Father Louis Hennepin, O.F.M.

There is a great boulder north of the Rainbow bridge. It has a bronze marker stating that Father Louis Hennepin probably stood near in 1679 to view the Falls. He was supposedly the first European to see the cataracts & artists have recorded paintings of him standing in various places, but never there. It is a mile or so to the Horseshoe Falls  from that big rock, as the seagulls fly-if they flew straight.

It happens to be the place I set up my easel & selected this tiny corner of my panoramic view. It is the edge of the Canadian Table Rock section, the mist was not filling the gorge  much, so I had a great view & a lovely morning in the park. Remember, this was a mile distant, so my eyes had a great workout!

'Father Hennepin Stood Here' 9.5 x 15.5, pastel 2009

Pure serendipity day

Everyone in our neighborhood decided to yard sale the same weekend, so I carted out the odds & ends I had been saving on purpose. After the initial flurry of checking arrangements & price tags on the driveway on Saturday, I set up an easel & painted part of the porch from under my sun umbrella. I was totally into the picture, but people kept handing me money instead of walking off with the goodies. After two days, I packed my car with leftovers & donated them to the Hiawatha Manor in Niagara Falls, NY. When I returned, I collected some more useful things & put them away for the next yard sale event.

 This was the ultimate multi-tasking experience, because I was able to clean under the basement stairs & some of the garage, chat with neighbors, paint my pansies & clematis before the blooms were done & also spend a lovely Saturday out front.

NoEarlybirds, pastel 11.5 x 15.5  2009

The pleasures of weather

It seems like it has been a while since I posted, but I have finished 30 paintings this year-& four of them in just two intense days this month, by camping at Allegeny State Park with several NFPAP friends. This painting was completed on a scheduled paintout in late April. The view is in Sanborn looking out towards Lake Ontario. A lovely day, Spring greens were in the fields, buds were opening & birds were searching for nesting spaces. 

Preparing for painting, & recovering afterwards, takes more time than even I imagine, so it has been a while since I photographed my new work. Of course, the weather has been rainy or windy whenever I find the time-& when it was nice out, I painted! The best photographs of my artwork happens on the perfectly still days outdoors, with filtered light. I do miss the control of the studio I had before, umbrellas, strobes & a synch button, but I don't miss anything else about it.

On the Ridge at Lower Mountain Road, 10x20, oil, 2009

Outdoors can become studio work

The angular trees & shallow water are two of my favorite painting subjects at Burchfield Art & Nature Center. I was the Niagara Frontier Plein Air Painters  host there last month, but was distracted by a variety of impending responsibilities when it came time to choose a subject. I knew that the open paths & misty morning distance would make great subjects, but they weren't fitting into my temporary  melancholia. I settled close to a big patch of daffs & drew until I became intrigued by this composition & started to paint it. However, the mood prevailed & I transported a dull unfinished plein air in the car while I ran errands & completed tasks. The next week, I reviewed the sad drying painting & pulled it onto my easel in the studio. Fresh eyes saw potential & I reworked the flowers, enlarging the petals, adding distance & additional flowers & stems until I was satisfied. It took a lot longer than I expected & nothing of the original plein air remains-except the memory.  It would have been easy to overwork it.

Our spring was pretty, that day was lovely, & these are the only daffodils still around. The moral of the story is that it isn't always easy to paint, even when I want to. Lucky me, this moody nonsense rarely happens.

Late Yellow Daffodils, oil 14x11 2009

2010 calendar planning

UPS safely delivered a double-boxed cardboard order Saturday-the new empty calendar cases for 2010. Planning next year's calendar, I had finally decided to create a 12 month 'Niagara Falls' series, which is a bit harder than I thought, since I had already selected at least 4 Falls paintings-the best ones-for each of my previous four calendars. Keeping with my plan to feature only new work, I am boggled by a variety of selection  conditions. 

1), horizontal images work best with the calendar. 

2), who wants 12 pages of blue water? 

3), not every painting qualifies; I'd be the first to say that not every composition is up to a 30 day analysis by my public. 

4), all the images need to be finished & selected for layout by the end of this month!  

5), I was a cold weather chicken this winter & did not venture out much to paint the ice & snow mounds en plein aire at Niagara.

This painting will be one of the spring images, it was made on one of those sunny early Spring days when people come flocking to the walking paths to wish away winter. Still cold along the water, the buds had started on some bushes.

Dance on the Rapids oil, 11x14 2009

Buffalo Botanical Garden painting

Painted on site at the Botanical Gardens, '746 Orchids in a Box' was named because after I started painting, I realized that the flowers were actually miniature orchids. I started to estimate the number of flowers by counting bunches, the result happened to be an auspicious # for me. Anyway, Fran Volpe owns this painting now; after selecting several paintings to find the perfect picture for her remodel, this worked out for all the people involved!

746 Orchids in a Box, oil on masonite, 12x18 2007

WKBW AM Buffalo show & Quaker Bonnet Eatery Day!!

On Friday morning, WKBW television morning show host Linda Pellegrino & I spoke at length on various artistic topics-styles, art training, my work & calendar, plein air, etc. Then the live film  segment started! She was particularly easy to talk with but what was left to discuss? Filming a television segment live was new to me, but it was also easy as she was interested & well prepared. I may eventually have a digital copy to post here, it was about ten minutes long, but seemed quick at the time. My feet haven't touched the floor yet as I started the day on television & artwise, it continued until my evening artist reception at Quaker Bonnet Eatery. It wasn't crowded, but there were different people attending at all times for the entire evening. Some even went out with a package of  famous Buffalo chips-the ultimate coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate. Carl & I had lots of conversations with old friends & new viewers. Liz Kolken prepared wonderful [& beautiful] platters of snacks as well as wine & beer, & the weather was quite perfect as well. The month of May has been spectacular so far!

AM Buffalo television studio #2,  5-8-09

Houston Texas, noon & dogs

Finally-A finished and almost dry picture! Now I should plan a visit to varnish it in place.

This is a commissioned house portrait for Stephanie & Brian Smith of Houston. Working on it, I realized that the dogs are the real subject here. They are as sweet as can be & have no pretensions about the fact that they are very special dogs & live in a lovely home.

Bevo & Bonzo's Texas Ranch oil 14x18 2009

If you did not get the email...

Friday May 8--Please join me! From 5 to 7 in the evening-early enough to go out for dinner or catch a movie.

My newest solo exhibit is 'Around & About the Bright Side' in Buffalo!

 Start Mother's Day weekend at my Artist Reception Friday May 8 from 5-7pm

Liz promises nibbles, coffee & tea for us as well as a cash bar if you want to party.

The show will remain until May 31 2009

Quaker Bonnet Eatery

175 Allen Street [two doors from Elmwood Avenue}

Buffalo

Am Buffalo, channel 7 ABC, has also invited me to appear on Friday morning between 10am & 11. It was inspired by the picture of me painting the Horseshoe Falls on the cover of 'Forever Young' magazine-May issue. It is in Wegman's & Rite Aid this month.

New Blog? I am crazy!

CLICK HERE for My Page - plein air artists

I just signed onto a new blog-for plein air artists. It was relatively easy, & uploading images was simple. It was especially nice to see my own pictures flash by as all the current images on the site roll by the welcome page. Obviously, I have absolutely no time to keep up with this ......so we'll see if I am up to the challenge. Several national artists that I correspond with occasionally are there as well.

Some days are really special!

Forever Young Magazine

Click the link to read the May issue article by Anthony Chabala about my plein air. It started from a press release sent to Buffalo Spree about the upcoming show. It was referred to Forever Young Magazine & between interview questions & my website he developed this article.

Just one correction---the exhibit will be up all month! Join me at the artist's reception on Friday May 8, 5-7 pm. Quaker Bonnet is on Allen Street between Elmwood & Delaware.

What is more amazing is that they chose my picture for the cover! This is from their website, as I have not seen it on paper yet.

Albright Knox Area Artist Exhibit

Today this studio painting was selected for 2009 Area Artist Exhibit at the Albright Knox. It seemed like a long time from the application process announcement until the final decision. Previously, this show was juried by invitation. Artists brought their work-maximum two-to the Museum for jurying, and received a phone call about works selected or declined. This year required a green online entry; less gas & time, but by applying a bit earlier, it seemed a long wait. There will be a reception May 15th with the exhibiting artists. It's an honor to be selected & the work at the show is an area artist who's who  to me. I'm pleased to be included!

5 Apples & the Light,  oil 22x28  2008

Happy Birthday Monica

It doesn't snow much in central New Jersey, but this house portrait documents the 2009 snow forever.  Not dry enough to travel this week, but here it is, finished.

Shirley said 'White house' oil 11x14 2009

Not quite Mutt & Jeff

The dogs have landed. Now whose tongue hangs out on which side, & what kind of ears belong on the left?  My photo has a glare-from the white van reflection on the glass. Do I need to go back there & check or what? (I know they will still be in this position) I think shorty is done. Picture is almost finished but still very wet.

I'm fishing for comments!

Spring Days

Plein Air season is officially ON! Too cold to stand in the wind blowing over still frozen Lake Erie, I set my French Easel in the windbreak created by the car & gained extra space. Hats with earflaps, cozy scarf & SIX layers plus an apron made it possible to paint in 'Elevator Alley', South Buffalo. Sharon Fundalinski had settled into a chair behind a breakwall to paint the same scene from a different vantage point, but it was time for lunch in this picture. It was so cold that the oils were like glue on the palette, only 40 degrees, but the wind was, well, just plain cold.

Spring Studio nights

Late & quiet nights find me listening to music & working on this house portrait-some of the earlier parts are starting to dry, so I can layer details-window sashes, shading, brickwork. Robin went over & took two more photos for me, one of the soffit, another of the peaks. Most everything will be covered by the majestic pine & leaves, but, as in life, the building will stand strong behind & between the branches. Mostly I want the door to dry a little so I can put in the dogs!!

New Texas portrait in progress

Although I have my own daily progress records [such an ed. term!] for many studio paintings, I rarely post them. You can click on the subject 'artist process' or 'rose' on the right side to see one. There is a round painting of a rose, published last year here, but since this is such a 'long distance' portrait I have decided to publish it as it evolves. These represent two sittings, the light seems different because  there is daylight on the second photo. No matter how true spectrum my bulbs are, the camera is not fooled & warms the images. Yes, it is a peachy sort of background. Love that Texas sunlight.

Still working the title-Return to Green Castle?, Robin's view? Two Patient Buddies?[no!] The Smith castle/residence/home? Titles write themselves, this one is to be determined.

Facebook reflection

I had been asked why I was not on Facebook many times, so I finally broke down & made a page. My friends list is expanding quickly, as Facebook intends, & each new contact or old friend is precious to me. The world seems to be huddled around keyboards, twittering & commenting, which actually keeps us in touch. It's a thrill to see photos of old friends on other pages, & even better when someone finds me.

Made me realize that some of you get this blog as single posts when I put them up. So I am asking a favor. 

On a real computer, not blackberrys & ipods, go to my [this] complete blog & check it out. Click on a post & make a comment if you want. I just posted a visitor map here, & am interested in seeing a few red dots! Actually, I also want you to see all my images together--is this an art blog, or an on line journal? This blog has no automatic ties to others, so it is anonymous unless I make an effort to share it. 

So, part 2, send someone else to see my blog as well! It's free & will make me happy to see a few red dots happen in some new places!

What's the address? www.kschifano.blogspot.com

Return to Texas

Fascinated by the Bottlebrush tree, I had to go back to Texas to see it in full bloom this year.

Well, no, actually we went to visit Robin, Jeremy & the Houston Museum of Art [great Afghanistan treasures show], and I used their front door sidelights as a frame & tried the annual Bottlebrush painting from a chair indoors. I was only a few feet away, but it was seen through the glass.

Next, I sat out on the back deck bench & caught shadows of light on the path & fence. I was in full shade myself & just relished the heat as the day warmed up. Little lizards watched from the ferns nearby. Unfortunately, I had to place my palette on the left side & reach over myself. Every time I do that I say 'never again!'-it is a workout for my right shoulder so I tend to paint the bristles dry.

Spring Geranium 11x14 oil 2009

Bottlebrush 2009 7x5

Mini painting

At the end of a vacation trailer park in Sanford, FL there is an area to be developed which has a paved road, picnic benches & a bridge which I was painting. 'The Red Bridge' took two days to complete & on the second morning I arrived too early for the correct lighting, so I turned to the south & captured the sun coming over the trees in the breeze. This is really tiny-almost as small as an index card. The canvas has a rough texture which emphasized each stroke & made it hard to photograph until it was drier & no longer shiny.

Turnaround oil 4x6 2009

New paintings

2 little paintings & a bigger landscape, all completed, just waiting for their photo-ops. Now I am preparing more canvases for the plein air season & two planned studio house portraits. Will post soon!

Studio challenge in January

In the warm weather I always paint outside, but I also take A LOT of photographs. This past year I collected images of waves and water in a variety of weather & places. This is a great tumble of water before going over the American Falls, painted from a photo taken from the Niagara Falls State Park pedestrian bridge. This is entirely studio work, carefully rendered as opposed to the speedy plein aires which are painted on location under various uncontrollable conditions of wind, weather & tourists.

Rapids Up Close 16x20 oil 2009

Painting around Sanford

Two plein air images have finally dried enough to take pictures. Oil on wet paintings tends to reflect available light & create reflections. The bridge & creek was a morning piece, near a campground turnaround, while the second was a speed painting at sunset. Both are from the Florida painting trip to visit Sharon Muldoon in February.

The Red Bridge 11x14 oil 2009

Depot Sunset 11x14 oil 2009

Niagara Frontier Plein Air Painters

For now, I am the moderator of another blog---for my plein  air group. Hopefully, there will be a lot of contributions!

www.nfpap.blogspot.com

Just the first post is on it so far!

NiagaraFrontierPAP is the website for the umbrella organization.

Florida Spring

Planning on spending the day painting at Merritt Island, we were waylaid by strong winds off the ocean. Sharon Muldoon & I had previously driven through the park, looking for good sites to come back to. Obviously, I was not interested in anything involving the proximity of alligators. Disappointed that the gusts would have sent our supplies flying, we drove around & explored some more, seeing a total of 20 new birds for me, and one new Wood Duck for Sharon, a serious birder. She can identify various birds by sound, beaks, feeding habits and knows where to look for different species.  I appreciated the knowledge she shared, besides birds she pointed out armadillos & gators.  Now I have seen that a flock of roseate spoonbills can fill the sky with pink.

On the way back, she drove into a town park with a small lake for me to paint. Just past the central building, we pulled over & I captured the late day sun as it sparkled on a tiny pond with a few water lilies. While I painted, Sharon happily futzed with her fresh new ACER netbook, a portable computer that has potential to become a constant reference companion. It was still breezy inland, but the side of the car provided some protection & I sat in the sun to stay warm. A true plein air painting, I think this captures the brilliance of the light in Florida during the week that winter turned to Spring.

Interlude WS oil, 8x10 2009

I did not stop to paint here

I heard about the alligators in Florida & expected to see one-or two, but Sharon took me on a cruise through the Merritt Island National Seashore & this is where they live-and thrive. Of all the alligators we saw, the first was the only one moving towards me, but I like the second photo because of his/her reflection in the water. Needless to say, this was taken from the car window. I was not leaving the safety of my chariot for any alligator photos! These are "only" 8 or 9 feet long-just average size.

Study, rework & repaint

I am quite adamant that I finish a painting before starting new. That doesn't mean that every canvas is 'good'. The surface can be scraped out, repainted or stuck on a back shelf.

Last winter, I painted our front yard rhododendrum by sitting on the porch chair in the sun. The snow melted as I painted. Somehow, the picture did not seem finished to me, & this year, I studied the same branches pushed out of the snow. I realized the original greens were too light [or perhaps had darkened by the extra plant food last summer].  Challenged, I took the year old painting & glazed the leaves with rich greens & reworked the stems-this original 2008  plein air turned into a 2009 studio panel, but I like it a lot more!

Rhody in Snow oil 11x14 2008-9

Jerry & Larry Bell

Larry Bell may have been the best friend I ever had, but I didn't know it at the time. He was just always there for a laugh or some empathy. He had lots of friends wherever he went, one of those people that everyone just likes. 8 years ago he passed away as we prepared to close Niagara Falls High School where our friendship blossomed. I will miss him forever as well as our frequent phone calls catching up with every detail & event long after he retired. He helped me to have fun at work & to relax about what I could not change.

It hit me when his twin, Jerry, passed away this Fall that the two brothers had made indelible marks on so many of us, from the people-clients & students- they worked for to their coworkers & friends. As I left the funeral home, Ron Concilla gave me this rose, more than a bud, but not fully open. It was on my counter for a few days when I realized that the rose would never fully open-it was frozen in time forever young, just like the Bells. I painted it then but it took a long time to go back to the canvas & complete my requiem for them.

Shadows of  Two Lights-Remember the Bells oil 2009 24x12

Party at 555 Pine

During John Polechetti's birthday party, the sun was setting even with the cupola on his home 'The Pink House' in Lockport, while the party guests celebrated on the lawn.

Carl pointed out the yellow glow on the white surface & the camera froze a moment of evening  light. This back corner of the house captures the spectacular architecture of original dentils & brackets; although it is not a 'portrait' it is tribute to the character of the architecture, its solid construction & its current caretakers.

  Party at 555 Pine, 20x30 oil 2009

Barack & Carl

[Edited with the correct images, this is a 'repost' rather than deja vu.]

FYI- You can easily post a note by clicking on the 'comment' word below. I see them before they are posted, & they will remain 'out of sight' unless you click to see them. 

Three paintings are drying now & will be posted soon. I have been working on several canvases at once. I finally went back to Buffalo Botanical Garden Thursday & enjoyed relaxed charcoal sketching of tropical leaves & flowers while the wind & snow howled around the dome. I'll probably use pastels there next week to capture more Amaryllis for my 13 x 16 series. It was just nice to be back.

Carl has been showing some of his spectacular digital collages in Buffalo lately. He has two art openings next Friday-one at CEPA, the other at Big Orbit. We each have a piece at Art Dialogue this month - our January is hot! I noticed that he had several Barack Obama images created over the past year, so I borrowed this one to share. The spirit of positive energy Obama exudes is infectious, I hope that we can all move forward through the rough times we face in the next few years as our country is repaired. 

Yes We Can Not Fade Away, digital collage 2009 by Carl Schifano

Barack Obama digital collage 2008 Carl Schifano