'The Plume Over Three Sisters'

This is another bridge painting at Three Sisters islands at the Niagara Reservation State Park, now hanging in Dr. Marrone's Dental office along with another of my falls paintings showing the power of the upper rapids. I started it as a bridge picture with emphasis on the plume of the Horseshoe falls in the sky. The early Fall colors and the light and shadows of the bridge took over and the mist is a smaller part of the painting than I first imagined. Something about the bridges, I love being there.

I have used this composition as a reference for a much larger pastel, a good experience taking a plein air to the studio.

The Plume Over Three Sisters. 9.5x12, oil on birch panel, 2014

Another Croton, this is an oil at the Botanical Gardens in Buffalo.

Over the years, croton colors begged to be observed and recorded. I have made several paintings in different media and each has a different personality. This day, a new path had opened to the north inside the Palm Dome at the Buffalo Botanical Gardens, I couldn't resist.

A little reminder, every one of the images and paintings in this blog belong to me, I retain copyright for all of them, sold or not.

Another Croton, 9.5x12, oil on Arches oil paper, 2015

In the collection of the Burchfield Penney Art Center

I am now personally in the collection of the Burchfield Penney Art Center, or at least this photo of me. David Moog is creating a series of photographs of Western New York artists for the museum. One of the uses will be for a 100 year retrospective, 2115! Be there. 

David Moog (b. 1944), Kath Schifano, 2015; Archival inkjet print, 20 x 15 inches; Gift of the artist, copyright David Moog, 2015

A southern tier home sketch

  

This was drawn in pencil for a friend from a series of family photos and a little help from Google Earth. It was her childhood home and she wanted a picture to coordinate with an old drawing of her grandfather's home. The house has many changes since then, including being surrounded by mature trees, but I was able to capture the roof lines accurately from a street level view from Google maps.

An 'indoor Plein air' at Buffalo's Botanical Gardens.

It is 'back to the gardens' season. Too cold to stand outside on ice covered ground in the swirling snow with wind chills hovering around zero, my Thursdays at Frederick Law Olmsted's 1900 Botanical Gardens are a relief from winter house air. Oxygen, green tropical plants, fragrant flowers and happy visitors make for wonderful paintouts-indoors.

  

Orchids and Amaryllis, oil 9x12, 2015

Burchfield 'Artists Seen' Photo project

David Moog, a Rochester based and well known B&W photographer is in residence at Burchfield Art Museum, he was given a studio on the first floor for the next three years. His project involves photographing WNY artists for 'undecided' uses right now, but especially for a 100 year retrospective in the museum to be shown in the 22nd century. Talk about planning ahead!

I was invited to sit for my portrait and also enjoyed an afternoon discussion of art, artists, introspection and philosophy with both Mr. Moog and Don Keller in their photo studio, meeting a few Museum staff and reviewing the Alexander Levy exhibit that filled most of the first floor.

I had been advised to choose whatever I wanted to wear, and there would be no props. I spent at least a week thinking about what  to choose to wear and do. I had a vision of leaning against a wall, standing. The 100 year later photo of Me that I imagined needed to be comfortable and natural, so I chose jeans and a vest, the Andy Warhol pin already on the pocket flap. Walking into the room, Mr. Moog told me he had decided to do closeups this week. Although many of the photos involved looking directly into the lens, the one he chose of me was relaxed and looking down, two hands to the side of my face.  Clothes were not the subject, once again I was unnecessarily concerned about a detail.

'Photo of the Photographer'

WIne On Third WInter displays

Winter Night's Dawn c. K. Schifano

Impact Artists Gallery held a satellite exhibit at Wine On Third, Niagara Falls. These two oil paintings were on display in January through the middle of February, the colors and mood of these paintings were perfect for the patrons braving the weather. Other artists contributed landscapes, still lifes, portraits and abstracts, for a very interesting variety compared to their usual one person exhibits. 

That Impact show was followed by an exhibit of work for the NACC auction fundraiser on March 15. I donated a painting to the show, a small salmon colored Amaryllis in a lovely gold carved frame. Go there!

Coomer Road Concords, c. K.Schifano

Winter Night's Dawn, 30x20, oil 
Coomer Road Concords, 20x16, oil 

An indoor study

Nearly finished, 'Fresh Orchids'

Ah, February, it hasn't had a thaw yet and it is too frigid to paint outdoors. 

Contemporary realist painter,  Thomas Kegler held a one day workshop in still life painting at Partners in Art, North Tonawanda, and I joined for a day out and some inspiration. I had attended his workshop two years ago and was intrigued by his use of glazes, especially on a finished painting.

At that time, I had a spray of orchids which I carefully protected on the frigid drive to East Aurora. For this workshop, I hunted around for a similar subject and found this cymbidium plant. My plan was to create the same size and subject to create a pair of pictures. Now that I have them home together I see the difference two years of painting-and thinking-can be. Yes, it is a pair and I hope they stay together.

5/5 days of the Facebook artists challenge.

The last day of 5 in this FB painters challenge.
As much as I love water and am tempted to post waterfall paintings from the Adirondacks, I spent this beautiful day enjoying fresh snow and sunshine in my yard. The art lesson is to paint what you know, so I chose my outdoors for the final day. Thank you, Frances Gaffney for the nomination, we need to paint together soon, this was fun and a bit of a challenge to post daily. Breaking the rules I post 4, and nominate some more. Marcus L Wise, you generously support so many artists, Dave Borkenhagen you share my love of water, and Kathy McDonnell painter of landscapes: I hope you three rise to the challenge, post 3 artworks a day for 5 days and nominate another artist each day.

1. Behind the Pool, plein air oil 11x14
2. Fall Back, 25x19 pastel
3. Rainbow Spring, 24x20 oil
4. Didn't Miss Fall plein air pastel 16x20

Add caption

Day 4 of 5 FB painting challenge

Day 4 of 5 in this FB painters challenge. I have selected three views at Niagara Falls demonstrating the power of nature, the fury and energy of tumbling water racing from Lake Erie, up the Niagara, down the Falls to Lake Ontario. I love to paint close to the water, the experience of the spray and the roar of the cataracts give meaning to the words power and majesty. 1&2 are plein air, the third is a studio painting.

1. Roiling AM, 12x16 pastel-rocks at the base of American Falls
2. Winter Divot, 8x12 oil-a rock on the precipice of the Horseshoe in winter
3. Another Surprise on the Path, 21x30 pastel-off the path from 3 Sister's Islands.

It seems easy to choose paintings for this challenge, but nominating another artist is difficult because of the mathematics of the challenge, each nominee invites 5 more, they each invite 5 more, that's 5 artists, then 25, 125, 500, 2500, 12,500, 50,000 artists (thats 750,000 pictures on our news feed) posting in just a month. And they all have to be on FB. Every time I thought of a name, I see they have been challenged. So, Kim James Yarwood, let's see what you are up to.Fine artist and storyteller,neighbor and longtime friend, it's your turn to post 3 art works a day for 5 days and nominate another each day.

Day 3 of 5 paintings Facebook Challenge

Day 3 of the 5 day art challenge to post 3 artworks a day for 5 days. In the spirit of celebrating friends from the past, and showcasing their art, today I nominate Sarah Louisa Burns to join this challenge and post her amazing knitted sculptures-or other work- hopefully with her hilarious comments 3 each day for 5 days.
Today's subject is the ocean-all plein air, all from the same spot by the Ohio Street jetty, Long Beach, Long Island, NY. I am visualizing warm sunshine and bare feet on sand as snow gently falls in my yard.
1. Incoming Tide, 8x10 oil
2. Waiting For the Big One, 12x24 oil
3. Slack, 12x16 oil

 — with Sarah Louisa Burns.

Day 2 of 5 FB paintings

Day 2 of 5 Facebook Painting Challenge.

I selected unpublished paintings that had a bit of humor when they were made. The first 'My Peonies Have No Ants' is a Springtime plein air; painting the flower buds outdoors I watched so many fat ants crawl around that I decided to be 'different', therefore, no ants.

The second was painted at a vendor workshop, 'Studio Zygocactus'. We were to paint from photos to evaluate a new paint product. I forgot eyeglasses and painted this sideways, displayed it sideways and didn't know it. Nowadays, I often paint outdoors without my glasses.

The last is a Botanical Gardens close up. Behind me was a vicious spiked cactus, hence the title, 'No Leaning.'
I nominate Patricia Gaeta to post 3 paintings a day for 5 days, we want to see what you are up to!

 — with Patricia Gaeta.

From Facebook Artist Posts 1

Day 1 of 5
I am nominated for the current Facebook Challenge by Frances Gaffney, a Manhattan and ADK artist and friend, to post 3 artworks for 5 days and nominate another artist each day. It has been a pleasure to see so much great work from so many artist friends and I am pleased to be a part of making FB posts beautiful.
These 3 are earlier works, pastels on 22x30 BFK created from real roses in my studio. I have always been inspired by nature and this series of rose paintings 2003-04 were stepping stones to becoming a better artist by observing and recording as well as the experience of working with limited color.
In the shadow of Frances, I nominate Elizabeth Flannery Damesimo to post 3 paintings a day for 5 days.
1. Investigating Pink
2. Rotated Rose 
3. More Moon Shadows

Finally lifting a brush to under paint a new studio painting, 36x24

 I say 'finally lifting a brush' because I have finally recovered from my wrist surgery in September. I had no idea how much I had been missing or how much I had been hurting until the pain was gone...the same day as the surgery. 

Thinking that it would work itself out was not the best plan for me, as it had started to really bother me in June of 2013, by August I wore a small brace and in the Fall I finally made an appointment. By then I had stopped using pastels and modified techniques with the brushes so I could still paint. A hand specialist gave me a bigger brace that kept my thumb immobile, various appointments involved cortisone shots, useless pain cream, different braces and suggestions to consider other tests and surgery. Not an ideal patient, I wanted to just be fine without any stitches. Boy, was I wrong, I could have saved a year of complications. Now that I have had a 'First Dorsal Compartment Release' and waited the right amount of recuperation time I can paint and pastel, within reason, at least until I get it all figured out. New artwork will be posted more often now!

Winter gift show at NACC

The Niagara Arts and Cultural Center winter gallery exhibit is titled 'Fire and Ice'. I have two paintings there but this is my display earlier in the day when the NACC was open to the public for a holiday show and sale on tables. I brought some mini paintings, the 2015 calendars and an assortment of small framed plein air canvases. It was a fun day and interesting to hear comments about the smaller works and to meet other artists with their work.

Snovember cancellation

 Not sure where there is a road open but the amount of snow on this car is a small indication of how much there is in the storm center. I assume this is in an area that is not the hardest hit.

A photo in the newspaper showed this marquee with a snow pile on top that is taller than the sign height. I like the message they added here.

This weekend was supposed to be my major end of year event, replacing the "Open Studio" I hosted for the past five years. Unfortunately most snow records were broken this week as the Southtowns of Buffalo were inundated with snowfall amounts measured in feet with numbers like 5-6 feet in the worst areas. Since the Holiday Art Festival was scheduled in the lovely Knox Mansion in East Aurora in the midst of the snowbelt it has been rescheduled to Spring. With the amounts of snow there- a whole year's worth in two days-some may still be melting in the lots then.

Obviously these are not my photos, we had about 3 inches on Grand Island, the photos are from the internet.

Using a penny for emphasis

Mini paintings take a bit of effort and concentration, as well as a good collection of exquisite small brushes. I wish I had more small frames, but it is probably better that I do not; these are 'testing the wrist' paintings. I waited longer than I wanted to start to paint after my wrist surgery and the small brushes require more control and a firmer grip than I expected, so this was an uncomfortable series to complete. Nevertheless, I love them!

The penny in the center indicates how small they are. The first Horseshoe falls is the largest, at 2.5" by 3.5", all four with frames can fit in one hand easily. These will be coming to the Holiday Art Festival at the Knox mansion in East Aurora the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Two of these are from a set Annette Baumgarden gave to me years ago, I had another one painted, but they are so small I ruined it by drilling the hardware right through to the front. I have searched the internet and have not found a place that sells small frames, unless I count the wholesale lots with a minimum order of 500 pieces.

Ending one Season, Starting Another

The Autumn leaves are still brilliant and there are more paint days ahead but an end of season art show for one of my groups will open November 1 in Lockport at the new Lock Side Art Center.

My friends in Niagara Frontier Plein Air Painters had scheduled paintouts at various locations, 7 or 8 every month since Spring. We hope for a good turnout to see the paintings that members choose from these sites to display at this exhibition. Although I painted the same number of pictures as usual this year, they were concentrated in three separate adventures, trips to the ocean in Delaware in June, the Zhang and Wooley workshop mid-summer and another late summer ocean week in Long Beach. In between I worked fairly small and skipped many dates to rest my wrist. In mid September I had wrist surgery and am thrilled at the improvement I feel, although I have not attempted more than a few touchups with paint yet. Some tiny studies, about 2x2 and 2x3 tested my small brush skills and took longer than I expected.

Not back to a regular painting schedule yet, I look forward to the opportunity to work with pastels again and I am considering some still life experiments this winter. It remains to be seen!

P4P doesn't always work

 

The original expansive Delaware Court structure had a lovely curved facade; Painting for Preservation artists had gathered there on a brilliant Fall Saturday to bring attention to the fact that the Chippewa Street businesses and stores were moving out to demolish the classic building and replace it with a monster huge structure. 

At a quick stop at Spot Coffee exactly a year later I see the new building is in progress. Fortunately the architect preserved the curved facade, it will be interesting to see how it is finished and how it effects the area as time goes on.  I am glad I had an opportunity to capture the original building, spend some time with it and paint a dignified portrait.

Delaware Court, oil, 10x12, 2013

This is the sitting room at the Knox Mansion

The sitting room of the Knox family is at the top of the main staircase. I think it was the master bedroom as the bath has the original pencil marks of the growing family's heights marked on the molding and now preserved with acrylic. The house is mostly empty, with a full pro kitchen it is used for special events.

November 21, 22, 23 the Friends of Knox Farm State Park present the Holiday Art Festival in the main house. I have been invited to present my art there; Monica will be sharing the room with me and another textile artist. This photo shows 'my side' and an exit door. Let the plans begin!

The Buffalo History Museum is good to their artists.

I am writing about donating again. Artists are constantly asked to donate work for fundraisers. Who asks a handyman, lawn service or plumber for donations? We are the first to be asked to contribute to our community and sometimes works are purchased by bids that are lower than the price of the frames we send them in...no counting time, materials or skills.

It is fairly easy to contribute a painting to groups I truly believe in and also somewhere that appreciates it with a 'free' membership, a ticket to an event or some profit sharing from the sale of my art. Some venues collect more donations than they need and barely acknowledge the artist, making repeat donations rare.

Last year, The Buffalo History Museum asked for a donation and I gave them a painting of their gardens. In return, I was sent a ticket to the event which turned out to be a lovely evening even though I barely knew a person in the three large rooms. I did get to see most of the museum and sample many lovely foods as well that evening. The best part was seeing four different people silently bidding up the price on my picture.

On their donee's paperwork, the museum asks if you want to donate all of the proceeds or make a 60/40 split with the museum. Talk about fair! This is what artists need, an opportunity to make a bit back on their own investment. More groups should try this and they will see the quality of the art they have go way up.

This year, I am sending two paintings for their November 6 'Paint the Town' fundraiser, a lovely little one of the Japanese gardens that I painted at the Cherry Blossom festival and another of Ruth's Garden in Artpark, framed in a thick and luscious golden plein air frame. Believing in the mission of the Buffalo History Museum, I hope they make a bundle.

Rain in the Japanese Garden, 5x7 oil on boardwww.buffalohistory.org/

Off the Boardwalk in Long Beach

For the past two years, I have been told that I should paint on or near the boardwalk in Long Beach. Finally, I went, to the exact spot I was told to go, which was by the fancy new and expensive hotel. It was fairly quiet there when I started, but as the tide went out more people were set up in all directions, tanning, reading, scrolling on their phones and partying with scrumptious picnic baskets. It got fairly crowded and full of rented chaise lounges and blue umbrellas from the hotel.

I was the only one standing around, long sleeves, long paints, wide brimmed hat, flimsy white umbrella hoisted high like a flag and the interesting thing is...I was invisible. No one spoke to me or stopped to look, or apologized for walking in front of me (that normally happens a lot). The hoi polloi did have exquisite bathing suits, matching towels and sandals, spray on tans, perfect hair and skin, nipped tucked, plucked and primped like models. The one mile between my normal painting spot and this one could have been a hundred as it was another world altogether. This 12x16 oil came out perfect, so I'm glad I went!

'Near the Boardwalk', 12x16 oil on board

'You Are There' a P4P art exhibit

Eight plein air ocean paintings based on the Ohio Street Jetty are displayed at Artists Space Gallery on Main Street in Buffalo as part of the Painting for Preservation group. The title of the exhibit is "You Are There". Without a written explanation, I hope you would feel the power of water and weather, the changes around an ocean barrier and the mood of an ocean.

Sara Zak invited a group of the P4P painters and photographers to show, but the focus was not our preservation paintings, rather, work of our own choice that illustrated the theme. Looking at the work, I was intrigued by the powerful images displayed. 

They are shown here grouped within an architectural plaque on the entrance wall, but by the time the final show was hung they were moved a bit further down the wall, into a wider format. 

'Sand Painting' 9x12 oil on birch with plenty of authentic beach sand in the paint.

Back to Long Beach, Long Island. This is the jetty directly to the East of Ohio Street and the first time I strayed from my usual rocks. It attracted me because the ocean had piled the sand so high on one side while it was deeply carved on the west. Later in the week a hurricane was out at sea, causing the surf at high tide to push this particular sand right over the rocks, making it more even on each side. The pleasures of plein air: documenting change.

Setting up, preparing my palette and unpacking my supplies proved to be the source of the title, a fresh palette of paint (and probably more paint than I usually use as I was planning two) acts like a frisbee when buffeted by the wind. Not bungeed down yet, the wood palette landed fairly sideways in the sand. Sounds safe? No. Enough sand had been carried in the air and kicked up that the paints were fairly tan. I used it anyway after scraping some of the worst lumps and gained a painting with an awful lot of texture. My main brush took a beating as well, pushing around the paint wore out a fair number of precious hairs, leaving me with a ferrule full and a brush partly worn.

Sand Painting, 9x12 oil on birch board

Impact Artists Gallery features 3 solo shows.

The month of August is mine. At least at Impact Artist's Gallery it is partly mine. The first long wall, shown above, around the corner and then another wall and you will see all my favorite flowers, vegetables and various botanicals. Along with Paulette Jurek and Joan Hambleton we have filled the gallery with our three person show titled "Empower".

'Fourth Friday at Trimain' was our artist reception with the standard table of brownies, cheeses, wonderful dips and pita which kept several people in the gallery for longer than usual, it was a classic hot August evening, but I just felt cool, finally seeing these particular pieces displayed together. Lots sent their regrets as it was a big night for events in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, but I was still pleased to have had visitors coming in steadily for the entire time of the reception. Lucky for me, Bobbie, Chris and Sandi, along with one of her roommates also were there and they got to visit the Buffalo Artist Studios area as well.

2015 Art Calendars-All Niagara images

2015 Calendars are printed, sorted and packaged into cases and refills, and nothing has changed except the beautiful images. This year, all the represented paintings are of Niagara Falls and the river. I have had requests for this for several years, but by the time it was printed half of the paintings are gone.

You can email me, phone or click the links on my webpage, same prices as ever. Click Here!

Check, cash, credit card, paypal or bitcoin, they are $12 in person, $10 for a refill. By mail and online I collect a bit more for postage and packaging ($15 and 11), but all prices include sales tax. Purchase several calendars by mail and the price goes down, 5 for $65 includes postage and taxes.

The theme is Niagara Falls, and although there is a lot of water, there is still a variety of colors, scenes and locations in the park.

Plein air sand

Late in the day, families pack up, as beach blankets and umbrellas are set up for the day and used from morning to sunset. These late afternoon umbrellas attracted me as their vibrant colors contrasted with the slightly overcast sky.  There are a series of spots near the center which are sand from the day of the painting. I could easily brush them off, but they are too authentic! Pure plein air with proof!

Beach Sentries 11x14 oil on panel

Youngstown Yacht Club

 A photo from last week's 'Art on the River' evening. If I can't be outdoors at the Youngstown Yacht Club on a warm summer evening, paint anyway.

This annual event is on the Thursday before the Lewiston Art Festival, a good warm up for me. I bring a few items to show and sell and my freshly minted calendars, but it is a rehearsal for the list of things one needs as a business person...charge card materials, packaging papers and bags, receipt book, pens, business cards and flyers, notebook, iPad, clips, wire, tools, tape, water bottle, sign.....

Thanks to Beverly and Donna for the invitation to show and for the photo!

3rd and Niagara, Niagara Falls Painting story

I found a photograph of myself on the 'Niagara Painters' website, we were painting this morning in downtown Niagara Falls.

A young lady from Boznia Herzegovina came by to chat, she was practicing her English, and asked me why I chose the 3rd Street scene. I said I liked the street because I used to live right there ----> on the painting.

She answered, 'I live right there.' She's upstairs from the old Sheusi Brothers furniture store, I lived in the cottage behind, but I knew about the apartments, the Murphy beds, built in cabinets and elegant woodwork. I wonder if, after 30 years, many of them in neglect, some of the elegance remains? For her sake, I hope so.

Kenan biennial 'Niagara Frontier Art Exhibit'

  Last summer my wrist and hand overdosed with pastels. In fact, I damaged tendons by having three summer residencies where I painted all day, even painting nocturnes. Actually it was 2 1/2 residencies, the third was not completed due to overuse of my gripping thumb. How the lovely colors and sensual marks of my loved pastel sets could become so difficult is still hard to understand. 

By Fall, I began wearing a brace and figured out novel ways to handle a paintbrush as well as a palette knife, but the pastels stayed in storage while I worked carefully with oils. Eventually, I was wearing the brace 20-22 hours a day, and not improving much, visiting hand specialists who administered different shots (some worked for a while) and various tests for carpel tunnel and other injuries.

After several months I retrieved a pastel commission from storage and slowly completed the late winter gorge scene. Such joy to commune with my colors! After delivering it, I needed to do this new pastel painting for myself. Views of the curve of Niagara Falls always intrigue me, individual boulders and favorite islands have been repeated in plein air yearly in paint and pastel. I just needed to be a pastel artist again.

I usually complete a large work in about a week's worth of studio painting, but this took more than two months. I paced the use of my hands, experimenting with working left handed, always aware that I didn't want more pain, but enjoying the pastels, the sound of mark making and richness of pigment and texture. I loved the process and the painting and entered it into the Kenan biennial 'Niagara Frontier Art Exhibit', one of my favorite local shows. 

Accepted, this work of ...what, a year?....hangs proudly in the Kenan dining room, right near a digital collage by Carl Schifano until August 29.

Horseshoe Racing, 22x28 pastel 2014

Save the date!

  

The big vista

Everyone driving down Lewiston Hill looks at the scene out over the lake and the rolling landscape from the escarpment to the shore, mostly farms and fields. On clear days the city of Toronto stands like a beacon in the distance, more than 35 miles as the crow flies. This Spring day, I painted in Ann's backyard, on top of the escarpment, as I looked, the spires and buildings of the city appeared as the morning mist lifted.

Toronto Haze, 9x12 oil

Artists Group Gallery

The edge of Goat Island at Niagara Falls separates the water that goes over the two falls from the Niagara River. The rapids become quite tumultuous at this spot, the speed of the water increases and splashes on the rocks and ledges. An earlier post this year showed this being painted from the front seat of my car at the end of a long cold winter. 

I donated the painting to Artists Group Gallery for the summer fundraiser, an evening with delightful food and drinks, some surprises and the opportunity to purchase small artworks at $100. 

It's July 24th in the evening, tickets available from the gallery, 885-2251

Rapids Start 6x6 oil, c. K. Schifano