Sunday, July 25, 2021

Palette Knife Art, "A Thistle Day" by Carol Schiff, 8x10" Oil ,SOLD

Who said weeds are not pretty???  I found these thistles on top of Grandfather Mountain outside of Boone, NC last month.

Purchase here
SOLD
Their delicate color and beautiful form was all it took for me to know I had to paint them.  However, it was 50ish, 30 MPH winds and in a very inconvenient spot, so no painting took place at that time.



Fortunately, I had my trusty traveling companion, my camera, hung around my neck and was able to capture this image.

I think that one of the most wonderful things about being an artist is that it has given me the ability to see beauty in unexpected places.   I am so thankful for that gift.

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

Friday, July 23, 2021

Small Floral Still Life, Pink Beauty 6x8", Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting

I wanted to practice painting flowers, and found a reference in my files.

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Trying hard to put into practice the techniques Elio Camacho tries to push into my head.  Brushwork, color relations, composition, the bride!  Not sure if I was successful, but, there is always tomorrow!

Thanks for viewing my blog today.



Carol Schiff

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Small Floral Still Life, Daily Painting, "Purple and Yellow" , SOLD

Today I am posting another of my small floral still life series.  I think this one is particularly perky with its polk a dot red mug.

$96. + 6.50



I am finding this series so relaxing to paint.....just what I need during the hectic holiday season.

Yesterday I spent the morning baking and running errands, at 1:00 sharp, my paint group, Pieces of Eight invaded my home for a group project.  I was still cleaning up after their departure when my husband came home with my 10 year old grandson, Trevor.  They had a session of touch football in the front yard while I jumped in the shower and readied myself for a holiday party and play.  Whew!  It makes me tired to just think of it, but it was  a great day.  Although you won't see this post for a while, I am writing it on the morning of our Pieces of Eight Christmas Sale and All Around Great Time.  In a short 45 minutes the fun begins!


So I am enjoying this short moment of inactivity.

Are you ready for the holidays?  I still have to shop, bake, cook.........the list never ends.


Saturday, July 17, 2021

Daily Painting, Pear Still Life, LE BOL DE POIRES, by Carol Schiff, 14X18, OIL


This is not a new painting, but one that I have never posted.  I was touring museums in Washington DC when I decided to take a coffee break and found this beautiful bowl of pears on the counter.

I have entered this in the Daily Paintworks auction at a reduced price.  The 14x18 stretched canvas has the sides painted black so that it may be hung with or without a frame.

My friend Carmen Beecher makes the best biscuits in the world.  She works from her grandmother's recipe.  Carmen and her grandmother don't measure...they do it by touch, but she worked up this recipe for the rest of us.

CARMEN'S GRANDMOTHER'S BUTTERMILK  BISCUITS

2 Cups self-rising flour
1/2 cup Crisco ( more if you want them flakier)
1 cup battermilk

Grease cookie sheet, set oven to 425
In large bowl, cut the Crisco into the flour until crumbly.  Pour in the buttermilk, stir with a fork.  Flour your hands and pick up a golf-ball sized piece of dough.  Roll into a ball in your hands, flatten and place on cookie sheet. with the biscuits not touching

Bake for 15 minutes.  Makes 12.

If you have any left over, split them in half, spread with butter, and slip under the broiler until toasty brown.
Bring on the jam and enjoy!!

These are excellent for strawberry shortcake, just add a little sugar to the recipe.

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Palette Knife Still Life, Bottle Still Life, "Pretty In Pink Cross Bottle" by Carol Schiff, 6x8" Oil, Daily Painting

Are you a fan of cross bottles?  I recently discovered them and have become obsessed with them.   Cross bottles are vintage (usually) bottles that have been reclaimed.  A talented artist then designs a crystal cross or  other design as a top piece.  Many of the crystals come from discarded chandeliers.  I have also seen them with beautiful arrangements of sea shells, coral and sea fans.
Purchase here
100 + shipping

As with all good art, they can become quite pricey, so after purchasing several, I decided to try to feed by obsession by painting instead of buying, much to my husband's relief.


I don't know how long that will work for me, but at the moment, it does seem to help.

If you are not familiar with cross bottles, seach for them on Etsy or Ebay where you will find a nice selection.  Beware!!  It may be dangerous to the viewer!



www.CarolSchiffStudio.Etsy.com

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

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.

Purchase here
485 + shipping
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!


.
www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Monday, July 12, 2021

Vegetable Still Life, Red Pepper Painting, "Big Red" by Carol Schiff, 20x24x1.5" Oil

It has been some time since I have painted a vegetable still life, so I decided to try one this week.  In the past I painted every fruit and vegetable you could imagine, but they were small pieces, usually 6x8" or smaller.

Purchase here
879. + shipping
 This one is actually 20x24" and painted with a combination of palette knife and brush.  You will notice with this next image below, that the the background is actually more gray green than the blue shade above.  I must have taken 20 photos of this, trying to get the colors correct, but in the end I had to choose between the bluish background and the front end of the pepper turning a garish orange mustard hue. Yuck!  At any rate, the photo below seems quite accurate in both places.



Thank you for viewing my blog today.  I hope you enjoy this vegetable still life painting.  Give it a pin!


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

Friday, July 9, 2021

Rose Still Life Painting, Small Oil Painting, Daily Painting, "Rose Bowl", 8x8x1.5" Original Art

I have been on a flower painting jag this week....and there is more to come.

Fresh flowers and my very best (and only) Waterford crystal rose bowl make this special to me.

Purchase here
150. + shipping
The sides are painted black and it is ready to hang.

detail
All my favorite colors....pink, purple, aqua, green.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.



www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Daily Painting, Fiddlehead Fern Painting, Small OIl Painting, 11x14 Oil NFS

This small oil painting came about because of a trip I took to North Carolina in the spring. I live in Florida, so we don't get a lot of spring flowers, and when I saw this bed of ferns coming to life, I had to paint them.

NFS
I was surprised how quickly they grew, with obvious growth from day to day.
I decided to use a dark background to really highlight the ferns and keep my palette restricted to greens, blues and purples. I have been pleased with the results of this painting, which is a departure from my usual style. Blues are very difficult to photograph accurately and although the background color appears to be a deep blue, the actual color is close to a black,
This piece is available  at the link above as an original, or here as a giclee'  canvas print in the size of your choice.
Thanks for viewing my blog today.  I hope you take time every day,  to smell the roses.

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www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Sunday, July 4, 2021

Blue Study Floral, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, 12x16" Oil on Canvas Covered Panel

Have you ever done a painting, featuring just one color?

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 I have to say, it is not easy, but an excellent exercise.  At first, it is easy to see warm blues, from cool blues, but as time goes on, they all start blending together.  At least, that is my experience.


It was a relief to work on the flowers, just to ge a different color on the canvas.

Next up, a red painting?  There is a saying that reds are the most difficult.

Have a happy day!

Carol Schiff
www.CarolASchiff.com
www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

Saturday, July 3, 2021

Pineapple and Mango Artwork, Fruit Oil Painting, Framed Still Life, 14x18" Original Oil Painting, Daily Painting,Small Oil Painting

When I first started painting, 25 years ago, I did many, many still life paintings.  I must have painted every apple or pear I could get my hands on.

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This is a more recent painting, of pineapple and mango.  It is 14x18" and is professionally framed in a gold wood frame.  I have it listed at 50% off in my Etsy store, quite the bargain.  If you are interested, you can check it out here:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/601538331/pineapple-still-life-original-oil?ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1

Thanks for viewing my blog today.

Carol Schiff
www.CarolASchiff.com
www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com