Three mature peonies grow into a riot of flowers every June out the back door. I usually trim the first blossoms for painting, hoping it encourages tiny buds to keep growing. Heavy Spring rains often crush the stems as the giant flowers hold so much water but that's an excuse to gather armfuls of big peonies to arrange indoors. Then the tiny buds left behind give me a second show of color
| Peonies in 2026. C. Kath Schifano |
Peonies in 2026. Schifano
These two favorite paintings will be in the Burchfield Nature Center 'Local Voices in Art' exhibit. July 12-August 23, reception July 19.
Plein Air and Wine 16x12 oil The boxes are portable artist studios for Plein air.
To the Left of the Lagoon 9x12 oil. This is in Beaver Island State Park, across from the sledding hill, a favorite spot.
Delicate leaves and flowers attract our deer so I haven't had a nice Bleeding Hearts bush for decades. I started this painting when I had these flowers to view. It was unfinished for years but I completed the dark areas and edges recently. Winter and bad weather are the best times to pull out older work and add the finishing touches.
Heartstrings, oil on board 11x14
These 3 florals were selected for display at a new event, a free open house in the evening for the community. A great way for people to visit the Botanical Gardens without paying admission. There was a great exhibition in Arcangel Gallery to complement the garden based artwork displayed in some of the greenhouses. It was a perfect evening with the glasshouse windows open and everything in bloom.
Rained out on Saturday, Sunday was a brilliant fresh air day for painting among cherry blossoms and the crowds who gathered to celebrate the trees. So beautiful in every direction that several of us returned on Monday. Buffalo History Museum.
Across the Lake at the History Museum 9x12 oil.
Cherry Blossoms and Spent Buds 11x14oil
Rock Island at the Blossom Festival 5x7 oil
Studio 120 in the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center is busiest through the winter.
Liz brought in this spectacular bouquet and the blanket and we both tackled it as a studio still life. The flowers were fading but I had a good sketch reference. I worked on this project for several days as it's a big canvas. I've forgotten how much I enjoy flowers as a subject.
Birds Came to Paradise. 28x22 oil
My home studio has a wonderful Weeping Beech out the window with evergreens and trees in the near distance . Birds wait their turn for seeds at our feeder in the Beech tree. Our Cardinals are regularly perched at my eye level. Love their company and the brilliance of red against snow.
About 20 other urban painters showed up! I drew the pergola from the west side, one of the urban artists drawing by the wall made it into my drawing.
I worked on this table, near the water's edge to capture the bridge that joins two counties and two towns over the original Erie Canal. Springtime, and midweek, there were few boaters and the park was quiet. A week later there were boats at every inch of dock space, tents and food vendors and live music. Summer is alive and hopping here on Tonawanda Creek. Two figures are on the bridge, studying the water.
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| Checking the Old Erie Canal, oil, c.2025 |
Sketching the Our Lady of Victory Basilica from my car as clouds threaten. It poured soon but I was able to park closer to see through the raindrops, it's an amazing building inside and out
Rain, Rain, Go Away. 10x10 oil
