Kitty Realized…

I actually got out into the studio and created something!  And before the weekend was over! I’m surprising even myself these days!

So…I bought the book “Taking Flight” (as mentioned in last night’s post) and bought a few supplies (’cause I’m so sure I didn’t have something just like it or very similar to it in my studio already) …yeah right.

I’m (kinda) following along with the project in the back of the book…the encaustic one – because ENCAUSTIC ROCKS! – and because I knew I had most of the supplies I needed already and well, because, ENCAUSTIC ROCKS!

Oh, and let me mention I cleaned my studio this morning so it was all pretty and organized and stuff.  I love working in a clean studio!

Ok, back to the project..

Here is the art board with a bit of paint on it and some markmaking attempts…I quickly realized I didn’t have any heavy bodied acrylics in the studio (how could that be?? I have every thing else you could buy in the studio).  I know you can make heavy bodied acrylics but pretty sure I didn’t have any medium (that, I’m pretty sure of).

I realized my stamping wasn’t working too well due to the lack of a more textural background – i.e. no heavy bodied paint.

And as I was sitting there staring at the board (with no heavy bodied paint on it) I decided it didn’t need any more stamps anyway.

Cause I’m a minimalist.  If I haven’t mentioned it before. (A minimalist who collects stuff).

This can be a problem.

Ok, so now I’m at the point where you’re supposed to ‘paint your subject in’.  That part always gets me.  I considered the fact that since I’m a minimalist – I should be able to just put the pen down and call it a day – but decided against it (a good example of the ‘problem’ part).

So… I’m looking at the pile of catalogs on the table (I can’t throw them away – there’s so much good stuff in ’em and I don’t mean stuff to buy – I mean good inspiration stuff, all the colors and patterns, etc.) – I start flipping through them…

and I find this (kitty) and decide that there is no rule that says I have to paint my subject in…

So here it is – my subject – adhered to the board.

I write a few meaningful words…then head out to the encaustic studio to do the fun stuff

And here it is…

‘Kitty realized it was time to start living her life’

Waxing Poetic

ENCAUSTICS…HOT off the GRIDDLE!!

What is that?

3000 years ago the Greek used beeswax to seal hulls of ships.  By adding color or pigment and resin to strengthen it, they created a new way of painting.  This type of painting has a quality of luminosity and depth unlike any other. In Egypt the medium was used to decorate mummies by painting likenesses to honor the deceased.  In the 1920’s, Mexican muralist Diego Rivera began painting with it and artist Jasper Johns took it even further.  And its showing no sign of slowing down any time soon!

The process: Simply layering beeswax, resin and pigment (and fusing after each layer with a heat source) onto a substrate to create a work of art!

I attended a fabulous art retreat in Oregon recently (EncaustiCamp)where I learned how to do many of the techniques I’d only read about.  There are several great books on the subject but nothing compares to seeing it demonstrated firsthand by the experts!  It was such a great time!!  Be sure to check out the EncaustiCamp site!

Here are a couple of pieces I’ve made since returning home.