Art Opening June 6, 6:00-9:00

If anyone can make it down here to the Pike Place Market tomorrow, (Saturday) I'd love to see you.

Karon Leigh and I are showing some work there for the moth of June..

Art, Art, Art

The sunshines on us here in Washington State. We are having the weather that makes all the winter rains worthwhile.

I get a hint of energy this time of year. I'm working on a special project that I will blog by Thursday. That is the day it will be auctioned off by the Arts Council. The money will be going towards the new art center being built in Everett.

My task, and I did choose to do it, was to decorate a magnum of wine using encaustic. I said yes, but then started thinking about my restrictions. For one, a magnum is HUGE! The label had to show, and since it was glass I couldn't use encaustic on it. I also didn't want to apply my blow torch and it's heat to the side of a nice big bottle of wine. A nice little group of problems. I love problems in art. I really feel my most alive when I am solving puzzles in my art. I think of it as one of my strengths.

Since you can't see that project yet I will leave you with this painting above. The painting is 32" X 36". It's called Soaring. It goes this week to Local Color in Seattle where I will be showing with my arty friend Karon Leigh for the month of June.

I'm back and this time I promise to stay. I think that sometimes I get in the rut of thinking I have nothing to say. I always think other people are much more interesting. I think it's because I have heard everything I have to say over and over in my head.

So, I return with a flagrant self promotional post.

This card, which is too small to read, is an invitation to my show at Wise Designz in Everett Saturday, 16 May from 4:00-7:00. I'd love it if you could come and check it out. There is a lot of color there but my favorite piece is a white on white. I'm still loving that combination. All the work is in encaustic.

I'll see you soon with a post on a new book I have been published in.

A Bunch of Stuff

Have any of you been on Facebook? It is a totally time sucking pastime. That's where I have been. I've been sucked in. It's so much easier to use than blogger but it has a different audience. I am definitely going to have to find that blogging without guilt banner somewhere. It nags at me that I haven't posted and the nagging makes me not want to post. How the heck does that work?

Artfest is coming! It's just a couple weeks away and I'm getting pumped about it. I love being in the classroom, most any classroom, but this is the best. Five days away, three days of new teachers, and someone cooking every delicious meal. I hope we have the same people cooking as last year. I've been dreaming about it.

My classes are all painting classes this time. I feel like I never got to use the classes I took last year and for the money I need a return on investment. There are supplies up the ying yang to be found and purchased.

Now I need to begin working on some trades. The theme opf sea monsters this year has kind of put me off . They're supposed to be pretty sea monsters. Huh??

The photo I posted here is one of my recent encaustics. It has nothing to do with the post but I thought you might like a peek at it. I hope you can click on it and see it large. I'm not sure.

3:00 AM In The Morning

It's 3:00AM. Do you know where your mind is? Mine is acting like a fireworks booth in flames. I can't seem to shut it down so I'm waiting for it to burn itself out.

Some things I am wondering about:

What/Who controls the medium I work in? I have quite a few shows coming up and want to do something different, something that isn't encaustic. I wonder if I am expected to show encaustic paintings only. I feel like it is what people want to see. Do I need to take the upper hand and do the art for myself rather than the looker? That is the direction I am leaning but I do worry about how it will be recieved.

Is this economy going to pick up any time soon? In this household we are both self employed. The phone is deadly silent. That means no money is coming in. I am thinking I need to find a grocery store that wants to trade signs for food. How do people deal with these times? What are you all doing about the economy and your shringking wallets?

Facebook is a very easy place to lose time. I love getting to know cousins that I haven't seen in many years, or never, but most of what happens there is fluff and fun. I feel like it has replaced my blogging time. That's not good.

Snow...It just seems to keep on coming. It's a really odd weather year here in the northwest.

Again with the food. I think I need to plant a garden this year and do some canning. I wonder how I would go about keeping the beavers and deer away. It's an awful lot of work and would all have to be done by hand.

I had a wonderful visit with a favorite aunt yesterday. We strolled the streets of Portland and ended up eating in a very nice italian place. I've never had polenta so tall and fluffy. I'll be working on that recipe. I suspect egg whites and ricottta have been folded into the polenta before it is baked. It sure was tasty.

I am excited about my Artfest trip in April. I'm looking forward to the time to put all of my energy into art and friends and living in the moment. It'll also be grand having someone else do the cooking.


Hmmmm. These things don't seem worth laying awake for. What is up? No photos this morning but I swear I will be back with some very soon.

Encaustic Peace

I've missed you all lately but have not missed reading your blogs. What wondeful things are being posted.

This is a recent 2' X 2' encaustic painting of mine. I like the gritty, worn, earthiness of it. I also like the message. I hope we are now moving toward that Peace in our world.

I seem to be fascinated by grafitti lately and would love an in depth class in it. Because of my experience with lettering I can see that there is more to it than meets the eye. It fascinates me.

You can see this painting, and others, at the Edmonds Conference Center until mid march. The picure really doesn't do it justice.

Show Success

The show went well Saturday night. It's a real treat to get out and see friends in a social setting right smack dab in the middle of the city of Seattle.

I included this 18" X 24" black and white encaustic piece in the show. The photo is dark. I don't know why. I took it outside. Could it be that even when the sun is out we don't get enough of the northwest light to shoot a photo.

I have seen that on Seth's Altered Page Blog alot of people would like to try encaustic and don't know where to start. I am toying with the idea of doing some short "how to's" here so people can dip thier toes into it. I just got a new camera so it's a possibility. Give me some time to figure out how.

Thanks to all of you who took time from your busy weekend to spend time with us at the show. It was much appreciated.

Last minute heads up.

This black and white encaustic is one of the pieces I am showing at

Local Color in The Pike Place Market for the month of September. I did all black and white pieces for this show. I needed to get the black and white out of my systen so I can get back to color. I am feeling a little aprehensive about showing all black and white paintings but the deed is done.

The opening reception is tonight. If you have a few minutes, come join us and enjoy some wine and snacks. I am showing with my friend Karon Leigh in this cool little coffee shop/art gallery. This gallery is right smack in the middle of the market on the brick road.

Nudes., Love 'em or leave 'em?

My posts have been all over the place lately so I thought I'd share a painting with you. After all, this is an art blog. This is a small , 11X14" encaustic piece. I hope it does not turn any of you off to see a nude. I love doing them and have nowhere really to show them other than the odd figure show.

It suprises me how many venues do not allow nudes because they don't want to scare off customers. I can't imagine anything prettier than a well done, tasteful figure painting. The problem is where we draw the line on "tasteful". I've seen many pieces that in my estimation go beyond the tasteful. Each and every one of us has a different line.

What do you think? Should I leave them off the blog? I really want to know.

Tools & Encaustic

I had a ball at Larry Calkin's class. Find him at calkinsart.com/ . He didn't just have torches and fire. He had woodworking tools. I love tools and everything they can do!

Larry was so cool. He is so into his work that when he has an idea he just drops down to the ground to work it out.

This piece 2' X 2'. It's large and a bit out there. In the holes I am going to add a scene of some sort. I'm not sure what yet. The blue you see is a chemical mix starting with steel wool and turning this beautiful blue after couple days. I loved the color obviously. It may be my first monotone encaustic.

I have done a bit of 3D or 2.5D before but not to this extent. This is actually some packaging I found. How cool is that? This is a green (eco wise) painting.

Everyone at the workshop worked on something completely different. It really felt good to be working in a group and not have the responsibility of teaching them. I cannot paint and teach at the same time. There is something about having a bunch of torch weilding novices that keeps me from relaxing into the zone.

Enjoy your summer. It's crazy hot here in Washington.

From Funked to Pumped

I think that most of us suffer a funk every once in a while. I certainly have for the last few days. I have come to accept that funks are part and parcel of the artist's personality. We just cannot create all the time. We are emotional beings and with that comes not just the highs but the lows.

I have twelve panels prepped and ready for designs but I have just been looking at them. I know what they are going to look like but it is nowhere except my head.

Pictured is the only one of the series I have completed. It's simple and stark, black and white. The whole series is going to be. I'm feelin' like a colorless child. I hope I still have the black and white series in me after this weekend. I know the color will return.

What is taking me from the funk is that tomorrow morning I begin an advanced encaustics workshop at Dakota Art Workshops. It's with Larry Calkin who I have heard nothing but good about. He usually teaches at Pratt in Seattle but that is an awful city drive. I'll take back roads to LaConner the next few days and see nothing but Washington's majesty on the trip.

Wish me luck. I've never had an encaustics class so I'm really excited to be learning instead of teaching. I am pretty experimental so it was all fun for me. Wax on. Wax off. I think having a sign shop for so many years has given me a leg up on process and paints of all sorts.

This class will benefit my students also. I know some of the stuff I'll learn about will not be practical to teach in a retail setting but I will be able to offer the whole ball of wax out of my home studio.

Busy Week

Yowza! Have you ever had one of those weeks where you don't have a minute to stop and breathe? This was one of those for me. I have a real love/hate relationship with those weeks. I feel productive but I don't feel mellow and relaxed which is my favorite frame of mind.

Saturday was a teaching day. I LOVE teaching. I love the students and I especially love watching them get excited about encaustic. They always do. It's such a sensual, tactile medium that you can't help but fall in love as you work it. Though teaching is incredibly rewarding , I am drained when it is over. Encaustic is not a very portable medium so I end up packing up suitcases of stuff for a day of teaching at Everett Artist's Supply and Framing, http://www.everettartistssupply.com/ and then packing it all back up to take it home.

I have a couple private teaching sessions coming up and it's a treat to have someone come to my studio to learn. All of the tools are at our disposal and I can get farther along when they are close by. I have allot of equipment here that can't be dragged to the store.

My friend Karon, http://karonleigh-stilldancing.blogspot.com/, and I installed a small show at Uncle Elizabeth', right on Pike on Capitol Hill in Seattle. It will be there for two months. Though it was a bit of work we did get to spend some time visiting at dinner. Seattle has a great vibe. I feel the energy of the people there. I live out in a rural area so I travel just to go to Starbucks. I do fantasize about living above a retail store in some funky loft and spending my days painting. I don't think that will happen. I do love the birdsongs out here at beautiful Storm Lake.

I'm very excited about a show coming up in September. Karon and I are at Local Color right in the heart of Pike Place Market. The place feels good. It's comfy and well lit. We'll send out cards for that one and have anice opening. I hope some of you can make it to the opening which will be announced here soon.

Ooh ooh ooh. I almost forgot. I was dying for some small bisqe or porcelain dolls that had been dug up from the grounds of an old factory in Germany. I think they are from the 1800's. I saw them at Artfest for more money than I had, but Kecia at http://lemoncholys.blogspot.com/ had some on her etsy for $15.00 I am so excited about them. They make wonderful necklaces.

Lastly, I will have Karon show me how to link to everyone I mention in this blog. It can't be that hard. I don't care for you having to look at all the web addresses I've added.

Energy

Oh what a beautiful morning!!! Oh what a beautiful day!!!

The energy sent out in the last post has worked. I will let you all know in due time when and where we can get together.

In the meantime, here is a painting of a little shack down the lake from me. It's not encaustic. It's pastel. Hmmmmmmm..should I cover it with wax? I think not.

Missing in Action

Ha! You thought I wouldn't return! Well, here I am and I have every intention of blogging regularly.

Spring has come to us, and with the warm weather comes the energy to move around and get a few things done. I have been sitting since the rains started last fall.

First, I must tell you that Artfest was a wonderful treat for me. I'll make sure I send in my check the day the sign-ups are available this year. I loved taking the classes, spending time with old friends and new friends, and having wonderful meals cooked for me, all in the beautiful surroundings of Port Townsend. It seemed like years since I had been there. We sat on the beach one evening and just breathed in the air, far away from the worries of home and business.

My first class was Assemblage with Annie Lockart, http://annielockhart.typepad.com/. A sweeter woman cannot be found. Everyone in the class had brought boxes of "special stuff" to add to thier work. I took pictures of the tables full of good junk so that I could prove to the DH that I am not the only person who walks with her head to the ground and finds old junk irresistable. Soon I will post my efforts. Annie told us that she had begun to write a letter to her students. I wish I had seen that expression of what teaching at Artfest meant to her.

My second day was with Anahata Katkin , http://anahata.typepad.com learning how to create Symbolic Icons. I used my mom's face to create my icon. Mom deserved it. She is my inspiration for non judgemental generosity. The One and Only Best Grandma in the Whole Wide World will have her face in my next icon. I have the picture chosen.

My last class was Abstract with Mary Beth Shaw, http://mbshaw.blogspot.com/ . This tiny woman has big energy! This workshop was on how to do series of abstract paintings. With simple tools the possbilities opened up before us. When doing abstracts I have usually referred to some picture, anything, and blown it up until it is not recognizable. Now, I have another option.

If you know me, you will know that, even though I work in pastel, right now encaustic is my first love. All three of these classes, and the pastel, are incorporated into that wonderful waxy medium, that I think is the most sensual, soft, workable medium around. I love also, that it enables me to take all of my art loves and roll them into one painting. Wax is a great adhesive so I can even stick some of my found items right into a painting.

By the way,not that I am an idiot, but the only reason I am able to blog this evening is that my good friend, Karon, http://karonleigh-stilldancing.blogspot.com, sat patienly with me at the Royale Cupcake place in Ballard and showed me how to access this page and add to it. Tomorrow I will jog my mind as to how to add the pictures. She showed me that also.