Monday, December 26, 2016

Abstract Seascape Painting, 8x16" Palette Knife Painting, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting

We are happy to be back in Florida, and I wanted to mark the occassion with a new abstract.

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I really enjoyed creating this art.  Sometimes it is nice to just get in the zone, no particular plan, and let the subconscious take over.

I love playing with paint and these represent some of my favorite colors.  I didn't plan to do a seascape, but it feels like one, especially of the tropical waters in the Caribbean Islands.

The last few months have been hectic for me.  This is just what I needed to calm me down.

Have a great day and thanks for reading my blog.




Carol Schiff
www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Sunday, December 25, 2016

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!




I hope you all enjoy your holidays and find peace and love in the upcoming year!  I want to thank all my online friends who visit this blog and follow my art.

Carol Schiff
www.CarolschiffStudio.blogspot.com

Friday, December 23, 2016

Abstract Seascape, Abstract Sunset, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, 6x8"

I am always fascinated by sunsets, especiall sunsets over water.  This little study is my impressions of a sunset at Fernandina Beach harbor.

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110 + shipping


Of course, it bares no comparison to the actual photo(or the actual event) I took, but it did provide me with several hours of fun in the studio.

Such a simple piece should not have turned into the project I experienced, but as often happens, it did.  I wanted just the right glow of colors.

It seems with me, a painting either falls off my brush or it is a major struggle.  The falling off my brush part does not happen nearly as often as the major struggle.  After 20+ years of painting, I imagined I would be further down the road.  As my kids like to say, "it is what it is".

I try to appease myself by thinking if it were easy, it would be boring.  Maybe so, but I could handle just a tad more boring,

Hope you have a great day.  Thanks for stopping by.


www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Small Seascape, Wave Painting, Daily Painting, Small oil painting, "Cresting", 8x8x1.5"

For lovers of the sea!

I did a few small paintings where I focused in on a wave, instead of my usual long distance view.  I was not sure they would be successful, but they both sold quickly.  Both clients have similar reactions to them.....they felt the paintings revived wonderful memories of their times in or on the ocean.  I decided to try a few more.

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145 + shipping



detail

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I have a few more seascapes to show you soon.  I hope you enjoy this one!

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Panoramic Seascape Painting, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, Impressionist Seascape, 8x16x.75" Oil

I am trying to break my current addition to painting flowers, so I dug through my files and found a great image of the ocean.  I have a new (for me) size canvas, 8x16" that I thought would work well for the image.

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detail

detail




I have to admit, I enjoyed painting this scene.  My choices of subject matter are always based on emotion and on this day......the waves filled my need for action.

Thanks for reading my blog today....If I were in Florida, I'd be off to the beach.

www.CarolSciffStudio.blogspot.com

Sunday, December 11, 2016

A Surprise from from the Holy Land

The internet is fantastic and has become a necessary part of our lives.  I sit here on my computer in Florida and magically my artwork is seen worldwide.   How lucky are we to have the fantastic ability in our lives.

A few days ago, I received some wonderful and unexpected news from Israel.  An Israeli fashion designer, Assaf Pelleg,  contacted me with an offer I cannot refuse.  He has chosen one of my paintings to be printed on fabric and featured in his Spring 2017 collection.  I cannot show you the painting he will be using (top secret!) but, I can show you a dress he did last year, using the same technique.


Isn't it wonderful?

The new dress will be ready in March and he will be sending me one of his samples.  I am so excited, I can hardly wait!

This has been a fabulous year for me, with new and unexpected art opportunities coming my way.  A DVD cover, a wine label,and other new venues for my work.....all because of the internet.  How blessed am I?

I cannot wait to show you the dress with my design as soon as it comes!




Carol Schiff

Friday, December 9, 2016

Expressionist Sunset Painting, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, 9x12" Oil on Canvas Seascape

Well probably your 5 yr old kid could do this....right?  Maybe that is why I enjoy it so much.

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 I may be a slow learner, because it took me many years to get to this point.  Mama never said I was the sharpest knife in the drawer.




All kidding aside, I really love the freedom of this piece.  Instead of leaving the studio feeling like I have been fighting for hours, I felt very relaxed, happy and ready to sail through the day.  I think I need to do this more often!

Everyone must be in the home stretch of Christmas activities now, but for me, it's all about putting my feet up and enjoying a glass of wine.  We celebrated with our family last weekend.  When we have to do this, to get everyone together at the same time, we call it "Schiffmas".  With Grandkids in college it is getting harder and harder for us to have a family get together  with no "missing in action."  Jeff and I feel so blessed when we manage to do so.

Thanks for reading my blog today.


Carol Schiff
www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Small Seascape Painting | Daily Painting | Small Oil Painting | Green Sea by Carol Schiff | 11x14 Original SOLD

This small seascape painting was worked with a palette knife and is full of texture.  Just as the sea has many faces, my art does too.  Some days I want to do a detailed piece and somedays I want to sling paint.  Today...I wanted to sling paint.

SOLD
 The textured sand and foliage.


Thank you for viewing my blog today!

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Seascape Oil Painting, Daily Painting, Wave Painting, "Wall of Water" 16x20x.75" Oil SOLD

Lately, I have been painting seascapes.  I always love painting and viewing seascapes.  It's almost as soothing to me as a trip to the beach.

SOLD
 Of course, the first step for me IS a trip to the beach.  I  pick a day with my trusty camera and head for the sand.  I count myself lucky if I get a few interesting shots.

detail
For this painting, I used images from a trip to Barbados.




For the time being, I have hung this on my studio wall.  It transports me to the sea each time I see it.
Isn't art wonderful?!

Thanks for viewing my art today.

www.CarolSchiffStudo.blogspot.com




Friday, November 11, 2016

Small Seascape Sunset Painting, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, 6x8" impasto painting

I don't know how you start your days, but, whenever possible, I love to grab my camera and a cup of coffee and head to the beach to watch the sun come up.  With a morning like that, it is impossible to have a bad day!

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120 + shipping
 I like texture in my art and one of my favorite tricks, is to take a failed painting, leave the texture and use the panel again.  Sometimes it works, sometimes not.



Many artists use their canvases more than once, but convential  wisdom is you must sand it down.  I
sometimes do that too, but if I want to do a little expressionism, I say, why destroy all that lovely texture?

Thanks for reading my blog today.

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Daily Painting, Seascape Painting, Ocean Painting, Beach Painting, "Celebrating Blue" 16x20x1.5" Oil

I wanted to do a seascape, or actually a beach painting, somewhere between an abstract and impressionism.  If this looks a little familiar, it is because I posted the study for this work a month or two ago.



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495 + shipping

I wanted to record just my memories and impressions of trips to the beach.  I painted with a knife and tried to work quickly.

I tried not to think too much about the colors I was using or where I was putting them, but tried to keep it really instinctive.





I wanted plenty of texture in this piece.



It was a fun exercise, although I wish I had done a larger piece.  Maybe someday I will.

Thanks for viewing my blog today.

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Friday, October 28, 2016

Daily Painting, Small Acrylic Seascape, 6x8" Acrylic

I have been working on a secret project that requires me to paint in acrylics.  To ready myself, I tried a few small acrylic paintings.  This is my first attempt.

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89.00 + shipping
I am not sure how I feel about acrylics at this point.  I think I will be happy to get back to my oils, but like anything else, practice makes perfect.  There must be many techniques I am unaware of.  Maybe by the time I finish my project, I will have discovered some of them.

Change can be a good thing, but not always enjoyable.

Thanks for reading my blog today.



www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, Seascape with Sunset, 6x8" Oil

Another in my long fascination with oceans and, or, sunrise/sunset paintings.  I am not sure why I am so attracted to them, but I am!

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109.95



I always enjoy playing with thick paint!  I have been accused of being that person who "plays with her food".  Wrong!

For whatever reason, the process and the results please me....and that is my goal.

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Seascapes and Hawii Five O, Seascape Oil Painting, Ocean Painting

Over the years, I have painted many seascapes, both impressionistic and abstract.  It is part of my environment, living on the coast of Florida, and sometimes seascapes showed up almost without my intention.

On the beach


 The paintings always sold very well and I have featured a few of them as giclee prints.  Can you image my escitement when two of my prints were sold for set design on the CBS show "Hawaii Five O?

A Call From Mother

Yes, it's true!  I still can not believe it! This was one of my favorite shows in the 70's and I love the currant version too.  I will be checking out every episode in the upcoming season, trying to get a quick glimpse of my art.  Unfortunately, I have no information about when this will happen.

The good news is, you can own them too.  Both prints are available in the sizes of your choice at the links below the images.

Book em, Dan-o!

Carol Schiff



Friday, October 7, 2016

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

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

SOLD

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

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Fall In The Mountains

I have been in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina since early September.  Some of my painting buddies were with me earlier last month.




 We took a short trip up the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Here we are a 7,000 feet.


The weather was beautiful and so was the view!



We visited several waterfalls and had a delicious picnic.


The trees had just a touch of color, at the time.


We made some new artist friends, who had this pear tree outside their studio.  Thank you for your hospitality Joe and Mari.


We visited the apple orchard and bought fresh cider.  I'm going back for those apple fritters!


Nothing beats the fresh fruits and vegetables, right out of the fields!


Denette made a new friend in Hendersonville.  We also had a fabulous lunch and shopping trip!!


We didn't have time to paint, but took photos everywhere.  Maybe you will recognize some of the paintings I will be posting in the future.


One day we drove around looking for interesting barns for future artworks.


There are so many beautiful scenes in our country.  We loved the farmlands as much as the mountains.


The perfect finish to our day, a glass of wine and good music, overlooking trees and a creek.

Thanks for viewing my blog today.

Carol Schiff
www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Octopus Painting, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, Coral Reef Series, 9x12x.75" Oil Seascape

Yes, another coral reef series painting.  This series may be complete....at least for the time being.

I didn't actually see an octopus on my trip to the coral reef, but I know they were there!

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I DID see this fellow in an aquarium!  He is truely an amazing creature!


I am in the Blue Ridge Mountains now, enjoying the colorful trees, beautiful weather and fall atmosphere.  As much as I love Florida, I do miss fall and spring and try to be in the mountains during those seasons.

Is it just me, or has this year flown bye, even faster than last year.

I will soon be off to another workship with my favorite instructor and painter, Elio Camacho.  It will be an intense 4 days, but I always come home highly motivated and excited to get back to the easel.  Check him out at www.ColorRelations.com.

detail of Elio's work

 Above a detail of one of his 30x40" 2 hour demos!


 Cheers!

Carol

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Coral Reef Painting, Tropical Painting, Daily Painting, 24x30x1.5" Textured Oil Painting


This is another in my coral reef series....the largest so far.  It is highly textured, not with medium, but with paint.

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I sometimes paint over a failed painting, such as in this case.  Conventional wisdom will advise you to sand down your canvas and start over.  I prefer to let the texture of the failed painting show through.  Sometimes, I also allow pieces of the original art to show.

I orginally had an abstract piece on this canvas, but although I liked some parts of the abstact, I  was not happy with the whole piece.  The canvas set in my studio for several years before I attempted to reuse it.  This technique may not be for everyone, but I am the texture queen, so, it appeals to me.



Thanks for viewing my art today.

Carol Schiff

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Healing Ceilings, a story of love by Carol Schiff

I recently came in contact with a wonderful woman in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Amy Jo was a fan of my facebook page and sent me a link to her wonderful page called Healing Ceilings.  Amy Jo's husband just came through his second brush with cancer.  She and her husband were spending lots of time in the Cancer Care Center of North Carolina, he, getting treatment and she, waiting and observing. Observing the same people day after day, as they came in for their chemo or radiation treatments.  She decided to do something to brighten their lives and encourage them in their fight.



BlueBird of Happiness by Kathy Garvey
Amy Jo believes in the healing power of art.  She decided to brighten the days of these patients by giving them something inspiring to look at while they receive their treatments.  Out came those old, white, boring ceiling tiles to be replaced with individual tiles turned into creative art.  How she did this, I do not know, but she has single handedly installed hundreds of tiles in cancer care centers in the Raleigh area.

Peaceful Beach by Denette Schweikert

She contacted artists through Facebook and asked them to donate their work on ceiling tiles that she somehow supplies.  Nothing stops her.  When I saw her posts and decided to donate, she arranged for me to go to my local Lowes (in Florida) where I picked up a box of the proper tiles at no cost to me.  Naturally, I involved my painting group, Pieces of 8 and gathered additional volunteers from them. One of the group, Cindy Michaud, who summers out of town, was following the journey on Facebook. Being a person who does not let grass grow under her feet, she contacted Amy Jo and so far, has painted 6 tiles for the project.

Road to Sunshine by Cindy Michaud (2 tiles)

Garden of Inspiration by Cindy Michaud (4 tiles)
Everyone wanted to do peaceful scenes filled with inspiration.

Sailing the Bay by Mary Warnick

Ocean Sunrise by Carmen Beecher

I decided to do 3 typical scenes of North Carolina:

Abstracted Sea by Carol Schiff


Carolina Marsh by Carol Schiff



Mountain Mist by Carol Schiff

Did I tell you each tile is 24x24"?

Now that the tiles are complete, Amy Jo has done a "shout out" on Facebook to bring them home to Raleigh.  In her words, "The Love Train is leaving the station".  She will find volunteers who will transfer the tiles from place to place until eventually, they will be delivered to her hands for installation.

A story of love and compassion and determination.  The next time you think "What difference can I make"?

Think of Amy Jo.