Artist Trading Cards

After a year of wonderful travels across the Niagara Frontier, plein air painting and experiencing new locations, our painters are becoming close friends. We share our ups and downs, the goings on of family and renovations, health and recipes. Some of us sometimes think lunch is the best part of our group, where conversations range from critique to brush washing technique as well as all the day to day things people talk about.

With a few months to plan, Kathy Schifano decided to have a get together where we could exchange artist trading cards, which are 2.5 x 3.5 original artworks. These are traditionally only traded, not sold, if one were sell them then they would be called ACEOs. Someone will have to comment here to explain that acronym to the rest of us!

Desserts on the table were moved away so we could all see the mini artworks before they disappeared.

 Mounted on handmade paper, collaged, painted, drawn and woodblocks, we had everything!

 Kristene Gazzo brought a large collection, she even generously traded 2 for 1 with some of us.

 Linda Piper made prints of original works and mounted them on her beautiful hand made paper.

 Sherril Primo, Diane Groupil and Joan Turrell

Joan Shaw, Sherrill, and Sandy did not intentionally all plan on wearing red ahead of time.

 Although it took a bit of extra effort to make these cards to trade, we all loved it and were able to experiment with new ideas in the process. We all had a good time and each of us went home with a prize selection of mini artworks to collect and display, memories of another productive year with our NFPAP friends.

Return to Bond's Lake

Our first Bonds Lake Paintout this month was so lovely, warm breeze, sunshine and casual beauty of Fall emerging in nature that it was decided to return a week later. Well, the sunshine was there, but the warmth was missing. Layers of clothing on these hearty painters resulted in another successful day with nature.

It is easy to tell that Linda Ludwig, Joan Shaw, Joan Turrell and Sherill Primo had a great day at this new favorite location.

Chestnut Ridge

Fall brings out new colors for our palettes, after all, how much cadmium orange does an artist use the rest of the year? It is great for mixing and toning, but the fresh brilliance is absolutely necessary in the Fall. This particularly chilly day was great for painting because of the brilliant sunshine and strong shadows.

Photo includes Mary Fisher, Sharon Fundalinski, Michelle Dembik (Peggy's daughter)
Peggy Walker, Jeanne Coffin. Not shown in attendance are Diane Goupil, Carol
Mathewson, Jen Parsons and her friend Jacki.

Bonds Lake Park

Sherrill Primo scheduled an absolutely perfect September sunshine day at Bond's Lake Park, and we were all pleasantly surprised to see the variety of new views off the road and back in the park. Joan Shaw was in attendance as well. We all sat facing the water for our lunch get-together, constantly harking about the perfect weather, the changing colors and the sweet dog that gave each of us a chance to scratch his head. Sounds like a dull event, but only because you were not there, it was divine to spend an early fall afternoon sitting around with friends, painting light, shadow and nature.

Linda Piper

Joan Turrell

Kathy Schifano

Anne Zohur in her car studio

Niagara Frontier Plein Air Artists pose with their 'catch of the day'

Beaver Island Spring paintings

A view of the golf course there and the shop that burned down the following day!

Spring greens, clear skies, budding trees bright colors and COLD! We met at Beaver Island State Park in Grand Island along the Niagara River which was still pretty close to 40 degrees. The morning started kind of crummy, but the sun burned off the clouds and radiantly warmed us through multiple layers.

Peggy Walker wears mittens over rubber gloves with pastels.

Sharon Fundalinski peeks out from under her layers on the boardwalk

Joan Turrell enjoys the bay from her boardwalk spot in the sun.

Bidwell Parkway Vegetable Market

The popular Saturday Market at Bidwell and Elmwood in Buffalo is fresh, creative and all local. A jar of tomato sauce here, homemade pasta there, some vegetables and it is a dinner. How about a painting to go with that?
Bernice Smith and Sherrill Primo parked their easels in the shade by the vendors and enjoyed the city neighborhood ambiance as they painted the local scene.

2012 Worldwide Paintout in Niagara Falls

Starting this paintout weekend at Niagara Falls State Park right, the weather was mostly sunny and mid 70's until well after lunch when we returned to our cars loaded with equipment and new paintings and felt the first raindrops of the day. We had settled in the public space between the two great cataracts and the long staircases to the Horseshoe Falls, as our first favorite spots at Luna Island and Three Sisters were both blocked for the Fall construction season-new walkways, overlooks, safer stairs and rails will be installed for next year.

We found that most of the tourists in our area were walking longer distances to enjoy the sights from all vantage points, few had come to simply take pictures and hurry out to the shopping malls. We know our way around Goat Island, although there were plenty of tourists and tour buses nearby, their drop off point was nearer to the stairs and we had this area to ourselves in the morning.

Sherrill Primo, sketching her plan

Joan Shaw with her pochade

Linda Piper and Joan Turrell with pastels and conversation

Joan Shaw and Kathy Schifano's french easel by the bench

Kathy, Joan, Linda, Joan and Sherrill meet for lunch

Each time the tour bus drove behind us it would slow or stop so the riders could see our paintings. 

Joan L Shaw's oil of our view of the Horseshoe Falls

Joan Turrell's pastel of the cascades on hand-marbled paper

Linda Piper's pastel looking across to Canada

Kathy Schifano's oil of a boulder on the falls' edge

Tuscarora State Park, Painters on Lake Ontario

 Settled on a lumpy log at the intersection of river and lake, Kathy Schifano looked to the horizon to capture the colors of Lake Ontario.

Carole picked up the colors of the lovely home nestled on an overlook, surrounded by trees, right across the water. Her watercolor whites were brilliant!

Claudia worked with her muse to create an artistic list, Laurene Buckley created a vignette with watercolors showing the lagoon,  and the geese and swans entertaining us. Finding a picnic table at the deserted edge of the park was easy for painters willing to trek a bit, Laurene rode her bicycle with art supplies in a backpack, then walked it through rock paths, sand and a bit of muck as well to get there.

Sherrill Primo took all these photos, except this which happens to show a bit more of the area including the rocks thrown up from the lake. If you see her, ask what special effects she was set up near. (It's all about the fish and the birds in this park)

 Joan Shaw finished a lovely oil with her portable pochade under the shade of towering branches, capturing the cascading trees at the edge of the beach and Lake Ontario, a favorite spot for the NFPAP artists.

Beverly McIntyre lined up with Joan Turrell and Linda Piper to paint larger compositions with pastels in the shade. Sitting by the beach, listening to waves lapping at rocks and sand, these ladies were in a little bit of heaven.

Tuscarora Trail May 14 2012

Paul Thomas

New painting spots are exciting and stimulating, and this quiet spot is hidden along Lake Road near Wilson, NY.  Thanks to Sherrill Primo who scouted out this spot and was our host, we spent one of the first truly pretty Spring days painting together in a location that was beautiful in every direction. It started out as a Trillium Walk, but the sun and geese called us to the creek shore views. A few of us also painted on the hillside among the pink and white trillium that continue to bloom in the shade of tall hardwoods.

Sandi Heath

Sherrill Primo and Carol Carreno

Christine and Joan Turrell

Carol Carreno

Sandy Heath, Linda Piper and Joan Turrell

Kathy Schifano