Good morning! It is oddly quiet at my house this morning with the kids back to school. I was ready to get back to the routine of having the house quiet at least three mornings a week but the first morning everyone is gone always feels a bit lonely and awkward. However, I have these two new pieces to share which I finished on Saturday evening. The first one was done using oil paints directly on a wood block for the stripes. I then layered beeswax and used a tissue copy for the letters. I love stripes (always have) and mixed with the old typewriter lettering I really like the bold and kind of graphic feel of this piece. The second painting is all encaustic with tissue copies for the words set into tiny wax windows or compartments. We all carry so much inside of ourselves it's interesting to imagine that we are all pieced together like a quilt of ideas, emotion and grace.
Yesterday I met up with fellow blogger and encaustic artist Bridgette Guerzon Mills for coffee. It was the first time I have met an "online" friend and it was an amazingly rewarding morning. Our conversation focused on the paths that led us to where we are and what our hopes and dreams are for the future. Most importantly we discussed how we planned to make those things happen. Bridgette shared a lot of information and insight and I want to thank her for opening up her studio to me. Seeing another artists' work and peeking into their process is an invaluable source of inspiration. One of my goals for the coming year is open myself up a bit more to the encaustic community and this meeting was the first of many steps...
14 comments:
Wow, that must have been fun to meet an 'internet friend' in person! I also get really inspired by seeing other artists' studios...there's nothing like seeing finished pieces along with works in progress. It's great to see the differences in how people work.
I love your 'quilt of words' painting... looks like you're working in a new direction with both of the paintings!
Enjoy your painting time today... we had another big snowstorm and all the schools are closed today. I don't know if this city will ever get back up 'on its feet'!
Hi Brenda-it was also so cool to see pieces I'd seen on line in person. With encaustics there is just so much more depth, texture and yumminess than you can show on a computer screen. Bridgette's work is really amazing. More snow...yikes! Stay warm!
hi beth! i just had to comment here that, just as you said in the above comment, the computer screen just never does artwork justice, but especially with encaustics! I love these two pieces, i've been thinking about them since I saw them yesterday. :)
Also been thinking about what we saw in that little gallery with the prints.... hmmmmm.
have a good monday!
Oh! I'm so jealous! Two of my favorite encaustic artists in one place! Next time I'm on the West coast....
Love the new pieces especially the last one-- The idea behind it is no wonderful. For the striped one-- how long did you wait for the oil paint to dry before putting the encaustic over it? I just used encaustic over an old oil painting for a present for my b-i-l and I love how it gave it extra color! It was like doing an underpainting!
thanks for the comments bridgette and jamie....on the second painting the stripes are a very thin layer of oil paint put directly on the wood block. i let it dry overnight and heat set it before sealing it in the wax....
I think I might be shy to meet someone I have talked with online, but ok too.
I have relatives in the Chicago area, somewhere called Wheaton. I always say I'm going to try to go, but I haven't so far. This isn't making sense, guess I was daydreaming about seeing yours and other artists' studios!
I too love the quilt painting. the words are evocative. and great color.
janice
Wish i lived near you and could meat up for coffe and inspiring talks. It's great you two have that chance, Enjoy!
Oh, and the two new paintings are really great! I love stripes to, and yours are truly great!
i was a little nervous too...but for me this year is about opening up and becoming part of this community in a bigger way (if that makes any sense). that involves meeting other encaustic artists, putting more work out there (in places other than etsy), doing shows and exploring teaching....
dana...i would love to see your studio and all the beauty that surrounds you and inspires those beautiful colors you use!
Ohhhh I love the typewriter font! For obvious reasons! ;)
I totally relate to seeing encaustic work, or any mixed media work in person. It's so much better than seeing it on the computer screen. So much color, and depth that gets lost.
I am really nervous about meeting online friends in person. I did meet one person last spring, and I went to his awesome studio in Brooklyn, and had dinner, and it was fun...but I felt totally awkward the whole time...
Oh well. I agree that it's really important to get out there and meet other artists. We all have to stick together, and forming a great community is part of that :)
Hey Beth
What a wonderful thing to be able to do... really nice to be able to put a real live human face to someone on here.
I agree I don't think the computer screen does art work justice.
we still have four more weeks till the kids are back at school, so things are still pretty hectic here.
Katherine
x
Love this new work- love typewriter lettering!!!
Ah...to be a fly on the wall! It would be a total blast to have coffee with the two of you. If you ever take a rrip to the good ole' northwest and would like to meet for coffee..or even get the wax out and play, please let me know. I am excited for you two at the same time. A local artist friend in common would be awesome.
As always Beth..your work is stunning. I really enjoy the depth, colors and can imagine what it looks like in person (well, i can try).
really nice work. I love stuff with letters and words.
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