Small Still Life, Bottle Still Life, "ANTIQUE BOTTLES", 10x8 Oil Painting

I have recently become fascinated with antique and vintage bottles as reflected in this small still life.  I see lots of them in the antique stores of North Carolina.  Most have been reclaimed from the earth and carry the results of spending years under ground.

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145 + 13.50 in US

I have been told that the smaller bottle started life as clear, uncolored glass, but because it contains magnesium, it has turned this glorious purple color.  It comes from Ohio.

www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

The larger bottle is a mystery.  It carries only the imprint of a small sailboat (not visible in the painting).  I liked the shape and the sailboat, so I brought it home.  Are there any bottle experts out there who could give me a little history on it?  I would love to know the history involved in the subject matter of this small still life.

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

FLOWERS FOR YOU, 8X8 COLLAGE SOLD

I had so much fun with my apple collage a few weeks ago, I decided to try another.  This one is on a canvas panel and I layered a lot of colored tissue papers to make new colors.  It also has a bit of metallic ribbon.

This is a great example of the wonderful and unique art available on Etsy.  The creative artist, Danny Phillips from Austin, Texas has a great selection of his clever collage paintings.  He has developed a unique technique for his backgrounds, as shown here.  Visit his site here.  One of my guilty pleasures....surfing Etsy!

SIGNS OF SPRING, 8X6", OIL, SOLD

The iris has always been a favorite flower of mine, but the ones that will grow in Florida are not to spectacular.  The ones we have here are not the big, beautiful, bearded iris that the more northern states have.  Ours are little puny flowers.   I always look forward to visiting our mountain home in North Carolina, as one of the first things I did when we bought it, was plant all those lovely flowers from my childhood.  Daffodils, iris, tulips, lilac, cone flowers, and lots and lots of hydrangea.  I have not been able to go up so far this spring, but we are planning a trip soon.  I hope there are still some daffodils and lilac blooming.  But if they are gone, I know the iris will soon be there to greet me.  What is your favorite flower?

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SOLD

Daily Painting, Floral, "Gardenia"

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90

Flowers bring so much into our lives.  Even the most dreary of days are easily brightened by viewing a garden full of blooming flowers.

Hope you have a great day today.  Give someone a flower and brighten their day!

Small Oil Painting, Daily Painting, Flower Painting, Floral Still Life "Hydrangea and Goldenrod" 8x6" SOLD

Another of my "chunky" floral still life.  The idea on these is to keep detail to a minimum with color, brushstrokes and shape catching you eye.

SOLD

I quickly sketched in very basic shapes, not being fussy but trying to capture enough of the flower shape to be recognizable.  I massed in dark under colors and then worked a little with local color.  Of course, I  pumped it up.

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I worked with big strokes and lots of paint.

Thank you for viewing my art today.

www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Small Floral Still Life, "African Violet", 6x8" Oil SOLD

Now that spring is here, flowers are starting to bloom everywhere.

SOLD

The beauty of African Violets is that with a little sunlight, they will bloom all year round.

Of course, this one doesn't even need sunlight!

Carol Schiff

Small Oil Still Life, "Vine Candy", 6x8" Original

It has been quite some time since I have posted by first love....still life.

96. + 6.50 in USA

I like the abstract shapes and the red glow in this area.

Thanks to Cindy for growing these beautiful fruits in the golden glow of sunlight on her patio.

If you would like to purchase and live outside the USA, just contact me for accurate shipping rates to your home.

Have a wonderful day and thank you for viewing my art.

Carol Schiff Studio

Small Floral Still Life, "Cindy's Geranium's" 6x8" Oil Painting SOLD

The weather has been rather dark and gloomy lately, so today I am posting a bright and cheery painting.  I hope it brightens your day!

SOLD

I was able to enjoy these geraniums last summer while visiting my friend, Cindy, at her mountain retreat.  The scenery was stunning from her balcony and every morning the sun would strike these flowers and make them glow.  The perfect place to sit and have that morning coffee.

I almost always show my paintings in a simple black frame.  I think it really allows the colors to pop and doesn't distract from the painting.  Since I also tone my canvases in black, it adds another dimension to the painting too.  What type of frames to do use on your work?

Carol Schiff

Palette Knife Still Life, Bottle Still Life, "Pretty In Pink Cross Bottle" by Carol Schiff, 6x8" Oil, Daily Painting

Are you a fan of cross bottles?  I recently discovered them and have become obsessed with them.   Cross bottles are vintage (usually) bottles that have been reclaimed.  A talented artist then designs a crystal cross or  other design as a top piece.  Many of the crystals come from discarded chandeliers.  I have also seen them with beautiful arrangements of sea shells, coral and sea fans.

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100 + shipping

As with all good art, they can become quite pricey, so after purchasing several, I decided to try to feed by obsession by painting instead of buying, much to my husband's relief.

I don't know how long that will work for me, but at the moment, it does seem to help.

If you are not familiar with cross bottles, seach for them on Etsy or Ebay where you will find a nice selection.  Beware!!  It may be dangerous to the viewer!

www.CarolSchiffStudio.Etsy.com

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.

Small Floral Still Life, Spring Flowers, 8x10" Oil

$160 + 11

Still Life Bottle Painting,Daily Painting, Still Life Painting, "Cross Bottle II" by Carol Schiff 8x10" Oil SOLD

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175 + shipping

www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

Floral Still Life Painting, Textured Floral Painting, "Pretty in Pink" by Carol Schiff, 11x14" Oil

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196. + shipping

www.CarolSchiffStudio.Etsy.com

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

LILY, 6X8, OIL, SOLD

I don't paint a lot of flowers so I thought I would give one a try.  This is from a photo I took a couple of years ago in North Carolina.  I found this beautiful plant full of blooms in a neighbor's yard.  The plant had a least 10 blooms on it and stood waist high. 

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Small Floral Still Life, "Tulips and Sunflower" 8x6"

It may not feel like it where you live, but winter is on it's last legs and soon spring flowers will be bursting out of the ground.  Tulips are one of those flowers that mean spring to me.

$90 + 6.50

Living in Florida, most of the tulips I see these days are in the florist shop.  Some years, I get lucky, and visit North Carolina when they are blooming.

These came from the grocery store.  Lately, I have been coming home with more flowers than food which tends to upset my husband.   I tell him flowers are edible, but he is not impressed with my knowledge.

Tulips are so elegant.  They remind me of ballet dancers with their graceful poses.  Like most things so beautiful, they don't last as long as I would like.

Floral Still Life, Daily Painting, "Mixed Blessings" 6x8" Oil SOLD

A selection of flowers from my North Carolina garden..........

SOLD

I hope this brought a smile to your face..................