Open House and Grand Opening

Looking forward to the next few weeks (the election WILL be over) with the Open House at the Artisan Resource Center and the Grand Opening of dk Gallery on the square in Marietta, Georgia. ARC will open its doors with twenty-one artists participating. So many interesting artist studios, tours of the complex, and demos including several that I will enjoy presenting on the ancient technique of encaustic painting.


The Grand Opening of dk Gallery is set for November 15th from 6 - 9 pm. How fabulous to have a top rate gallery on the historic square in a historic building I might add.

Cool

Today it was cool. I loved it and spent the day reorganizing my studio. My goal is to get rid of more "stuff". I truly want more room to breathe. Funny but I like a clean slate..working with too much visual stimulation does not work for me. Following the advice of Louise Bourgeois (I'm paraphrasing of course), I clean, clean, clean and then work.

Before I left the studio this afternoon I readied a large canvas and I do mean large. Tomorrow will be a return to oil painting. After looking at some of the paintings that I'll deliver to the new gallery, I know that I want to paint with the gooey paint. I'm ready for some fun. And ready for color. The last encaustics that I've completed have certainly been of the more subdued variety. O.k. I'm ready to face the large white surface with large brushes in hand.

Trees & Printers

In the continuing series of tree encaustic paintings, I just finished one. I'm pleased. The look is just right for how I felt about the original photograph which was taken in the rain. With the change in the weather it seems appropriate to have been finished today. I walked into my studio this morning and it was 60 glorious degrees. Anyone who works in encaustic will appreciate the fact that today's drop in temp was a boon to art making. I had two grills going at the same time, double the space and double the heat. Whoopee. I look forward to a chilly winter. Of course, here in the "southland" it never gets very cold or at least it never stays cold for more than a few hours. Especially these days I don't even have a heavy winter coat. Layers, that's what it's all about here.

Well, I did it! I bought a wide format printer (albeit reFURbished). To say I can hardly wait to use it is an understatement. The idea of producing larger photos is so intriquing to me. When I had a darkroom I was so free to produce any size I wanted (well maybe not any size). Being stuck producing 8 1/2 x 11 prints has literally driven me crazy. No more. In a week I will be off on another great adventure.

Curious Day

I worked today framing work for the upcoming opening. My frames arrived and they were perfect. It did take most of the day to accomplish the framing but it was worth it, especially the "fig leaf" painting. I used maple and the floater really made a difference in the presentation. With encaustic paintings I always ask myself if a frame is necessary.

Though very humid it was a comfortable day and I enjoyed watching the rain while I worked. It was quiet too except for the guys (and maybe gals) flying jets overhead getting ready for an air show that commences for the two days of the weekend. I will be interested to hear how that goes tomorrow.

I'm ready now to begin new paintings and am letting ideas freely float. They will be more trees I'm sure of that but not exactly sure how I will proceed, what sizes etc. I like floating on to the next work and hope to work out details while I sleep tonight. While I wait I'll play with images on the computer, draw, and read. Reading has a most beneficial effect on me. First it always causes lucid dreaming and for some unknown reason helps me clarify what I want to create. The reading can be novels ("Snow"), short stories (John Updike), Vegetarian Times (really!) having nothing to do with visual art. I don't know how the process works but I don't have to know.

My chairs are going to the gallery so I thought I'd post an image. Fun.

Encaustic Worshop

Of all the subjects that I've taught (in this case really facilitated), the encaustic technique has to be my favorite. There is so much experimenting to be done, the results are so immediate and yet there is always a long way to go till the final image emerges. Today I had three partipants in the workshop and we did have a creative adventure. The three artists who participated all do wonderful paintings that I admire. Each has a distinct way of using encaustic which utlitizes the talent and experience they already possess. I was impressed.

We have so much to learn as artists and I think there is no doubt that continuing to learn new skills is the lifeblood of our work. The artist will never learn it all. Isn't that fantastic. Today I had a chance to experience the creativity of three very accomplished artists. My own work will improve as a result.

New Paintings

I have finally finished two paintings that have been quite a challenge. It's work that I'll be sending to a new gallery, and I mean new. The gallery will be opening in a little over a month and I'm truly excited to be participating. How great to be participating in the inaugural exhibit of a new gallery. The owner is someone I will enjoy working with. She visited my studio recently and I did not hestitate to sign on after our meeting. Sometimes you just know when it's right.

This past weekend was stellar! I had an encaustic workshop in my studio. That's an inauguration of a sort too since I have been traveling to other locations for workshops. I had three very enthusiastic participants who were excellent artists. It was fun to watch as they started on the "encaustic road". I don't know if they will continue to pursue the technique but I know it was a good experience for all of us. I plan a followup workshop weekend after next.

I keep saying variations of inaugural, you think politics could be responsible? Though I try to keep it out of the studio it's seeping everywhere.