TEAPOT AND CHOPSTICKS SOLD

Every Monday morning, I paint with my group "Pieces of Eight" at the artist guild in town. The artist guild is a wonderful place, a huge old rambling loft chock full of easels, spotlights, set-up materials and on occasion, goodies to eat and drink. This week, I decided to bring my own materials and make a set-up for those of us who wanted to give it a try. So this is what I ended up with. I took a photo of all our paintings, with the hope that I could post it, but, alas it was full of glare. This is an 8x10 oil on panel.

We are moving along with our "traveling painting" designated for cancer survivors. Thanks to all of you who contacted me with the name of a recipient. This will be an ongoing project, so please feel free to contact me at any time if you wish to be added to the list. We hope to ship our first painting in four or five weeks. I will keep you updated on the project.

inc. shipping tin US

8x10 oil on panel $245.00 Option 2 $245.00 Option 3 $245.00

THE GARDEN, 18X24 PASTEL

Today I am posting another of my pastels from a few years back. I wanted something with a rather peaceful feel for this post because of what I am about to discuss.

Almost anyone who paints has had first hand experience with the healing powers of art...either received from a favorite piece or gleaned during the process itself. We tend to forget that not everyone who needs this visual medication has access to it and when this fact was discussed at lunch with my paint buddies recently (Pieces of Eight),who all had close friends battling cancer, we decided to do something about it.

Our idea is to paint several small masterpieces, pouring out all the love and goodwill we would want to share with someone dealing with cancer, and send it on for a months stay with them for whatever inspiration it may provide during their recovery. Then we thought if each person who enjoyed the work could share what it had meant to them and maybe send a photo or two, we could post those on a blog, developed specifically for this purpose, to further inspire others in using art as a remedy for healing. I am reporting it all here as I will need your help in proposing some special friends you know who might like to be on the list to receive the first painting we send off on its mission of mercy.

Recipient names need to come with an additional CONTACT name, including both e-mail addresses and the CONTACT's mailing address. The 8x10 painting will arrive by mail to spend a month in the custody of the recipient, During that time, we'd ask the CONTACT to share some comments, or a photo. When the month is over, the CONTACT will follow the very simple instructions for sending the piece to the next person. The post office will supply a Priority class box at the flat rate of under $15.00. I'm sorry to say that until we can work out details of mailing through customs, we must confine our journey to the US and Canada.

Yep, we have lots of residual ideas on this adventure, ranging from local press releases to ways to raise money for the cancer institutes, but, really we just want to share art and good will. So, SEND ME A NAME, if you are willing to be the contact for a friend who would benefit. Just leave a comment under this posting or e-mail me at jmschiff@bellsouth.net. I will keep you posted here and let you know when the new blog is up and running so you may all join us as we trace the journey. We expect to ship the first painting out some time in late spring. I know you will enjoy being part of the healing prescription for art!

inc. ship. in US

18x24 pastel $645.00 Option 2 $645.00 Option 3 $645.00

ROMAN CAFE - SOLD

Just a quick little 5x7 I did from a photo I took last spring. I think it does convey the European scene with the sign, scooter and cozy little cafe.

ACROSS BALLARD PARK, SOLD

I have had some requests for pastels of late, and it has become my second favorite media. Oils are my favorite and when I became involved with them, I kind of buried by pastels on the back of the shelf. As beautiful as they are, with their clear color and sparkle that you cannot achieve with any other media, they are a mess to work with. Within minutes I'm covered with pastel dust (very unhealthy) and so is my studio. When I finally complete a painting, the framing process is misery. It takes me several tries to get the mats on without smearing pastel dust on them or the glass. Then, if you move them around, inevitably dust falls on the mats and you must disassemble and clean the mats and glass again. I won't even go into the routine to mail one! Having whined about all that, I do love the look of that pure pigment.

I thought I had better give it a try again. It is amazing how fast you loose your touch, or rather, I did. I filled up the tooth of the paper with pastel much too early in the process. I definitely need more practice with this media. Anyway, here is my attempt.

LEMON AND CANDLESTICK - SOLD

I am running short of time, but I did want to get this posted today. So, you tell me about it, love it, hate it, don't care? If you want to buy it, it's in my Etsy shop.

SANDY'S TEAPOT, 9X12, OIL, SOLD

This is an 9x12 oil on Masonite that I did this week in a workshop. I paint 80% of the time from photos, and it is always surprising to me how much I enjoy painting from life. I think most of the enjoyment comes from doing things a little different, getting out of the old routine. However, I still stick with photos, not only from their convience, but the extreme color you can find in photos. That little spot where the sun hits a shadow and a spot of color appears that you cannot see in real life. I like to do a little photo shopping, just pump up the contrast and maybe the saturation a little, and then paint from the computer monitor.

If you are interested in purchasing this painting go to my Etsy shop link on the sidebar.

I HAVE A DREAM.....

I am working on several things right now, but, wanted something to post. I was going through my file of older paintings and found this, which is actually one of my favorites. I was at an Easter Egg Hunt several years ago and suddenly these two little girls(around 18 mo to two years) turned to each other and hugged. It was too good to be true and I had to paint it and I had to name it after Martin Luther King's famous speech.

This is a pastel, don't have the exact dimensions available, but probably around 20x24.

STACK O' MUGS

Now that my blog is back in one piece, I was able to finish this little painting. There is a reason that artists and computers don't mix well and I became very aware of them this weekend. Every time I came near the computer it would wipe something else off my blog. If it wasn't for the good graces of my husband, I wouldn't have a blog left at all. The only problem I have now (computer-wise) is that FEEDJIT decided that I live in Charlotte, NC for some reason. I'm still trying to convince them that I'm still here in Florida. I fear for the world which now operates totally on computers, and nobody really understands why or how things happen. Didn't anyone but me see 2001, A Space Odyssey? Does the name HAL mean anything to you?

Anyway, here is my little painting, I hope you like it. Oh, my the way, for all you people lined up to buy my paintings (ha ha, just kidding) just click on the Etsy ad on the sidebar. No more Paypal buttons.

LUCKY ME! - NFS

The big portrait challenge is over and I am the big winner! Why? Because I was lucky enough to have artist Annie Salness paint my portrait. Annie is an artist from Portland OR. and has agreed to exchange portraits with me. Annie, thank you so much for your efforts. I am honored to have your painting. I hope you will check out her blogspot; she is a wonderful artist and I am sure you will enjoy.

Something weird happened to my blog yesterday. Without warning I lost my site counter. What goes here? Now I have to start all over again at number 1!

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE LOUVRE

While in Paris, I walked over to the Louvre one Saturday in the early evening. A group of French teenagers were in the courtyard practicing their dance moves. The boys were huddled together until one or another would break out in wild dance moves. The girls were perched on a ledge, watching. I had to snap this photo of their feet dangling over the side, with long evening shadows.

price inc. ship. in cont. USA

5x7 oil on panel $30.00 Option 2 $30.00 Option 3 $30.00

GRANADA SUNSET

Several years ago we took a week cruise on "Star Clipper", a 350 foot 5 masted sailing ship. We flew to Barbados, boarded the ship and a week long party was in session. It ranks up there as one of my top three best vacations ever.

This painting was inspired by that trip. Don't you think it looks like a party? It is full of thick paint, vibrant colors, and has that Carribbean feel.

inc. shipping to cont USA

18x24 oil on masonite $195.00 Option 2 $195.00 Option 3 $195.00

PARISIAN LATTE, SOLD

Close your eyes and imagine yourself sipping this yummy latte in a Parisian cafe on a cool rainy morning. That is what I think about every time I see this painting. Makes me want to hop on a plane and head back to Paris as fast as I can! Unfortunately, that's not going to happen anytime soon.

This is an 8x10 original oil on stretched canvas.

inc. shipping to cont.US

8x10 oil on canvas $185.00Option 2 $185.00Option 3 $185.00