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

Tuesday Exchange #2

The Sea is the four week theme of the IM (Ingrid-Marji) Project and this week I've been exploring the colors of the sea  . 

The Punchy Sea Color Palette

I seem to be interested in color these days... how it works together, where it falls on the color wheel, etc.  After last week, I sat down and created a color palette from my photos from my day at the beach. You can see my inspiration photos here.  I came up with a beautiful color palette of neutrals, blues and grays. 

Neutral Colors of the Sea

But I was feeling that I needed a little punch to add to this palette that I created.  So, I spent some time looking through many beach photos to come up with a more punchy color palette.  Now, I stayed true to the pacific northwest and didn't stray from our local beaches in order to find the more vibrant colors.  I realized, that for the most part, I could pretty much create a color wheel from my selection of photos. 
There used to be a show on HGTV that you got to choose from a color wheel that was created from beautiful colorful objects that were in little boxes around the wheel.  Do you like the color of crab shell?  Its complimentary color is plankton.  Or perhaps you prefer an analogous color selection of crab, starfish and sand dollar.  Me... well, I just LOVE all the colors in the Yellow Orange photo :)

Red - starfish

Red Orange - Sand dollar

Orange - Clam Shell

Yellow Orange - Crab Shell

Yellow - Sea Grass

Yellow Green - plankton

Green - Shell

Blue Green - Rope

Blue - Rope

Blue Violet - Scallop Shell

Violet - Crab Claw

Red Violet - Crab

Now that I have my colors and inspiration figured out, I will have to see what I can do in the studio with all of this color inspiration.   Stop by Ingrid's blog and check out her SEA inspired goodness this week.  Our SEA theme is in the second week and most importantly, having a partner to keep my head in the game is really working for me.

Color Statement

Color Statement

Today's color prompt sent me wandering through the house.  I was observing what color or colors I use as my statement - my style.  Its funny that I really do find red everywhere in my house. 

I don't think of it as my favorite color at all.  I would definately classify turquoise, yellow green and orange in that category. Being a blonde, I don't wear red.  I'm drawn to it in clothes, but I never buy them because red just over powers me - or at least I think so. 

Yet, red is everywhere in my house. 

Ever thought about what color is your color statement/style?

Speaking of style - eyes is the prompt for the 30 day challenge.  Linking up with Caroline over at Nowordz.com for the month of June.

Yesterday was me with 13 things -

Color Catch Up

Weekends are fam time round here.  So, that means photo antics take a back seat.  Today is Color Catch Up day:

11, 12 and 13

Day 11 of Picture Color - The Best of Both Worlds

 Ever noticed how there are colors that seem an odd pairing?  Like red and pink for example.  One makes a bold statement and the other is the calmer version.  These colors live with us everyday, playing off one another.  

Day 12 - Seeing Spots

Polka dots are such happy spots of color.  They can be tone on tone for sophisticated tastes or bold and beautiful for a more playful spin. 

Day 13 - Celebrating Ordinary Color

Its easy to take things for granted.  To just roll through the day without really taking notice.  Today try observing the ordinary color in your life.  What colorful items do you see daily that maybe you have overlooked?  Take notice and celebrate these little color smiles that brighten your every day. 


I will be guest posting over on Kat Sloma's blog Kat Eye View of the World.  Kat is moving back to the US after living in Italy.  She asked me to write a post about repartirating after living overseas.  Will let ya know when.

Creating With Color

Today's prompt for picture color

Creating With Color

The cool part about painting with hot colored wax is that I don't have to wash any brushes.  I just let them cool and harden.  I keep this bouquet of colorful brushes on my work bench.  I pluck out the colored brush I want to use, pop it on the heated palette and its ready to go as soon as it warms up again.  

I've been trying to simplify a bit.  Limit my palette to just a few colors.  I'm finding that I really like working with complimentary colors or split compliments and black and white.  It keeps me limited which is a good thing.  Its more challenging to not reach for any color but to only use what is on the palette and in front of me.  Its a good challenge and it keeps things more together in the end.  There is something to be learned here - hmmmm... simplify.

Color - Punctuation and Texture

More color for Picture Color series.  Keeping me busy for the month of June. 

The Texture of Color

This morning I was wondering what I would find for texture in color.  I had an early Dr. appointment - time for the annual sweep from top to bottom.  No coffee, no food - total brain fog.  Stopped at Starbucks on the way home and a little shopping therapy to get me back on track for the day. 

Got home and still had no happy ideas for texture. There, on the patio table my little sedums were basking in the sunny goodness bathing their little leaves. Don't you love it when something just leaps out at you and begs to be noticed?

Punctuation Mark

I had all kinds of ideas for this prompt, but they weren't ones that I could pull together.  Finding that one thing that makes the color punctuation mark was harder than I thought. I wanted it to have punch but not be hokey.  Not sure I really pulled this off, so its making me want to really look for something that fits the bill.  Something that is a found thing versus a put together thing - know what I mean?
I will definitely revisit this one in the future.

Color Me Yummy!

More color inspiration for the month of June. 

Color Me YummY

I was in Anthropologie the other day.  I go there to get creative inspiration.  There is something about the vibe in that place that really resonates with me. 

I couldn't help but to feel this time I needed to bring home a treat.  This great little tea cup was my treasure for the day.

Over at Mortal Muses they are focusing on square format.  I cropped this one square to see what I thought.  I actually had a hard time picking which I preferred. I was having a hard time sticking to the rule of thirds with the first one, but I liked seeing the whole cup versus not.

What do you think?

More on Color

More with Tracy Clark's Picture Color.  These are prompts 4,5, and 6. 

 Finding TECHNICOLOR. 

Had bought these fancy paperclips on a trip to the office supply store.  I really don't know why I bought them.  Paper clips really aren't part of my life.  However, for some reason the happy colors and shapes caught my eye and I had to bring them home. 

 The color of COMFORT.

I find comfort in tea - especially green tea.  Now don't get me wrong, I am a coffee girl through and through.  I can't start my day without my morning cuppa. 

However, a cup of tea really soothes the soul.  The color, the fragrance and the taste combine and make my mind chill.  Comfort in a cup.  I love it.

White on White

This was a little harder than I anticipated.  I actually had a hard time finding something was white and photo worthy.  Took a few trys to get it right. 

Whenever I go to the beach, I can't help myself but to pick up little treasures.  I come home with sand in my pockets and little momentos of an afternoon walking the tide line.  When I was a kid we spent hours on the beach.  Our entire summers were spent by the seaside.  I keep some of my favorite shells on display in a little jar on my shelf.

Picture Color 2&3

Picture iconic color. 

What are colors that when we see them, they stir up memories or brands associated with that particular color?  There are two here - eraser pink and school pencil yellow.  Remember how cool it was to have new pencils?  And.. how in no time the eraser was worn flat, the pencil grew shorter and shorter with each crank of the pencil sharpener.  Then we added those cone-head shaped things that fit over the top of the pencil?  See how colors can be iconic? 

Color can be so much more than just one color.  Mother Nature wields her colorful brush and blends her colors so richly.  One color gracefully combines with another dancing across flowers and leaves, the sky and the water.  It is really amazing when you look closely at how really there are so many colors that combine to make up the one color that registers in our mind - like red for example.

Slow down today, just for a moment and take in the color.

Picture Color - Day One

I've decided I need some inspiration in my photography.  I signed up to take Tracy Clark's Picture Color class for the month of June. 

Today is about BLISS - picture the color of BLISS

I had to really think about what this means to me.  What color is BLISS? 

I decided turquoise or aqua is it for me.  It makes me think of the sea.  The seaside is near and dear to me and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Today is pouring rain.  However, the way the raindrops danced on the outdoor glass table seemed like such a nice way to capture the color of BLISS.

 

Focus 52- Variety

For Focus 52 this week over at TwoScoops, the word is VARIETY. I thought about all the variety there is in life from the cereal aisle at the grocery store to the clothes in my closet. But, what really struck me for this week was variety in art - colors, mediums, subjects, styles, materials - so much.

How do we choose? How do we pick one thing and go with it, when there are so many options?

Variety can be overwhelming or it can be really inspiring. The key is to let it be inspiring and not let the world bombard you with so many options that you don't know where to start.

Pick something. Start somewhere and see where that leads. There are no rules. Let variety inspire you.