New Watercolor Class

So today starts another Beginning Watercolor Class - this time I'm holding it in a cute little shop, "Roost on 7", close by my home.  We were only able to get three students, but my friend, Rebecca will be joining us next week.  Actually, I don't think we could have gotten many more in the small space - and I really like being able to be hands-on with a small group!

Karen, Stu and Sharon

And, they all have the same last name - but only Stu and Sharon are related! (Husband and Wife)  Karen and Sharon are new to art, but Stu has been painting in Oils and Acrylics - and does woodburning!  Such nice people!  We have 3 more weeks to go, and then we'll see what's next.

The Final Two

So, now I have 6 Encaustic/Collage boards to send off to Under The Cherry Blossoms in Mount Dora, FL.  I just have to attach the hanging wires.  And, finish making cards and fabric bowls - maybe I'll get them all sent down next week.

While I've enjoyed working with the wax this past week, I think I'll give it a rest for now.  We're having such good weather, and I need to start cleaning up the yard and garden beds and get ready for the planting season!

Choose Joy

Now that I've determined that collage is what I want to do with the wax on these boards, I'm so relieved!  I've got a lot of ideas, and hopefully, I can make enough to sell in Mount Dora!

Love Deeply

I've been busy today!  Once I got this one in my head, I just had to get it done!  So, this is another 7" x 12" board done with collage and wax.  I love it when I figure out what works -- then I want to get them all done and sent off!  I'm still figuring out how to do the hanging stuff, but I think it will be cool!

I received another encaustic video today - I'll watch it tonight.  It's by Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch - I've bought and read her book, so I doubt there will be anything new on it, but it will be good to watch her work.

Wax and Collage

So, I'm really not sure where I'm going with this medium.  Yesterday, I tried a texture piece with encaustic paints - and decided that I really don't like working with the paints.  Also, as much as I would love to be an abstract artist, I don't seem to be one!

Telling a story with collage is the thing that I really love to do - so to marry it with the wax seems like the best fit for me!  I've got all these 7" x 12" boards, so I'm thinking that I'll make a series of these collages for Mount Dora.  Stay tuned......

Day Three

Day Three -- Another collage.  This time, I used a board that Eric cut for me yesterday.  It had some great worm holes, so I didn't cover it in encaustic gesso.  I wanted to see what it would look like to leave some of the board showing.  I also used some ribbon, gold thread and stickers, as well as a touch of alcohol ink.

Still need a lot of practice -  don't have a smooth finish yet.

Day 2 - Encaustic

Man, I wish I could take a class on this medium!  I decided to do a whole piece using collage.  First, I thought I could use one of my painted tissue papers for the background, but I had a hard time getting it to stick down.  Could be because it was painted with acrylic paint.  So, I used a Tim Holtz tissue paper - it worked better.  Then used a napkin for the flowers - napkins are the best!  They go right down and stick!  The bird is from a download, then copied on my printer.  It did ok, but still didn't stick the way I wanted it to.

Today, my son came over and cut up a few pieces of plywood that I had -- so now I have lots of practice boards to play with!  I also ordered a new DVD on encaustic.  Hopefully soon, I'll understand how to use this stuff!

Playing with Wax

So, we went to the art supply store - and I got an R & F kit that had almost everything I needed to play with.  But, of course, it is winter here still - and the shed was very chilly to work in.  I took a small heater out there, and it kept blowing the circuits.  I guess the shed has it's own little power source.  Finally, I ran the long outside extension cord and hooked it up to the house with success!

Back to the encaustic - so much fun!  I only took a few things out there to experiment with, but what little I did made me excited to play more tomorrow!  I really wish there was a class I could take, but I guess I'll just have to make do with books and videos.

Setting up the Encaustic Studio

We have this cool shed in the backyard.  The former owner used it for a workshop, so it has lights, power and a ceiling fan -- even has a telephone!  And, I can use the left side for my work, and there is still plenty of room on the right for all the lawn stuff that lives in there.  I think it will be a perfect place to do encaustic art!  Both doors can open - I just wish it had windows!  Maybe someday.....

So, it's a little chilly right now - but we're supposed to get some better temps starting tomorrow.  I might have to move a little heater in for awhile!  A friend and I are going downtown to the art supply store today, so I'll get all the art supplies for this little endeavor.  I'm so anxious to get started!