I had so much fun at the 10,000 Villages show in April and I want to give a shout out to their staff and amazing volunteers. They made me feel so welcome! Go check out the artists they support through their ministry of fair trade for the impoverished nations all around the globe.
Amazing Artists
- MacKomics Studio
What fun! - Fun Jewelry with Metal Embellishments
- Online Mixed Media Classes - Paulette Insall
If you're too busy to take a traditional art class or there are none offered near you, you've got to take a look at the classes Paulette Insall offers on her blog. - ... where Milliande plays ...
This is an amazing and generous artist who freely shares her ideas and even online classes. You've got to check her out! - Black Sheep Artist Studio
What Thomas Ashman does with metal is amazing! - Rubbermoon Rubber Stamps
Rubbermoon stamps are a little primitive, a little artsy and very unique. - Art Journal Tutorial
Great start to a first art journal. - Black Apple Dolls
This is a girl who creates with whimsy! - Patrick Dougherty - Stick Work
Combining his carpentry skills with his love for nature, Patrick Dougherty began to learn more about primitive techniques of building and to experiment with tree saplings as construction material.
April 15, 2016
April 15, 2014
To Torch or Not to Torch
This is my new nemesis.
I have had swimmingly good luck with my plaster underlays which looks beautiful when I bake encaustic wax into it. I am always experimenting with new products, so I decided to try a new type of plaster. Big mistake. This new plaster has made it very clear that it does not like heat and will not compromise on this point. We are at a crossroads.
It grudgingly allowed me to apply molten wax, but when I brought out the torch it cracked and hissed like a wild cat. Okay, that's quite a dramatic description, but the blasted thing will not allow me to melt that wax any more than when it comes off the brush. Bugger!
April 15, 2013
Remember my failure?
Here is the updated version. Lots of changes including amped up color ... of course.
April 13, 2013
"Finding Your Place"
This piece has received a lot of attention and I wanted to share with you how it all came together. I began with a rich layer of plaster. The plaster layer is the most exciting to me, probably because I get to play and it represents my personality - lots of character (take that however you want).
I went through buckets of rusty bits and found a collection I liked and my dear friend Allison helped me rearrange the rusty awesomeness. I love it when my friends get to play. I used globs of asphalt to adhere them to the plaster and really liked the way it squished (technical term) around the metal and added to the character of the piece.
Once the asphalt was dry (next day), I painted melted beeswax, resin and pigment onto the piece working it around the rusty bits. I used the heat gun to move the wax away from the metal to give it a halo effect. Once everything had cooled, I worked oil paint in and around the wax, wiping much of it off to leave a shadow of color.
Heat is a critical step when working with encaustic paint. I warmed the beeswax and set the oil paint. And now, it is done and donning the wall in our dining room.
December 17, 2012
Encaustic Failure?
I've built, painted and torched the frame; spent weeks going through every drawer, bucket and bin in my studio looking for just the right bits and bobs and here it sits unloved. I don't like this piece at all and have no idea what it's future will be, but I thought I'd share it anyway. Enjoy.
July 23, 2012
Faith Blocks
These are the faith blocks that were created in the Art & Soul class I led last week. It was amazing! The class was filled with wonderfully creative teenagers that had a great time expressing themselves and talking about their faith through their art. After painting, collaging, torching, carving, and whatever other medium moved them, we took the blocks for a walk.
The young artists threw their blocks on the ground, down the stairs and across the street representing the times they felt let down, frustrated or had hurts that needed forgiving. It was moving to watch them process their feelings and learn new ways to express themselves. There were a few who were reluctant to throw their masterpieces at first, but joined in and had a lot to share at the end of the class.
Art through the eyes of a teenager is such an adventure.
April 23, 2012
Old-Fashioned Girl
I posted these pictures of my work so Laurie Culling, artist and coordinator of our 4 woman show at the Lawrence Public Library in June, could copy and paste for a layout. But looking at the pictures makes me aware of just how awful the pictures and editing are. I am creative in several mediums, but photography is definitely not one of them. If you have suggestions, I would love to hear them.
I just looked at the preview and realized this piece isn't even finished in this picture. Wow, I really missed the mark on this one. I need a manager!