Bird Painting "Just Ducky" by Carol Schiff

These two ducks are having a fine day....a nice little swim, maybe a little conversation.  Life is good!

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This is from an image, several years ago in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  I always think of these ducks as "Ebony and Ivory".  Thank you Michael Jackson!

The lake is surrounded with trees.  If you have ever been in the Blue Ridge Mountains during the summer.....green is everywhere you look!  So on this day, the water was a gorgeous turquoise and the shadows were absolutely an emerald green.

This summer, we are staying home, but in the fall we hope to spend some time in the mountains.  Fall in the mountains is really my favorite time of year in my favorite place.  Pumpkins and scarecrows are every where, reminding me of years gone by.  We go to the apple orchard and get fresh apples, apple donuts, apple pie, apple fritters.....well, you get the idea.  But, the best part are the gorgeous mountains covered in shades of orange, red and yellow!  I love getting up every day and running to the window to see how the trees of changed from the day before.  I cannot wait!

What is your favorite season and place?  The seashore in summer, skiing in winter?

Make it a great day!



www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Coral Paradise Undersea Painting

This one is oil on archival mat board.  Its 6.50 inches by 7.50.  $150.

1508 No Pie for the Writer's Group Undersea Oil Painting of Fish

This is one of those paintings where I start with a background and then find what I want to paint in it.  Its fun, I saw the one fish and then more and more started showing up.  I painted the green fish first and the brown fish hanging onto the coral was the last one to show up to the party.

The painting is 10 x 7.75 inches on archival mat-board.  $200.

Banyon Bay

Its been awhile since I posted, I am going to try to catch up now.  It has been very hot and muggy and rainy, I have been staying in the air conditioning a lot.  I tried taking some photos at different times and my camera instantly gets steamed up. Today it was bright enough so I could take a photo inside. 

The painting is 11 x 14 inches, oil on masonite. $400. 

SINKING by Carol Schiff

The sunset and the sea are the stars of this little abstract painting.

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Members of the supporting cast are COLOR

and TEXTURE.

Probably not for the faint of heart....but maybe those of you who like life on the edge, will find beauty in this piece.

Something for everyone!

Have a great day :0)

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

'REEL HER IN!" by Carol Schiff, 8x10" Original Oil

This is the second time I have painted this scene.  The first time, several years ago, was a small 5x7.  I wanted to paint it larger, but couldn't find the image on my computer.  When I finally found it...I didn't have the size canvas I wanted to use (14x18) so, because I was frustrated I did it on the 8x10.

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I suppose this means I will repeat the process again at some unknown point in the future.

This time I painted with a palette knife and brush.  I like the texture that can be achieved with the knife.  I also have added some great "ocean" colors to my palette.

Who knows....maybe the next time I paint this scene, it will be an abstract!

This is the first painting.  Do you have a  preference?
   
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Palms Along the River, A Florida Oil Landscape of the St. John's River by Judy Batterson, Florida Artist

Pristine wilderness of Old Florida lines the sides of the St. John's River. As the longest river in Florida, it winds north through 12 counties. We took a houseboat into the middle basin part of the river where I was able to sketch and paint the palms, marshes and wildlife. Tall stately palms grew along the river. We anchored and woke up to a sky of light making everything lush and green against the tannic slow moving water. Old Florida is inspiration! 12"H x 24"W original oil on canvas. Price: $ 600.00

WILD AND WACKY WEDNESDAY "Grape Half" by Carol Schiff SOLD

I wanted to liven things up a little on my blog and have decided to feature an existing painting at a special price each Wednesday.  The painting below has been one of my favorites for several reasons.

SOLD

I did a series of fruits and vegetables cut in half and showing cool back lighting.  Most of them have found new homes.  This is one of my favorites of the series because I love the color interaction...it has such a nice glow, and the brushwork is just the way I like it.  This is a 7x5" original oil on canvas panel at a very special price.  Original price $65.95



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Garden Path, a Plein Air Painting by Judy Batterson, Florida artist

Follow the path to the shady side of the garden! Painting en plein air on such a beautiful day made time pass so quickly. Before I knew it, the sun was making distinct shadows of the large bamboo and camellia bushes on the path to the rose garden. The shadows were a cool blue while the grass reflected the warmth from the sunlight. A large mossy oak cooled off the background. 9"H x 12"W Price: $ 225.00 framed

1506 View from Under the Bridge

I did this one quite awhile ago, its 12 x 16, oil on masonite.  It was a plein air, and I pretty much painted what I saw.  The water was brown and there weren't very many plants around.  It was just the buildings mostly.  So I tweaked it a lot.  I like it much better now.  $500.

Florida Landscape, Tropical Landscape, "TWINS" by Carol Schiff

An ode to my home state...two stately palms residing on the banks of the intra-coastal waterway.

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Painted with my favorite instrument.....a palette knife.  I like the way I can transition from one color to another with my knives.  I kept this painting quite smooth in comparison with many of my palette knife works.



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Seven Palms, 6x6 Oil Painting

A dirt road, palm trees, and the ocean. What could make an artist happier? 

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Small Oil Landscape, Daily Painting, "My Morning Companion", 6x8"

When I spend time in the Smoky Mountains, I start many of my days on the porch, with a cup of coffee.  It's a special time of day as the sun streams in over the mountains and starts to burn off the protective layer of "smoke" from the night before.

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It's just me, my coffee, and this old dogwood tree that sits in our yard.  A very nice way to start the day.

Soon the sun will rise over the mountain tops and light will stream in behind the tree.  My little special moment of the morning is gone and it is time to start my day.

Do you have a special moment each morning?



www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

And God Set a Bow in the Sky, 20x20 Oil by Carmen Beecher

Sometimes you just get lucky. This hint of a rainbow appeared at the right moment, making me very happy.

SOLD

Enlightened, Florida Coastal Oil Landscape Painting by Judy Batterson, Florida Artist

I passed by this location a few weeks ago, and the boat was still pulled up on the shoreline where I had painted it earlier. An afternoon thunderstorm, typical of Florida afternoons, had moved on, and the sunlight broke through the clouds. This 16 x 20 original oil is now headed for an upcoming event in Central Florida.

OFF SHORE STORM, Daily Painting,

  The other day my husband and I went for a walk on the beach.  Although it was sunny when we left home, ten minutes later black clouds were rolling in over the waves.

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The clouds had not yet completely obscured the horizon leaving a strip of aqua sunlight on the sea.

When I came home, I went straight to the easel, painting this from memory.

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com
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Osprey Over the St. John's River, a Small Florida Plein Air Painting by Judy Batterson, Florida Artist

Watching the osprey circle overhead, I was mesmerized. The large bird spotted fish in the tannic brown waters of the St. John's River and got them. Bright green aquatic plants lined the side of the river next to mangroves, cypress and grasses. I had my easel on a houseboat in the middle of the river with a great view. A great way to paint plein air, capturing part of the pristine wilderness! 5"H x 7"W Price: $ 75.00

GREEN WAVE by Carol Schiff

My husband retired recently, and we find ourselves walking on the beach quite regularly these days.  I always take my camera because you never know when that perfect scene will be spread out at your feet.  On these days I go without it, I always see multiple "perfect scenes".

90 + 6.50 in USA

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I have to remind myself, that seeing the perfect scene, and getting an image of it are two different things.  Usually, when I look in my viewfinder, the sun is in my eyes, or some such distraction, and I just click away in frustration, unable to see what I am pointing at.

I enjoy the trip again when I return home and download the images.  Usually I find at least a few that have possibilities.

I am sure by now all you plein air painters are horrified, but I have always been a studio painter and always will be.  I did TRY to do plein air, but  find it is a whole different ballgame.  I have great respect for anyone who can climb a mountain with a 36x48 canvas strapped on his back.......just cannot see me doing it!

On another note, I have thrilled to announce that I am the winner of not one, but TWO killer give a-ways!
If you are not familiar with Charleen Martin, I urge you to hop right over to her blog.  She does the most interesting and delightful mixed media pieces around.  At the moment, she is recovering from a shoulder injury and is showcasing her most unique jewelry making skills.

She sent me the most wonderful set of her note cards showcasing her fabulous collage works.  Thank you so much Charleen.  I will enjoy sending this out and I know my friends will be thrilled to receive them.

I also entered a little contest on Dreama Tolle Perry's blog.  She was showcasing her new book..."Be Inspired.....Adventures for the Heart".  She asked readers to post their most inspired saying and then selected the ten she liked the most.  Imagine my surprise when she posted my name as one of the winners.  She sent each of us a copy of her book. Click on her name above for a link that will take you to a page to order her book, or download a copy.

Enjoy the day.........
www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Figurative Pastel Painting of Children, "I Have a Dream...." 15x19"

I was notified a few days ago that my painting "I Have A Dream" has been awarded "Best of Show" in the May challenge at CFAI.com.

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I'm thrilled to have this honor.

Several years ago, before cell phones etc, I was attending an Easter egg hunt when these two darling babies  suddenly embraced.  I was lucky enough to have a camera pointed in their direction at the right time.  When I saw the image, all I could think about was Martin Luther King's famous speech.

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

St. John's River, Small Florida Oil Painting of River, Osprey, Cypress Tree by Judy Batterson, Florida Artist

With my easel set up on a houseboat deck in the middle of the St. John's River, I painted the wilderness around me. One lone fisherman floated by, looking for a catch. And so was the osprey that circled overhead. Cypress trees, mangroves, aquatic plants and gators were part of the river scene in Florida's pristine wilderness. 5x7 original oil, $75.