posts for july 11, 12, 13

greetings. I am going to visit some family tomorrow until monday, so I thought I would post this piece all at once...process and together. I am not sure where the idea came from...found images including hands...then the hex...then some kind of motif to add interest..I thought it would be natural to use the mehndi: Mendhi (also Mehandi, Mehendi, etc.) is the application of Henna as a temporary form of skin decoration in South Asia, Southwest Asia, North Africa and the Horn of Africa, as well as by expatriate communities from these areas. Mehendi decorations became fashionable in the West in the late 1990s, where they are sometimes called henna tattoos. Henna is typically applied during special occasions like weddings and festivals. It is usually drawn on the palms and feet, where the color will be darkest because the skin contains higher levels of keratin which binds temporarily to lawsone, the colorant of henna. Henna was originally used as a form of decoration mainly for brides.

I am pretty excited about working on and posting my next series: dog days of summer (the dog star series). After that, I will be doing 2 workshops and "art in the garden"...event....SO, I think I will shift gears before the 24th...and then after my week at WMU, start on some Bigger pieces for entry shows. I HOPE TO SELL SOME ART SOON!!:)

july 10th: birdie, sing from your heart

Portrait of an artist as a beekeeper: multitasking

Portrait of an artist as a beekeeper: multitasking Today’s entry is less of an encaustic piece, and more of a glimpse into my process: multitasking. I am not recommending this method for anyone else, as sometimes one ends up becoming overwhelmed and makes silly mistakes. Take today, for instance, when I “tested the electric fence” with my HAND by accident. I forgot to shut it off and was trying to shove the lawn mower under it to get to the beeyard…Youch! Wake-up! No harm done, just a reminder to slow down and concentrate. I have had a strange urge to try it out, but could never work up the courage…until today I did it blindly! Also, the studio is messy. The images depict my 2 work surfaces, and then the lumber waiting for its turn with the alchemist…waiting to be turned into “piece of the day”….oh yes, the beeswax masks. While I have been working the past 10 days, the bees have been working on decorating these masks with honeycomb. Sometimes multitasking is not bad when you have help!

july 8th

love junkyard....didn't really come together...created intuitively--so be it.

july 7th

this piece is done on 8x16x2 inch lumber. I drew the raven images on a piece of board last year...and it has been sitting in my hallway. I decided to photograph the drawing and print it out on the ink jet printer....it came out too dark the first time, so I had 2 copies. I embedded the images into wax and collaged in some historical newspaper clippings. The encaustic colors were a chocolate brown and black. the inky richness of this piece felt comforting during the cold, rainy weather we were having. The birds are a sign..mostly good, but represent the passing of souls. This piece also corresponds with the passing of one of our beloved pet dogs.

july 6th

this piece is created on a 4x8x2 inch piece of wood. Vintage woman is collaged on to the surface with other found elements. This is kind of a change in format because it is long and lean and elegant. Simplicity.

july 5th

playing with textures...scraffito and oil paint to stain the gouges....8x8x2 inches...lumber