Owl, Pendulums and Being Fickle

Owl
encaustic and mixed media on birch 12 x 12

I seem to be becoming kind of fickle.  My tastes are changing and I'm finding my attention waivering from one place to the next.  Mixed media, collage and whatever else I can get my hands on these days.  I'm going to chalk it up to spring and the concept of new in the air.  I believe art is like a big giant pendulum - we swing from one side to the other side before finding the balance in the middle.  I know the balance will come and for now - I'm on a really fun ride.
Happy Friday every one.  And... I'm still open for a few takers for my art project.  Don't be deceived by the count - there may be a few extra spots for those that are committed.

Encaustic Mixed Media, Boxes and Rabbits

Encaustic Mixed Media

Boxes as Art 

 

Box Top
Fabric, Ink Mono Print, Paper. Wood and Encaustic

 In the Mixed Media and Encaustic class that I took recently, our mission was to make a box that contained things that we created.  The idea behind this was to think of the substrate on which we are painting as a whole to the finished piece.  That the substrate is more that just something to hold the paint, but it is also part of the whole.

The Box

 

We were provided the box and off we went to create a mixed media piece.  For some reason, I have bunnies on the brain and that became my theme.

 



Box Opened and Showing Inside Cover and Contents

 The inside cover are the fabric scraps from the cut out for the stuffed rabbit inside the box.  There are 5 little bunnies, one larger bunny and one book filled with things bunnies need.

Contents

5 Little Bunnies and a Bunny Book full of Things Rabbits Need
like Carrots

There are 4 little bunnies made from wadded up brown paper towel and  one white one made with fabric all dipped in wax and bound in thread.  The ears are cut from fabric scraps and bound on with thread.

Hand Sewn Rabbit from Fabric, Dipped in Wax and Gift Wrapped

 

Book Made with Water Color, Encaustic and India Ink
- more carrots and rabbit holes

Accordion book made with water color, wax and India ink - filled with bunny related things.  Talk about a mind bender for me.  Really fun and really challenging to create something like this.  It makes me want to try more and expand my thinking more. 

Encaustic Mixed Media
Photo Transfer, India Ink and Encaustic Using Hot Pen

 In addition to the boxes, we were working on various other encaustic fun - like the hot pen tool.  I have one, thought it was a piece of junk and hadn't used it since 2011.  Well, its been resurrected as a go to tool on my bench - now that I know how to use it properly!  These two panels are small and just doodles really - I was working on my hot pen techniques for small works. 

Encaustic Mixed Media
Photo Transfer, Fabric and Encaustic using Hot Pen

Can't say it more - take a class, stretch yourself and try something new.   Happy Friday!!

 

Encaustic Mixed Media

Learning what other things can be done with encaustic.

hot encaustic palette

I took a 2 day encaustic mixed media class at Pratt in Seattle.  Larry Calkins was the teacher and had it had been recommended that if I had the opportunity to take a class from him that I should.  Well, its interesting how things present themselves when there is intention in the air.  With just two weeks before class - I signed up and got the last slot.

It was really stepping out for me, I have to say.  I take a pretty conservative approach to encaustic and really don't experiment nor think about all the different mixed media approaches that can be taken.  I do some with embedding paper and fabrics - but I haven't explored much other than that.  This was a fun class and seems to have come just at the right time for me.  I'm at a point where I am wanting to push a bit, to make things more interesting and to bring in some change.

Mixed media encaustic

 

Mixed media encaustic by Larry Calkins

I learned a bunch of new techniques and interesting things that can be done with wood glue, India ink, shellac and not to mention the idea of thinking outside (and inside) of the box. 
Our project was to create a mixed media box - incorporating the entire box inside and out as our final piece.  Intimidating for me?  Absolutely.  But, I took a hard swallow and sucked it up and got to it.  I will share my creations from the class on Friday. 

Larry brought a bunch of his mixed media artwork to inspire us to have fun. 



Mixed media artwork by Larry Calkins



 

Mixed media encaustic creativity by one of students

Mixed media artwork by Larry Calkins

 

Mixed media encaustic creativity by one of students

We even created a mono printing plate to make prints to embed into our artwork.  Lots of new tricks and tips to propel me into the spring and summer.  Its good to take classes, to get out of the studio and out of the comfort zone.  I have so many new ideas floating around in my brain that I have to write them down so they don't flit away. 
 

Mono printing plate

Wonky Bowls, The Pomegranate and Fabulous Cubes - Making Encaustic Art with Plaster Gauze

View 3
encaustic mixed media 4 x 4 x 2.5"

What do balloons, florist foam and plaster gauze all have in common?  A lot of fun, and a great start for 3D artwork for encaustic.   

Plaster gauze - the stuff we used to make casts for broken arms.  It is sold by the pound and is one long continuous strip about 4 inches wide.  I bought a 5lb box at the art store.  I also picked up a couple of bags of balloons and some florist foam at Hobby Lobby and I went to town.  I rolled up my sleeves, and wet strips of gauze in water and started wrapping around the balloons and foam forms.  The result was a lot of wonky bowls (big and small), one pomegranate and some fabulous cubes that I'm really excited about.

Pomegranate
encaustic mixed media 5 x 4 x 4"

 My sculpture skills are a bit rusty.  The last time they were called upon was ummmmm - 7th grade art class and paper mache.  So, I have several wonky bowls in my collection now.  I could pass it off as character - but really - nope... just wonky I'm afraid.  But the cubes - oh yeah - love those.  Seems that I can wrap around a block and have it come out OK.  I can even add little spit ball like things as feet.  Seems I had a little experience with spit balls in that same 7th grade art class :)

Stag
encaustic mixed media 4 x 8 x 2.5"

So what's so exciting about the plaster? - well, its the perfect ground for wax.  Its porous and formable, sculpture-able and allows for 3D form.  It dries over night and its as simple as that. 
Being that I am exploring more mixed media stuff- the blocks are lending themselves quite well to that.

Cat & Mouse
encaustic mixed media 8 x 4 x 2.5
(side opposite mouse)

Cat & Mouse
encaustic mixed media 8 x 4 x 2.5
(side opposite cat)

  Speaking of mixed media - as you read this, I will be in a Mixed Media and Encaustic class at Pratt School of Art here in Seattle.  The class is taught by Larry Calkins and I am over the moon excited about attending.  So, next week, I'll give you a little peek at what came of the fabulous two day workshop. 
Happy Birthday to Paint Party Friday - Thank you to Kristin and EVA for hosting the past three years.  Its a wonderful place for artists to come together and share each week.  Happy Friday Everyone! 

The Ones That Got Away, Hummer and Friends

Hummer
encaustic mixed media 6x6

The ones that got away.  Got away in the sense that they have found new homes and have flown the coop this week. What a good feeling to have paintings move on and out into the world.   I paint for me, I paint the things I love - yet, having them move out and bring happiness to others - wow, that's huge in my book.  One of those hidden benefits of being an artist I guess.  Maybe next time when I am asked what I do for a living - I'll just say:

I bring happiness to others

Kingfisher
encaustic mixed media 6x6

The Paris Bunnies
encaustic mixed media 6x6

Sunflower
encaustic mixed media 6x6

Next week - wonky bowls, the pomegranate and fabulous cubes :)  Happy Friday everyone!

Mixed Media, Encaustic and Rockin Rockfish Rock Star

Rock Star
encaustic mixed media 6x12

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to mixed media paintings.  I totally admire them and I have come to realize how difficult they are to create.  Actually, I already knew how hard it is to create good collage but now that I've tried it again - I am humbled.  It took me a while, but I'm happy with how this one turned out. 
 
This painting started out as a very unfortunate guitar playing woman "rocker".  She honestly never got out of the ugly teenager state - the more I worked on her the poor thing became more challenged in her appearance.  She's been hanging out in the studio waiting to become a layer and move forward to bigger and better things.  Today seemed to be a likely day to repurpose my Rockin Rocker Girl.  So in staying with the "rocker" theme, I covered up the unfortunate woman with paper and fabric and tissue and book pages and whatever else was in reach in the studio and launched on with the Rockin Rockfish Rock Star.   I've been wanting to do mixed media fish for a long time and today seemed to be the day to give it a try.  Can't tell you how happy it made me to have that poor musician fade away into the background - you can actually still see a peep of  her hair and forehead under the fishy tail :).
 
The original plan was to make the body of the fish from the mixed bits, but since the guitar player had to be covered, I decided to go with the mixed bits in the background.  I've been experimenting with putting fabrics into the wax paintings and I'm liking it.  So, if any of you have lightweight, printed on or woven natural fiber fabrics that you want to get rid of - I'll take them :)

So, as I'm working on the mixed media thing - collage thing - I'm learning a lot - like I need more paper!! (and stuff) ;)

So, I ask that fellow collage artists and mixed media Mavens from Paint Party Friday, please to pass forward any tips or tricks to creating good collage and mixed media paintings.  It would be greatly appreciated :)
Happy Friday!!

Watermelon Sherbet, Leaves X5 and Ideas

Leaves X5
encaustic and paper on birch 9x12

I have this idea in my head that I want to paint a large tree and have the leaves be made of paper scraps and photographs.  I don't really know exactly how it will come together but its in there, in my brain, sitting and waiting to be born into a painting.  Ideas like this just come.  Sometimes they are action items and I know exactly what it is I need to paint and how to go about it.  Other times, its a thought that just keeps turning over and growing a bit here and there.  It wanders around in the corners of my mind and keeps popping up and asks to be acknowledged.  Then it goes away and grows some more.  Most of the time with these kinds of thoughts, there is no "ta da" moment where I see the whole picture.  Sometimes I just play around with the idea and see where it takes me.  The process of playing seems to help these kinds of ideas.  By not having an agenda, I can just let myself play.  I really don't do this enough.  I get a little bent on the idea that I have to make something that is worthy (whatever that means).  The art of playing allows us to create badly and just have fun with it - fun with the artful process.  Play time is about finding the little things that work and we can then build upon their foundation.  Play time = Happy time. 
An artist friend told me that she is often asked how long it takes her to paint a painting.  She says "the process itself takes about an hour and half - but really this painting took me 30 years plus and hour and a half".  I love that answer, because it is so true.  Sometimes we just have to think about an idea and let it churn around, growing and taking shape into what it is meant to be.  I'm not really sure that I have this idea of mine at a point at which I am happy.  I love the process of making the leaves and I love them individually, but I 'm not sure yet.  I feel they need a little more sophistication for what I am envisioning.   This idea needs more time to grow and take shape.  I'll send it back to ponder some more. 
Its the final week over at Summer Of Color2.  This is the last challenge - Watermelon Sherbet.   Its been a wonderful event.  Many thanks to Kristin over at Twinkle, Twinkle for hosting this fun summer challenge.  Happy Paint Party Friday everyone!