Everything's Coming Up Roses in our November Challenge

The challenge this month was roses. 

I think every painter, has painted a rose.  It must be the most loved of all flowers.

I have chosen to post two of my favorite rose paintings today, with two different techniques and two very different effects.

The first and was done using lots of liquin added to my paint, which produced a soft, almost watercolor feel. 

 The second was done with a mix of palette knife and brush, and does not depict a perfect rose, but in my eye, it is still a beautiful flower.  It feels much more structured.

Which do you prefer?

Carol Schiff

www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

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Kathy Garvey

I have a favorite rose painting from years ago that took quite a few hours to create. It's one of my Mom's knock-out roses painted in acrylic on 11x14 canvas.

Knock-Out-Rose
11x14 Acrylic on Canvas

But, for this  month's challenge, I took a few old photos of my Mom's gardens and a lot less time to create what look like a colored pencil sketch and a watercolor. The technique uses custom brushes on a mask followed by several filters in Photoshop, and is extremely versatile and easy. (Click to enlarge.)

A Visitor
8x10 Digital Print

Yellow Rose Watercolor
8x10 Digital Print

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Jean Thomas

Wine and Roses
Oil on Canvas, 10" x 10"

The small wine glass in my painting was made by my great grandfather, Joseph Locke. He was a glass artist first, and also a painter and print maker. He invented and patented a type of art glass called Amberina, when he worked for New England glass company.  Amberina,  a two-toned glassware, was originally made from 1883 to about 1900. It is still made today. 

Also, he loved to paint and flowers were a favorite subject. I'm fortunate to have a few of his paintings and glass. Here is one of roses. (image coming) 

Jean Thomas 

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I decided that paper rather than paint might be the way to go for the challenge this month.  I found some beautiful red tissue with the words love printed on the paper and that was what inspired the collage.  I had to use the tissue in a special way and what symbolizes love more than roses.

Donna Vines

www.donnavinesart.Etsy.com

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"Rosy Outlook" by Carmen Beecher

8x10 oil

 "Why is it no one ever sent me yet

One perfect limousine, do you suppose?
Ah no, it’s always just my luck to get
One perfect rose."

 --from a poem by Dorothy Parker

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This painting is of a photograph I made while on a trip to Canada.  We visited the summer home of President Roosevelt where I found this beautiful multicolored rose.  The painting is now in my guest bedroom.  Enjoy.    Denette Schweikert. 

www.denette.net

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Mary Warnick

I love painting roses, and keep trying to do a better job of it.  Some are better than others, but i keep trying to be perfect every time.  This is the latest one, with this challenge is mind.  I am trying to keep it loose and watery.

Beach Painting, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, "Caribbean" by Carol Schiff, 16x20,1.5" Oil SOLD

Have you ever been to the Islands?  In Florida "the Islands" can only mean one thing.....any of those gorgeous, laid-back, tropical paradise places starting with the Abaco's Islands to the north and extending down the coast of South American to Granada.

The water color is amazing and I never get tired of gazing at it.  The air is hot and sultry, everyone moves in slow motion.......island time.  The people are amazing and you feel like you are living in a Ernest Hemingway novel.

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Once we spent a week on Eleuthera  with our grown childen,  and every morning one of our neighbors would leave a fresh pineapple on our porch.  Yummy, best Pina Colada ever!  We would walk to the bakery every morning for fresh Bahama bread for our breakfast.  In the afternoons, the entire island population would gather on the dock to buy fresh fish.  The fishermen would lay their catch on the dock and the housewives would gather around to pick their dinner.

Every day we found another isolated, beautiful beach to enjoy.  Evenings were spent sitting on the porch, laughing, enjoying each other.  It was a throw back to another, simpler life and we all enjoyed it immensely.

Thanks for reading my blog today.


www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Abstract Seascape, Small Oil Painting, Daily Painting, Knife Artwork, Textured Seascape

SOLD

I am very happy with the understated color which makes the brighter hues really pop.  I am not sure if it would be call an abstract or impressionistic.......what do you think?

What I do know, I really enjoyed painting it and want to try it again and go BIG!

Thanks for reading my blog today.

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Palette Knife Paintings, Small Oil Paintings, Daily Painting, Textured Art

A selection of my palette knife art, for those of you, who love texture.

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Dibble the Dragon Children's Book by Carmen Beecher

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My children's book makes a great gift item for your little ones who like books one can actually hold, and pages one can turn rather than swiping. This book is about a little dragon who has doubts that he is really a dragon, because he can't breathe fire.

Carmen

A Day in the Gardens

L

Left to right, Denette, Kathy, Donna and Fay

My journal page 

Carmen Beecher

Bluebird Painting, Small Oil Painting,Giclee Print, Print of Painting, Daily Painting, 6x8" Oil On Canvas Covered Panel. SOLD

I like to paint birds.......usually, herons, egrets or pelicans catch my eye.  So, I really appreciated this reference photo from my friend and photographer, Ted Fuhrer.  You can see more of his work on facebook.  6x8" on canvas panel.

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The original is sold, but it would be an adorable giclee print on canvas or wood planks, in the size of your choice.  Contact me if you are interested in details.

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I hope you find a bluebird outside your window this morning!

Thank you for viewing my blog today.

Shady Cows 10x8 Original Oil on Canvas Landscape

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It's been a while since I posted. I've been very busy working on a book that will be coming out in April. You will be hearing more about that later.

This painting is all about the light. I love the shade in the foreground, with a tiny couple of slivers of light on the pasture.

Carmen

Small Landscape Painting, Cabin in the Woods, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, 6x8" oil on panel, SOLD

This is a small painting I did last fall.  We have moved from Florida to North Carolina, and this one was overlooked in the craziness of an interstate move.   Deep breath......it is all over now!

I often passed this cabin, on my daily walks.  I am always inspired by the beauty surrounding me during my walks.  The cabin looked so charming, nestled in the trees, with spots of sunlight hitting it.  

This piece is a combination of brush and palette knife.

I have gone without painting for several months due to my move.  I am anxious to return to my new (small) studio, and begin this new version of my daily routine.  I hope I remember how to paint!

Thanks for viewing!

Carol Schiff

www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

ww.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Visit the Brevard Zoo

by Kathy Garvey

We have a beautiful zoo in Brevard County that is near and dear to my heart. Some of you may remember the old Houser's Zoo that came under fire in the early 80's as being one of the worst zoos in the country. This was a blow to dear old Mr. Houser who was at the time dealing with cancer and facing selling his orange groves where he housed the zoo. He had been saving animals ready to be euthanized when a circus or zoo didn't want them anymore because of their appearance.

Remember the chimp with one arm - yes, lost it by touching an electrical cord at his prior home. Mr. Houser gave him a home when no one else would. Remember Buckles the elephant chained all day and pacing back and forth in a little circular fence? She lost half an ear due to an injection gone wrong at her prior home. Mr. Houser took her in. The rocking and pacing was only because when zoo visitors were gone she was released to run in the orange groves and play, and just couldn't wait to get out there. I got involved and learned all this when my daughter's school took a trip there and she came home telling me she held a gibbon's hand for over an hour. That was Choo-Choo. If you heard her hoot you would understand the name. Apparently my daughter reminded Choo-Choo of Mr. Houser's own daughter who had helped raise her. There were lots of stories like that and a small band of about 20 people formed the Brevard Zoological Society to secure animals and get land for a bigger better zoo. That was actually the start of our new and wonderful local zoo. (I have all the history files.) The new zoo distances itself from that bad publicity (and thus all of us), but that's how it got started. And I love how far they have come.

It's one of my favorite photo resources for digital work. I encourage you to take a walk there with your camera. Or, buy a membership so you can go often and support it. Below are some of my digital images all taken at Brevard Zoo and also created to promote it.

Sunset Painting, Heron Painting, Small Oil Painting, Daily Painting, 6x8" Oil on Panel

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This painting was a real experiment for me.  I wanted to paint a sunset, wildlife and marsh, but could not find a reference image  that I liked.

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Then I remembered a workshop I took, many years ago from Fritz vanEeden.  Fritz is an artist of international acclaim.  Among his many talents is his ability to paint images that he pulled from his mind's eye.

I gave it a try!

detail

I started with the direction of the sky and clouds and then laid in the  wetlands below.

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I have to admit, I did use a photo reference for the heron.  I just could not visualize all those body parts!

All in all, I was happy the day's efforts, and hopefully, this technique will come in handy in the future.

Thanks for viewing my blog today.

Carol Schiff



www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com
www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

Fruit Still Life, Pears and Strawberries, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, 8x10" Still Life

In a blatant attempt to get away from flower paintings, today I am posting a still life of fruit,

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 I have been accused of having too many grayed down hues in my art, so recently, I an trying to focus on more vibrant color....no more pasty pastels!

detail

 I would like to report, that my tube of white paint is lasting longer, but it is too soon to tell.

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Regardless, I am pleasantly surprised with the color I achieved here, so hopefully I am on the right track.

Thanks for reading my blog today, and a special thank you to all who have supported my art and my blog with their purchases.

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com
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