Encaustic

I am as relaxed as is possible with all the deadlines looming ahead. One day at a time, I've heard that said so many times...just hard to practice. The "Stretch" exhibit is next and my installation is finished (the image shown here). Then the show in Kingston, New York, "Encaustic '07". My "Calypso" painting will hang there and then move to Ball State University for the rest of the show till December. I am really excited about showing that work in such a prestigious venue. I hope to meet the other encaustic artists..what a blast.

Today I'm readying my presentation for the Atlanta Artists Center, explaining the wonderful world of encaustic painting. I'll do a workshop there in September and look forward to sharing all the fun with other artists willing to do all that "burning in".

Our trip to Paducah was great. What a wonderful idea their artist relocation plan. Not many properties still available but I can't wait to go back and see the progress. Met artist and gallery owner Char Downs there and visited the Mark Palmer Gallery...outstanding. So much abstract art in the heart of Kentucky. Who knew? With so short a vacation there was no time to explore everything. We'll be back.

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Hello Out There

I have been at it again. Working 18 hour days to get ready for upcoming exhibits and painting new work needed for my favorite galleries. Though I must admit that some of those hours are spent staring at blank canvases and waiting for lightning to strike, so to speak. The work was going so slowly I was beginning to think I was going to be in big trouble. Then it happened. Out of the blue come images and colors that started singing to me, yes singing! I finished a number of encaustics, very pleased with those and oil paintings too. My model was unavailable last week so I had to focus, luckily, on the abstract work I have a little over three weeks left before the deadlines. Fifteen paintings in all, would you believe it. It's freezing outside here. Maybe that's the reason why I recovered from what was becoming a serious case of "spring fever". The painting to the left is "Calypso", my favorite so far.

It Won't Work

What, I forgot how to log in! Don't tell me I'm not keeping up with my wish to blog. Alas. I have been brush to canvas for several weeks now. Starting and starting a painting which will never work. I can't make it work. I cannot direct the art I have to let go and let it come. Oh brother. So I have put it away and have begun again on an image that will work, I'm sure it will?

I am enjoying the oil paint again and am ready to start on new encaustics. Everyday I think the commission is finished and it will be possible to get to the lovely wax. Well, maybe tomorrow is the day.

I heard a great lecture (courtesy of Netflix) on Louise Bourgeois. How wonderful that she has created a sculpture that will celebrate the lives of those who were lost in the tsunami. I would very much like to see it in person.

Where are the hues?

Why is it that spontaneous color is so hard to come by. I've been working in oil for the past three weeks and for some reason the colors will not come. They're not singing to me. I teach private students and I'm always on their backs to loosen up, let the color and images come to them. Don't try to push it. Well, guess what? I'm pushing, pulling, almost no hair left on my head and all I see before me is mush, not mud, mush. Letting go has to be the hardest thing an artist must do to create. Part of the problem has been commissions...I love doing them but they can stop me being me at some point and trying to find me again takes some time.

The painting here is what I consider my only success lately. But it didn't come easily. The failures are lining up now and I'm quickly removing them from my studio. Sure, I know that learning from failures is how you find success but it feels terrible sometimes.

Catch Up Time

I know it's past time to catch up with myself. The winter is a very busy time this year, new galleries, new work. Soon, soon I'll have time to start some new encaustics as I've been working in oil for a show. I viewed some encaustics at a prestigious gallery yesterday and was amazed at how much wax I estimated to have been used in the production of some very large pieces. All that "burning in" boggles my mind. I worked on a couple of large pieces several years ago. They were very long and very narrow and took forever to complete. Totally worth it but I think I'll stick to working in series in the smaller format. I love the idea of experimenting and feel so much freer to do so on a smaller scale. The big ones till come eventually because I can not stop them.

The encaustic above is more whimsical than many of the others I've been working on and I like it.

Treading Water

Might as well tread water. It is so warm it's scary. I just saw the Gore film about global warming. It's staying with me as I try to digest the message. All those melting icebergs are not a pretty sight to see.

Am treading water in the studio as well. For some reason this is always a down time for me creatively. So I spend time thinking, writing and gathering supplies...stretching and gessoing, gluing canvas to panels. In a sense this is a good time to reflect on my next work in the series of encaustics and decide what to do next in my figurative series. On the other hand I am chomping at the bit to start to work again when my studio becomes all mine again.

Painting Marathon

I have been painting almost non-stop now since the last post. This is an incredible time, new gallery representation, lots of new paintings and almost nothing in the studio paint free. Usually it's the encaustic that insidiously ends up everywhere including on my cell phone. How did it get there? I am reminded of the movie "Life Lessons" (one of New York Stories) with Nick Nolte covered in paint along with his tape player (tape, what's that?). My MP3 player is christened you can count on it. I once went ahead and just painted my shoes. Why not?

There is nothing better that big globs of oil paint just waiting to be added to the image emerging on the canvas in front of me. Installations, well I would be interested if I could construct one entirely of oil paint. I'm sure it can be done; but swishing the brushes and applying the paint with a healthy dose of physical energy. Well there is nothing like it.