3 Variations of Marsh Grasses in Western New York

If they have not been crushed by heavy snow, marshes keep their tall fronds of dry golden grasses through the new year, until new grasses fill in. Spring growth adds bulk and color variations as the green shoots stretch for sunlight.

These were coincidentally painted the same week, each about 25 miles further away.

The first is an oil, made in Buckhorn State Park, my favorite meadow, secluded and quiet, with a distant view of mists from the Falls to the west. It was hot and a little buggy, occasional clouds gave me a break from the sun even though I had an umbrella for shade. The marsh grasses nearly glowed white in the sunshine

The center painting is a pastel, painted at Tuscarora State Park on my second visit there this year. Peggy sat close to the water and made a statement about the movement of the water, giving me an idea for the title. It was neither hot nor cool, just a perfect painting day.

This last picture is also pastel, painted deeper into the Tifft Nature Preserve than I usually venture. A map noted that the water is named Mosquito Pond. Wrong. The non native Red Ants in this area were atrocious, even marching in thick lines on the raised walking platform. I tucked my pants into my socks, sat with only my boot toes touching ground and occasionally jumped around. It makes me itchy to remember as I write this! The grasses here seemed almost pink at the tops, I liked the horizontals formed by the receding layers of nature and the patterns of verticals from the growth near to far.

Ironically, I created three paintings in one week with the same subject, unintentionally, each captures its own moment and place.

Reminiscing, 9x12 pastel, 2013
Water Flows Both Ways, 9x12 pastel, 2013
Mosquito Pond in Tifft, 9x12 pastel, 2013

Lilac Gardens in Niagara Falls, Ontario

c. K Schifano

I am so fortunate to be able to get outdoors and spend a day in nature. Finding the right weather helps! A planned outing to the Niagara Parks in Ontario was postponed because of doom and gloom weather reports, but I chose to venture across the bridge anyway, the day seemed bright. It is close and I wanted to capture the lilacs in bloom. They were early this year and I was going to miss them if I waited.

Open fields by the expanse of the Canadian power project were subject to the announced winds, so I set up against the breeze, behind the car, easel on the ground with me on the inside of the car surrounded by pastels and materials. Within an hour I was gripping the top of the easel to steady it in gusty winds and watching tourists walk around sideways, head into the wind, clothing whipping around. It kept getting stronger while the scent of lilacs increased and the bushes rattled to their roots.

Working in pastel, all excess powder from my sticks was gone with the wind, mark making had a whole new meaning for me in the gales that started increasing. I always said I would rather paint in the rain than wind, but I love the plein air effect of wind in this painting. It still vibrates and blows on my page.

As I finished, fat raindrops started and I pulled the hatch shut. My drive home was erratic as the gale winds had toppled trees, broke large branches and sent all sorts of things into the roadway, heavy rain compounded the difficulty. I had spent the day out, captured it and made it home safely, another great paint adventure.

Windy Lilacs, 12x9, pastel, c. 2013

North Tonawanda boathouse park

 Notice the tiger!

 The NFPAP painters returned to the Niagara River and one of our favorite spots, near the Erie Canal. This day, the wind at the N. Tonawanda boathouses was too strong for me to paint so I was sketching various angles of buildings on the water. One of the residents asked me to paint their two cottages, including the huge tiger on the porch roof of the white one. Sitting in the shade of a huge tree with my car blocking the wind, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the residents tackling summer chores around me.

Side By Tiger, pastel 9.5 x 12.5 pastel c. K. Schifano

Whirlpool State Park Painting

This first painting is only 3x5, the size of an index card. I painted this when I arrived in the morning, the light was coming from the left as I stood well up on the hill overlooking the lower Niagara gorge at Whirlpool State Park. 

This photo shows my [ incomplete ] 2nd painting of the same scene in progress. Working larger, in the late morning to afternoon light, the shadows have nearly reversed, the colors are flatter in full sun and even the dramatic old Whirlpool bridge has lost its brilliant glow of morning. Having finished both of the same scene, it is hard to believe that they are the same place on the same day.

Shadow on the Whirlpool, 8x10 oil

Turning around from my easel, the colors of Spring and dense shadows on the ground were tempting me to try a third painting....but the second one had to be completed before I retrieved a new panel. By then, my bones wanted to sit in the soft seat of the car and go home. I will try to remember to come back here next Spring to find another spot and perhaps capture the trees in flower.

Painting For Preservation

As a plein air painter, I have some unique opportunities to meet people, make artistic statements and work in new places. On May 4, the Painting for Preservation group met at 54 North Street in Buffalo to paint this relic and bring attention to the possibilities for rehabbing. For decades, it was the home of a radio station, it was also a gift shop with the most memorable gardens out front. Vacant for too many years now, there are still hyacinths and tulips popping up in the yard and the fancy brickwork, although painted, is still dramatic.
Shadows of History, pen, c. 2013

Just a few blocks away, East Utica Street has a row of large Victorians, well kept for a hundred years, but now vacant and succumbing to the elements. Various artists met there on May 14, another beautiful Spring day in Buffalo, drawing friendly visitors, children and neighbors.

Angles of History, pen c. 2013

These two drawings, as well as a pastel and oil series of my grain elevator paintings and other P4P works are displayed at a group show at CJ Jung Center on Franklin Street in Buffalo through the summer.

Some of the painters, neighbors and visitors on Utica Street.