continued........

hello and happy Friday - nothing much new happening here - I have continued experimenting with bees wax and oil this week - I have made so much bad art, but I have learned a huge amount of things that work and ALOT of things that don't work!! I have no plans to work any other way for awhile - I really want to nail this medium and be able to incorporate it into my work - I'll leave you with a piece that turned out 'not too bad' - you can see my works in progress on my 'works in progress' page - some major bad art for sure!!! Next week I'll share some wonderful news I got yesterday, but until then, have a fabulous weekend!

bees wax and oil on paper 24x19........'The Invisibility Of The Number One' © All Rights Reserved

too fun.......

That's what I'm having, too much fun - bees wax and fire(I've only burned myself once) - what an amazing combination - this is my second experiment on board and I've prepped a much larger board to start working on next week. Working like this seems limitless right now - so many possibilities - this is bees wax and oil on a 12x12 board........'Inside The Whisper'

Hope you have all had/are having a wonderful weekend. And remember, be sure you are logged into google before leaving a comment or it will disappear into the ether. Also I posted a wee video in 'bits and pieces' in my title bar using the torch and in fact this is the final product from that video.

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experimenting........

......and yes, I've decided to embrace the new 'dynamic views' templates - I mean really!, for an image site like mine these are truly wonderful - I have lost my sidebar, but realized I can use the 'pages' option to post some of the other info I've used the sidebar for (still under construction so check back) and and I'm sure the new templates will add gadgets in the future, so I experiment - but what I really wanted to share is how much I'm loving my new 'wax' knowledge - AND I've added a new tool to my fav things to work with - a little torch! oh, man, do I love this - that little blue flame does stuff that just thrills me - Karon let me use hers last week and I fell in love! a whole new frontier - I'm experimenting for the next few months with wax, oil and flame on board and paper - so much fun! The first photo is the first experiment with bees wax and oil on board - I have so many ideas I want to try, so expect to see alot of experiments in the next few weeks.......

and this is a photo of my new little torch - if you've thought about getting one, and haven't done it yet, do it! today!

the weekend looms, have a good one every one!!!!

ps - be sure you're signed into google/blogger before you leave a comment otherwise it will disappear - sigh

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its a good thing........

I haven't been on an artist retreat for a very long time - I had forgotten what a 'good thing' it is.  Jim flew home from Tucson on Monday and I drove down to Tubac to visit a friend.  I was blessed to stay in her casita/studio - We worked together for three days - Karon is a printmaker/encaustic painter and art teacher!!  What a time we had.  I was totally out of my element - I brought very little with me in the way of art supplies - a little acrylic, inks and some pastels and graphite - that's it.  We played with the press one morning and then I moved onto working with wax - my, oh, my!  With Karon's expertise in encaustic I was able to experiment for three days - I had so much fun - I couldn't pull any rabbits out of a hat since I didn't have my own materials and was swimming in foreign water - I pushed my edges for those three days in a way that filled me up again.  I worked on the same two sheets of paper the whole time.  The photo below is the result of manipulating the paper into a three dimensional piece that also includes some sticks and rocks.  I am very poor in a class environment so the opportunity to work on my own with some personal instruction was optimum for me.  If I can understand how a medium works, then I want the opportunity to work with it in my own way.  So this was a 'very good thing'. 

I want to give you a link to Karon's website - not only can you see her work, but information about the studio rental and the other opportunities she offers as well.  I very seldom  do this unless I think it's a very good thing.  I had a large, well lit working studio, a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.  There is a side deck surrounded by mesquite trees, 5 acres to roam, a river close by, Tubac a short drive away with galleries, galleries, galleries, shops, restaurants and historic sites to visit if you like.  Her prices are extremely reasonable.  If you want an opportunity to go to a beautiful place and work, check out her site here. I'm going back in the spring. 

Also I had the opportunity to meet another cyber friend in person.  Melinda Esparza who lives in Tucson.  I've admired her work for over a year now and was so excited to meet/visit her studio and her and the work in person.  Please check out her blog here. 

That's it for now.  I'm very excited to take some of the new things I've learned and start working this week.  I highly recommend a working retreat!!

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from Tucson

We are on a short getaway in Tucson. The art here is the Sonoran Desert. We are enjoying the sun and the beauty of this beautiful landscape. Jim leaves Monday and I continue on to Tubac to spend a few days with a friend at her studio doing art. Will check in later next week.

I like........

I do - I like the new 'dynamic views' that blogger has hauled out. They are very stylish and fresh and for image sites, they are a wonderful support. However, one of my fav things disappeared when I made the switch - my sidebar - little did I know how I have come to enjoy this space on my blog for all the odds and ends that don't go in a regular post. So - as much as I would love to make the switch, I'm not ready to give up my gadgets - from what I'm able to glean, they will be adding that to their new templates in the upcoming months. Very nice! I'll wait. On the painting front, the pic below is a painting I finished last week. I'm loving working on paper right now - it offers different challenges then working on board and I like that - the challenge that is.........

this is mixed media on bristol paper 24x19, 'She Exited'

It's Monday and the whole week is waiting - make it a good one everyone!