The Big Show

We had a meeting tonight and I was struck by the amazing women we have at LOCAL 14.  Collectively, we are moms, business and working women, athletes, politicos, nurturers, and of course, artists.

It is a testament to the tenacity of women that we put on this FAbulous show each year (43 years now), and it gets better each time.  

I don't know what I'll be putting in the show this year myself.  I will be showing on the BIG WALL this time, and pulling larger pieces from my gallery to show.  But I'm working hard on the encaustics, and while pursuing a direction with that, I'd like to show some of them, too.  It's exciting to put something out for the first time and have people respond and get feedback.  

Encaustic Crazy

Nothing like diving in, fingers' first, into molten wax.  I've been painting with wax for a few weeks, non-stop, and it's just enthralling!  I have burnt every digit, and don't even notice anymore.  I went to Home Depot and had them cut a 5'x8' piece of birch covered plywood into smaller pieces, and have been trying out everything I've learned from the various classes I've taken.  It's really a blast.  As soon as I feel I'm understanding the process I'll need to figure out what MY particular style will be.  Or theme.  There is already so connection to my acrylic pieces, but mostly I've been working with shapes.  This has helped with the learning process, just concentrating on one theme and seeing where it goes.  

Making painting easier

Sometimes I stare at my studio and wonder where to start.  I have little areas for different types of painting.  I've discovered if I don't have SOME plan, I won't go in.  One thing that helps is to go in and make things tidier.  As you process putting things away, ideas occur to you that may prompt a project, a painting, or at least a start.  Another thing that helps is to get out some books and just look at art.  I get inspired that way.  Going to art shows is another way to get inspiration.  I guess I'm not the type of person who wants to do the same kind of art repeatedly, or I'd have an easier time of it.  

So, if you aren't inspired, put yourself in the mood by enveloping yourself in all your art 'stuff'!

A New Medium?

I can't stay with the same medium without getting bored, it seems.  Right now I'm moving back and forth between acrylic abstracts and encaustic - painting with wax.  I've had several beginner encaustic classes over the last few years, and have, naturally, collected lots of materials, but have been stimied about how really to get going.  This week I felt the kick I needed was to take a class about making the medium and the paints.  Lots of options with this, and we mixed many colors that evening.  It seems like this takes a lot of supplies, many of which can come from Goodwill, as they will eventually get covered with wax.  Safety is a big issue, and of course, being a big klutzy these days, I will have to find a place where things won't catch on fire!    It's a very ancient and interesting art, and I'm looking forward to learning more and getting better.  It's not easy to achieve really good results without putting in the hours, though many people do present encaustics before (i think) they're ready to show.  

So if you are looking to a new medium, my advice is to find out as much as you can about it, talk to people, read books, and then be willing to put in the time, and ENJOY it all the way!