29 Faces Complete, The Couple and Milestones

The Couple
encaustic and oil on cedar block 6 1/4 x 11 x 5 1/2
Faces 28 and 29



Today is an exciting day. 

 

Milestone #1 -  A selection (a small selection) of my paintings are out in the world, hanging in a retail space for sale.  Its like a major milestone - one that was so very far away but I've actually arrived and its really exciting.  Now, I will just wait for them to find their new homes where they belong :)

 

Milestone #2 - I completed 29 Faces.  All 29!!  The one above is really not quite done but pretty close.  A friend of mine gave me some cedar scrap blocks from a project.  I've put one of them on feet and have painted The Couple on one side.  I'm deciding what will accompany them on the remaining sides - a house with a picket fence?  a dog? a cake? or perhaps nothing.. only one side painted.  I'll share the entire process and the remaining sides when its complete. 

 

The third milestone - This is my 300th post on this blog.  Hard to believe that actually.  I started in May of 2010.  I'm going to have a celebration with a giveaway - but not today... coming soon.

 

The Fourth - I actually committed and signed up to take an encaustic painting workshop at WaxWorks West in California.  I leave next Friday and spend the weekend painting faces in wax with Charlie Levin.  Actually booking and pushing the button to commit was major - but once that was done, the excitement settled in.

 

The Fifth - I got up the guts to tell my story and be the featured artist for PPF this week.  Took me all year to do that. 

 

And... one more - I have a new facebook page and I would love for you to come be my friend :)

 

Thanks to Ayala Art for hosting 29 Faces.  What fun!  So many creative artists participating - so inspiring.  Also, many thanks to the artisits of PPF for being so supportive.

 

 

 

29 Faces: 25-27

A Face a Day for 29 Days

Face #25
oil on paper



Face #26
oil on paper

Face #27
oil on paper

A Face a Day for 29 Days

 

 Two more to go - Come back on Friday :)



Fab 5, Blanks and Getting Things Done

Fab 5
encaustic on birch 4 x 6
29 Faces:  Faces 20-24

I'm drawing a blank when it comes to new painting ideas.  So, new starts are on hold for today.  Some days are like that.  I actually believe they are meant to be days of rest.  I believe we actually have gotten ourselves so wired that we just need to have a day (or two) that is blank.  The brain and the body get in together and rise up and call for a blank day.
On these blank days, I tend to do mundane, routine things.  I still show up in the studio, because sometimes blanks turn into blossoms.. and other times - no, just blank.  I put wires on the backs of paintings, paint the edges of the cradled panels, and prep and tape new panels.  I make wax medium in the garage.  These tasks are ones that I put off... ones I hate taking the time to do.  Yet, there is a peacefulness in doing something that requires motion and no real thought.  I've come to enjoy blank days.  And with all the tasks complete, I feel ready for when the spark returns. 

In my blankness, I've discovered some new good things:

I've found a new Pandora station that I love - Fun. radio.  Fun. as in the band that won best new artist of the year.

I've signed up for Deepak Chopra's upcoming 21 Day Meditation Challenge.  I've loved these in the past - and even though it takes 21 days for a habit to form.. I don't seem to hang on to meditation.  But, the challenges are great and free and you can sign up here.

I've also signed up to be part of Kat Sloma's Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap again this year.  The Swap is open now, so sign up here.

 

29 Faces: 16-19

The first two are from my imagination.  The second two, I used photos for reference.  This time, I think I did better on the ones I dreamed up.

I think she's pretty cute. 

Face #16

This one, a bit Asian

Face #17

She looks a bit cheeky

Face #18

I think this last one looks like Scotty McCreery.   Only... it wasn't supposed to :)

Face #19