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!

Painted Bird Houses, Painting with Acrylics, and Painting for Charity

Bird House Finch
acrylic on bird house

I raised my hand - back in June actually.  I said I would and it was delivered bright and white to my door step mid July.  A friend is on the committee to raise support for the Olympic Ballet at this fundraising event.  20+ bird houses were created and delivered to those interested in painting and decorating them to help raise money for the Ballet.  I like to donate when I can.  But, art is a little hard sometimes to donate as it is so personal.

Its been sitting on my work table for over a month waiting patiently for inspiration to be mustered up and some idea to blossom and grow.  The house was already primed and ready to be painted - but the prime coat immediately nixed any idea of it having a waxy coating.  It had to be painted.... in acrylic.
As you all know, I paint with wax.  Acrylic is not my "thing", nor do I really know how to use them.  But, I do have them - hand me downs from my Dad.  So, this little bird house sat.. waiting.
I Googled painted bird houses to see if I could find some inspiration.  Nope.  So, I pondered and the bird house sat.  My stress level was going up and I'd wake up at night wondering what in the world I was going to do with the bird house.  The deadline is beginning to draw closer and my stress level kept increasing.

Lucky for me, a good friend suggested that I steer clear of trying anything decorative which is not my thing and focus on what is my thing - birds.  Birds on a bird house - great idea!  Why didn't I think of that!?  But birds need flowers, and I love flowers - so that's how the body of the house came about.  I also Googled what kinds of birds live in bird houses.  Seemed silly to paint birds that don't actually live in them.  There was a list, but surprisingly enough, there really aren't that many.  Even fewer of them live in my area - so the list was easy to diminish to just a handful - and then, easy for me to pick the one to be part of this artistic adventure - my favorite little red headed bird - the House Finch.


photo by Chuck Starr

 I'm pretty pleased with my acrylic attempt.  I learned a lot and found a few similarities to painting with wax - but I have to say... I really don't care much for cleaning brushes and palettes and paint that dries on my palette, .. brushes that harden when left out of water and having to varnish.  But, with that said - there were things about the acrylics that I did like which will bring me around to playing with them a little more :)

Happy Friday - Paint On!

For Tracey

Sometimes - there are no words.  They catch in your throat in a big lump and they just can't form themselves into what you are feeling.  There is a wish deep inside that there is a way to express the emotion that is welling up.  Sometimes, I think there really is no way to express what it is you want to say - and that's OK too.  Because sometimes, all you need to do is just be there, present and engaged.  Today I learned that my wonderful blogger friend Tracey Fletcher King has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  Even though we are 1/2 a world apart - she in Australia and me in Seattle - this news hits very close to home.  Its sets us all on a new path - one of support for her new journey.  
Sending her great love, strength and healing - and also the knowledge that even though we are separated by oceans, mountains and continents - that we are behind her, there supporting her, present and engaged. 

Indulgence, Flamingos and Hot Pink and Orange

Flamingo
encaustic 6x6
Summer of Color3 - hot pink and orange

It felt like a sweet indulgence.  We sat in the sun, under a palm tree and sipped coffee and ate old fashioned doughnuts.  The world carried on around us and we didn't care.  The best part of the whole experience is that we talked about art.  We talked about line and texture.  We talked about how colors play off each other and can actually make a painting seem as if it vibrates.  We talked about the artists we admire.  We talked about the art hanging in a juried show that we both had attended.  We talked about our own art and what it means to make it.   We talked about what's next.  For one hour, all the other stuff in life was put aside and art was the subject. 
Find an artist friend, take an hour and indulge yourself.  Its good for the soul.

Duplex
encaustic 6x12
Summer of Color3 - hot pink and orange

Commuting, Birds and The Fall



Crow
encaustic 6 x 8

I live on the commuter highway - the flight path for the crows.  At dawn they head to the south.  From where they start, I really have no idea.  Some say its near the water tower, some say - north, somewhere.  But, its true, its like they go to work in the morning - every day.  Depending on the air currents, they sometimes fly right over our house and sometimes way out over the lake.  Sometimes very high and sometimes very low.  I'm talking hundreds of them - a staggering amount.  I have seen a cluster of them take a rest on their commute.  Hundreds of crows hanging in the town center parking lot all talking at once.  Its loud and raucous and its an incredible feeling to stand among them and just listen. 
Then, at dusk, they return home.  They fly by us again, heading north.  In the evenings, they are playful - dipping and diving and playing along their journey home.  In the mornings - its all business. 
I find the crows to be so interesting.  I like them.  Many don't.  They are naughty, really naughty.  We all have crow stories to tell.  Yet, I still like them.  There just is something about them that intrigues me. 

Its a heart breaker to tell this story - My husband and I found Mama and her nest gone this past Sunday morning.  I did find the nest at the base of the Hanoki.  It was a tragedy.  Four baby birds all dead from the fall of the nest.  So sad.  We're not sure what happened.  I don't think it was a predator, nor a crow.  It wasn't windy that night.  We think that maybe the nest just fell.  That it wasn't secure in its place.  I did see Mama again.  Its like she came to say goodbye to us.  She was sitting on the neighbor's railing.  She called to us so we would see her.  She fluffed up her feathers and shook her self.  Then she flew away, leaving our life as fast as she came into it. 

Mama, Perseverance and Trust

Mama

This is Mama.  She is a sweet Robin that has built her nest in our Hanoki Cypress along side of our house.  She would have gone unnoticed except that I happened to see her fly into her secret hideaway one day.  I've been checking on her here and there.  Trying not to be too obtrusive.  I don't want to scare her.  I want to see her raise her little babies in the protection of these limbs.
Mama had a test these past couple of days.  We had some roof work done - power washing and repair work.  People working above her head.   I talked to her.  I told her to trust and to know that she was safe there.  The workers wouldn't harm her and she just needed to know that it would all be OK.  I don't really speak bird, but I thought at least I'd give it a try on the off chance she would understand at some level that I was offering some help and advice.
She did it - she persevered - she stayed and hunkered down. I was really worried that she would abandon ship with all the commotion. No doubt she was scared, yet determined not to leave her little family to be.  I'm pretty proud of this sweet little Mama.  We should be seeing babies pretty soon :)