Neglected

I have seriously neglected my blog lately. Maybe Facebook is partly to blame but for the most part I have been working on new work truly spending hours fusing encaustic paint. The results have been pleasing but I have struggled too. The struggle comes with trying to pinpoint exactly what I am saying right now. I don't really have very much of a clue. It has to do with pattern, symmetry, repetition...I may know what is emerging soon as the series continues to stay with me even when I'm sleeping. That really doesn't happen to me very often. I am really working on three series at once. The floral with texture, the serial abstract, and photographs of trees that are cut and pasted resulting in the most fantastic images. Accompanying is a floral I find fascinating because the color palette is so different for me.

Encaustic Talk

Ah yes, this was a truly interesting week. There was the fact that I am finally recovering from the worst viral bug in my history and I had an opportunity to talk about encaustic painting two times this past week at dk Gallery. Of all the talks I've given I think I enjoyed these the best. The audience was made up of art lovers and artists who were almost as enthusiastic as I was. Lots of questions which made my job so easy.

The "Live and Learn" series at the gallery is such a wonderful way of making art accessible. Each month since the beginning of the year an artist has had an opportunity of bringing his or her art to life. Kudos to the gallery owner.

Too Busy

When I get too busy to blog, I know I'm too busy. On the other hand I had a stellar January. Right now I'm fully engaged in making work and teaching. I'm enjoying both roles and they are feeding me. The photo encaustics are still my favorites and I'll be posting new images soon.

I just finished the book "The Spirit of Abstract Expressionism" the selected writings of Elaine de Kooning. A most satisfying selection of essays. How fun to read about the process of various artists including Hofman, de Kooning and Wyeth. Particularly Wyeth whose work I love with a passion. Elaine de Kooning had access to so many artists and faithfully recorded her knowledge of, interest in and admiration for so many of her artist friends that now we can savor her thoughts.

John Updikes's death last week was particularly sad as I had grown up reading him. Every year, or almost, I waited for the new book to be released close to the beginning of the year. Though I haven't checked, I think I've read all this books. I remember reading his memoir in a rain storm while camping in North Carolina. Our tent was leaking and despite it all, wet socks and shoes....everything wet, I was engrossed in his writing though I remember thinking he was whining just a little bit. Since I was whining too perhaps that makes sense. This was an untimely death and I look forward to reading his last words in print.

Why the chair photo? Well next week I deliver my installation of chairs to dk Gallery for a show that opens on Friday, February 13th (yikes). I will enjoy once again visiting the "Family Circle". One of the chairs went to a collector in California so I just finished the replacement and wouldn't you know it's "The Princess".

Foggy

Yesterday I left for the studio on a beautiful morning. It was so foggy. I loved the feel of all that water in the air. Even the sound was deadened as it is when it snows. Since snow is rarely a possiblity here then fog will have to do creating that amazing quiet. Of course it was very early when I left and I have to admit I love the very early morning. I'm still getting acquainted with my camera but I did take several shots that I like.

Today I'm finally working on new paintings for the Spotlight exhibit. I've done this show for so many years, but who's counting. The venue has gotten very crowded now but it's for a good cause and I make money too. It will be interesting to see what's on tap for this year.

The dk Gallery exhibit opens on Friday evening. I already delivered my paintings, all oil this time and all in the series of soft geometrics (with bold color) that I have painted since '01. It will always be my favorite series. I'm attempting to carry them into encaustic. We'll see if that works. They will of course be different in feel because the oils have very energetic brushwork. Maybe it's a different series.

Fauveland

I can't believe this week. Painting in oil again was tremendous fun, a break from fusing. I needed a break. But what happened is astounding to me. The Fauves came to see me. All of the sudden my paintings were being painted with pure color right from the tube. Now I grant you the underpaintings were not pure hues.
How did this happen? I had been working on some pretty stunning color in encaustic but I don't remember in the last five years having the "wild beast" come to visit. Am I pleased? You bet. The paintings startle me when I look at them; But, I'm growing accustom to the look and it's growing on me.

I have been working on paintings for dk Gallery since they will be featured in January but I really had no idea that my color box would spill all these great hues: reds, oranges and OMG even a violet fell on my paintings. It's hard to paint small abstracts...for me it's hard, but I actually like these.

Well they are too wet to photograph so I'll post the results in a day or two. On the other hand I do have one ready so here goes.

Drayton Tower

I just returned from Savannah, Georgia and more specifically from the Beach...Tybee Island. It is a special place because it really never changes except perhaps for the demise of a fabulous diner. Wow I miss that diner. I spent many a meal enjoying great food right near the beach. The only catch this year was the fact that there was no beach access since they were working on reclaiming the beach. I could not believe there was so little beach left. Of course they were working 24/7 so there was that beep beep noise all the time. No matter, I loved being near the water. Amazing how they have been able to skip development. Tybee remains shall I say remains primitive, pristine, I'm not sure how to describe a place that from year to year looks the same with no chain stores. Just imagine. Well there is one change and that is development of an area that has made no beach access a fact with condos galore.

Ah yes. I lived in Savannah until I moved to New Jersey. That was a big change believe me and though I liked Jersey very much I always feel that I am going home when I drive Victory Drive.
This trip I found out that I lived in a landmark while in Savannah. The Drayton Arms, now called the Drayton Tower was the first fully air-conditioned building in Georgia. OMG! The building is one of the earliest examples of the International Style. What I remember are the windows and the very minimalist feel to the little efficiency apartment with my reproduction of Picasso's "Three Musicians" on the wall and a little comfortable day bed.

When I wasn't on the beach I was in Bonaventure Cemetery taking photos , 300 of them. Love those big flash cards and digital cameras. I'm not ready yet but soon I'll be continuing my series on trees in encaustic. I'm savoring the photos right now.

Open House

Open House for 2008 is now officially over. It was a great three days with a lot of people coming through the Center. Now it's back to work and that is not easy. This is a hard time of the year for creating with holidays looming ahead. I like the holidays but since art making is my job, I do find it hard to take time off. I will however have fun despite that pull to stay in the studio and work. I remember seeing an interview with Charles Schultz' family and their remembering him in his studio working on all the holidays. I understood.

Right now I'm looking forward to a trip after Thanksgiving that will allow me an opportunity to use my new camera and gather more tree photos for paintings. The response to my tree paintings was very positive over the weekend. I like creating them so much, I guess it shows.