Encaustic Crows

I've been layering some of my photography lately

in multiple layers of textures.

I'm still intrigued with the photos of the winter crows that

always seem to be present throughout the seasons.

They stand out drastically against the

white winter sky.

I will take them further, adding encaustic wax

and more texture with oils.

They will then find their temporary

home at small local boutiques or possibly my
quiet little etsy shop [(I should give more attention to)...waiting

to connect with their future admirers.

This...

...is a video directed by Hiro Murai.

I recently worked on

the art staff for a Shins video he directed in Portland,

of which should be completed in a month or so.

Outside of 

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a summer psychology course, 

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a few photo shoots and 

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a hankerin' to finish my encaustic digital photos

.

my summer is pretty light. Fall semester will be here before I can say...

am I really crazy enough to take another five classes?!?!?!

The answer is yes,

with a grin of gratitude and pride.

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One of those quick warm up paintings

that I've come to appreciate.

Oil on bond paper spring 2012.

P.S. I'm not sure why the type in this post randomly spangles inside a white box...

I'll figure that out later. 

Ciao! 

Un-hung Art.

What does one do with un-hung art? I seem to be stashing mine under furniture, on top of art storage bins and neatly filing those that fit next to one another against the wall in my studio. I recently sifted several pieces out to display for a friend in hopes of hanging the un-hungables in local windows this summer.

The charcoal and graphite tree is still a work in progress (as most art can be). However the bottom two panels can be omitted if I were to chose this piece to hang. It was designed to fit into a corner of my living room where a kennel once was tucked away for our Basset Hound Bogart (RIP Aug. '10). I created it for a final project in a drawing class fall semester.

The encaustic collage diptych was another final project in a 2D Design class this past spring. I am bartering the right panel for a camera. The process these panels provided was one I hope to practice more often. The careful planning and assemblage of the lightly painted water color paper rectangles brought a sense of productivity to my work. Encasing each shape in encaustic wax and carving details to enhance their depth and character was hypnotic. A definite present moment experience. It's not often I do just one thing a a time.

I've been working an afternoon each week this summer in a friends flower shop. The stunning selection of floral and fauna never fails to inspire me.

Tiny Encaustic Goddesses all in a Row

Tiny Ballerinas...

 Tiny Beauties...

 Tiny Divine Goddesses...

 Tiny Hearts...

 Tiny Mermaids...

and Teenie Tiny Goddesses.

A 52 piece collection of tiny art for a holiday sale in Portland. Priced so affordable you'll think I've lost my mind! The introduction of these sculptural encaustic nuggets marks the beginning of exploration into their many personalities. I am currently working on specialty themes to add to their persona and will post them on my etsy site. As oddity art they provide whimsy with a giggle as they exemplify the Goddess within every women.

All Goddess blocks are re-purposed wood scraps from previous projects. They are original doodles and altered copies of my original mixed media art...soon to come on etsy as well. They all have hanging options and some stand alone. All are encased in encaustic wax medium. Click on them to get a better view and check the etsy site in the near future if your interested in having or giving some of your own. You can always send me an email of interest in the meantime!!

Enjoying this as I create....

This & That w/no Surprises or Pizazz

This July 4th I chose to stay behind and comfort an old friend. One who has had his fair share of explosive holidays (13 to be exact). It sounds like a war zone out there. In our part of the country fireworks are magnificently large and readily available to anyone willing to support the local organizations that sell them at the sidewalk stands. Our streets are lined with American Flags and the sweet smell of BBQ invisibly streams through the air.

Hand whipped made from scratch Vanilla Lemon Blueberry Mousse for my people as the firework mortars blast outside my kitchen window.

A hike to Elowah Falls on a warm sunny summer day.

Taking it all in.

A graphically prepared photo ready for encaustic work.

A cropping of a mixed media painting in it's infant stage, many weeks to go until completion.

Bee Girl

I finally finished my Bee Girl painting a year after starting it. There's a story in there somewhere. I couldn't help but write it in my head as I painted. I used old torn book pages, mica disks, oil bars, aluminum & copper leafing, acrylics, colored inks and a stablio pencil to complete her. I think the only thing I left out was the encaustic wax. She has turned out to be a mixed media piece, as all my painting do. She's already SOLD! but booked for a few appearances here and there before traveling to her new home in a sweet little girls room. I find it amazing each and every time I complete a piece, their final state is typically very different from the vision I originally create in my head.

Boredom leads to Porch Time

This week's been filled with mostly essay writing & preparing for finals. I did however squeeze in a home art project out of boredom, found an art piece I had forgotten about and spent some well deserved porch time with the person who makes me laugh the most. In attempting to "capture" the moment of sheer contentment I found myself distracted in taking shots of the lanterns that covered my porch. I failed by comparison and need some work in my photographic skills but did manage to snap what I believe to be some so so shots with my limited resources. Grace is how I was feeling one day when that peace was created. Not a typical feeling but welcomed when it arrives. My stairs were in need of refreshing, black paint and a silver sharpie did the trick for that little extra personality. Lissie's music is ringing in my ears [click].

Green tea and poppy-seed cake...of course

Green tea and poppy-seed cake.

This is one of those pieces that took a while to move through. Possibly the lengthy process has to do with all the big decisions and big unknowns I have in my life presently. Escaping to create is my "safe zone". Creating a pleasing piece while not letting go of a heavy mind took sporadic effort. I had a love hate relationship with this piece through every stage. I must say...I do seem to be in a more pleasant relaxed state of thinking after deciding this piece was complete. It's a beautiful thing...working through and allowing life to be in the present moment, comfortable or not. I will be submitting fresh works  to be juried by the Portland's Audubon Society Wild Arts Festival for next November. Last year was my first show and I couldn't of been more pleased with each and every part of the experience. Keeping my fingers crossed for another acceptance letter. This piece qualifies w/their nature and bird theme and will be part of my selected pieces. Being that it was such a struggle to come to this point of Green tea & poppy-seed cake, I have to wonder why and who will connect with the piece. I am aware of all the faces of those who have purchased my works in the past and have my own visualization of how they came to be together. On a much different note...had floor seats for the John Mayer/Michael Franti-Spearhead concert at the Rose Garden last night. Mayer is a flawless musician but Michale Franti---ROCKS MY WORLD!!! [click here] and prepare to shake what your mama gave ya!

Lucid. Quiet. Peace. Lullaby.

Some China Town shots in Portland. The Chinese Gardens [click here] is my all time favorite place to be in the city. If I could have any side or backyard landscape it would replicate this space. In the summer months the multi-textured stone floor surfaces are warmed by the sun and taking a stroll through the garden barefoot is something I think is a bit unique. I have yet to experience it at night but the photos are spectacular. The last pic was my view every Monday for the last 11 weeks. I would do the bulk of my homework reading in front of the fire, sometimes even dosing off when the material got monotonous. Perhaps that's an age thing? None-the-less it was an amazing way to get through my studies. I now have a two week break in between quarters and am a bit closer to my Art Therapist degree (of which I still have a long road ahead). I am craving some photo shoot time and need to prepare some mixed media art for the submission process for a show in November. I just realized the book I'm reading in the photo is The Artists Way, not home work at all. Hmmm...I must have snuck that in. I'm at the part where writing a letter to "Sister Ann Rita" telling her to stick it, then mailing it to yourself is a gesture of freedom. Shhhhh...I need another nap...[click here]

My Mermaid R O C K S!!!

Who doesn't love a good mermaid?! I LOVE the process these mixed media projects take from concept to completion. Grabbing a color pallet and winging it begins the first phase. The art takes on it's own form and leads you along. If you think you messed up, keep going and what transforms is amazing. I had absolutely no idea this was to turn out as it did and a mermaid...who knew???. I seem to fancy sewing on a button here or there. Buttons of which were purchased at a local antique store (that has been "going out of business" since before I moved here six years ago - I'm glad it hasn't) in an old jelly jar for $3.00. If those buttons could talk I'm sure they would say some pretty interesting things about the lives & situations they have been privy to. Mmmmm...finding something that makes you content, excited & bursting with joy is definitely a thing you'd like to keep around. To have something to look forward to without expectations isn't always the natural path to allow. Our thoughts seem to get in the way in most cases. We're all right where we're supposed to be, I've read, been told & believe. I like this place I have landed for now. Click it for a closer look.

Creative Seed Planting

For the past two days I have been doing nothing but art. I enrolled in a mixed media 2-day course with the artist Misty Mawn at Art & Soul Portland. She instructed us along the path to create an art journal using various mixed media components.


I have chosen to clip my finished cover piece to show the depth & richness of the products once combined. Acrylcs, inks, stencils, ephemera, artist crayons, markers, razorblades & water all came together to form a basically unplanned piece of art with a lot of scraping, sanding, rubbing and pounding.


What transformed was an amazing, eclectic conception that my imagination kept rolling with as each texture morphed into another.


I had the pleasure of meeting some beautiful women who were in that same place at that same time all in the name of creativity and inspiration. Misty covered a lot of information. The seed is planted.