Journaling the Quarantine

Since I have been remiss in my journaling lately, I decided to catch up. There's not much to say since we have self-quarantined since March. Click on the picture to see it better.

I did finally make some successful masks, and since we have never had this much time to work in the yard, it's looking really good now.

Carmen

Rose Painting, Floral Still Life, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting 8x8x1.5" Oil SOLD

Yes, yes, yes......I am still painting flowers.  I have been on quite a flower jag lately.

I was pleased with this one.

SOLD


Roses have always been difficult for me.  This time I tried to channel Elio.  I was determined not to describe each petal,  I did my best to remember the softness and translucency of a rose petal.  I wanted to pop the colors, but, not too much.  Finally, I made myself stop!

Yes, I like this one.....and I hope you do too.

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Flower Garden Painting, Small Oil Painting, Daily Painting, Palette Knife, Textured Art

Summer is in full bloom!

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These flowers are guaranteed not to die, unlike the ones in my garden.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Carol Schiff

www.CarolASchiff.com

www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

Where Am I Going?, Small Oil Paintings, Daily Paintings

Traditionally, this time of the year,  is when we evaluate our performance, over the last twelve months, and look at the direction we are headed.

Artistically, I see nothing but question marks.  I want to have a clear plan, a path to follow and mark my progress, but alas, it evades me.

I looked through my posts from last year, and picked out my favorite pieces, hoping against hope that they will tell me where I am headed.

 Abstract Expressionism?

Maybe....

Thick Paint?

 Impressionism?

 Brushwork?

 Knife?

Really thin paint?

Or does it really matter?

All this thinking is making my head hurt!  

I am happy I found this many pieces, from last year, that speak to ME.  I am happy with them which makes me happy with me.

Maybe 2020 will find me treading the straight and narrow.....but somehow, I don't think so.

Thank you all, for joining me on my crazy, unplanned journey!

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Hubby keeps me grounded!

Carol Schiff

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

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

www.CarolASchiff.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

*****

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

*

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.

A Day in the Gardens

L

Left to right, Denette, Kathy, Donna and Fay

My journal page 

Carmen Beecher

Floral Oil Painting, Knife Painting, Small oil Painting, Daily Painting

I call this "Roadside Bouquet" because I was walking a country road in the Blue Ridge Mountains last summer, and I collected all these wonderful flowers blooming in ditches and fields.  Wild day lily, Queen Ann's Lace, daisy and purple clover abound!

SOLD

I was in the zone, while painting this, slinging paint and making no effort to be true to the image I was working from.  No, my orange day lilies don't look like day lilies and I am fine with that.

It was one of my favorite home made bouquets...here is the picture.

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I cannot wait for summer to return!

Thanks for reading my blog today.


www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Orange Canna Lily Original OIl Painting 5x7 Floral Art

Click to Buy

I was shocked to realize that I haven't posted since September 1st. It's amazing what a hurricane threat does to one's daily life. First, you stock up on supplies; then you install all your storm shutters; pack up things you don't want washed away; finally, evacuate. If it's a slow-moving storm like Dorian, you wait...and wait...and wait. I am not complaining, because some of my favorite beautiful places were wiped out completely in the Bahamas. We were lucky, but the people there lost everything. Homes, livelihoods, and even loved ones. I am so sad for them. Our government won't take them in without papers, and their papers are somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic by now. What a terrifying situation for them.

The proceeds from this painting will be donated to hurricane relief for the Bahamian storm victims.

Carmen

Sunflower Painting, Field of Sunflowers, Small Oil Painting, Daily Painting, 6x8" Oil Painting, SOLD

Sunflowers always make me smile!  This little painting is no exception!

SOLD

I used both a brush and knife on this piece.  I wanted some texture, and also vibrant colors.  I tried to make the colors play off one another.

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Sometimes, painting comes much more easily than others.  I painted this and one other landscape that I am happy with.........and then the bottom fell out!  I wiped  and wiped and wiped.  I couldn't seem to do anything right!  Finally I turned to acrylic pouring as a distraction.  I have been doing pouring exclusively for the last few weeks.

I am hoping this little journey into a related, but different type of work, will get me back on track again.  More to come!

Thanks for viewing my blog today!

Carol Schiff
www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com
www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Poppy Painting, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, 12x16" Floral Oil Painting

My friend, Donna, was kind enough to share her gorgeous photo with me, and allowed me to paint the image.

purchase here

I did some minor rearranging on it.

detail

It was a fun project, and I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for reading my blog today.

Carol Schiff
www.Carolaschiff.com
www.CarolSchiffStudio.ety.com

Small Floral Painting, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, 8x10" Pink Floral Oil Painting, Palette Knife

I wanted to create a soft, soothing floral still life. Painted on .75" deep canvas, with painted sides. Finished with a light spray of varnish to enhance and protect the colors.

Purchase here

I worked with both brush and palette knife, but 90% of it is the knife.


Hope you enjoy it!

Carol Schiff

www.CarolASchiff.com

www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

Floral Still Life Painting, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, "Pink Glory", 6x8" Oil on Panel

I have been doing a few palette knife paintings, recently.

Purchase Here

I think, I could be a much better artist, if I were to limit my techniques and subject matter to one type, but I also think that would be rather boring!

Variety of the spice of life......right?

I am fortunate and do not have to financially support myself, with my art, so I can indulge myself, in this way.  Others are not.  Still others do not have the desire to jump around, but are focused totally on one technique or subject.

Is there a right or wrong?

Thanks for viewing my art today.

Carol Schiff
www.CarolASchiff.com
www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

Roadside Floral, Small Oil Painting, Daily Painting, 9x12" Oil on Canvas

When I go on my daily walk, up and down the country roads, I marvel at the gorgeous wildflowers and weeds (?) I find.  It was on these walks, that I discovered the lovely daylilies I planted in Florida, grow wild in the mountains.

So that is the inspiration for this painting, as I gathered these blooms from the ditches and easements along the country roads.

I plopped them in a favorite piece of pottery and started painting.

purchase here 

This piece is 9x12x.75"

Thanks for reading my blog today.

Carol Schiff

www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com
www.CarolASchiff.com

Challenge for January, Paint a Flower Quickly

The challenge for January was to paint flowers in watercolor quickly and simply.

Carmen's Response to the Challenge

I did several paintings but got 'fussy' with them. It's so hard to stop!

Yellow Rose

Lilies

Pink Poppies

In all honesty, I believe the very simplified painting below fulfills the intent of the challenge. A few strokes quickly applied, and a flower appears. 

Carmen Beecher

Carmensart.etsy.com

Carmenbeecher.com

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Donna's Response to the Challenge

This was a tough one for all of us impatient oil painters. I have to say that I spent lots of time on this one.  It wasn't a total loss though, through the frustration of trying to do something so simple I realized that I had gotten very tight and fussy.  I joined a 5 day 20 min. painting challenge and it really felt great to just paint.   I think I learned a lot, loosened up and made some progress.  This painting was done after I had painted a 20 minute oil on day 2 of the challenge.

OH Happy Day

donnavinesart.blogspot.com
donnavinesart.Etsy.com

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Carol's Response to the Challenge

Watercolor is, indeed, a challenge, for me.  I only do about one watercolor a decade!

I was attracted to this image, because of the strong shapes and colors.
Thank you, to Donna Vines, for allowing me to use your photo reference.

I have to admit, I do feel inspired to try another!

Carol Schiff

www.CarolASchiff.com

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Kathy's Response to the Challenge

I stopped at Walmart on my way to Ralph’s to pick up some lilies and a Gerbera daisy for our flower painting challenge. Below are my results. I’m glad we were able to do this    challenge all together during our session as I will miss painting with The Pieces during the rest of the month.

Kathy Garvey

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Fay's Response to the Challenge

Now I know for sure if I want to do water colors, I need to take some lessons. Not that I didn't try. I just didn't get the results I wanted. To wit. 
Here is the photo I wished to portray.

In doing a watercolor, I wanted to capture the intense color and the interesting formation of the leaves. The following are the tree best of what I managed to produce after six tries. Although none of the ones I finished really pleased me, I have a favorite. Can you guess?

Back to collage for me!
Fay


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Jean's response to the challenge

Tried painting from a real orchid, not a photo. The challenge for me is to paint fast!
I tried, really I did, to paint more quickly. 
There is a lot of truth to the expression, "knowing when to quit!"
So I did after the second one.