A New Studio Space Evolves Quickly!

It took all of September to put this giant room in order and another month to get set up with three artists I love to paint with. We are Plein Air buddies but decided to keep our brushes flowing by sharing a studio space in the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center. Surrounded by theater groups, artists of all mediums, musicians, museum spaces, and a frenzy of activity, as well as a restaurant, we are thrilled to be working together in such a creative place.

 

I chose a wall for my easel, it turned into a comfortable place. There is plenty of room here to expand.

But then, DECEMBER! The NACC invites crafters to fill the halls and has open house weekends, we took this opportunity to exhibit and sell paintings. My space expanded. Most of these extra paintings will remain stored here, but it will return to a painting spot after the New Year.

And of course, Santa came to visit. 

Edit. We have five artists sharing the space now! More action, more feedback. 

Hoyt Lake, Delaware Park - Taking indoors out

It is warm enough to wear the pink shade hat instead of winter duds!  Instead of a studio still life, on Thursday the Niagara Painters headed to Hoyt Lake at Delaware Park. Hard to believe this was late November. A beautiful day. It won't last so we will be in Studio 120 at NACC for most of winter.

Work In Progress 'Hoyt Lake'

Artpark, cold and windy.

Keeping cozy in dappled sunlight

Artpark on a Fall Saturday is usually pretty quiet but the Castellani Museum, Artwork and the NACC combined for a fun plein air event. The wind from the gorge was too much for me, so I settled on the building serving food and beverages. Hot apple cider with a shot of Fireball Whiskey was a  perfect warm up and kept me going. Someday I'll go back to paint the Lewiston Queenston bridge from the gorge rim.

Same place, one year apart, different media

Sun and Clouds Picnic II, oil 9x12 2022

Autumn Sun Streaks, pastel, 9x12 2021

WWPO and a Wet Paint Wedding Purchase

What a traditional view of the cataracts! The annual WorldWide Paint Out, sponsored by International Plein Air Painters was a huge success. NFPAP had at least a dozen artists on both Friday and Saturday. I had not painted here in a while and it was so satisfying to be right at the rail. Working in the heat was difficult, the swirls of wind from the gorge made an umbrella unsteady and I should have had more drinking water with me. But, by persevering I could complete this beauty. After a summer of good experiences and practice, my brushes just danced on this canvas. 

The second WWPO day, we worked by Three Sisters Islands and I went into the shade near the first bridge. A bridal party appeared and had their vows to my left, across the water. Members of the wedding party came to see me at work and purchased the wet painting for the newlyweds. I took it home, attached it securely in a perfect pizza box and delivered to their hotel. They paid me, but included a nice tip for packing and delivering! What a wonderful gift and memory for this couple. And asking your local pizza place for a clean box 'for emergencies' is a tip for artists reading this.

September Morning Wedding

Work in Progress!

Painting in a rainstorm

I was excited to paint in Youngstown at the end of the mighty Niagara, it ends at Lake Ontario with two forts, several dozen sailboats and two marinas and Canada all in view.

And then it rained, in fact it poured and was 1" deep under the tent which also started dripping underneath. No good for pastel painters, but I was using oils. The red roof shed was a perfect collection of shapes, so I started my painting...not planning to have my view blocked by the blue sailboat 'lifter' which wheeled in front of my view. 

In Fall all the large and small sailboats are removed from the Niagara River and packed together, similar to cars at a busy mall on a Saturday holiday weekend. The huge masts create an aluminum forest, with ropes continually clinking on metal.

But, I persisted and happily completed my painting. How many more old buildings will I find?

I

RCR shed at Youngstown Yacht Club 9x12 oil c. 2022

Three Sisters In sunshine

September brings the sun a little lower and the glare on the water is almost difficult to watch or paint. Having sold all the bridge pictures of Three Sisters at Niagara Falls State Park, I selected a 16x20 canvas for my favorite spot. 

As I painted this a group passed behind me and gathered across the water by the rocks and steps and I realized it was a wedding. Every painting has its own story and I enjoyed watching a very informal marriage ceremony as I painted. Afterwards some of the attendees asked to buy this painting. It wasn’t complete but we made arrangements to meet at their hotel later. I carefully packed the wet oil at home and signed it with their wedding date. The group had taken up a collection to pay for it and they included a tip! I’ll have to paint here again soon, these bridge paintings are my favorite and apparently others feel the same. 

September Morning at Three Sisters 16x20 oil

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.