FROM CANVAS TO METAL BY CAROL SCHIFF

I am happy to announce that my work has been licensed and reproduced by All My Walls Inc., a manufacturer of metal wall decor.  I had no idea how they would use my images as they didn't seem to fit in with the rest of their products.  After many months, they finally sent me images of the finished products.  I am posting just a few samples for you.
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The holidays are around the corner and we  have been getting inquires about our ANNUAL PIECES OF EIGHT ART SALE.  For all of you in the area, our sale is scheduled for the first Saturday in December.  We have lots of new art and, as always, something special that we have been working on.  So SAVE THE DATE and watch for updates in the next few weeks.

www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

Bottle Still Life Painting, "Vintage Bottle" by Carol Schiff, 6x8" Palette Knife Painting

I have become slightly obsessed with vintage bottles, well, maybe a little more than slightly.  I love the idea of these bottles, most of them reclaimed from the earth, crusty and sometimes pearlized.  I like to think about how they were used when they were new.....and if they have a crystal cross on top (called a cross bottle) all the better!

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100 + shipping

This one, obviously does not have a cross on the top.  It does have any absolutely gorgeous color, kind of a cobalt violet.  I am told the it started out as clear glass, but due to magnesium in the glass, has aged into a beautiful hue.

The other thing I love, is painting with wild abandon with loads of thick, creamy, oil paint and a combination of palette knife and brush.  So yes, this little painting hits my buttons on several levels.

Some days, I just go through the motions, and the resulting painting usually shows it,  but this one was pure joy!



www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

Getting Ready for the Show

by Kathy Garvey

Every year the Pieces of 8 host their Annual Christmas Sale. This year it is on December 7th. A map will be on here in the coming weeks to help you find our usual location in West Melbourne.

Everyone of us is busy getting ready. There are paintings to complete, items to get matted and/or framed, cards to order, bird houses (our big surprise item this year) to paint, items to price - some with great bargain basement prices, and lots of decisions to be made.  Over the next few weeks til the sale, we'll all be posting what we're working on.

I'm "gearing up" with a series of steam punk style light switch covers for the event. These are standard sizes covered with polymer clay, impressed with gears, highlighted with metallic powders and polished off with an iridescent medium to protect them from wear and tear. They look smashing on the wall!

Save the date: December 7th from 9 to 4. We'll be posting a map! Hope to see you there.

Horse Painting, "The White Horse" by Carol Schiff, 8x8" Oil SOLD

SOLD

www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

Thar She Blows: A Recreation of Moby Dick by Cindy and Carmen

Cindy Michaud and I took on the ultimate challenge this year: the Mystery Build Competition. The whole idea is to make a recreation of a work of art from the objects in a small box. The Mystery Build organizers mailed the 9"x12" box to us, and we had to make our piece from nothing but the items inside, including the box itself if we wanted, plus paint. That's it. So the box contained a small variety of wood blocks and veneers, clay, a piece of rope, a square of canvas, a loose canvas, Elmer's glue and a few other things. We used the box, the packing material, and the instructions.

To see how we did it (there's a video) and (we hope) vote for our entry, click here: Mystery Build. There are a whopping 289 entries, and ours is Number 2 so it's easy to find.

posted by Carmen

Small Seascape, "Off Shore Storm" by Carol Schiff, 6x8" Oil

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90 + shipping

The black clouds moved in quickly and the sea began to change.  There was a small strip of light on the water close to the horizon.



www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

Rainy Day in Georgia

by Kathy Garvey
Sadly, we are leaving Phillis and Georgia tomorrow. It's been a great retreat.

Yesterday we spent the morning on a large pontoon boat touring around Lake Oconee. Below is a view of one of the more spectacular houses around the lake.

We spent the afternoon painting and journaling. Below is Carmen catching up on her journal.

 Denette is painting a set up of fresh peppers from the market. Mary is uploading her photos.

 Below is a beautiful page from Phillis' journal. (The Pieces of 8 journaling was inspired by Diana Gessler.)

Since it was Halloween in a retirement community, we decided to stay in and watch "The Gods Must be Crazy" on You Tube. What an odd, fun, beautiful movie. At one point in the evening we were visited by Captain America, aka Phillis' husband Jerry!

 Today we toured houses, lunched on fried green tomatoes and buttermilk pie, painted, poured, journaled, ate some more, and packed our things.
Below, Carmen and Phillis are experimenting with poured acrylic painting. 

 Below, one of Carmen's newly poured pieces.

Goodbye, Georgia and Phillis!