 He has helped me tremedously with seeing color.  I was not reading the reflection on the bottle as lavander until he pointed it out to me.  Of course, his use of color is what attracted me to his work in the first place.


 I like the soft colors here along with the soft edges.











I have plans to return for another session with him in March.  I am working hard to  put his techniques into practice in my work and I am excited to see where this journey will take my art.


Thanks for reading my blog today. 

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Teapot Lamps, teacup lamp, repurposed lamp, home decor, lighting, shabby chic decor, Throwing a little light on the subject.......

In the past few months, I started a new little project, which I wanted to share with you today.  Hope you enjoy them.

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I am making lamps from new and vintage teapots, cups and saucers.

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Each one is unique and one of a kind.  They will never be duplicated.

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This is actually a family project with my husband, my sone and my daughter-in-law.  Family makes it special and all the more fun.



This is our display, ready to go in a local vintage store.

I have shown you just a sampling of the adorable one of a kind lamps .  To view them all click here:

As special as these are, we can make them even more special, by making a lamp just for you.  If you have a few pieces of your wedding china, or maybe your grandmother's, or just something you love, we can make a custom lamp just for you.  Contact me through this blog, or my Etsy store.

Have a fun day today!



www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Floral Still Life, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, Flower Still Life, 12x12x1.5" Oil, "Garden Bounty"

I picked these flowers (peony and hydrangea)  from my garden, and placed them in sunlight.




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I have to admit, I struggled with this piece.  I started with a brush, but after much frustration, I turned to my trusty palette knife.  In the end, I am happy with the values, and the glow on the hydrangea on the rigfht.  And the colors, love the colors.  In fact, the more I look at it....the happier I get!

So the moral of this story is, don't give up!




HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear granddaughter, Courtney!!

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Friday, December 11, 2015

30x40" Original Oil Painting "A Spinnaker Day" SOLD

For years, I have been painting small daily paintings, day after day, month after month.  I liked the instant gratification,  starting a new project every day, no build up of huge inventory to clog my closets and under my beds.

SOLD


Now, I find myself getting a little bored with the same routine and I'm trying to fit some larger pieces into my schedule.


This one was very interesting to do.  It is a palette knife painting and I had lots of fun working on it.  I have changed my technique with a palette knife and ended up with a painting with plenty of texture.


I enjoyed working on this piece and plan to attempt more large works on a regular basis.



Monday, December 7, 2015

Floral, Still Life, Sunflower, Daily Painting, Oil, SOLD

A couple of years ago, I spent a wonderful week at Seven Devils, North Carolina with my group of art buddies, Pieces of Eight.  Cindy, who hosted us that year, proved once again to be the perfect hostess.  She had many art related activities planned for us.   We toured museums, galleries and several artist's  studios.  I didn't get much painting done, but I made up for it with plenty of inspiration from my photos.


SOLD
I photographed this sunflower at Grandfather Vineyard, and painted from it in my comfortable studio.  I hope someday I get to the point of knowing what a painting will look like before I start it.  I am not there now.  I started this with something completely different in mind, but I am happy with the results.


I enjoy doing works with plenty of texture.  I think it brings an additional quality to the piece and I like the way viewers want to reach out and touch it.

Are you able to choreograph where you want your painting to go, or are you flying by the seat of your pants like me?


Saturday, December 5, 2015

Rose Painting, Small Oil Painting, Daily Painting, 6x8" Oil

This is a little painting I did recently.  I was experimenting with using safflower oil as a medium.  I normally paint using only a touch of turps when I want to free up the paint a little, but have decided to try another technique.

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I can see it will take a little adjustment on my part, as I tend to use too much oil and get some soupy paint.  However, I like the over all effect and the nice finish it leaves.  No more varnish needed!




The down side is it requires drying time and of course, there is the fire hazard.  I have been told to put my rags and paper towels in a plastic bag at the end of the day and wet them down with water to  make sure they don't spontaneously combust.  I also have one of those fire proof trash cans, so I will use both methods to keep the studio (and my house) safe.

Thanks for viewing my blog today.



www.CarolSciffStudio.blogspot.com

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, Floral with Melon Still Life, 14x18x.75" Oil

Today's art is a workshop painting.  I recently attended a 4-day workshp with one of my favorite artists, Elio Camacho.  Elio is as good as an instructor as he is as an artist.  I would be hard pressed to find another instructor with as much knowledge and one who gave me as much individual attention.  Maybe he thought I need the attention more than others....just kidding.  Everyone in the class got lots of instruction tailored to their individual needs.

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This is my second Elio workshop and I have already signed up for another.  I need constant reinforcement to actually put his techniques in practice.

Elio is not an internet artists, but you can find his work on Pinterest.  He doesn't allow photos taken of him that expose his face.  You will see lots of images of him at the easel, always from behind.

He lives in the Bay area, but travels to Florida in the Spring and Fall of each year to do workshops in several locations here.  Workshop information is available on his website here.  If you decide to go, you will have a real treat ahead of you, as he is also a very interesting person with a wonderful sense of humor.  Enjoy!




Have a great day!


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www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Daily Painting "Nature's Smiley Face" 6x8", Oil SOLD

Summer is finally here....and so are the sunflowers!

SOLD

I had a good time with this one, just layering on plenty of paint with my palette knife and not getting too upset about where it landed.


I find it impossible to look at this painting without having a smile on my face.  Now if I could just pull that off every day!

Enjoy!


Friday, November 27, 2015

Daily Painting, Shell Still Life, "Queen Conch" by Carol Schiff, 8x10" Oil SOLD

I found this Queen Conch shell on the beach during a trip to the Abaco Islands.  The Abaco Islands are a small, but beautiful chain of quaint islands off the shore of Florida.  Easy to travel to and with all beautiful unspoiled beaches, great fishing and diving and just plain relaxing.  They are not on the tourist route, which is an added bonus.

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SOLD
I placed it in an east facing window one morning, and got a remarkable glow as the sun shone through the shell.  It seemed to be on fire and I tried to capture that beauty here.


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Maybe not quite as nice as a trip to the islands, but a close second!   Every time I see it, I can feel sand between my toes.



www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com
www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Friday, November 20, 2015

Small Floral Still Life. Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, Flower Painting, 9x12x.75" Oil

Still playing catch up!  In retrospect, it was probably not a good idea to be out of state three months, attend a 4 day workshop and accept almost 20 commissions just weeks before the holidays.

So although I am painting every day, I am struggling to find new works that I can show on my blog at this time.

I did manage to do this one:

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 I really enjoyed painting something that I wanted to paint, and I think it shows.  Free and easy strokes and a touch of whimsy.


The holidays are almost here.  I are you getting that slightly franic feeling that I have?  Time to take a deep breath and decide just what is important and what it not.

Thanks for reading my blog today.



www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com