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!

"Sing Me Home"

8" x 8" Collage on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

I was inspired to make this collage after I saw some similar pieces in a gift shop.  After making it, I realized that I was also inspired by all the Encaustic Art that I've been seeing lately.  I really wanted it to have that hazy, dreamy quality, but didn't know exactly how to get it.

So, of course, I had to find out all about this wax-using art form!  I've been reading every book I can find on the subject, and watching every YouTube video there is on encaustic.  I'm finally ready to bite the $$ bullet and just go for it!

My goal is to make some small encaustic works that I can sell in Mount Dora (that's always my end-game!).  I've got so many ideas in my head that I'm about to explode!  But, I've never even seen an encaustic piece in person, so I don't know how it would ship -  or how it would look in a shop setting.   I hope it works, cause it is an expensive undertaking.  Stay tuned............

Watercolor Practice

I haven't played with watercolor for a very long time.  But, I might be starting a Beginning Watercolor Class in February at a local shop.  To that end, I thought it might be prudent to see if I can still use the medium!  

I chose this subject from a watercolor book - and discovered that while my drawing skills still need improving, I did truly enjoy painting the piece!  I will play some more, and hopefully, be able to help students learn to love this type of painting.

Pottery? Nope!

So, after 4 weeks of pottery lessons, I have concluded that I will not be a potter.  I still LOVE pottery, and will just have to get used to the idea that I will have to purchase it, not make it.

I discovered that throwing pots was just too strenuous for me -- it takes a lot of muscle to do this!  So, I thought that maybe hand-building was the way to go, but I soon found out that I wasn't very good at that, either!  Also, I'm an Instant Gratification girl.  If it can't be finished in a couple of hours, I'm just not interested.

Unless you own your own kiln and wheel, you have to take weeks to get a finished product.  And, those things are really expensive, so that's out!  Oh well, I'm glad I took the lessons.  One more thing off my bucket list.

Another Rabbit Hole!

Well, I've fallen down yet another Rabbit Hole!  My friend, Rebecca, and I went to our first pottery lesson this morning!  These are the 2 pots that I made on the wheel (with a lot of help)!

The one on the left has a nice gash that I accidentally made - but we decided to keep it.  It really looks cool, and I think that the finished glaze will make it look even cooler!  Next week, these will be dry, and we'll start learning about firing and glazes.

I will admit that throwing pots - while being fun - is also very physical.  My hands and my arms are screaming at me!  But, I brought home some more clay and tools, and I'm going to try my hand at hand-building.  That might be a little less strenuous.

A New Start

You know how sometimes you're walking through Kirkland's or Pier 1 - and you see a piece of art for sale that just grabs you, and makes you want to paint something like that?  Well, that's what happened to me a couple of months ago.

So, I went to a painting club a few weeks ago (dragging all the stuff I thought I would need) - and I made this "start".  Collaged on papers, then painted over and just messed around.  The background is still not finished, and I'm not sure exactly what will go on top yet, but I'm liking the way it's starting to look.  This is a large painting (24" x 26"), and I have another canvas the same size that I would like to do something that would go with this one.  Usually, that doesn't happen, so we'll see.

But, I did discover that painting club won't be for me.  I realized that the way I like to paint requires me to have EVERYTHING close by - since I never know what I'll want to use!  So, unless I go back to watercolor, I'll be painting alone.