I Got Mail!

Did you ever have one of those days or weeks when everything feels off center and the world at large is spinning lopsided too? I have. The last couple of weeks seemed to be filled with challenging events and situations but then…………………I opened my little mailbox and found this gift from my friend, Christine Phelps all the way over in Connecticut:

Timing is everything. And somehow she knew I needed this message in the form of a beautiful, handmade painted card to lift my spirits. This is her “Pay It Forward” piece. A project that we both took on earlier this year. She did indeed pay it forward. Thank you Christine! 

A New Painting

It has been a while since I had the time to sit and paint. I wanted to share it with you and show you some of the progression in creating it. I used transparent watercolors, gouache, acrylic, colored pencil and ink. Stay tuned for more new work coming soon. Enjoy the view!

Halloween & Vine Sneak Peek!

It's my favorite day of the year.............almost. Heading out tomorrow  for Petaluma, CA for the best Halloween showcase of  folk artists around. Halloween & Vine here I come! This is just a tiny sampling of my special creations made just for this event. Please stop by and say "hello" if you are in the area. This is a show not to be missed. Saturday, September 24th.  See you there or catch you on the spooky side.

Bubbles

Here is another new small work I finished this weekend. Carefree and calm. Painted on a canvas panel with texture on top using acrylic and pencil, 6" x 6". Trying to catch bubbles is tricky, but a lot of fun!

Bird Boy

Another new painting! The texture of this piece is very dense and bumpy up close. I have used acrylics and ink with a lot of gel medium to achieve a translucent feeling. It is painted on a piece of unusual handmade paper that has an uneven deckle all around. I wanted to paint a face and this character showed up.......with his pet bird. You never know who is going to show up around here!

Sweet Home........Chico.

Yesterday, I participated in a boutique show in Chico, CA. Chico was my home for twenty years and holds a special place in my heart. The town was in full bloom with bright green trees and the light scent of jasmine wafting in the background. It was wonderful to see some old friends, albeit briefly, and receive  an unexpected phone call from a long time friend (wow!) and enjoy the warm welcoming atmosphere of the place I called "home" for so many years.

The show was fun and swift as I watched a lot of my small works of art find new homes. This colorful floral encaustic painting went home to a collector of many of my mini works! I am excited to see my new paintings being positively received. I suppose no matter how long I have been at this, I still love the validation of people appreciating my art. It really touches me on a deep level and makes me feel more connected to this human experience.

Waxy Buildup & A New Painting!

I finished this fun little 3" x 3" piece yesterday. I finally am feeling like I have a handle (or brush) with the encaustic paints. I made my own colors with dry pigments, beeswax, and damar resin. I like the results and mostly the texture that is emerging. To really get depth with this technique, you have to build up layers of the encaustic paint. With more practice I hope to create larger pieces.