More sunflowers! 2022 Flowers for Ukraine

I'm donating a percentage of the price of sold sunflower paintings to supporting the people devastated by war. I have a collection displayed in Studio 120 at the NACC. This is my 2022 picture made at Sunflowers of Sanborn. I worked on it until the tree shade receded and turned my spot into a sauna on a beautiful August day. It's a double benefit, you get a painting and make a donation too.

Photo by Rachelle Bisone

Sunflower field, oil, 10x20, c. K.Schifano 2022

 

Interpretation of Bonds Lake

Here is a painting in progress, nearly finished. A few more rocks and some long shadows and it was done.

We paint at least once a year at Bond's Lake and usually include the lake and the stunning colors of trees across the water in our pictures. Today I chose the path that is now blocked but leads to where we used to park. Purple loosestrife, a noxious weed, is nevertheless beautiful in late summer. Long shadows herald the approach of Fall as the sun appears low in the sky.

Bond Lake's Loosestrife, oil, 5x7 c. 2022

England and Wales continued

 One of the fantastic artists at Workshops in Yorkshire invited me to stay at her home at the end of our week. I hesitated but I was assured she would get me to Manchester airport in a few days. 

I am so glad I accepted the invitation, as Liz's extended family, lovely historic stone home and spectacular location were the best part of my UK experience. It turns out I was now in Wales with her and I found subtle differences with more beautiful views and enjoyed every minute. This involved a lot of driving and I am in her debt for a wonderful time; we painted, had some lovely excursions, went to a surprise birthday party (everyone was incredibly nice) and ate wonderfully.

One of my nearly completed workshop paintings is of a climbing 'Sylvia Rose'. I met a lovely young girl whose name happened to also be Sylvia Rose and she was thrilled to pose with my painting. We visited in a large covered area with sunshine streaming around us, sheep bleating nearby while her grandfather (?) played the guitar and sang a song written by his son followed by a song by Sylvia. She was charming and confident, ready to start back to school soon. It was delightful and memorable, life and new friendships are so good.

England and Wales Experience

 The end of a beautiful July found me on a plane to Manchester England, where I transferred by trains and taxi to an AirBnB in York, England to adjust to the time change and merry old England. York is an ancient walled city and the history class Norman invasion of 1066 finally made an impression. Winding streets, tiny doorways, low ceilings, and quaint shops presented new attitudes and foods, and I took advantage of excellent public transportation. Two days later I left to experience a multi train adventure with art supplies and luggage transferring to Skipton. There I would take a 5 day paint workshop with Kathy Anderson in the lovely gardens of Rosemary of Rosemary Co. Brushes. What a week, it included dinner in an historic space, a field trip to an abandoned town to paint and meeting great artists from various countries. Yorkshire is beautiful and pastoral with gentle hills and green everywhere.

I was challenged to paint in new ways, to lay in a different sort of ground and wipe out the light areas, to suggest some things - like leaves - and omit their details. I loved it, even though I found it difficult to change habits. At the end of the week I knew I could go back and use some of the ideas that were shared and still paint my own pictures. I am thrilled that my drawing skills made it easy to paint more confidently.

1000 Year Old Bridge, Wycoller Park, UK 12x16 oil on linen

Fuchsia and Blue, 14x11 oil on linen 

Skill building with Still Life Paintings

Beets and Greens 12x16 oil 

Indoor Still life used to be my least favorite painting. This year, I have connected with several artists and enjoyed Thursday mornings in the NACC, painting in Ylli Hurani Studio. There were usually several excellent still life setups to choose from. It was an opportunity to work longer on a composition as well as have friends painting nearby. I am thrilled to have had this opportunity and challenge to increase my skills. 

Thursday's Snack in Red, 16x12 oil

Painter's Rewards 16x12 oil

Backyard garden flowers

That's my granddaughter Amelia in the blue hat, she painted next to me with her new set of gel crayons. I hadn't used my pastels for a while and went out to capture my July garden flowers before the August Black eyed Susans took over and the daisies faded. I hope the foreground marigolds last well into the Fall.

The Summer Garden, pastel, 12x16

Griffon Park, Niagara Falls

Griffon Park is on the Little River in Niagara Falls and faces Cayuga Island. For years, boaters have backed their boats into the water and parked cars and trailers. Updates to the park now include a large playground, walking paths and benches. 

This rock commemorates The Griffon, built near here to sail the Great Lakes and never seen again.

This photo shows my view from a park bench, I used the distant buildings for my painting, below.

Little River From Griffon Park, 8x10 oil  c.K Schifano

2022 Cherry Blossom Festival

Pansies! Spring is really here.

Yellow Pansies, oil 16 x12  c. K. Schifano

In Texas, pansies are planted outdoors as soon as the New Year's blooms fade. Visiting family in March I love the masses of color at street corners and gardens. A cold hardy flower, in New York we wait until April to see little plants shining at grocery stores, garden centers and the neighbor's baskets. My front yard gets a lot of sun so they don't last when it turns warm and I've planted them just a few times. 

This pretty little thing was in a 4" pot. I couldn't resist the purchase but before it went intomy patio display I had to paint them. I brought the plant to Thursday Niagara Painters at the NACC and spent an unusually long time on this painting.  Perhaps it was the arrival of Spring or the joy of this glorious color but this Pansy has a lasting presence in oil paint.

Of course I also bought the magenta pansies and painted them on another day.

 

Friday Night Challenges

A group of artists, originally based in California, meet online to Zoom and paint from a selected photo. Called the Plein Air Club, their 3pm meeting is at 6pm EST for me so I can't always join. Here are three recent paintings. It is a BIG challenge for me to paint from a screen as I always prefer working from life or from several views of the same place when necessary. This is my winter sport as a plein air artist.

It's fun to meet new artists and chat away while we all paint. At the end of the time, about an hour and a half, we share our paintings. Afterwards, when the paintings are completed and signed they are posted on the group site. It is quite amazing to see the variety of techniques and materials and interpretations. 

Foxen Canyon Winery, oil 9x12 c. K. Schifano

'Stop. For a California Sunset' oil 9x12 c. K. Schifano

'Sunflowers for Ukraine' oil 9x12 c. K. Schifano

 

Annual Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival

Saturday at the Buffalo History Museum was a perfect Spring day and thousands turned out to see the blossoms. Five painters worked on a scene similar to this, set back from the crowds and walkways. Every painting captured sunlight, flowers and the joy of emerging spring. These trees appear to dance, with the classic architecture of the museum in the background.

'Saturday's Cherry Blossoms' oil, 12x16 c. K. Schifano

 Sunday was not as bright, in fact I was caught in the rain as I packed up. My easel was right under the tree with this particular flower right in front of me. I did the same thing last year but the breeze kept blowing the thin branch and it was a bit disconcerting to catch the details. This time, there was no breeze but a little girl jumped up and grabbed my flower. I reacted so quickly-and pretty loud-that I doubt she will ever pick another flower. Instead of seeing some of the centers the bunch now tipped down but I am still satisfied with the shape. Still wondering why, with hundreds of flowering trees and flowers she chose mine. 

'Sunday's Cherry Blossoms' oil, 12x16 c. K. Schifano

Artist Koala paints us!

While at the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival at the Buffalo History Museum another artist sketched us working. Who Knew? Koala came over to show me her drawing so I took this quick photo of her mini sketchbook. Perhaps she will join us or the Urban Sketchers, what beautiful pen work! That's Roy, Liz, Bernie, me with the big hat and Ylli.

2022 paint schedule

 

The 2022 schedule for plein air painting is occasionally changed due to weather or conflicts, but this is what we have now. Guests and observers are welcome. Please go to the Niagara Frontier Plein Air Painters to find information to join.

Rubber duck portrait

Working indoors as the April rains soak everything  

Rubber Ducky, 10x8 oil on canvas panel. 

The scow

A few years ago I painted The Scow from the shore of Niagara Falls Ontario. It had tipped overnight and was sure to go over the falls soon. It is still there today but is breaking up even more. I am wondering if we are all wrong and it will still be there, in parts, for many more years.

Landmark home on Grand Island

 Last Fall I met with friends in Ferry Village. It was a little breezy and rain threatened but I worked from a covered area across the street to capture this home. When I moved to Grand Island it was sad looking, but as the years passed it has been renovated and restored, now it is a landmark as well as historical. The bunting displayed was a challenge to draw cleanly as the picture is only 9x12 and I was using pastels. Someday I will paint it instead.

Ferry Village Jewel 9x12 pastel c.2021

No longer just pictures, these became decor.

A Rochester 'plant-based family' acquired several of my winter vegetable projects, loose paintings, all oil on gessoed oil paper. This series was made during the winter-raiding the refrigerator for live models.

I wasn't just surprised, I was thrilled to see all these paintings matted and framed so beautifully and expertly displayed.  Each painting is about 11x14 so adding the mats and frames turned them into an amazing addition perfectly arranged on kitchen and hall walls. Love this!

 

Sunlight streaks the Path at Beaver Island

As 'plein air season' winds down there is joy at the colors of the changing season but melancholy at the idea of losing contact with painter friends for a few months. This year the Niagara Frontier Plein Air Painters held a final event at Beaver Island, including a pot luck lunch and gag prizes for artwork completed in the morning.

I am totally in love with my achievement capturing the nearby path in the low fall sunlight of Autumn. My pastels were singing! 

 

Sunbeam at Beaver Island 9x12 pastel 

How I did it! Steps to a painting

These are in my phone since last summer. It is a pastel on a brick colored Colourfix paper. Watch how the dark color modifies some of the shapes yet is not obvious in the finished painting.

Buffalo Waterfront, pastel c. K. Schifano 2021

 

Can a Painting be photobombed?

 Look closely, notice the greenish coat on a painter, lower right corner? That's Ylli Hurani and he showed up to paint the Hermit Falls off the first bridge at Three Sisters at Niagara Falls State Park. I had been painting from the cozy front seat of my car and was nearly finished when I spied him at the end of the bridge. With artist license in hand I mentally moved him onto the bridge and put him in my painting. 

'First Snow' oil, 8x10 c.2022

Surprise publicity found online

Neither of these pictured events are news to me, but finding these public posts of my work is! I'll admit, I googled myself as I occasionally check links for the blog, website, Instagram, etcetera. It is nice to know that art still gets publicity, we miss regular features about various artists, shows and events that used to be published in newspapers. Two local weekly art papers have stopped and two daily papers are shrinking and cutting articles and information due to lack of ads, support and the influence of online media.

Freedom Run Winery in October

Saturday Pumpkins  9x12 pastel, 2021

Fall Saturdays need pumpkins! I found this pretty collection at Freedom Run Winery in Appleton. Some of the painters headed into the fields to find apple trees draped with a season of healthy red ones, rows of grapevines, the view up the escarpment. I stayed right by the parking lot as I expected rain as well as a stiff breeze, neither of which help pastel paintings. Besides, I had enough of landscapes and haven't painted pumpkins in a decade or so! This was fun, people visiting the winery stayed back and had nice comments.

Saturday Pumpkins in progress

 

30th Annual Regional Artists Exhibition Acceptance

Pleased to have this painting selected by juror Lin Xia Jiang to be included in a popular and competitive annual exhibition, on view 10/8 to 11/12 at AGG, One Linwood Avenue Buffalo. The intention of the exhibition is to exemplify "the excellence in visual art found in Western New York".

Buffalo Marina and Skyline, 16x12 pastel ©K. Schifano

Gateway Park Side trip

"Adult Entertainment", 12x9 pastel on UArt 400

GatewayPark in North Tonawanda is the junction of Tonawanda Creek and the terminus of the Erie Canal. Boats, bridges, historic restored buildings, mature trees, flowered gardens. So many directions to choose to paint from. My paint buddies settled in along the canal while I took a short walk. 

The sun was brilliant and I wanted shade which I found near Main Street. Looking down a side street, Alexander’s Lounge glowed in the light so I worked in the shadow of the bank. Occasionally a delivery truck blocked the view but otherwise the street was quiet, unlike the nightlife that would be here later. The sign stated 'Adult Entertainment' so that’s my title. 

The picture is mounted on my new En Plein Air Pro pastel setup and I am loving access to all my colors at once as well as the ease of setup.