Monday, March 30, 2009

"Along Davis Road," 30" x 40" oil on canvas


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
The variations of green pulled me to stop along this road. I took a photograph of this Spring scene and later created this landscape in my studio.

Friday, March 6, 2009

"Still Standing," 24" x 30" oil on canvas


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
I enjoy painting old barns, partially because it is only a matter of time when one day these barns will not be "still standing."

"Sunrise Shadows," 24" x 30" oil on canvas


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
I came upon this scene while traveling through Northwest Illinois. The shadows on the dirt road are what struck me the most.

"Cinder Ridge," 24" x 36" oil on canvas


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
This was created from a photograph my daughter, Nina, took while golfing at Cinder Ridge. I loved the textures and shadows.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

"Winter Shadows," oil on canvas, 30" x 40"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
One favorite place I visit often is the forest preserves off Thatcher Avenue in River Forest. Sometimes I will take photographs of landscapes that interest me. I came upon this scene of a frozen pond with such interesting geometric patterns of blue, I had to paint it.

Monday, February 9, 2009

"Winter Sanctuary," oil on canvas, 24" x 30"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

"Hollyhocks by the Barn," oil on canvas, 11" x 14"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
I fell in love with this barn framed by the colorful Hollyhocks last Summer.

"Bonnie's House," oil on canvas, 24" x 36"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
This is a landscape of my friend's old farm house in Jo Davis County.

"Along the Road," oil on canvas, 24" x 36"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
I can't resist scenes along the road! I hope others will appreciate the natural beauty of an "ordinary" Midwest scene.

"Abandoned Wagon," oil on canvas, 24" x 36"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
I came across this scene while traveling through Northwest Illinois.

"Midwest Farm," oil on canvas, 24" x 36"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
I came upon this scene while traveling with my sister, Tamara, through Stephenson County. I was inspired to paint this landscape considering all of the U.S. farms that have gone out of existence.

"Corn Field," oil on canvas, 30" x 40"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.

This is also a scene from Stephenson County. I was inspired by the variations of gold in this corn field and had to put it on canvas.

"Country Church," oil on canvas, 18" x 24"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
I wanted to post a few paintings I created of scenes from Stephenson County, Illinois.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

"By the Curb," oil on canvas, 24" x 24"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.

It was an inspiring Inaugural celebration today. I am looking forward to change and also to the change in seasons, so I decided to post some floral paintings that remind me Spring is on its way.

"Pink Asters," oil on canvas, 20" x 24"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.

"Pink Tulips," oil on canvas, 16" x 20"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.

Monday, January 12, 2009

"Limerick Ireland - Abandoned 17th Century Distillery," oil on canvas, 24" x 36"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
I painted this scene from a photograph my son in law gave me on Christmas. This scene is of an old abandoned 17th century distillery that he came upon during his travels through Ireland. This particular spot was on the property of James Cleary, a gentleman farmer, with 80 head of dairy cows in Limerick, Ireland, county of Tipparary.

"Cantigny Park 2," oil on canvas, 24" x 30"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
Another painting I created of Cantigny Park. The color fields and shadows were too beautiful not to recreate on canvas in my studio.

"Oz Park, Chicago," oil on canvas, 30" x 24"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
I painted this painting from a series of photographs my daughter, Nina, took while she attended DePaul University in Lincoln Park, Chicago. I found the desolation of the park very interesting, as well as the weather...almost meditative.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

"Morning Walk," oil on canvas, 30" x 24"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
Still enjoying these Winter landscapes, and am looking forward to 2009, and the coming Spring.

"Spring Creek," oil on canvas, 22" x 28"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
Creek in Northwest Illinois; exhibited at the Oak Park Public Library June 2007.

"Summer Field," oil on canvas, 24" x 36"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
On the border of Illinois and Wisconsin, I came upon this scene while traveling with my sister. I couldn't get over the many textures and colors in this landscape, and created this piece as soon as I returned home.

"Trillium and Bluebells," oil on canvas, 30" x 24"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.

"Three Bicycles," oil on canvas, 24" x 36"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
I came upon this scene while traveling through Door County, Wisconsin a few years back in the Summer, and had to put it on canvas.

"Cantigny Park," oil on canvas, 30" x 40"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
A trip I took to Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois last Summer inspired me to paint this scene. I have created more paintings of Cantigny Park, inspired by the colors and textures of the landscaped gardens. I am looking forward to visiting the park again in the Spring.

"Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple," oil on canvas, 36" x 48"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
This painting is of Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple in Oak Park. Living in Oak Park for the past 40 years, I constantly see and appreciate the architecture and history around me, but what was really inspiring about this scene was the tree itself - it was framing the temple with delicate branches that looked like lace, decorated by golden Autumn leaves.

"Millenium Park," oil on canvas, 30" x 40"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.
A trip to Millenium Park in Chicago inspired this painting. It was purchased by the Berwyn Public Library in Berwyn, Illinois and is on permanent exhibition at the library. I am looking forward to future visits to the park when the weather gets warmer.

My Studio in Oak Park



I prefer painting in the comfort of my studio in Oak Park, so while traveling through rural Illinois, I take photographs, make sketches and take notes that later assist me in my oil paintings.

Monday, December 29, 2008

"Country Road," oil on canvas, 24" x 36"


Copyright © 2009 by Dzvinka Stifel. All Rights Reserved.