Niagara Falls Red Coach Inn

Near the American Falls there is a grassy hill overlooking the rapids. I went there to paint the rush of a zillion gallons of water but again turned around away from my intended subject. The late morning sunlight on the famous Red Coach Inn was irresistible. I had to put in the shadows first and study the light and darks intently as the sun was heading around the building quickly. Early morning is the best time to 'catch the light' when painting but my cup of tea or coffee with breakfast and a newspaper is a treasured time and often delays my start. 

Red Coach Inn 12x16 pastel. 

Thinking About Frank DiGaudio

Frank was my stepdad and he suddenly died 3 weeks before 9/11. I'm glad he missed it but I wonder sometimes if he was lucky to be spared the experience. Anyway, his heart was with his BPOE group, the Elks, and he ran their Bingo, gaming nights, bought supplies and danced every song. When my friends went to Forest Lawn to paint I was immediately attracted to a huge elk sculpture inside the Main Street gate. Majestic and proud, mounted on a pedestal of rock I painted this elk and considered Frank. We had a lovely conversation. 

Where Elks Rest, pastel 9x12 

Japanese cherry blossom festival

The second annual Cherry Blossom Fest at the History Museum in Buffalo was perfectly timed with the best show of seasonal pink flowers. While I worked on my final larger picture, 'Cherry Blossoms on Saturday', the flowers cascaded like rain, carpeting everything in pink. WHen I returned home my tweezers picked a branchful of leaves and petals out of the wet painting. The NFPAP artists also worked here on both Saturdays of the festival. Everyone plans to return next year. 

      Pink carpet. 5x7 palette knife oil

Cherry Blossoms on Saturday 12x16 oil

Framing History 7x5 oil

Niagara Falls Music And Art Festival

June's wonderful weekend was warm and dry, the music was loud and Niagara Falls was hopping. My tent was nicely shaded, I enjoyed seeing old friends, and I was able to work on a painting each day. Neither if these show the finished painting but it does show my set up and what I was working on. 

I decided to create a display of the 5 x 7 paintings I have been painting recently, what fun to see them all together. 

The Giacomo in sunset. 9x12 oil

Holding Back the Rain   9x12 oil

A plein air inspires a studio painting

On March 28 I wrote about an oil painting that was about to be installed in a dental office. It was quite recent and I really liked the captured colors of Fall and the rising mist of Niagara over the first bridge at Three Sisters Islands at the Niagara Reservation. Only on the brightest, sunniest high pressure days will the plume rise so high.

At the time, winter was still raging and I was not interested in returning, so I quickly sketched the picture on a large pastel sheet, in fact it was a UArt paper which I had wanted to try for a while.

Pastels caused my wrist injury and the surgery was not six months back, I was feeling reticent about diving into a pastel composition, however, I missed using the rich and reactive sticks I had pushed aside a year and a half earlier. By pacing myself, working in little bits of time, the picture remained on my easel desk for several weeks as I worked back into holding and coloring with my pastel sticks. 

Finished, it is mounted with museum glass, flush to the frame and glass and it looks like a painting. Not the same as the oil it was modeled after but it does capture the sparkle of fall color at Niagara.

Studio Work from plein air painting

Mist Over the First Sister's Bridge, oil 18x24 pastel, c. 2015 K. Schifano

NACC Artist and Friends Exhibition

These two large paintings are displayed at the NACC for the Buffalo Niagara Art Association Spring juried exhibit. This show is in the large main gallery. In addition, there is a second show in the 'Garden Gallery' on the second floor. The 'Niagara Painters' show is representing our local group of plein air painters, formed in 2014 by Shelley Collins and Kelly Buckley, we meet Thursdays to paint outdoors in various Niagara locations.

Next up at the Niagara Arts & Culture Center there will be the NACC Artist and Friends Exhibition, an annual event that is celebrating the 10th year as a community center. 

Both paintings were long term winter projects for me, the joy of pushing paint in the studio is second only to working outdoors.

Adirondack Architecture 48X24 oil on canvas c. 2015
Glory's Bath Takes TOO Long, 36x24 oil on canvas c.2015

#28 and 29 of 30 paintings in 30 days

'Seagulls, Swifts and Spring' started as a study of the posts and water reflections while I waited for the light and shadows to change on the bridge. 'Niagara Painters' were meeting at the new little park at the base of the North Grand Island bridges and I had assumed that the bridge would be in my painting. The water was quite smooth in the morning and the soft and muted colors of a spring morning were hard to resist. This is the bigger one, I also painted a mini, only 2x2 of the same place.

My sweet tooth was calling, I wanted a decadent cupcake from the trendy new cupcake store on Whitehaven Road. I didn't get there, but Tops had a 4 pack so I could go home and eat one, Carl had one, then we split a third one. I grabbed the last, perched it on a pretty plate and as I headed to the studio I bumped it and 'Oops, there is the title' came to mind.

'Seagulls, Swifts and Spring' 9.5x12.5 oil on paper, c. 2015

'Oops on Bone China', 5x7 on wood panel, c.2015

30 in 30 days, # 27 Red Boat at the Cherry Blossom Fest

I was originally inspired to paint two lovely boats, one pink and the other red, but they would not stay still. Free rides on Mirror Lake kept them busy all morning until one of the guides took a break, leaving this red boat modeling for me.  This was during Saturday's Cherry Blossom Festival in Buffalo, NY.

There seems to be tree tilt here and there really is, I'm not sure if it is wind blown or the trees are aiming for the water. This garden was established in 1970 and they are actively promoting it, planting new trees, gardens and upgrading the walks. It already was lovely!

Red Boat and Cherry Blossoms. 9.5x12.5 oil on Carton, c.2015

30 in 30 days, #26 Japanese Sculpture

For 9 days the Buffalo History Museum's Japanese Garden is now glowing with cherry blossoms and the 2nd festival to celebrate friendship between the two nations. 

Last year I painted this from a similar location but it was raining and the buds had not emerged on the trees yet. This was a spectacular Spring day, but cool next to the still cold water. Stepping back 10-15 feet was quite a bit warmer. I plan to return next week to paint the trees with leaves, perhaps a close up of cherry blossoms is on my list, too! Hoping for no breezes across the still cool Mirror Lake.

30 days of painting practice has really warmed up my painting skills and am quite pleased with how this little jewel turned out. 

Japanese Sculpture, 5x7 oil on canvas panel, c. 2015 

30 in 30 days, # 25, Blocks

These 3 blocks have been around for years. WHere is the rest of the alphabet? There was a flat truck, four wheels and a pull cord, why do I have just 3?

I am pleased with the final image. The blocks were painted first with nearly pure pigments, each primary stained a different white bristle brush. Permanently. I stopped using my best Rosemary brushes for this project because of the abuse I dole out...leaving a painting and dirty brushes for hours to do errands or even overnight because I have finished or I just walk away to eat. Brushes generally last me forever as I had pretty good clean up skills and need to get back to them!

These were on my work tabletop, with gloss white paper on the surface and I could see both shadows and reflections of the blocks. Again, FUN! Interested? Click here to email me. $65

'Down Side Up' 5x7, oil on canvas panel c.2015

30 in 30 days, #24 Niagara River Boat Slips

This is a pre plan for a larger painting. I had wanted to paint a scene similar to this for a while, I decided to make the next one in a rectangle format and laid in the background and basic shapes. I stopped for lunch and when I returned the wind had picked up, my palette wanted to fly away with the paint mixtures, the mast of my box was shaking and the larger image was started on Arches Huile, which is flexible.

Working next to the Niagara River can be hazardous at times.Most of the dock pilings are crooked to start with, but it was ridiculous to try to finish there and then. This is the painting of the day and the other will have to wait. No boats were in the water yet, it is still early in the season for boating, but I bet it fills up in the next week or two.
Gone
'Waiting for Boats' 3x3", oil on stretched canvas (with bug) c. 2015

30 in 30 days, #23 paint tubes

Some questionable paint tubes [too dry or duplicates]were set aside and I started fiddling with them while watching birds in my tree. It made me decide what to paint today. Unfortunately, the arrangement was on my 'active' palette, where I was mixing colors for these daily paintings. I used every bit of exposed surface to mix my paints for this picture and could have used a little bit more as my palette is quite small. I really need to do more thinking and planning before starting these pictures.

If you are interested in this painting, click here to email me. $65

'Put Paint, Not Tubes on the Palette', 5x7 oil on canvas panel, c.2105

30 in 30 days, #22, FP Horse

He was always called 'The Horse' and didn't have another name, but he still whinneys when you move the reins. Fisher Price stopped making that wonderful horse sound a few years after we got The Horse and I still can't imagine why. No child has ever been startled or afraid, perhaps an adult or two objected to the constant sound from a child's delight. The tray on the bottom is perfect for carrying blocks, which are coming soon.

Interested, click here to email me. $65
'Let's Go For A Ride', 6x6 oil on canvas panel c. 2015

30 in 30 days, #21 Monica's wares.

There is no way this painting shows the elegance and distinctive quality of the fabrics and yarns that Monica Sheusi White creates with dyes, silk, wool, alpaca and needles. We shared a room at the Knox Farm Art Fest this past weekend and I tried to keep up with my 30 paintings in 30 day challenge by painting on location, the lovely window view was mostly blocked, but the colors and textures of Monica's textiles also demanded some attention. Yup, I am crazy, the crowds kept rolling through and I had to put my painting in progress and tiny paintbox under the table so many times to talk to clients. Meanwhile, the merchandise on her display kept changing as people discovered her beautiful creations. I am blessed to be her friend and to share our love of creative endeavors, whatever the medium.
 Click here to contact me. $65 unframed

Painting Monica's Canvas, 5x7 oil on canvas board, c. 2015

30 in 30days, #20 F-P toy

Every child who has spent time in our house for the past 35 years has enjoyed this cash register. It was a Santa gift for Robin's first Christmas. I always thought it needed a handle as every one of those kids took a tumble or dropped it trying to carry it somewhere. Fisher-Price, are you listening?

Now it seems a bit dated, with no credit card swipe bar. Interested? Click here to contact me. $65 unframed

Cash or Credit? 5x7 oil on canvas board c. 2015

30 Paintings in 30 Days #19 pear

This is the third in a series of single fruit, the earlier two are in posting #15. I went shopping for a citrus, but all the oranges and grapefruit were just round balls, no particular characteristics and no challenge. I chose pears, which got a good bumping in the packing lane. I kept looking at the shadow color on my white palette paper and couldn't determine blue or green, although the value is correct. Technically, it would be a cool violet shade, but my eyes didn't pick that out at all, so here it is, blue-green. The fruit is only 3x3" square.

Grapes may appear in the future. Framed, this is $50, click here to contact me.

Pear, framed, 3x3 oil on Arches Huile, c.2015

30 in 30 days, #17 Paddington Bear

Paddington's Lucky Day was the first book my daughter received, she was 4 weeks old. It remained a favorite and my son loved it too. The book came with a stuffed Paddington Bear and he still lives with me. For his first visit to the studio he was very well behaved and modeled without a break. Now Paddington is sleeping to recover from his visit.
Gone.
Paddington Visits the Studio, 6x6 oil c. 2015

30 paintings in 30 days, #18 Strawberries

This was absolutely the best smelling, and best tasting subject for a painting I have ever created. The grocery store berries are starting to look and taste like strawberries are supposed to.  Although the Sparkle berries we used to pick are nearly impossible to find these days the smell of these were hard to resist. So I didn't.

Interested? Only $40, Click Here to email me.

I Ate My Berry Models, 4x4 oil on canvas board, c. 2015

30 in 30 days, #15, Lemon and Lime

Made especially for these frames, I still have one to finish. They are only 3" square but have created a bit of interest. It was suggested to do a pineapple for the third, or a blood orange or grapefruit. I was thinking grapes.

Lemon, Lime 3x3 oil on Arches Huile, c.2015

Gone. 

30 in 30, #16. Garlic

Oh my, Sunday evening and I hadn't started this day's painting. The garlic was on my mental list so I brought it up to the studio, the height and width are the same so I chose a square canvas. It was late so I played a bit and enjoyed my time with Mr. Garlic. Afterwards on Facebook I discovered the previous day was an official 'garlic day'. And yes, this bulb was partially eaten. Click email me if interested, only $40

Saturday Was Garlic Day. 4x4 oil on canvas board

30 in 30, # 13 Tomatoes and mushrooms

Go not to the object; let the object come to you," (Henry David Thoreau) 30 paintings and I am waiting for the next dozen to come to me. Toys, food and Plein air landscapes have dominated my choices so far.
These juicy tomatoes seemed plain red in the kitchen but looking carefully in the studio I found a variety of reds and oranges that were a pleasure to mix. My oldest tubes of reds don't get used much because I have only ever painted one fire truck, this time I found that the soft and buttery quality of the paints had not changed with age.

Click here to email if interested.

'Paint Faster, It's Lunchtime' 5x7 oil on canvas board, c. 2015

30 In 30 Days, #12 Hyde Park, NF

The 'Niagara Painters' are a wonderful group of dedicated Niagara painters of all levels and media, formed online with www.Meetup.com. I have joined them on many Thursday paint events and always enjoyed their company. Last year the Duck Island paintout was abbreviated by serious rain even though dedicated painters showed up and kept working when the rain began. I went home.

The first event this year coincided with the release of 2,000 brown trout into Hyde Park lake and it seemed there were about that many people fishing, too. Fisherman are like plein air artists, get out there, spend time in nature and if it's a good catch or not, it is still a great day.

I feel like I had a good catch on my easel. With mid day light and composition established, the colors of the ground and the trees were nearly finished when I had to leave for a short appointment. Well, I wanted a bigger and better fish, so I returned an hour later to finish the branching and shrubs. After a long day I completed this painting, and walking across the bridge the wind picked up, the temperature dropped and by the time I reached the car it was raining. It's all good! Click here to email me for information

Duck Island Day 9x12 oil

Duck Island Day

Unframed $150.00 USD Framed $175.00 USD

30 Paintings in 30 Days, #11 Sandwich

Yes, there is a story here but all names will be omitted to prevent any blame. I came home mid- afternoon to this sandwich, uneaten, on the counter. "What!" I exclaimed, "She didn't eat any lunch?"
"No" was the answer, "She doesn't want mayonnaise so I made another one with butter. But I thought she asked for it." It looked delicious with lots of lettuce. But very stale.

Fortunately the sandwich was an acceptable and willing model. $65 unframed, $75 with frame

She said "Hold the mayo", 5x7 oil on birch board, 2015

She said "Hold the Mayo"

Unframed $65.00 USD In Plain frame $75.00 USD

30 Paintings in 30 Days, #10

Aaah, is this kitchen art, or is it something else? If you have seen photos of trays of Christmas cookies here then you will recognize the Mexican tile counter, with brown grout framing 3 colors of 6" tiles. I had to paint my 'daily' but I also wanted to watch television so I set up facing the show. The island lights made neat double shadows on the tiles and I was able to multitask for a while. It was finished long after the TV was turned off....

Interested? Email me or click the Paypal button

Nothing To Cry Over, 5x7 oil on canvas panel, 2015

Nothing to Cry Over

Unframed $65.00 USD In Plain frame $75.00 USD

30 Paintings in 30 Days, #9

Sunshine, breezes, bees and flowers, it seems like the big chill has left western New York. All the crocus came out at once and all the bees gathered in the front yard to celebrate. Setting my chair a bit away from their honey convention I relished Spring, short sleeves and warm breeze.

One third finished with my 30 in 30 adventure and I notice hand twinges from holding the brush. My surgeon said 6 months and I'd be as good as new so I suppose it is the effect of working small with thin handled brushes. I'll know soon enough as I convinced myself that it is about rebuilding muscles that were misused for so long.

This is just a happy painting, from a beautiful day. Click Here to email me or use the Paypal button.

Crocus Happy Dance, 4"x5", oil on HDF board, 2015

Crocus Happy Dance

Unframed $45.00 USD

30 Paintings in 30 Days #8

After delivery of 3 paintings to Impact Gallery the east side of Buffalo's Main Street glowed as I drove in the mid afternoon sunlight, especially the odd combination of buildings on Canisius College campus. The central tower blocks most of the Greek Revival center behind it, but the angles of the buildings intrigued me. I parked in the Forest Lawn across Main Street. Someday, I will walk around and investigate these varied buildings built decades apart.

I remembered my tiny cigar box paint set, with a 5x7 panel in the bracketed lid. Sample tubes of paint fit nicely, but all I had were a few tubes so this was a study in resourcefulness. No mineral spirits or mediums, no way to clean paint on the raggedy brushes I found there except the two Dunkin' Donuts napkins in the door pocket. Plus, I worked in my lap, wearing white jeans. I stayed neat and clean painting this from the car, at least until I got home when I pressed my sleeve into the wet paint and it spread everywhere from there.
Gone.
Canisius Perspectives, 5x7 oil on birch panel, 2015

30 Paintings in 30 days, #7 Food trucks

Ready to paint the river, I thought "coffee" and parked in front of Starbucks. This was the view out my window and I never got the coffee or to the Falls. The colors of the food trucks and the activity on Falls Street were enough to make me paint there, on the street, at the back of the car. I had to do this piece by piece as vans and big trucks parked on the street and blocked different parts of my view.

Skateboarders were using the Starbucks corner behind me to nosily practice jumps and the painting was created to the sounds of wheels on bricks and benches, an occasional fall or cheers as a skater accomplished a move. Even the painting took a dive, it was quite windy, turning to the car trunk to get a brush the entire setup went up and over onto the road, with the painting face down on the bricked street. That cleaned up easily with a few strokes. My box went a bit off kilter, but crazy glue and a few clamps at home put it back to square. Such are the hazards of plein air painting. Later, the skating noise stopped and I heard the soft sound of something like pickup sticks or clocks ticking. Looking around, the people were scattering, it was the sound of frosty rain bouncing on my wide brim hat. I marked the unfinished light poles poles in the distance and finished this painting at home.

This painting is $75 during the 30 day event. Choose the PayPal button or click here to email me.

Lunch trucks at the Convention Center, 10x9, oil on canvas 2015

30 paintings in 30 Days, # 6 Primrose

The primroses outside my window have been green for weeks, but won't open until the warmth is more than temporary. I buy them to brighten our table and plant them outdoors later. A bit of water consistently keeps them flowering, indoors and out.

Keeping up with a 'painting a day' is interesting but I have barely dry little gems to photograph each day and I am still trying to figure out why wet paint and cameras don't get along. I usually wait weeks, or even months to photograph my work all at one time, in a controlled situation with perfect lighting and a block of time. This is quite a challenge!

Primrose in Porcelain, 6x6 oil on canvas panel, 2015

This painting is a bit larger and without a frame for $65. Click here to email me or use the PayPal button.

30 in 30 Days, Day 5 Sunday's salad

A few years ago I illustrated the cookbook 'A Stir in the Mist'. A series of food pictures were used on recipe pages and my Niagara Falls Paintings were used for the dividers. Painting this today reminded me how much I enjoyed the challenge of the food drawings. Grocery shopping involved choosing the best shaped vegetables and fruit for the pictures and not for eating.

This is a great kitchen gift for anyone. Click here to Email or use the Paypal Button below.

'From Sunday's Salad', 5x7 oil on canvas panel

'From Sunday's Salad'

Unframed $65.00 USD In Plain frame $75.00 USD

30 Paintings in 30 Days, #4 Forsythia

Nearly 20 years ago we dug a big hole and planted 3 Forsythia bushes together. It's huge and I bring branches indoors in the winter, to force the flowers. I cut some 3 weeks ago. While we can see bits of yellow barely budding on the monster bush outdoors these cut branches are in full bloom with growing sprouts. Whenever cuttings root I plant them on the edge of the woods, sometimes they grow and thrive there.

Forsythia is an annual subject to paint, but this is my first close up; I was surprised how much green these luscious yellow flowers contain. 

Original oil painting on side stapled stretched canvas. 5x4 unframed $40, with frame 45. Use Paypal below or click here for email.

Glorious Spring, 5x4 oil on canvas panel  c.2015

Glorious Spring

Unframed $45.00 USD In Plain frame $55.00 USD

30 Paintings in 30 Days, #3 Tiny Rabbit

Day 3, another rabbit, this tiny work can be an ornament on a tree, or made into a fun brooch, as well as a sweet decoration on a mantle or bookshelf. The penny is there for size, it is really very little, but it is on a real canvas mounted on wood frame. The easel is 5" and the painting is 2"x2".

My house has an incredible collection of rabbits for Spring decorating, a bit of sun and some daffodils pushing their way up and I am ready for the season. Most of those rabbits were gifts to my kids through the years but still live with me. I am determined to pass some of these decorations back to them.

'Biding Time Bunny' 2"x2" oil on canvas 2015
Gone.

Castellani Museum Collection

The text of a very special notice from Gerald Mead, this painting is now in the collection of Castellani Art Museum, located at Niagara University, New York.

Channeling Wolf Kahn c. 2014, Kath Schifano

Kath,
My apologies for not contacting you sooner - very good news - your painting was accepted for the Museum's collection at the December meeting of the Acquisitions Committee. 

It is now part of a new special segment of the collection that has been designated as their Lending Collection - Kate explained that this means that it may be selected to be shown on campus. (it is a new and frankly very smart initiative)

So, congratulations you are now in the collection of the Castellani Art Museum!

Best,
Jerry