New work and random things

Still
5x7
Encaustic mixed media

 Hooray I finally have my own lap top back! So here are a few photos of things that have been going on around here recently.

 I finished another new piece of work  few days ago. I was trying to work more with fields of color rather than little areas of tiny details. It seems like a generic piece to me but it is soothing to look at. In my other works I tried to pull the viewer in with little details to explore but with this one I wanted the opposite. Instead of drawing the viewer in, I tried to make the work exude a feeling of calm with simple organization of space and colors that reflected nature.

 This little fledgling robin surprised me the other day when it flapped against the screen in my kitchen struggling to find a foothold. So cute!

 I went to the botanic gardens again too and had my own Georgia O'Keefe moment with this photo.

 Does anyone know what this flower is? I see them around more and more recently and it's my favorite color for a flower too.

 This field of poppies was in full bloom and absolutely stunning. My pictures do not do it justice.

When I post next time it will be with lots of photos from my trip to Europe! I am busy packing and getting really excited about finally seeing all of the famous artwork that I have only studied in books.

So cheerio, au revoir, and ciao!

New work

Move In, Move Out, Move On
10x14
Encaustic Mixed Media

I have been very absent from blog land for the past week or so. I had to turn in my laptop at the end of the school year so the only time I can use a computer at home is when I can steal my husband's for a minute or after my kids go to bed so I can use theirs! As a result the only thing I have been doing is checking email. I do miss visiting my favorite blogs.

Anyways, I finished this piece last night and it is my largest encaustic to date. I used a piece of masonite board for this one so it is an odd size at 10"x14". Overall I am pleased with the way it turned out. I was especially careful with the color palette as I think with the larger size I was worried about overwhelming the space with too much color and detail.

I must admit I am also having a hard time trying to figure out how to frame them. Encaustics must use floater frames and since the frames only come in certain sizes I wasn't sure how I was going to frame this one and another odd sized one I finished a couple of months ago titled "Overflow." Luckily my dad came to the rescue and he made me a whole bunch of frames! Now I don't have to worry about getting frames for everything I want to put in my exhibit in August. Thanks Dad! 

Sneak Peek

This is what I have been working on the past week or so. I made this drawing a couple of weeks ago and I loved the intelligent, curious expression on the crow's face. It is supposed to be an unfinished looking sketch. Still a work in progress but close to being done. Hopefully I'll have a productive weekend but probably not as much as I'd like considering it's Mother's Day! No worries though...school is out in a week and a half! Yay!

Have a great weekend!

Jump

There's nothing like a deadline to spur productivity. 

I found out that I am going to be featured artist in August not June so I am relieved to have more time to put together my work. But this show has definitely been the spark I needed to get my act together! I have so many new ideas swirling around in my head and it's such a good feeling. 

I told my daughter May that I needed her so I could take photos to use for new work. So last week we had some nice weather one day and we went out in the yard where I took lots of photos of her to use as references for my drawings. I definitely put her to work! I made her jump for about 5 minutes straight to get the photo I used for this drawing. Unfortunately that was the last sunny day we had so these pictures of my drawings are really dark and out of focus. 

I also have a new encaustic that is close to being done that I will post photos of soon too. 

 We are in the last couple of weeks of school and I am looking forward to summer break and more time to work in the studio!

Wow again!

Has it really been so long since my last post? Sorry about that! 

I entered the 4th Fridays Show again at the Starline Gallery and this time I won Best Of Show! 

It was a completely surreal feeling. Someone bought my piece too and I had others asking to buy it even after it sold. Uber flattering! I still am having a hard time trying to process it all.

The red envelope contained a letter of congratulations along with an invitation to be a featured artist for the June show. I will be on vacation in Europe then so I hope to be able to take advantage another month instead. I feel very nervous about showing a body of work though. I don't really feel like I have enough to fill a space and have it look like a cohesive grouping. I do have an idea that I am starting to kick around but this will definitely force me to get into my studio more. In fact I'm very anxious to get back into my studio right now! Between this show and the end of school coming soon I hope to be producing lots of new things to show you. I'm just going to take a deep breath first...

New Work



In The Pink
5x7
Encaustic



I finally finished it! This particular piece ended up changing for me every time I looked at it. My original intent was to use the girl metaphorically, but it started to become very literal which is something I absolutely had no intention of doing. Either way it's cliche, which is why I was stuck in it for so long. I hate cliche. But I think I was doomed from the start by using the drawing of the girl in the first place. I thought she looked more peaceful as though she was just sinking or falling rather than drowning. Almost floating. Like things aren't as bad as they seem at first and this too shall pass. As a result I tried to emphasize the girl's look of health. Hence the name In The Pink.

A picture speaks a thousand words

...and the bluebird house is still empty. I hope the bluebirds come back.