Pillbox Hats in the Studio

Mom always wore a pillbox hat to go out, and a neighbor gave me a few more in their original boxes to use at school. For years, the boxes lay on a closet shelf until this still life was set up in Studio 120 at the NACC. I can let the hats go now to new closet shelves, I have made this painting of them for my memories. The boxes are from Beirs, a lovely Niagara Falls department that is long gone. Vintage Pillbox Hats, 16x20 oil

Indoors in the Winter, Commission Painting

 A new customer inquired about two paintings she had previously seen, one at the Junior League Buffalo Showhouse and the other on my website, kschifano.com. 

Unfortunately, one was sold while the other was a History Museum auction item. After some discussion, and convincing meI could reproduce them, I repainted each one. It was nice to work on larger canvas indoors during the winter. I completed one in my home studio while the other was painted in Studio 120 at The NACC. 

They are both shown here leaning against her fireplace. They were to be mounted on the wall above, in lovely company with other artworks. My pleasure!

Another Moment, oil, 24x36

Still Dancing, oil 20x24 

Snowy Masterviews

It was a gray winter and I had few opportunities to paint outdoors. This year's weather inspired me to do only 3 paintings in snow. My requirements are few...no wind, at least 30 degrees and blazing sun. The sun was missing most days so in Studio 120 I resorted to a photo I had taken several years ago. 

Who hasn't stood on the viewer steps to get a better look? I like that these viewers seem to have a face, the newer models are more robotic looking with giant eyes. This one is looking to the sun and hoping for Spring, the snow fence behind it and the metal head have snow for now.

I like the whimsy of this one!

Masterview oil

Merry Christmas!

 

An electric moving Santa figure in a golden coat and dress whirred back and forth with his lit candle on a table near my easel. How could one resist him? A little artistic license changed his colors and put Santa outdoors in the snow. This is our family Christmas card, 2023. 40 years of homemade cards!

The Plucked Chicken

A week after I painted the Blue Moon, the weather was lovely and the ride to Paint Youngstown again was sublime. With the coast Guard red roof in the background, this sailboat found its way onto my canvas, drawn with underpaints and I worked on the water and reflections before the weather changed the surface of the water. Well, it did change and the current turned the sailboat around before I was finished. The prow was now to the right. It wasn't going to come back to this position for a long time so I had to finish the picture looking at the opposite side and reversing in my mind using the underpainting as a guide.

I posted the painting on Facebook and it was forwarded by someone to the owner. I didn't see their comment but they came to the November NFLive event at the Niagara Falls Convention Center after Thanksgiving to see me.

The night before the show I had realized I should have a sample of my boat paintings in my table display and put it in an available right-sized frame. It was only a few weeks since it was painted so I offered to take care of it in the future as it wasn't fully dry for a few more months and I hadn't secured it tight enough for long term display. It went home that day with the family that owned the boat. And I learned where the name 'Plucked Chicken" came from. 

Plucked Chicken 16X12 oil on linen