January 2012
11 posts
Knowing when to say when
I ended my day here. I spent several hours on this piece and should have stopped thirty minutes before I did. I’m so reminded of my early days in watercolor — I’m tempted to work an hour beyond my fatigure point — thirty minutes into that hour I stop but it’s already too late. I’ve done something I wish I hadn’t. It’s all part of learning and I...
Hard at it
I’m continuing to work on this piece — only had a few hours today because I transported Rosie and Annabelle to their “ride north” this morning. You’ll notice in the top left corner, I”m cutting into the wax, preparing to put the shadows on the brick wall.
My rough plan is on tracing paper. It’s basically a cartoon with placement of the largest...
Got 'em Shot
I grouped a few pieces today to see how they look on the wall. It’s always interesting to see the transformation when they leave my work table. Part of it is the fact that I quit analyzing and become more detached. And a frame always does something magical — it pulls a piece together and convinces me that it IS finished. Some people still revisit a piece after it’s framed...
4 tags
Dogs for Lunch
I framed today and this piece is finally hanging on my studio wall. I worked after dog biz and then again after lunch. And yes, dogs were the subject at lunch. When are dogs NOT the subject? Well, when cats are, I guess.
I frame my work in batches, mainly because I don’t like to pause to do it. The more practical reason is that I purchase my frames wholesale and the shipping is free...
7 tags
Carm in the Middle
Framing today. Gluing backing boards on six encaustics and Carm had to be shifted as I added each new piece to the table. Tomorrow I’ll put them in the frames.
After the glue was dry enough to leave it, I went back to work on the new piece I’ve started.
At the end of the day I said good bye to Noah. I got a text from the shelter over a year ago while I was working at...
A Four Griddle Day
Finished this piece today and then decided I can’t go on without expansion! I have pans of encaustic paint piled around me and I’m getting TENSE! So I took a Target break and bought my third griddle. With my R&F Palette, I know have four heated surfaces. Maybe I’ll be satisfied for a while.
And while I was doing odd jobs before diving into a new piece, I made two...
8 tags
The Color of Berries
Berries start like this. Red, orange, maroon, and yellow is on the palette to the left. Encaustic is a messy business and I’m getting used to it. I never clean brushes and I’ve quit using my soy wax completely. I think that’s progress!
My painting day was interrupted but I managed to start attaching some berries. I want to get a few in before I begin clustering more...
It's Crazy
I was totally absorbed in leaves today - it was a dreary, wet day outside. Jelly and Misty were snoozing in the front room and Dana, my new foster dog, discovered the office chair to be a perfect napping spot. Music from Pandora filled the studio and I worked….one leaf and at time.
At the end of the day I propped this encaustic against the wall to think about where I’ll start...
9 tags
Dana and.....Dana
I spent several hours today on a new encaustic. I prepared the board yesterday with the first layers of wax medium, finishing with blues. Today I started cutting into the wax and creating my leaves, beginning with the ones that are farthest from me.
Using a dental tool, I cut the leaf shapes away, fill with pigmented wax, then scrape the excess away with a straightedge blade. I work...
I took this as far as my preliminary drawing could take me then started drawing directly on the wax today, making changes in the composition. I’m going to put it aside for a day or so and think about it…..or not. I might jump back in tomorrow. I like the piece better in person - the photo is less interesting to me.
And I hung my most treasured Christmas gifts today. I...
I just need to stay a while....
Sasha only needed a babysitter tonight….she really didn’t want to be a bother. She thought she could play with the other dogs and maybe share their toys. T
Think again, Sasha!! Cornell was polite but he wasn’t AT ALL sure about her her intentions! And Jelly thought we had way too many little people in the house. Misty followed her around, making sure she didn’t...