Encaustic Painting with Shellac, Half Time, and Helio

Helio

Encaustic Mixed Media on birch 8x6

I've realized that it appears I've gone quiet.  I'm so busy painting as much as I can these days, that yes, in a way I have gone quiet.  My time where I have my studio is cut in half and then that time is cut in half again... so it means, that when I can paint - I hunker down and paint as much as possible.  But, even with shorter studio time, I have incorporated some very interesting new techniques that take some consideration and practice to find my way.  I'm finally beginning to show a little of what I am doing with encaustic painting, shellac and alcohol inks. 
I spent an incredible day in the studio of Alicia Tormey here in Seattle.  She is amazing and her techniques for shellac and alcohol ink with encaustic painting are incredible. I'm still digesting everything shellac that I learned from her late in February. 
I have committed to doing a solo show for the month of September.  I'm already painting for it and squirreling away a lot of surprises for it.  But, I am letting a few things out.. just to create some interest.
Happy Friday Everyone!

Sharing Time, Making Time and Where's Waldo?

Waldo
encaustic mixed media on birch 6x6

Seems that Waldo here has a bit of a scowl.  Although if you were up at the crack of dawn every day - you may wear a bit of a scowl too.  Or perhaps there's another reason for his expression - perhaps the quickly coming holiday season...

I just spent two more days in the print studio in Portland learning monotype printing.  I'll say that being a beginner has its good things and bad things - but I muddled through it and have a better understanding of how the "painterly" prints are made.  I do love the wax or any paint really for that matter that if things start going sideways, I can just paint over it.  Not so with prints and there is no going back once its run through the press.  But, its amazingly fun and the mental gymnastics that my brain has to go through to change gears to think like a print artist is good for me.  Its a nice vacation from wax and I truly believe that new ideas sprout back in the wax studio because of time spent as a beginner in the print studio.

But, back to work in the wax and more to come with the holidays coming ahead.  But, I do catch myself daydreaming about the next prints I'm going to try and make once time allows.
Happy Friday everyone!

Encaustic Painting, Rust Paper, Local Birds and Freya

Freya
encaustic mixed media on birch 6x6

I finally used some of that rust paper that I have been accidently hording.  I have a set of drawers that I keep fancy papers and stuff in.  I was digging through for some inspiration and came across this paper.  I had totally forgotten about it - its been over a year ago that I made it.  Isn't it fun to come across a hidden treasure?

I've done another big push on the bird paintings.  Christmas is coming fast and it seems that these little ones are flying off to new destinations as quickly as I can paint them.  Its keeping my busy in the studio.

Freya here is a common yellow throat warbler.  I've seen her at the Union Bay natural area near the University of Washington.  Its my favorite place to find birdie subjects.  Without really meaning to, I'm sort of becoming a bit of a bird watcher.  I'm wanting to keep my bird paintings to the local characters.  However, in my yard the selection is pretty slim with my dear cat, Ming to blame for his ever presence in the yard.  Luckily he is a bit chubby, so actually catching a bird is not his forte.  But, he does manage to keep them away by just being present.  So, I rely on my friends with lovely bird feeders, and my afternoon walks to provide my inspiration.

Happy Friday and Happy Halloween!

Encaustic Painting, Memories and Wind Swept

Wind Swept
encaustic mixed media 18x24
 

This encaustic painting has been sitting in my studio for almost a year.  I started it, but never finished.   I didn't want to paint over it for some reason, as this scene has great meaning to me.  I finally finished it this past weekend and it finally came together with relative ease.  I realized today, that it has taken me almost a year to get the skills I needed in order to finish it.  I needed to be working with India ink, carving with an exacto knife, filling with oil paint and using caran d'ache neocolor in my work.  These are not things that I was doing a year ago. 

This scene is from our family beach house.  It is where I spent summers and every weekend of my childhood years.  The house was sold this time last year.  An end of a chapter, but one that had to come.  So, I wanted to have something that reminded me of those years and that place and those memories.  That's why this painting came to be.  I realized once it was finished that this is the first time in my life that I have not visited this place in the world in a year's time.
Below are details of the painting and I have come to realize that a series of these lovely trees may be in my future :)

Happy Friday everyone!

Encaustic Painting, Practicing for Something Bigger and Blue Flight

Blue Flight
encaustic mixed media on birch 10x10

I'm practicing for something bigger.  I wanted to see what it would be like to carve in feather detail in and encaustic painting.  I keep thinking of a painting of a really large feathered something in the future.  I've always hesitated to paint a big bird painting for a couple of reasons - the first is the wonder if a really large bird painting is a bit scary, meaning is it creepy to have a really big bird hanging on your wall?  And secondly, painting small means I can cheat a bit on detail, but on a large painting I'd have to step up and really get the detail right - no fudging.  So maybe the answer is like Blue Flight here, where there is no actual bird, but just a feathered something.  Each of these feathers is carved in with an exacto knife which in itself is very meditative.  And, I'm finding that I really love French Café Radio on Pandora.  Its really nice background music and I learned of it from a good friend and her lovely French dinner that she made for a small group of friends.  It played in the background as we dined on marvelous food and visited over candlelight.  Now as it plays in the background in my studio,  I can dream of going to Paris again whilst carving bird feathers.  Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

I'm also wondering about putting words into paintings.  For me there is a fine line between looking good and being a bit kitschy.  I like the idea, but pulling it off I think is difficult.  Maybe its the choice of words? 

Au revoir all, back to work - and happy Friday! 

Encaustic Painting, Fish and Captain



Captain
detail encaustic mixed media on birch 6 x 24



There is something about encaustic painting and fish that just really go together for me.  The textures and the colors are incredible fun.  I'm still working the concept of bigger through modular, diptych or triptych.  This painting actually started with the center piece.  I was demoing to a friend and showing her how texture and mark making work in encaustic.  The panel just looked like it needed to be part of a fish and the rest came together from other 1/2 started panels on my work table. 

 



Captain
encaustic mixed media on birch
triptych 6 x 24



Sometimes images come together quickly and sometimes they seem to take eternity to present themselves upon the surface.  Captain here was a quick one once he got under way.  Thankfully, because we all need victories in the studio to keep the wind in our sails.  A few finishing touches yet to go, so Captain sits on my mantel where I can see him every time I pass by.  The small little nuances will come to mind,  a mark here a line there, a little more yellow, a little less yellow... we'll see.  But he's a keeper.

A happy first weekend of fall/spring to everyone! 

Oh and a Question for you all - do you think fish have that little dot of reflected light in their eye? 

Captain
detail

 

Captain
detail

Poetry, Summer Song and Little Birds

Marsh Wren
encaustic, oil and graphite on birch 6x6

A friend sent me this lovely poem - with a note that said "I feel like Nancy wrote this poem for every artist I know".  I totally agree -



Summer Song

 

Tonight I break the map that says don’t sell yourself

I brag and leave the humble out of it

I kick the Minnesota-raised girl to the curb

and yell, “I am fucking awesome!”

 

Sing it girl, don’t be shy.

What’s the use of pretending I’m dull?

I’ve got a loud voice, I’ll use it.

I’ll not waste another minute.

 

Translate fear into possibility

take the gnaw in my stomach

belch it out

until my core glows orange, no pain left.

 

What’s doubt and dread

except stagnation to grow

up and out of? I’ll turn tiny-ness

on its head and live large, for sure

 

I wear my brave face

I dance in the street

with pure abandon

sing with all of my notes out of tune.

 

I do karaoke with no machine

until my family laughs

the neighbors come onto their doorsteps

they cheer me on.

 

Summer is short, its nights long

and full of sweetness; I practice daring

on the cooled concrete

while the red sun sets

 

an orange globe of power

that I swallow whole

voice loud with song

my body a ray of light.

7.10.2015

  

Best,

Nancy Schatz Alton

Freelance Writer, Editor & Writing Coach

Co-author of The Healthy Back Book & The Healthy Knees Book

www.withinthewords.com

Happy Birthday, Paint Party Friday, Self Portrait

Happy Birthday PPF!  In celebration of 4 years, we are asked to show our faces in the form of a self portrait and celebrate together this happy birth day.  Thank you to Eva and Kristin for four years of hosting a place where artists can share and come together every week.  Its an incredible group that over the past few years, we have continuously given support and love and most importantly, shared art.  Its been so enlightening to see my fellow artists blossom, move through styles, and grow in leaps and bounds.  We've walked together along the artful journey and I have to say I have met some of my very favorite people in the world through this weekly gathering.  Thank you everyone, I am grateful to be part of this tribe.

Art and Stereotype, Encaustic Painting and Franie




Franie
encaustic mixed media on birch 6x6

I just left a long winded post for a good friend, Kat Sloma, over on her blog - Kateyestudio  She was pondering the concept of labeling in the art world.  She is a photographer.  Now, I ask you.. does that conjure up a picture in your mind of what her art might be like?  I know the label photographer definitely brings up images of traditional photography in my mind.  Yet, her art is beautifully altered photos done digitally.  She is really good at it and her art is beautiful.  However, her question is - is what I do photography?  That's where her roots are and where her artwork starts - as a beautifully taken photograph.  Yet, after she works her digital magic - her art looks more like a painting.  It brings up a really good question of labeling.

So, I label myself as an encaustic artist - yet the representational work that I do in encaustic is the minority of what is done.  Most people conjure up the idea of beautiful textured abstract work as the stereotype for encaustic.  Yet, as a medium it is hugely diverse... There is encaustic collograph printing, encaustic over clay, rich beautiful monoprints  Its endless what can be done with the medium, yet is there a stereotype?  An expectation if someone says - I am an encaustic artist?  Is there a label?  How about other artists - oil painters, acrylic painters and watercolorists?  Is there a stereotype with these mediums?  Or have these been around so long with so many different representations done that people are open to and curious about what it is versus planting a stereotype?  Its an interesting subject to ponder. 
Happy Friday everyone!



Produce Produce, Encaustic Painting and Getting My Fruits and Veg

Produce produce - that was the request.  And here they are:
Five encaustic mixed media paintings that are all 8x10. 
When I say mixed media - although they don't really look it - their starts and under paintings are begun with layers mixed with paper, fabrics and book pages: tissue, patterns and whatever interesting things I can find to put into the works. 


Rabbit Food



Waiting for Smoothie

 

Red Bells



Heirlooms II



Green Fig

This was a fun subject for me to paint and try and figure out a way to do it that was interesting for me as well as hopefully for others.  Since I was happy how these turned out, off I went off to Whole Foods and bought another round of interesting subjects that will include egg plant, yellow beets, red pears, tri color carrots and I'm hopeful to pick up a turnip or two.  They will be round two of the produce produce paintings.  Happy Friday every one!

Blue Shoes, Foxes and Studio Time

I Will Take Them in Blue
encaustic mixed media on birch 8x10

Its October - wow.  I signed up to be the artist for the October Artwalk in Edmonds, WA.  My artwork is hanging in the Coldwell Banker Bain office on 5th St, for the entire month.  Last year, in April was my very first showing of my work publically and it was in this very same spot.  The show is much smaller this year but as I reflect back, its amazing to me how far I have come in such a relatively short time.  My artwork keeps changing and getting better as I find my way and hone my style. 
Encaustic is a very fickle medium but I enjoy it so.  Just when I think I've got it - I don't.  But I am a firm believer in showing up every day in the studio or at least in some form even if life gets in the way of true studio time.  Some days - its a walk outside and just taking in color, texture and line - seeing how light plays and shadows are created.  I let that information center itself in my mind for future reference.  Its as good as true studio creative time and just as important. 
Happy Friday everyone!!  And many many thanks to you that visit here and fuel my inspiration. 

Watcher, Summer and More to Come

Watcher
Encaustic mixed media on birch 6x6

Been painting some, but not enough.  Seems like summer is getting in the way - but I really don't mind.  There are many studio days coming my way as the season winds down. 
I just uploaded a bunch of new works into my gallery.  I hope you go have a browse. 

And just for fun - for those of you who are interested - Flora Bowley is offering Bloom True Boot Camp for the month of September - Here
 

JUNE: 630

June - Swim 630
encaustic mixed media on birch 8x10

 Swim - yes we do, in June.
Thank you for joining me with a painting a day in June.  Below is the entire month of June.  It was a project of epic proportions for me - my first installment work.  Each panel is for sale individually.  When the painting was first viewed - it was like a full beautifully decorated cake that was uncut.  No one wanted to be the first to take a piece.  It was a bit disappointing for me - but the part that I did not expect, nor anticipate is the amount of joy that it brought to me as I watched people stand in front of the painting - pondering each panel, each day and talking amongst themselves about things and memories that it prompted in them.  Discussions of riding in the "way back" in a station wagon on a road trip, gramma's cherry pie, June brides, Father's Day and all other things in between.  It was magical for me. 

JUNE

 



JUNE: 629

June - All Things Random Come Together 629
encaustic mixed media on birch 8x10

I love painting chickens.  And, well... this panel was the one that was the closest to me at all times while working on all 30 panels on my work table.  It was closest to the palette and it seemed like all the cut outs and all the random things would rest on this panel while waiting to find inspiration and a place.   Some of these random bits - they just became permanent after a while. 

JUNE: 628

June - Cherry Pie 628
encaustic mixed media on birch 8x10

Fresh cherry pie with the lattice crust - need I say more?  :)

JUNE: 627

June - Mowing 627
encaustic mixed media on birch 8x10

When I was a little girl, my Dad and I had a game.  He was an artist and painted Northwest scenery, landscapes, boats, seascapes and the like.  But, in almost every painting, he hid a cat for me.  Somewhere, somehow, there was a wee kitty hiding in the foreground, sky or wherever it could be.  It was my job to find it.  So, in this rather large painting of June - there are two kitties (here is the other one) painted in with love - just for my Dad. 
Almost to the end of June.  You can catch up with the painting a day in June project - HERE.  Happy Friday everyone!! 
Here is JUNE in it's entirety  - just a few more to go

linking in with PPF

JUNE: 626

June - Tee Time 626
encaustic mixed media on birch 8x10

I'm a golfer - and summer for me is about hitting the links, teeing it up and as my husband would say - grip and rip! 

JUNE: 625

June - You Are Here 625
encaustic mixed media on birch 8x10

Camping - its part of summer.  It was actually luxurious to stay in a trailer - we mostly did the tent thing.  But, really it doesn't matter where you stay - its about getting away and seeking the adventure.

JUNE: 624

June - Road Trip 624
encaustic mixed media on birch 8x10
 

Do you remember riding in the "way back"?  I do.  As a kid, we'd go on road trips and the kids would ride in the back of the station wagon - riding backwards and watching the miles click away.  We'd play slug bug, and different license plate games.  We'd arrive at some place to camp, or view or hike or whatever.  It didn't matter so long as someone unrolled the window of the back, let down the tail gait and let us out :)







JUNE: 623

June - Yard Bird 623
encaustic mixed media on birch 8 x 10

Love these little flyers.