Daily Farm Painting, "Valley View" 7x5" SOLD

Red barn, green grass, a little fishing pond.....what more could you ask for on a lazy summer day?

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This farm is down the road from us on Conley's Creek Road.  I must have painted it 30 or more times.  Each time, I think I have said everything I can, but then I find myself drawn to it again.  A different angle, or new time of day.....it pulls me in time after time.

Set in the valley, I pass it each time I leave my house.  It is the most picturesque spot I know.  Surrounded by mountains and with a curvy drive, the light effects are always spectacular.

Daily Landscape Painting, "Off the Parkway" 16x20

If you follow my blog, you know I spend lots of time in the mountains of North Carolina.  We have a little house just outside Smoky Mountains National Park.  We travel  back and forth between the mountains and the beaches of Florida several times a year.

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This is not a new piece, but I realized that I have not posted it before.  I painted it several years ago and it hangs in our mountain house.  I was a less experienced artist at the time and I took some artistic license to achieve, what I thought, was an interesting composition.

Now, when I look at it, all I can see is the inconsistent light patterns.  I could easily "fix" it, and maybe someday I will.  But for the time being, it will stay the same.

I remember going to a museum to see a exhibit of VanGogh and Monet once.  None of the paintings were ones that I recognized.  They were all earlier works that somehow survived the years.  They were also less than perfect.

How do you treat your earlier works?  Do you ever re-work them?

On another note, yesterday the wonderful artist, Julie Ford Oliver ( who ironically was also blogging about reworking a painting) mentioned that she had taken word verification off her blog to make commenting easier.  I loved that idea and implemented it quickly.  Thanks, Julie!

Still Life Daily Painting "Country Style" 6x8 SOLD

This daily painting contains some of my favorite items from my home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

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A vintage FiestaWare pitcher, a lantern given to me my a dear friend, a hydrangea from my garden, and an old  rusty iron star.

To me, it speaks of a slower way of life.  My blood pressure drops and I am happy spending my days reading novels and baking cookies.

When I come home to Florida, I am refreshed and ready for real life again.

Daily Oil Painting "Manhattan Bridge" 6x12"

Today's daily painting is another view from my recent trip to Manhatten.

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Just like the gecko in the commercial, I was walking the Brooklyn Bridge, dodging cyclist and falling in love with the fabulous scenery, when I saw this viewpoint of the Manhattan Bridge.

There is a whole society on the upper level of the Brooklyn Bridge.....who knew!  I saw a model doing a fashion shoot, a bridal party getting their official photos taken, the real New Yorkers who live and work the city, and fabulous views.

It's not a hard walk, I have done it on three occasions.  I highly recommend it on your next trip to Manhattan.  My fellow travelers have always rated this little journey as the "most enjoyable" activity of all our sightseeing in New York.

Pears on a Plate, 16x20, Original Oil

Summer is almost over....and what a summer it has been!  I'm afraid I have over scheduled myself, with trips every two to three weeks, family obligations, etc.  I still have two trips to the Blue Ridge Mountains  scheduled, one of which includes the most dreaded words in the English language.....bathroom renovation!

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My stash of paintings, ready to post, is no longer a stash....just a few images left to choose from.  So now I am in the studio, trying to paint, paint, paint before it's time to leave again.

One of those images, is this, a commission I did  in January.  The client loved a similar small piece and ordered two 16x20 still life paintings.  She was a joy to work with and did not even want to see an image of the completed works prior to receiving them.  She said it would be "more like Christmas" if she was completely surprised when she pulled them out of the shipping container.

She sent me several images of her home in San Diego, wanting me to get a feel for the space the paintings would reside.  I must have done something really good to be rewarded with the opportunity  to work with such a charming woman.

Cheers!

Oil Fruit Still Life, "Lemon, Granny and Blueberries" , SOLD 8x10"

It's been a while since I have done any still life.  Recently, I painted three that will be reproduced on bags of chocolate and fruit flavored candies.

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I have always been drawn to purples, blues and greens, so I wanted to paint this one again.  On the candy bags, there are a few changes, some leaves are added and the blueberries have been replaced with pieces of chocolate.

It was an exciting project to work on, as well as a real learning experience for me.

Hope your day is sunny!!

Daily Painting, "In A World of Her Own", 8x6", Oil SOLD

During a recent trip to New York City with friends, we spent a few hours at a lovely Manhattan rooftop bar.

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This young woman was sitting across the roof top.  I was taken by her pose and snapped a quick photo.

When I began painting, I quickly realized that the background, a brick wall, was not what I wanted.  I decided to keep it simple and put the full focus on the woman and her skirt.

I suggested the wall with a few quick strokes of terra cotta.

Daily Painting, "Manhattan Rooftop", 6x8" Oil

When in Manhattan, I cannot think of a better place to spend a few hours of a lazy Saturday afternoon than on a lovely garden rooftop.

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This one was a real find, on the roof of the Hudson Hotel, a beautiful garden with comfortable seating.

Add the company of good friends and a glass or two of wine, and you have the perfect summer afternoon.

Daily Painting, "Catching Up" 6x8, Oil SOLD

I was strolling through a Brooklyn park, when I found this lady, someone's grandmother, catching up with the day's events.

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Her eyesight must not have been the best, as she was holding the paper very close to her face.

Her hair was unevenly cut and it reminded me of my childhood days when my mother would sit me in a chair and chop away at my hair with her old scissors.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEFF!!

Daily Painting, "Smoky Admiration" 8x6", Oil

This is from an image that I have had in my files for many years.

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I was always drawn to this image because of the light striking the hats of this Mennonite couple  The fact that she is bare-footed only added to the quirkiness of the scene.

The couple are viewing the highest point at Smoky Mountain National Park.  I have been there many times and know that it is a long hike up a steep concrete walkway.  Where are her shoes!!!

Daily Painting, "Coastal Wildflower" Landscape, 6x8" SOLD

This little painting is not a real place.  I was thinking about the coast of California, where the mountains  collide with the sea.

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It's a big stretch for me to paint without an image of some type in front of me.  Abstract artists do it all the time.  I spent months just slapping on paint and always ending up with the same muddy, uninteresting, scraper.  Being a slow learner, I repeated the action time and again before the light bulb came on.

Many successful artists work in that manner, but I need more structure.  I must have a goal, a composition in mind, some kind of plan for movement, values, colors.  Don't get me wrong, I don't think this is a great example, but for me, it is a little step forward.

Daily Painting, "Oconoluftee Barn" 6x8, Oil SOLD

This is not an old barn.........it's a replica of an old barn!

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This barn can be found at the Oconoluftee Welcome Center of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at Cherokee NC..  They have a great museum and replica of a farm from the old days, complete with chickens and pigs!  

After walking through the farm, you can follow a path, next to the river and through the woods.  The feeling is that you are in the wilderness, they reality is that cars are whizzing by just a few hundred feet away.  

If you are lucky, you will hear the elk calling in the forest, or maybe even spy one or two in feeding in the meadow.

All together, a great way to spend the morning and absolutely free to anyone who cares to visit!

Daily Painting, "Sanibel Beach Cottage" 6x8, oil SOLD

Still posting paintings from my trip to Sanibel.  How could I pass up this adorable cottage on the beach?

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The lucky owner's get to view the sea from every window!  Of course, being the practical gal that I am, I cannot help but think how scary it would be during a hurricane.  In Florida, when a hurricane is threatening your area, if you live on the beach, you must abandon your home and find another place to stay until the storm has passed.

I am sorry to say that this little beauty would probably not survive a direct hit from a bad storm.  Not to mention the incredibly high insurance cost for such a location.  Even paradise has it's drawbacks.

See, I told you I was too practical!

Daily Painting, "Going Coconuts", Landscape, 6x8, Oil

This is another of my daily paintings from my trip to Sanibel Island in May.

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My daughter and I were getting our exercise, taking a little walk before it was too hot one morning, trying to dodge all the people on bicycles without getting hit, when I saw this palm loaded with coconuts.

We live in Florida and see lots of palm trees, but our area is further north and coconut palms are not as common there.  There is a lot going on under those palms, all kinds of fibers hanging, old dried up fronds and other miscellaneous materials and of course, the coconuts.  It almost has an abstract quality.

Enjoy!

Daily Painting, "Bunny", 6x8, Oil sold

My youngest grandson was visiting our home when he spied this rabbit in our yard.  He and his Mom are really big animal lovers.

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So, when we found this rabbit, I grabbed the camera and got out of the way.  Trevor managed to get a very nice shot of it through the window.

He was very excited when I surprised him with this little painting, and today, it hangs in a place of honor in his bedroom.

Carol Schiff

www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com
www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Daily Oil Painting, Birds, "Waverunners" 12x12" SOLD

These birds were my constant companions on early morning walks on the beaches of Sanibel.

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After 40+ years of seeing the sun rise over the Atlantic, it seemed odd to see it rise from behind the dunes at the Gulf of Mexico.

I used both brush and palette knife on this one.  I like the contrast of texture achieved in this way.

The birds ignored me and my camera, knowing they could move much faster then I can.

Carol Schiff

Daily Painter, "All In A Row" 4x12" Original Oil SOLD

Last month we spent a few days at Sanibel.  Each morning I would walk down the path to the sea, surrounded by sea grapes.

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As I would approach the the beach, the tops of brightly colored tents would come into view.

Soon the beach would be alive with beach goers, some of which, spent the whole day under the tents.  One group of men would carry table and chairs down each morning, and spend the day playing dominos on the beach.

I was more of a wimp and  limited my beach time to early morning and early evening,  less crowds and less heat!