2014 Art Calendar

Although I usually have a fistful of my new calendars in the car, I don't see everyone who wants one.  They are sold in several convenient locations for $12, but you have to see me or use Paypal on my website to get the refills.

Castellani Art Museum Gift Shop at Niagara University
The Book Corner, Main Street Niagara Falls
Studio 1, Niagara Street, Niagara Falls
Serene Gardens, Grand Island Blvd, Grand Island
Quaker Bonnet on Allen in Buffalo
464 Gallery, Amherst Street, Buffalo

Oops, this is a 2012 image, but it shows how the case stands on a desk or counter.

Open Studio Event

For the fifth year, I am opening my studio for a festive weekend in November. Arranging artwork in new ways each year is a fun challenge that takes me several weeks. Sometimes the color or style of frames help determine arrangements, other times layouts are determined by color or subject. Moving pictures around gives me insights on a year's efforts.

This year I have expanded into the next room, where most of my Niagara Falls State Park paintings are now displayed together. Although there is a lot of green, and browns and golds, the blueish painted walls intensify the feeling of mist, water and WET in there.

Come on over, November 16 & 17 from 11-4, I have a gift for all visitors.

On the French River

French River, 15x30 oil, Kath Schifano

Two Paintings? The top picture shows the painting nearly finished, before some areas were adjusted, notably the large yellow tree and the ground of the wooded areas. The second has varnish on it, several months later. I include both so you can see the difference a final coat makes to the colors.

I always like a single commission on my easel, but just one at a time, for when the weather is dreadful or I want to paint late into the night. Having several to do creates unnecessary pressure!

Some paintings take longer than others due to detail or size, how much time I have, or perhaps just my mood.

Commissions usually require working from photos, the better the light, the better the painting. My client brought a strong selection of absolutely brilliant Fall photos from a variety of angles and directions. Her plan is to give it as a gift as this family cabin has been the source of many years of pleasure. As I painted, I imagined their summer activities, using a magnifying glass to create the painting, I observed the benches, burn barrel, the outdoor lights, the combinations of rocks that provide supports and markers. I found windows on the roofline of the boat garage, as well as 'before and after' pictures of the new door. I recall she said it was about 4 hours drive north of Toronto, then a 45 minute boat ride to access the cabin. A long trip, but a spectacular place to be.

This was a pleasure to paint, using vibrant colors, finding the reflections of the opposite shore in the windows, majestic super tall hardwoods. I am so proud of how this oil painting looks, cobbled together from 3 photos taped together, with references taken from several more. I love having a challenge on my easel, this challenge includes everything I like to paint, water and reflections, rocks, trees and a slice of life. While I start my next studio painting, another architecture portrait, this one hangs on my wall. It leaves me soon to become a family heirloom.

French River 15x30 oil, 2013

Why two Paintings? The top picture shows the painting nearly finished, before some areas were adjusted, notably the large yellow tree and the ground of the wooded areas. The second has varnish on it, several months later. I include both so you can see the difference a final coat makes to the colors.

Poetry & Art, and Interchangeable Impressions

Stuck in an arm brace for several weeks, I could not hold or maneuver my favored pastels, which probably were the cause of my wrist and thumb issues in the first place.

Not using pastels, limited to oils this summer and fall, I devised a few new ways to wield brushes. Working on treated wood boards gave me more control. Using a palette knife helped cut down on my repetitive motions, and working smaller, with its own particular challenges, limited additional stress on my damaged tendons. I would not give up creating!

While painting with Sherrill Primo, she told me of a poem by Richard about the single red tree of a new fall, a clarion of the season. Hence this lovely bit of Buckhorn State Park, across from the fisherman's dock and its title.

Clarion for Autumn, 7x5, oil 2013

A Published Painting

My painting, 'Coffee Time, Long Beach Morning' is featured this week in 'Why This Works' by Jeanne Mackenzie. Click HERE to see the article published in an international online magazine.

Part of the pleasure of being a plein air painter involves crawling websites for great new artwork, sharing ideas and techniques with other artists and discovering how much wonderful art is being produced worldwide under the banner of 'plein air'.

Weekly letters and magazines, blogs, personal websites, journals and social media keep us connected. I have been fortunate to know painters all over the country, to meet and often paint with my artist friends at parks and vistas wherever I travel. The Publisher's Invitational event in the Adirondacks is one of the best places to meet new people and share experiences as artists. I joined them the inaugural year and returned to attend 3 times, the 4th event coming in 2014 may be the first I miss. However, my friendships are permanent. One site I was introduced to there is at OutdoorPainter.com, an online weekly magazine that features events and people, which chose this painting for a feature.

Coffee Time, Long Beach Morning, oil 10x20 K. Schifano