Perry Chalk Festival

July 6 Buffalo News stated that the July 12th Perry Chalk Festival was a 'best bet' in entertainment for the day. The Central NY Times & Perry News both published lengthy articles that included my pictures & photo. Having been selected as 'master pastelist' at this festival kept me busy preparing a sketch, a plan and a presentation. In addition, I brought my tent and some prints & cards featuring my pastel art in particular.

Perry is a lovely small town, nestled in a particularly pretty area of rolling hills, near the center entrance to Letchworth State Park. They have a particularly nice bookstore in the center of town-good books, excellent magazines, assorted books, fresh coffee & pastries.

The fest featured 20 adult artists chalk painting on the street & about 10 teens on the sidewalks and was accompanied by the Saturday morning farmer's market, two live bands, some crafts & food tents. Everyone was very friendly & interested in the artworks.

The morning setup was bustling with volunteers & the sun was cooperative, too. It got ridiculously hot on the asphalt, so the shade of my tent was welcome to many. I painted a demo square using a rose closeup; not bound by any rules, petals & stem spilled out of the frame. This was a technique the kids always wanted to do at Lewiston Chalk Walk & couldn't because of their rules.

Returning home from an overnight in Perry, I had a jar of local honey, cherries, and a bag of vegetables to add to my art experience.

Letchworth State Park Paintings

So many beautiful days to make paintings & other public art responsibilities in such a short time set my paperwork, record keeping & photographing back a bit, so here are the late  Letchworth pictures-finally.

1. Letchworth Falls & Train Trestle, watercolor 5x8

2. Clearing Behind 'A' Cabins, oil 16x20

3. Early Morning Cabins, oil 11x14

4. Old Gorge Staircase, pastel 12x9

Featured at the NACC

Click here--
The NACC - Niagara Arts and Cultural Center

That's my painting, 'Youngstown Secret Garden', featured on their website & in the press release for their annual 'Beyond the Barrell'  show!

Secret Garden 12x24 oil, 2007

Positively Main Street

All day Saturday, people were smiling & visiting on Main Street of Niagara Falls from Cedar to Chilton for art, music, food and entertainment. I set my tent up with only two walls showing some representative work, cards and small prints.

Since this was the first event of this kind, I also brought my easel & was able work on a small painting of City hall. It took all day due to the fact that it was nearly impossible to see the building with all the trees around it. It is possibly the best collection of elegant full size trees outside the parks & cemeteries in one place in town. 

Carl & I sat in the shade in our new 'art chairs' with pockets, water bottle cooler & attached table & enjoyed one of the nicest days of the year so far. It was great to see so many familiar people come out for the beginning of the renaissance in Niagara Falls-you think??

City Hall from Cedar 8x10 oil, 2008

NACC press release features KS painting

My painting, 'The Secret Garden' was selected to head a press release for the NACC summer exhibition 'Beyond the Barrel'

Go here to see it.

The NACC - Niagara Arts and Cultural Center

East Aurora NY weekend art show

It was called the 55th East Aurora Art Association Show, but I would call it a rainy weekend. Friday, June 27 Carl & I set up the tent and on Saturday morning after the rain it was still dry inside. We had about two hours of dark clouds and a deluge on Saturday the 29th, then on Sunday the threatening clouds really acted up from about 3:00-a noisy rain event that filled the street to the curbs continued until we were packed & gone. It was lovely the rest of the time & sunblock was needed, too. 

Only problem is the wet tent & walls that still need to be aired before being packed-for next week in Niagara falls.

I was pleased to be awarded a Merit ribbon in Oil for my painting-Seven Apples & the Light-which is near the tent pole. I was situated next to Sharon Fundalinski [white skirt], & Peggy Walker is seated there too. They are the two best painting buddies I have-my Thursday artists. That's my back at the easel-there was a lovely old oak tree trunk in front of the red bricks that I was able to work on.

June at Niagara Falls

There was a chance of showers, but the sun was out, so I headed to the State Park to challenge the rapids. The 2006  'Islands in the Curve' was purchased by staff at the State Parks, I especially liked the painting-it is July on the calendar, so I decided to try the composition again. The islands have grown, and the weather was sometimes overcast-in addition there was a misty breeze swirling that kept me, the painting & palette slightly damp. The photo was taken by a California tourist. I gave their daughter a business card to look up the painting when it was complete. Dad took the picture & used my address to send it. A few plein air painters don't enjoy interruptions, but not me. It is a chance to look away from the subject and the paint & look back with a 'fresh eye'. Most people are cautious & wary, they just want to see real art, murmur 'lovely' or 'so talented' & walk on. Kids pay attention to the palette, the brushes & process. So many say they paint at home & school. Life is good, so I stayed to paint a close-up of a dent in the Falls further to the right side-a rock & it's splash. While working on the second painting, the first blew over-the dark spots in the cataracts are not fish, that is plein air painter's dirt, stuck to the oils.

'New Curve of the Falls-2008' 8x10, oil on panel 2008

'Horseshoe Divot' 5x7 oil on board, 2008

NACC opening preview

Friday, June 20 is the opening for the 5th annual 'Beyond the Barrel' show in Niagara Falls, NY. I have two pieces accepted in this show, & Carl has two digital collages in the show. Also, it is his birthday. 

One is the wide plein air painting 'Secret Garden in Youngstown', the second is pictured here. This large studio oil painting shows the sunlight rising over the trees & shining into the mist.

Morning Light on American Falls, 24x24, oil, 2008

Letchworth State Park Weekend

Spent the last weekend en plein air & completed three oils, a pastel & a small watercolor. Sherrill & I went to Letchworth State Park & stayed in a cabin, with indoor water, fridge, etc, so we were quite comfortable eating & sleeping. The weekend consisted of several sudden showers & misty sunlight, so we toggled between indoors & out. Caught only once by the weather,  we were drenched-every bit of equipment, palette & brush was floating, but oils are forgiving, & the cabin was nearby. The deluge was followed by sun and a breeze, so our assorted articles dried on the big porch. My french box easel appreciated the moisture, all the sliding fittings and connectors are much tighter now.

The best part was painting down behind the cabin in total natural beauty & light-and being watched by a deer for a long morning. She thought she was hidden behind a tree, 50 yards away.I think we were her first artists, on the other hand, her fawn may have been just born & camouflaged in the leaves right near us.

On the negative side, I managed to ruin the digital camera & will not be posting images until that is resolved! I really liked that camera, & will buck modern times to try to have it fixed.

Plein air rain out success

Sometimes a painting chooses itself. A few fresh cut carnations sat in the studio for several weeks. After removing some spent stems & replacing the vase I realized there was a composition in front of me, similar to the April calendar picture [a few posts below]. The next day's plan to paint plein air was rained out so I was able to spend the day sketching & structuring the canvas; the foreground was nearly complete in a full day's studio work. Waiting until night to capture the reflections & complete the layout, I was able to mull over the differences in the two pictures, besides the obvious ones of shape & surface. The Primula was painted when the sun was down by 6, I had to wait for dark until after 9 to work on this one. Both flowers sat on my work table for a long time before they 'spoke' to me. It all goes back to 'paint what you know'.

Considering the daylight background, I could have used the leaf greens of outdoors for a very different painting, and someday I will. The most fun with this picture-the challenge to paint the glass vase & the black stones I use for stability.

Carnation Reflections, 24x12 oil, 2008

Frontier House, Lewiston NY

The yellow building is now known as The Chocolate House, while the larger one is the Frontier House, a classic 'Lincoln slept here' location. This was painted from the Keybank corner last week with the NFPAPainters. We started at Piper's Village Inn, and returned there for a wonderful lunch.... Jill Paolone & Brad Smith came to visit me painting twice-about 3 hours apart. We all thought it was almost finished during their first visit! 

 I marked locations of lamps and handrails in wet paint at the end of 7 hours on Center Street & went home. As the paint got a little stiffer, I was able to finish the lamp posts and rails in my studio.

Lewiston's Historic Frontier House oil 16x20, 2008

A Florida Room in South Park, Buffalo

My final indoor Thursday painting at Buffalo Botanical Gardens was right before Easter. We stop painting there during holidays because the crowds come for the seasonal shows. Then we work outside instead. Their new Florida installation room  features a lot of water, including waterfalls, ponds & fish. This lovely hosta-like plant was thriving in the stream at the entrance to the tunnel under the footbridge. It reached out of the dark with brilliant yellow darts.

PipeLily 9x12 pastel 2008

Spring in Prospect Park-Niagara Falls

Unfinished, I have to share this bit of Springtime. Tulips, forsythia, fruit trees in bloom, buds & blossoms everywhere. Started yesterday, I laid in most of the colors & shapes you see before I lost the light & got frustrated. For the first time, I returned with a wet painting to the same site to finish it. It was still overcast, but bright and I was able to put in the bench & streetlight. It just needs to get a little skin on the whites so I can glaze the big white tree with a bit of yellow & punch up the white gloss of the globe. The whites were entirely too wet to do anything with yet. So much for plein air. At least the national definition is 85% complete on site. It won't take more than 5 minutes to glaze once the paint sets up. 

Spring in Prospect Park, oil 11x14 2008

Niagara Falls Paintings

Painting outdoors is definitely seasonal. Although I paint outdoors in the winter, the warm weather has a greater appeal. It's time to paint Niagara Falls and capture the Spring greens. I just hope I can still open all the colors in my traveling easel.

The April Calendar picture

Last Spring I purchased this Primula at the Botanical Gardens. It spent weeks-months, maybe, in the dining room before I brought it up to sit on my easel. One evening I noticed the reflection of the back of the plant on the dark window glass. I could see all the flowers of the plant. Out came the palette & brushes. It was so exciting to paint a flower-close up-after doing so many landscapes. It also convinced me that I could easily paint indoors safely if I left the window open a bit and continued to use no solvents to paint.

Along with the December Holly, it represented April and my 16x20 studio oils at the show, and gathered lots of attention. I have really enjoyed having this painting around, and now it has found a new home as a Mother's Day gift from Fran Volpe to her daughter. Nice choice! Time to turn the calendars to May.

Primula Reflections, oil 16x20 2007

Travels as it Dries

This juicy rose is home again, and pleasing me at the end of the hall. It was delivered, still wet, to the NACC solo show February 1st. It dried very nicely there for two months, with plans of relocating above Martha's couch. Well, it went 'fine with the rug', but clashed with the pink pillows and afghan on the couch. The gold & black frame had too much drama, too, so the other newer painting will remain there. It spent a few days at the Albright Knox, too, but I fortunately have it back, ready to do the 'wall-dance' at 1575.

The varnish goes on late this summer.

Complementary Rose, oil, 24x24 2008

Buckhorn State Park

As I pack up sweaters and gloves for the season, I find myself putting snow pictures away as well. Painted last year, this is the road through Buckhorn that I use to drive to Niagara Falls. Having had less snow than cold, I rarely was on a snowy East-West Park Road this winter. That's a good thing.

The painting was acclaimed at Quaker Bonnet, it created a contrast with the Allen Street buildings-kind of a window to the country.

The Road to Work 22"X28" pastel

Painting Night in Winter

This gem was inspired by the best (and final) snowfall of the winter. It had snowed lightly, but steadily all weekend, trees were spectacular weighted with snow. This is earliest morning light, facing East on Huth Road. The streetlights are yellow-orange in color, casting long violet shadows. These trees are now blooming with Spring leaves; the painting took me longer than any other I have done. I also learned a great deal about using glazes and multiple layers of color to build depth while I worked up a sore shoulder from all the strokes required to create the branching. This is the absolute opposite of plein air, but is influenced by all I have learned by painting on location as well as the series of studio oils completed in the past few months.

Out of place with blooming Forsythia in the yard, I look forward to the summer, as I look back at what I was able to capture during the most beautiful weather event of the winter.

Snow Before Dawn 28"x22" oil

Painting at Night

Painting at night seemed like  a serious challenge, and the coolest gift of 2006 was a hat with headlights, so I could see the colors on the palette or pastels. However, my first night painting was in Houston, from a 3rd floor porch at Jeremy & Robin's apartment. No hat & headlight in sight, so the indoor lights illuminated my page and I perched on the edge of a chair to see the commercial building out the complex & across the road. Night painting? I am hooked.

From the Porch in Houston, pastel, 9x12 2007

Not so black & white

I thought it was Spring & awoke to fresh white-but not a lot. It was just enough to cover almost budded branches and create a winter wonderland-in earliest Spring. From my favorite Buckhorn road, you can see me surrounded by beauty. I am considering a B&W painting, but I still see the colors-shall I leave out the pinks or the golds?

Watch for the painting!

Turkey Vultures?

The seasons are changing here & apparently there was some carrion was under the melted snow. These turkey vultures roosted just down the street-all day. Sideways is appropriate for April Fool's Day, but this was no joke. They are about 30" in size, with a wingspan of 6 feet-and look like eagles when they swoop.

Final NACC pictures

The end of the exhibition at the NACC was quite exciting. Since the show was held over for a month my family-Bobbie, Chris & Sandi Peters had an opportunity to see this show in the Garden Gallery. In addition, I was asked to speak at the Finally Friday event, which was sold out. This is a catered lunch & talk that is held on the final Friday of several months of the year. I neglected to ask the attendees if they came for the food or the art. The art & discussion was well received & my prints remain a favorite for new Niagara area art collectors. Thanks to Gina, Kelly, Kathie, Ray & Carl for all their help & support to put this show together & bring my work to the Niagara Arts & Cultural Center for the past two months.

Art Dialogue WNYAG show

Rejected from the Traditional Art installation, the same judge then accepted all three of my Modern Art submissions. The first opening was the same night as my Solo at the NACC, so I had a wonderful evening there instead. It was a lovely show, even without me.

This Friday, 3/21/08 is the reception at Art Dialogue Gallery for the Western New York Artists Group 12th annual juried members exhibition Modern Art Installation. I will be there to see the three new paintings & all the other entries with my extended family-John & Maureen, Bobbie, Chris & Sandi, and Carl.

This juicy composition is a studio work inspired by the Warm Lake grapes, and is followed by another showing tomatoes on the vine-to be finished in the next few weeks. It is from one of my photos of apples from Marian's trees when we lunched outside in October. 

Working in oil on larger canvases in the studio is a great way to paint nature in the cold weather-even with the window open. It is difficult to transition from 3-d objects and working from life to painting from an image. The flat picture is so static, the paint must find a life of its own without birds & bugs & passersby for ambiance. Hence, books on tape. Thank you, Buffalo & Erie County Library!

formerly titled 'Five Apples and the Light'

Pteradactyl Apple, 5 Apples & the Light 22x28 oil 2008

Wellsville evening light

As winter winds down and the [hopefully] last snowfall melts, I remember the first snow of the season-unexpectedly early. We were in the southern tier, visiting Monica & Mike in  Wellsville and woke up to winter white on the hills.  We were like kids, staring out at the hills,the pond, farms and the wet street winding into the distance.

The evening before, I had painted this little evening light view of one of their outbuildings. It was already framed for me, begging to be noticed. I was  looking uphill out a square window in the living room.

'Wellsville Window' 12x12 pastel 2007

8959 Green Castle Way

This house portrait started as an abstract design concept. Because I was working indoors, I decided to use acrylics instead of oil paint, and I was thoroughly flummoxed by the paints instantly drying in the heated studio air. I got caught up in architectural accuracy (I couldn't blend the quick dry paint) and needed a straight edge for the long horizontal and vertical effects. It got more & more realistic, so I played with a hard edge style-then I needed more detail to express the depth. Alas, I realized that the original house painting plan got in the way of a good result. I wanted something loose and expressionistic of 8959, then when it became realistic, my beginnings were tripping me. I should have handled the brick quite different if I had known where I was going. I especially like the entry window & the Bottlebrush tree.

Nice house, Robin & Jeremy.

'Green Door on Green Castle', 30"x15" acrylic on panel 2008

Leah's Tree

It seemed like the last snowfall of the winter, just a few inches followed by brilliant sunshine. I set up my canvas & paints at the back window and plein air'd this one from indoors. It is a good example of the adage 'paint what you know'-I could sit and look out these windows all day. This is a little bit to the west of the other trees 'out back' that I have painted. The path to the left leads into the woods and to the firepit.

'Leah's tree, late winter' 20"x 10", oil

New NACC Show Date

The Studio painting show, 'Rushing Summer, A Private Wintergarden', will be extended through the month of March. The NACC, located at 1201 Pine Ave in Niagara Falls has a 'Finally Friday' luncheon series scheduled on March 28. I was asked to be the guest speaker (it is in the Garden Gallery) and will be speaking about my work on the walls. Noon 'til 1, the food is spectacular, reserve your seat for lunch at the NACC at 716.282.7530 if you would like to join me.

More Reception Pictures

As the evening ended, John & Karen, with A.J., Krista & Mia Polechetti, helped us close the gallery for the evening. It was such a treat to have so many friends & family go out of their way to share this special event

Artist Reception NACC review

Friday evening's reception at the Niagara & Cultural Center was spectacular; even the weather cooperated, it was mild & clear, one of those winter evenings that is just pleasant. Thank you all for coming, your comments, kind notes & messages. 

The consensus is that the image I chose for the postcard, 'Pinot Noir, not ripe at Warm Lake' was a favorite, followed by 'What's Pink is Blue' & the B&W conte rose #7. 

The jury stood at a deadlock over their favorite wine, equal numbers of guests chose Chablis or Pinot Noir. The sodas were barely touched. More people talked about cherry almond fudge than carrots or grapes, duh.

I was asked 'What's next?' and have put little thought into the answer. Immediately, I will complete the painting of Robin & Jeremy's entrance arch, next project is up in the air! 

Niagara Frontier Plein Air Painters meet next week to develop this year's outdoor calendar, I hope to get out in the snow to paint once or twice before then.

NACC opening preview

The Garden Gallery at the NACC is ready for my "Rushing Summer: A Private Wintergarden" artist reception on Friday February 8, 2008 from 7-9 pm. Thanks to the innovative layout by Carl Schifano, the artwork is hung 'salon style' to give the viewer the opportunity to see some work close up and others from a distance. The tall ceilings and lush atmosphere created by color & nature are a warm contrast to the snow outside. For this show, the gallery plants were moved to the triple doors area where they thrive on the lengthening daylight and fresh air. In answer to several questions and the perception of the Buffalo News reviewer, the 'private wintergarden' part of my show title is a reference to the Niagara Falls Wintergarden' s former life as a greenhouse. I frequently walked the paths and sat while children played 'stage' in the concert area by the pond. It was an especially lovely place in the winter, no matter the weather, one would be transported by the green tropical trees, the flowers, giant ferns and lucky resident birds. Everyone always smiled in the Wintergarden, even if just passing through. This is one of architect Cesar Pelli's most exciting buildings. It was designed by him with the Rainbow center in 1975. Many of his buildings are designed with glass skin & they are especially beautiful at night. Perhaps we can reconstruct the feeling of a lush wintergarden by gathering Friday night!

Press for NACC show

The text from Sunday Buffalo News Niagara Week end article:

Warm Images

The Buffalo News

Published on February 3. 2008

WHAT’S ON/Happenings around Niagara

No, they’re not resurrecting the city’s Wintergarden, but the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center’s Garden Gallery is showing the work of Kath Schifano, called “Rushing Summer: A Private Wintergarden,” with vibrant colors and close-up views of botanicals, flowers, fruit and vegetables. The center is hosting a gallery reception, 6-9 p.m., 1201 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls. Free. Go to www.kschifano.com for more information

Text from Island Dispatch-

Local Artist in the News

Island Dispatch

Published on February 1. 2008

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

The Niagara Arts and Cultural Center’s Garden Gallery will showcase the artwork of Grand island’s Kath Schifano during the month of February.

The Garden Gallery will feature Schifano’s exhibit “Rushing Summer: A Private Wintergarden.” As a plein air artist, pastelist and oil painter, Kath’s “Rushing Summer” highlights her study into various forms and color and her process as an artist.

A gallery reception will be held on Friday, February 8, 2008.

The Garden Gallery is an open area, full of natural light and is located on the second floor of the NACC. The gallery is open 7 days a week and free of charge. For more information on the NACC call 716.282.7530 or visit www.thenacc.org. To learn more about Kath Schifano visit her website at www.kschifano.com.

On the front page is Schifano’s “What’s Pink is Blue.”

Niagara Arts & Cultural Center Show

February features my newest show, 'Rushing Summer: A Private Wintergarden' at the Garden Gallery of the NACC.  It is a collection of studio paintings of nature, including oil paintings & pastels. The reception is on Friday, February 8, 2008 from 7-9. Please join me for a snack & some conversation-it is casual!

Grand Island Artist paints Houston

I did not actually paint Houston; I might have, but the carefully prepared traveling box of art supplies remained in Grand Island as I flew South. Borrowed paints allowed me to paint this January blooming 'Bottlebrush' plant. It is nearly two stories tall and lives right at Robin & Jeremy's front door. This is also a return to acrylics; I am astounded that the paint dried so quickly, especially since I had recently used drying extenders with my oils. The difference? I could just put my wet brush down to go eat dinner while painting with oils, and pick it up the next day to continue blending. The acrylics would dry on the bristle while I thought about where I should place the brush! This was painted plein air from their porch, but the next painting will be created & completed in my studio. I am back and it is 15˚ here.

On one of our walks I met a gentleman painting plein air. He used the biggest palette I have ever seen-a potential sail on our windy days. It would have made a great coffee table. Talking with the painter about context & composition, I asked 'what are you looking for here?' His answer - 'Paying customers with cash.' I guess he has been painting outdoors a lot-I left him to his wishes.

'Bottlebrush flowers' 9x12, acrylic 2008

Robin & Jeremy's back yard

We spent a week in Texas after the holidays. The morning January shadows in Houston are not the familiar long blue lines of tree trunks and branches stretching across the snow. The sun is still low, but there are leaves and green. As I enjoyed my coffee I watched these tree shadows move along the shed. Later in the week I chose this composition & fortunately  started painting early enough to catch the light I wanted.

January AM, Houston  12x9  Acrylic on WC

Winter Bird Watching

Our winter birds are primarily tree clingers, woodpeckers and finches. Their favorite food is the gooey suet seed block that leaves grease spots on the window. These two birds in balance are a Nuthatch & a Black Cap Chickadee.
Today a giant Northern 'yellow shafted' Flicker showed up to dwarf the feeder cage and grab our attention. Missed that photo!

White still life

Now that I rediscovered painting indoors, I prepared several larger canvases with gesso & sandpaper, and laid them around the studio to dry for the second coat. When I returned to my easel, the snow outdoors and the white gesso paintings indoors created an interesting study in white. I was distracted by the beauty of the day & didn't put on a toned underpainting. The next artwork may have to be pastel.

National Grid Art Market

Just before Christmas, National Grid in Niagara Falls had an art marketplace sale that I participated in with several other artists, jewelers & crafters. This image shows three house paintings on my easel across from the display. The top Altman home painting, in its new frame-still protected in plastic-caused a bit of a traffic jam. It went to its new home for a Christmas surprise.

Merry Christmas

Just sitting up, waiting for Santa to arrive, so I am sending my Christmas card image here to everyone in the world (wide web).
Merry Christmas.

Winter's Holly Berries, oil 16x20 

Holding on to the sun

It is early December, and there is a dusting of snow. There's not much, but it is white.

I think this is a good time to share a beautiful paint out morning in September-as morning light & sun shadows from mature evergreens revealed to me the 'Secret Meadow' and gardens in Youngstown.
Oil 12x24

Quaker Bonnet Eatery

My solo art show, 'Significant Growth: Before & After October Surprise' is now up at Quaker Bonnet. It is a series of 16 plein air paintings featuring the trees and scenery of western New York. The first picture shows me with Liz Kolken, owner, and the second shows my 4 foot tall plein air of Fall trees and a 24"x30" image of the same location a week later.