COUNTRY ROADS, TAKE ME HOME, 6X12, OIL

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains
Shenandoah River
Life is old there
Older than the trees
Younger than the mountains
Growin' in the breeze

I hear her voice
In the mornin' hour she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
And drivin' down the road I get the feelin'
That I should have been home
Yesterday, yesterday

John Denver


One of my favorite songwriter and recording artists.

I find his music to be so moving.  It evokes images and memories of my childhood.  

His lyrics  are as moving today and they were when he first wrote them.  Don't you miss him?
Purchase here
150.

MONET'S PASSION, 6X6, OIL,SOLD

" I perhaps owe becoming a painter to flowers"

Claude Monet

A salute to Monet with the colors and subject matter that inspired him.

I perhaps owe becoming a painter to Monet.

Purchase here
SOLD

ARTIGIANO

I enjoy browsing through the millions of seller sites on Etsy.   I continue to be amazed at the talented artisans I find there.  Does this unique moth ring strike your fancy?

Or perhaps these silver fish shaped earrings are more your style.

Perhaps this stunning ring?

These are just a few of the many gorgeous items you can find at Artigiano on Etsy.  Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the artful jewelry.  It will jump start your creative juices.

THE FREEDOM TO BE YOURSELF, 6X8, OIL, SOLD

You have the freedom to be yourself,
your true self,
here and now -
and nothing can stand in your way!

Jonathan Livingston Seagull
from a very popular book of the 70's

My second choice for a title is "He said, she said".  Also during the 70's one of the top women's magazines of the day, I think it was McCalls or maybe Redbook, had a monthly article called "Can this marrriage be saved?"
They would write the wife's story under "she said" and the husband's version under "he said" and then a counselor of some kind would write an analysis of what was wrong in the marriage and what the couple needed to do to improve the situation.  So, when I looked at this painting, to me it looks like "he" is saying and maybe "she" is not buying it.

Which title do you like the best?  Hmmmmm, I think I just told you how old I am!

Reference photo by Shelley Smart

Purchase here
SOLD

A DAY ON THE MARSH, 6X8, OIL, SOLD

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air…”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

A marsh in Maine.
Thank you, Donna.


Purchase here
SOLD

HOME GROWN TOMATOES, 8X10, OIL

There ain't nothin' in the world that I like better
Than bacon 'n lettuce 'n homegrown tomatoes
Up in the mornin', out in the garden
Get you a ripe one, don't pick a hard 'un
All winter without 'em is a culinary bummer
I forgot all about the sweatin' and the diggin'
Every time I go out and pick me a big 'un

John Denver

John was right! 

Purchase here
$150 

MARSH VIEW, 4X12, OIL, SOLD

“We need the tonic of wildness, to wade sometimes in marshes where the bittern and the meadow-hen lurk, and hear the booming of the snipe; to smell the whispering sedge where only some wilder and more solitary fowl builds her nest, and the mink crawls with its belly close to the ground.”
Henry David Thoreau

Purchase here
SOLD
$109

OLD-FASHIONED PEAR, 8X8, ORIGINAL COLLAGE

O white pear, 
your flower-tufts, 
thick on the branch, 
bring summer and ripe fruits
in their purple hearts.

Hilda Doolittle


I had to do another collage, too much fun!!


Purchase here
$80


I have just taken price reductions on many of the paintings on my Etsy sites, CarolSchiffStudio and CarolOnEdge .  If there is a painting you have been wanting to purchase, it may well be one of the ones that I have reduced.  

HOMES FOR YOUR BIRDS

If I were a bird, I would want to live here, surrounded by all my friends.

Of course, this little sweetie is very attractive.  There is not doubt where I would stay when I was traveling.....

These are just the cutest little birdhouses I have ever seen.  These and many more creative birdhouses are from Birdhouseaccents

A WALK IN THE GARDEN, 6X8, SOLD

Many days, when I try to paint, it is struggle, struggle, struggle.  Then, just when I think I am helpless and need to find something else to do all day, a painting will just drop off my brush with no help from me.  Such was the case with this one.  It may not be impressive to you, but for me, it is a winner.  

It did my heart good to finish a painting with no overworked passages and in record time.  I have been know to spend half a day on a little 5x7 or 6x8.  Usually when I do that, I finish the day with a scrape party.  So I was happy to finish this in less than an hour.  Now that my hopes were sky high, that I had finally found the key to successful paintings, I once again crashed and burned this morning!!

Do you fight this battle too? 

Purchase here

SOLD

LEMON AND SALT SHAKER, 6X8, OIL, SOLD

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope you are all taking it easy today and staying OUT of the kitchen.


Tammy at Beatrice Banks  was kind enough to feature me on her blog today.  Beatrice Banks is a wonderful blog filled with exciting photos of interior design elements.  Hop on over and check it out.  You will be happy that you did!

ISLANDS IN THE STREAM II,SOLD ABSTRACT OIL 6X8

Have I been dreaming of tropical beaches?  Sunny days? Turquoise waters??  Yes, I think so.  Summer seems to have come early here in Florida, and even those of us who live in warm climates dream of exotic Caribbean Islands.
Purchase here
SOLD

Etsy has some of the most unique items around, all hand-made or vintage.  This is an example of a clever button necklace from ThatOldBlueHouse2.   Check out their site for other interesting jewelry too, including pieces made with vintage lace or quilts.

SISTERS, 8X10, OIL, SOLD

It may not be summer in your neck of the woods, but we have had temps in the high 80's to mid 90's for the past few weeks.  A trip to the beach seems like a fine idea.  I found this trio of sisters enjoying themselves last summer and it seemed like the perfect scene when a family member asked for a special painting for her sister's birthday.  Happy birthday, Susan!

Everyone seems to like nuts, especially cashews, so I wanted to share this recipe with you.  I guarantee it will become one of your favorite go-to recipes for entertaining.

ROSEMARY ROASTED CASHEWS

1 1/4 lbs cashews
2T coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1/2 tsp cayenne
2 tsp dark brown sugar
2 tsp kosher salt*
1T melted butter

Preheat over to 375 degrees.  Bake nuts for 10 minutes on ungreased baking sheet.  Combine remaining ingredients in large bowl.  Toss nuts until evenly coated.  ENJOY!
*if you are using salted cashews, adjust or omit additional salt to taste.

ISLANDS IN THE STREAM, 6X8, OIL, SOLD

Yesterday we returned home from our first trip of the year to the mountains of North Carolina.  Didn't see any islands there, but in an effort to warm up, I have posted this abstract.

I have lots of unpacking and grocery shopping to do today.  I am trying to post and drink coffee at the same time.  Enjoy!


SOLD