Saturday, November 9, 2024
UPDATE! An award
The Worldwide International Paintout painting from early September was entered to the Buffalo Niagara Art Association Fall exhibit. I was away for the October reception and am very pleased that the judge chose this painting for a Merit award.
Thursday, November 7, 2024
An amazing view each morning.
Monday, November 4, 2024
Perhaps my favorite
I passed this fellow daily and he needed to be celebrated with paint. The lush and plentiful blue green bushes on the path are lavender, they line every walk, discouraging bugs and keeping the organic grounds gloriously scented.
Sometimes the paths are also lined with Rosemary which also discourages unwanted flying critters.
Additions to the Relais collections
Guests can choose to take a 'class' which was a nice distraction for me. I enjoy meeting people from all over the world and the classes were infrequent.
I left these two paintings in "payment" and thanks to my generous hosts.
Sunday, November 3, 2024
4 more pen drawings from Italy
The next three pictures are back inside Borgo. I am so fortunate to have had this experience, a month to paint with no other responsibilities. I never tired of drawing and painting a month in Italy, surrounded by the Tuscan hills and friendly people.
Views from the Borgo Santo Pietro artists studio
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Rainy day art
An outdoor cozy fireplace
The path to the Art House
Sunny Sunday bike ride exploring the ruins of San Galgano.
Although I am in Italy surrounded by lush gardens and ancient buildings it has rained nearly every day this month, sometimes all day.This is part of a collection of pen drawings that I've added watercolors to. It's a form of Urban Sketching that I love to do and many are from indoors or covered areas while it rained.
Friday, October 18, 2024
The Artist House
The Artist House is a perfect studio. Windows all around, surrounded by roses and shaded by a graceful willow it is in the middle of groomed gardens in all directions. The pond out front has geese and ducks and frogs as well as the Japanese bridge which seems to be from Monet's garden.
One of my first paintings is this pastel celebrating the Mediterranean light and my arrival back at The Artists House. It sold to a lovely resident of Azerbaijan who was a guest here and an artist also.
Monday, October 14, 2024
Two more fountains
It will be nice to compare it to the Niagara Falls People's Park fountain as I'm quite sure the design is the same, it's several years since Niagara Painters scheduled there.
Friday, October 11, 2024
Rainy day process
Thursday, October 10, 2024
A Borgo painting
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Back to Italy!
Last time I painted this bowl and am pleased to find that it is still here to paint again. This is a pastel. The lemons are huge, the apples are small but sweet.
The Old Stone Bowl 12x16 pastel.
Rain Rain Rain
Friday, October 4, 2024
Looking out the windows
Breakfast in an elegant location! At Borgo you can choose to eat in this room, the library or out those doors with a spectacular view of the mountains as the morning fog lifts. My daily 'table for one' has this view, and I see beauty in every direction.
From the main villa, windows face gardens and other buildings. I found this gate over my shoulder near the piano and drew while I waited for the rain to abate. Although the rain was very heavy at times it drains quickly, and the plants and trees have been noticeably growing.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Symphony Circle and painting Verdi
This is a popular bust of the musician Verdi, he appears in cities all over, usually near a symphony's home this is Buffalo at Kleinhans Music Hall
Just 12x9 in oil, it's an unusual subject for me
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
The Gorge from the Canadian side
I joined the Ontario Canada plein air painters on a glorious sunny Friday to capture the Niagara River gorge from the other side. That's where the whirlpool turns and I could see the Spanish Aerocar pass over the river.
Without a shady tree my Plein air umbrella protects me, my palette and the painting. The bicycle rack was a perfect attachment spot.
Finished! Love this! Painting brings me joy.
The Whirlpool from Ontario 16x12 oil c. K. Schifano 2024
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Worldwide Paintout 2024
Instead of our paint out at Niagara Falls I organized our painters to go to Wilson Harbor for the annual Worldwide Paint Out weekend, sponsored by International Plein aire Painters. It was chilly and windy but most of us tucked into a protected spot.
I thought it appropriate to name this painting after the sailboat
Summer Wind oil, 16x12
Friday, September 6, 2024
Really Big Boulders
Thursday, August 15, 2024
The Meadow at Stella Niagara
A bit of American History-the large meadow across from Stella Niagara Education Park is the only level landing spot on the lower Niagara River all the way to Youngstown.
The photo is from my painting vantage point. It seems small but I could see the window and details clearly.
Saturday, August 10, 2024
It was a gorgeous evening
Invited to show at the Youngstown Yacht Club again, we had another lovely evening. It's my annual paint the evening on the river event. This time I used watercolor and ink pen to capture the crowd having dinner on the deck. It's hiding in one of my many sketchbooks!
Thursday, August 1, 2024
A Glorious House Plant model
My out of control vine was unwrapped and 25' of woody stems uncurled from one thin stalk in the ground. The annual Stephanotis flowers are fragrant and showy but plants can't live forever and this one was about 20 years old. And bulky. I'm glad it is preserved in pastel and safe under glass.
I bought it at Buffalo Erie Count Botanical Gardens in a 3" pot for probably two dollars. Maybe I'll start a new one
Stephanotis 28x20 pastel
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Riverworks summer fun
The complex at Riverworks is constantly expanding up and out and becoming a great family site. We took our grandchildren for dinner and they enjoyed the variety of watercraft passing, including party boats and cruisers.
They didn't see this side until we were leaving so we took a few turns on the slowest Ferris wheel ever. It was magical. I've painted the LaBatts six pack twice and other views here too as there's always something worth studying
Riverworks Ferris Wheel 9x12oil on birch board
Thursday, June 20, 2024
Back on the streets! Youngstown
What's the big deal? After two months of recuperation from a knee replacement I'm finally driving myself to a painting event and seeing friends I've missed this Spring.
This is tiny Youngstown and the famous Jug, home of great music for decades.
Brown Jug or Ontario House? 9x12oil
Friday, June 7, 2024
Pansies!
Gosh we love Spring. The colors, greens and flowers, birds and warm weather are delightful. A pot of cool-loving pansies graced the porch for weeks before it was painted. Bluish blooms turned lavender and white faded to yellow. A still life that kept moving
Pansies 12x16 oil