Daily Painting, Landscape Painting, "In the Bamboo" 8x6" Oil Painting

As a child living in rural Ohio, my grandmother would visit from Florida, bringing along an exotic collection of seashells and postcards. There was always one or two postcards from McKee Gardens in Vero Beach. She  awakened a deep desire in me.....to live in this strange and beautiful tropical land.

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90 + 6.50 in USA

Recently I made my first trip to McGee Gardens, a magical place filled with  tropical flora and  giant water lily pads.

I was fascinated with the bamboo stands, so abstract in their shapes.

It's always nice when a childhood dream comes true............Thank you Grandma.

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

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

95 + 6 in US

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!

Daily Painting | Abstract Painting | Small Oil Painting | Wishful Thinking by Carol Schiff | 14x11" SOLD

Well, it has happened again.........I had the urge to try my hand at abstract again.

SOLD

I was determined to do a mixed media  abstract, get out my many Golden mediums, and just have a fun day playing.  Kind of like kindergarten.  Why did I think that?

Don't I know that mixed media abstract is one of the most stressful things I can try?  Why don't I remember that my mind goes blank, that I'm not one of those people that can stand in front of a blank canvas and pick up a brush without a plan?

Why do I always think, this time it will be different?

Well it wasn't.  I worked at least 4, maybe 5 hours with my Golden mediums, getting the texture just right, carefully choosing the acrylic colors, blah, blah, blah.  It was a mess.

The next day, I sanded down as much as I could,  turned to my beloved oils, and ended up with this result.  Something I can live with.  Something that might give me a tad more confidence the next time I decide to do an abstract.  Something that I really kind of ........ like.  NEVER GIVE UP!!



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Small Landscape Painting, "Intracoastal Island" by Carol Schiff, 6x8" Oil, SOLD

This small landscape painting depicts a scene I see every day.  Florida's intracoastal waterway is dotted with small uninhabited islands.

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SOLD

During warmer months, the islands are often gathering places for camping and fishing trips or simply a fun boating trip for a family outing.  Even the youngest kids enjoy the sandy beaches and calm, shallow waters and many picnics and happy days occur there.

I painted the scene with a palette knife in the style I like to call "color weaving" which gives it a nice textured look.  I particularly like a small landscape painting in a simple black frame which, I feel, gives a sense of elegance.  I love when you pin my work!



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

Today I have some very exciting news to report!!  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!

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Tropical Landscape Art, Florida Painting, Florida Morning" by Carol Schiff, 6x8" Oil Landscape

I work up eary, grabbed a cup of coffee and my camera, and headed to Florida's intracoastal waterway.  In our area, it is the Indian River, and I arrived there just in time to see the sun break over the horizon.

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96 + shipping

 When I had finished my photos, I drank my coffee and enjoyed that wonderful early morning atmosphere.  You know the one, where it seems that only you and maybe a few birds are up and around.  It is so still, the birds are starting to feed, and a small pod of dolphins are fishing off shore.  Heaven!

I am often asked where I find my small frames.  The answer is my favorite framer.  Apparently it is standard procedure for framers to throw away the end pieces of moldings.  My framer, who has a large following of artists, started using those end pieces to make  up small standard sized frames.  He always has a good selection and sells them for next to nothing.  Perfect for starving artists!

If you are in Melbourne, FL area, his store is Ridley's Frames on Palm Bay Road and Troutman Ave. in Palm Bay.  Stop in and load up on his treasures and tell him I sent you in :)

Happy Day!



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Mountain, Landscape, Oil Painting, "The Blue Ridge" 18x24"

The past few years, I have been painting my little daily paintings, but lately, I have felt the need to go larger, and deeper.

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795

This is a view of Water Rock Knob, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, one of my favorite places in this world.

I painted the background and much of the foreground with a palette knife.

I tried to stay loose with my brushwork too.

Life is good in the mountains!

Small Oil Landscape, "Florida Wetlands I" 6x8" SOLD

How did it get to be the last week of January already?  Obviously, this year is going to buzz by as fast as the others all seem to do.

I have been painting commissions for the last month, but I try to slip a few daily paintings into the mix every week.

SOLD

I have been enjoying my little floral still life paintings, but had the desire to try a landscape this week.  Florida has the most beautiful wetlands, teaming with wildlife.  Of course, some of that wildlife is on the dangerous and creepy side, so I was very careful where I stepped.

This is Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge in Brevard County, Florida.  It sits between the ocean and the Indian River on a thin strip of land.  Next time you visit Florida, try to get off the beaten path of beaches and Disney and enjoy the less well known beauty.

Marsh Landscape, Palette Knife Painting, COLORS OF THE MARSH 8x8x1.5" oil

The sun is quickly sinking below the horizon and within minutes the colors of the marsh will disappear.

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119 + shipping

 My goal here was to suggest the beauty and colors of the marsh in late summer.  I wanted to use plenty of texture and thick paint to do so.

I really love the gallery wrap canvases from "The Edge".  I like the chunky shape of this small 8x8" with the 1.5" depth that gives this small painting more presence.

Thanks for reading my blog today :)



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