Friday, August 3, 2012

Commitments, Style and Inspiration

Style Statement
encaustic on birch 10x10
Way back in March,  I committed to doing a painting for an upcoming raffle.  The raffle is just a couple of weeks away and I decided that I needed to get on it, after all, I had committed a painting.  There's still a little tidy up work to do on this pair, but for the most part they are done.  I've been wanting to experiemnt with incorporating the style of one of my favorite artists - Wayne Thiebaud.  He often uses a plain off white background and that awesome blue for shadows.
I'm actually glad that I waited to do this because I have used some of the techniques that I have been playing with over the past week or so.  The background is done with tinted off-white shellac over the off-white background.  I just painted it on leaving lots of brush strokes horizontally.  I wanted kind of a striated line.  Its a shame that encaustics don't photo better because the background, while subtle, is pretty good.  I did start with a bright orange layer, then the off white, then the shellac, then clear wax to get what I was looking for.  I also used the exacto knife and black oil paint for outlining, like in the zentangles from last week.  I did have to tighten up a bit as all the play was really wigging out my inner critic, who has been howling with all this playtime.  I've delegated her to take a seat in the back of the bus with fear and doubt.   The three of them can keep each other company in the back seat, while I do the driving. 

I am still working on playing in the studio.  I've also been digging into books for inspiration.  In keeping with my thoughts on loosening up and stretching my wings to try new things... I signed up for an online painting class with Flora Bowley called Bloom True.  Its going to be a stretch for me, a biiiiiiiiiiiggggg stretch,  but in a good way I think.  I'm deciding whether to try it in wax or actually go for it with acrylic paints.  I have time to mull that over as class doesn't start until September 3.
Its Friday.  Its Party Time. 

32 comments:

  1. This shoes are great, Marji!!! I love the colors you used.
    Warm regards.

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  2. Wow, I love those shoes. Excellent job and wonderful color. Lots of texture. Thanks. Happy PPF!

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  3. I don't know the first thing about encaustic or what it even is but, wow, this is fantastic - the way the shoes seem to shine and the background and blue shadows - I just love it!

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  4. This is amazing....I love it!! You should do a series of mens shoes!! I could send you a photo of my son-in-laws pink and black fluvogs that are so similar to those...wow... Impressive and inspiring!!

    His shoes you can do a google image search...." opus hotels brandenburg, by John Fluevog" not the paten leather one....they are more of a matte look!!

    Hugs Giggles

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    1. I love your shoes! Colors, shine, style, encaustic and paint jobs both.
      DH just showed me two pairs of old cowboy books he got in the 70s and 80's think I'll try to draw them. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  5. Fab-u-lous shoes. I bought some sparkly shoes this week. I'm very into shoes this week!

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  6. Oh! Such gorgeous, gorgeous blues!
    My favorite painting of yours!
    Wonderful that you were inspired by Thiebaud but made it your own.
    So generous of you to donate your painting to the raffle. :)
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  7. Loving your wonderful shoes. Am sure you will enjoy the new class. Have just ordered Flora's book from Amazon today and can't wait to read it. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  8. Wonderful! Unique ~ well done ~thanks, namaste, (A Creative Harbor) on Blogger

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  9. Oh I love this one, it's just perfect!

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  10. Oooh I am crazy about this, it just rocks!

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  11. This is totally cooooooooooooooool, love it! Valerie

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  12. when I clicked on this it made me give that little oooooo squeal.... I would buy tickets in that raffle and whoever wins this will be so thrilled to get it... can't wait to show the hubs... he will love this... and will be interested to see what you think of the Flora Bowley class... I would kind of love to see it in encaustic... having a cuppa this week with a friend who does encaustic to learn a bit more about it... you have inspired me...xx

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  13. Wow, I have no idea what you said in your post! lol some artist I am!! Love your header - gorgeous work and your shoes are fabulous. I love the look!

    Thanks for your sweet words on my painting, happy PPF!

    xox

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  14. Wow..totally magnificent..and beautiful..the lighting..the colors..the poetic shadows! Shoes are so deeply meaningful to me..for my father and grandfather were shoemakers..so this touched my soul! Gorgeousness!!
    Victoria

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  15. SOOO love this. I was already thinking it was very Thiebaud before you even said it - you definitely achieved that look without actually painting dessert.

    You're my encaustic hero - I just love what you do with it, and how fearless you are about just experimenting and playing. I dabble in encaustic, but mostly use clear encaustic over my work rather than actually painting with it. Someday, after I actually invest in the equipment I need and feel ready to move on to it - I'll buy the book that I'm sure you'll have out on the subject by then...

    And thanks so much for your encouragement and suggestions about the upcoming show I'm going to participate in - I'm already thinking about what kinds of small items to have...

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  16. Marji, this is simply gorgeous. I love those shoes and the blue shadows. I really admire anyone who can do encaustics. Your painting will be a hit at the raffle.

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  17. This is wonderfull, the colors the texture, perfect!

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  18. These shoes are just fantabulous! I love them. Great cool green.
    Happy PPF.

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  19. I love shoes, and I love these - I would wear them. Of course I love your painting too - that shine is lovely.
    Happy weekend, E

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  20. Wonderful piece, love the blues!

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  21. I really love those shoes. The blues are gorgeous. Encaustics sounds interesting, do you have to have the wax really hot or just warm enough to manipulate?
    Von

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  22. I love your shoes. I really enjoyed reading about how you created the painting. Flora is on a podcast this week with Jamie Ridler at http://www.jamieridlerstudios.blogspot.ca I really enjoyed listening to her.

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  23. What an amazing painting!! I LOOOOOOOOOVE these colors together ♥

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  24. Freaking fabulous! That's all I've got to say. :))

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  25. I did have to tighten up a bit as all the play was really wigging out my inner critic, who has been howling with all this playtime. I've delegated her to take a seat in the back of the bus with fear and doubt. The three of them can keep each other company in the back seat, while I do the driving.


    YESSSSSSS!!!!!!! So the right attitude for well, all the time really.

    And I love how these foot candies came out. Brilliant job--they look real. The person who wins the raffle is lucky!

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  26. These are awesome! It's interesting to read about the techniques you used.

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  27. The piece is wonderful, and I love hearing about your process.

    I think playtime is so important, and I love the image of the three of them riding along in the back of the bus!

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  28. these shoes are wonderful! what an excellent subject matter - how did you come to it?

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  29. Well, that sure is a pair of funky shoes! You're going to LOVE Flora's class, she's a wonderful teacher!

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  30. Those are some cool looking shoes. I've never done encaustic painting. Blessings!

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