Daily Painting, Vegetables,SOLD, "Sitting on my Windowsill: 6x8", oil

This daily painting may look like it's about vegetables, carrots and radishes.  But, it's really about light and shadow.

Light and shadow are two of the most important elements in a good composition.

At times, they may be more important that subject matter.


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SOLD

Daily Oil Painting, Beau Gateau et les Petits, 6x8 SOLD

It translates as "Beautiful Small Cake".  I had lots of fun with this one,  I positioned the cake on a favorite pottery plate and got the most lovely aquas and lavenders.

Then I painted in creamy oils using both brush and palette knife.  Yummy!

Since we are talking food here, I though I would show you some strawberries I covered in chocolate for a recent party.

And how about these fabulous rolls made with feta and jack cheeses and spinach!  Sometimes cooking can be as much fun as painting.  Thanks for the food pictures, Kathy.

Start off the week with a smile :0)

Daily Painting Still Life "Grapes", 6x8 SOLD

SOLD

Still on my quest to paint still life.

Enjoy your week!

Still Life Oil Painting Small Oil Painting, Daily Painting "Le Belle Poivron Rouge", 6x8"

I find I have missed painting still life, so it has been fun catching up on it over the last week.

If I could just stop sleeping, I would have an additional 5 or 6 hours a day to paint.

Maybe then I would have enough time to paint both my still life and my landscapes.....but what about the abstract/mixed media  I also want to try?  Maybe I better work on growing another set of arms instead!

Life is hard when you're retired!!

Still Life Daily Painting "Two of a Kind" 6x8, SOLD

SOLD

One of my favorite things to paint is a pear, especially if it involves back lighting.

Back lighting makes everything look dramatic, and my husband will tell you that no one loves drama more than I do!

There is a new week ahead....make the most of it!

Vegetable Still Life, Daily Oil Painting, "Ravanello Danza" SOLD

The past few months, I have been painting landscape after landscape.  I noticed that most of my favorite still life works have found new homes.

So this week, I have been painting new ones.  It has been a nice change of pace for me.

These radishes seemed to be involved in a complicated tango, so I named this "Ravanello Danza" which is Italian for Radish Dance.  It sounds much better in Italian.

Original Oil Still Life Food Mini Paintings, 3x5"

I wanted to post a few more of the mini paintings that I have been working on.  Talk about instant gratification!

These are the perfect little stocking stuffers!  No frames needed.  It's fun to get creative and fine an unusual location to display them.

Think you can't afford original art?  Think again!

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$30

ORIGINAL OIL STILL LIFE PEAR PAINTING, "TROIS POIRES AU SOLEIL", SOLD

Do you ever find a painting in your studio that somehow never gets posted?  That was the fate of this little 6x8" oil.

It's not that I forgot about it, or that I didn't think it worthy.  For some unknown reason, I just never got around to posting it!  So today is the day...hope you like it.

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SOLD

MORE MINI PAINTINGS, 3X5" SOLD

I found a pile of mini 3x5" canvases in my studio and had lots of fun painting them.  Sometimes I need a little change when I walk into the studio.

I somehow found it less stressful to paint these.  I am also working on some larger pieces and for me, it works well to do a few small ones before I jump into the larger project.

I  think most people could fine many unusual places to display these little pieces and they make a great unique gift.  Who said you cannot afford ORIGINAL ART!

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SOLD

HOMEMADE PICKLES, 6X8, OIL SOLD

SOLD

Last month, for the fifth year in a row, my painting group went on a week long retreat together.  We spend the week painting, laughing, cooking, drinking wine and usually a little singing and dancing are thrown into the mix.

This year I invited the group to spend the week at my western North Carolina vacation home.

My friend Cindy brought along home canned treats of salsa, jam and pickles.  They tasted even better than they looked.  When I noticed the pickles sitting in the kitchen window sill with a few tomatoes, I knew they would star in my next painting.

BEET AND FENNEL SALAD, 6X8, OIL SOLD

SOLD

Recipe: Roasted Beet and Fennel Salad

• HEALTHY
• MAKE-AHEAD
• VEGETARIAN

1. 4 beets, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch wedges (1 1/2 pounds)
2. 2 thyme sprigs
3. 2 tablespoons water
4. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
5. Salt and freshly ground pepper
6. 1 large fennel bulb with fronds—bulb cut into 1/2-inch wedges, 1 tablespoon chopped fronds
7. 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar

1. Preheat the oven to 400°. In a medium baking dish, toss the beets with the thyme, the water and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with foil and cook for about 40 minutes, or until tender. Let cool slightly. Discard the thyme.
2. In a small baking dish, drizzle the fennel wedges with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes longer, or until tender and lightly browned.
3. Pour the beet juices into a bowl and whisk in the vinegar. Add the beets, fennel wedges and fronds and season with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.

NOTES One Serving 169 cal, 8 gm total fat, 1.0 gm saturated fat, 25 gm carb, 8 gm fiber.

Contributed by Andrew Goetz and Matthew Malin

Guess what I had for dinner!


Enjoy!

PEAR AND GRAPES, 4X8, OIL, SOLD

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$75

IL PEPERONE ROSSO GRANDE DA ROMA, 6X8,SOLDOIL STILL LIFE

Well, that title is quite a mouthful, but I just couldn't help myself!

After all, it is a very grand red pepper, and I did photograph it while in Rome.

Arrivederci  for now!

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SOLD

TRIO DE POIRES SUR LA PLAQUE, 6X8, Oil, Canvas Board, SOLD

I could have called this "Three Pears on a Plate"

That would have been an accurate description of this painting.

But somehow it sounds so much more elegant in French!  Why is that?
Enjoy!

Purchase here
$100

DISTORTIONS, 6X6, OIL

When distant and unfamiliar and complex things are communicated to great masses of people, the truth suffers a considerable and often a radical distortion.  The complex is made over into the simple, the hypothetical into the dogmatic, and the relative into an absolute Walter Lippmann Purchase here $60

LEEK AND CHERRY TOMATOES, 6X8, OIL SOLD

It seems I always return to still life paintings and the ever popular fruits and vegetables.  Especially for small works, they are so much fun.

And of course, they are all double duty, first as models and secondly as lunch.
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SOLD

ARTICHOKE AND RADISHES, 9X12, OIL

Something light and bright to bring cheer on a dark and cold winter evening.  Spring is just around the corner.

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$239
Things are heating up in my painting  give-away.  To enter, just make a purchase from www.carolschiffstudio.etsy.com or www.carolonedge.etsy.com.  Your name will be entered once for each item you purchase thru March 31, 2011.  Good luck!

GRAND CENTRAL STATION SCALLIONS, OIL, 8X6, SOLD

If you have ever been to Grand Central Station, you probably know the beautiful grocery there.  Oh, if only I could have that store in my neighborhood.  The most beautiful and tempting foods combined with the most unique and interesting displays I have ever seen in a grocery.  A feast for the eyes and a winning combination.
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$99

EGGStravagenza, 6X8, OIL SOLD

SOLD

A little switch here as I was in a more abstract frame of mind when this came off the easel.  What I thought would be a simple exercise with three simple eggs, turned into a much more challenging afternoon at

As you know, I love all things French...especially Paris.  This beautifully constructed card from Clayslipper on Etsy is one of many I have purchased and sent to my favorite people.  It is so much more satisfying to send  a gorgeous, lovingly designed and hand crafted card to the people you love, than just picking one off the shelf at the grocery store.  Clayslipper has some of the best I have found and they are packaged beautifully.  Check her out.
Bon Jour!