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.  

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.

Making more artworks

I have been trying to dedicate some time to studio, and am pleased to present the first of a series of encaustic paintings!  I'm calling the series "Instinct" because I let instinct guide me a lot.  I figure if the universe brought something to my path and it's not icky, so be it.  Let's roll.  

And that's what happened with encaustics.  I happened to see some work by Sally Condon in a downtown Albuquerque gallery and fell in love with it.  I had to learn that technique!  So I found a workshop in Santa Fe and learned from one of the best (and nicest) around - Ellen Koment.  I quickly set up my studio and got to work.  All of this despite the fact I have no time between my job and the gallery, have no space - I gave up my out-of-house studio and moved home, and have no money, but plenty of canvas and acrylics.  Instinct told me to do this, and I am loving it!

My new page, encaustics, has photos of the first works of the series.  More to come.

Here's another, larger piece I'm working on.