Show and Tell

We are six weeks into the semester at UNM - I can hardly believe it!  Oil painting class has been both challenging and rewarding.  The first thing I learned to appreciate was just being there.  Really - putting in time in front of the canvas in studio is the most important part of learning how to use this devilish medium.  I would not have put in that sort of time on my own. 

The next challenge was remembering how to draw from still life.  Cripes!  No wonder I do so much abstact work!

We did some monochromatic still life exercises, and just finished a project with an under-painting.  I had been wondering what that was all about.  Well, it really brings things to life, even old bones!  Of course, now that I've tried it, I can see a few dozen things I might have done differently, but you know what they say:  practice, practice, practice!!!!  All in all, I am pretty pleased with my progress dealing with these slippery, smelly little tubes of paint. 

Why not try something new?

I'm starting an oil painting class.  Hopefully, my work and gallery schedule will allow me to complete the course - too many absences and I will have to drop out - but it's worth a try!  Nope, I have nothing to show so far except an empty bank account.  I'll post something when I have something to show.  

new colors, new paintings

I'm rushing to get some work done in studio with some new colors I got from Sinopia (namely the yummy reds and yellows you see in this piece).  My schedule is suddenly filling up very quickly and I'm afraid I won't be able to get back to studio for a while, so there's this artistic urgency.  Here is something new I think I'm done with - as soon as I say  a thing like that I'll probably go back and attack it with a scraper, but what the heck.  I'll try to restrain myself and just finish the edges then wire it to hang.

Feeling the heat

Since it is only supposed to get up to 90 degrees today in the Duke City, I'm thinking I'll take some of these encaustic pieces over the The Wooden Cow Gallery.  I have a couple of stops to make on the way and one may take some time.  To avoid a puddle of melted wax and blank plywood panels in my car by the time I'm done, I think I'll try putting them in a cooler full of ice.  Not getting them wet, mind you, but just setting them in there on top of some ice in baggies.  Separated by a towel or something.  Well, famous last words have always been "hey, let's try this", so I'm posting fond portraits of these, my babies, who I will remember well if something goes awry.

Two, count them, TWO series of encaustics going on

I am having such a good time doing encaustics in my tiny studio that I have been working on two separate series.  The first was the 'Instinct' series, which explores my decision making process.  (I have yet to begin the 'true' piece in that series, reflecting the real way I live my life: serendipity).  

I have started another series I'm calling love/hate.  This one has me looking at those feelings that draw me into  and also away from things and relationships.  Sometimes it's an attraction, sometimes it's a fear.  Sometimes I'm excited over something new.  Sometimes I just get worn out.

So you'll find a new tab on the left of the page for the new series.  There are only a couple of pieces there so far, but I'd love to hear what you think.