Cynthia and a ray of sunshine.

When my son called to ask about a work that he remembered me painting many years ago I looked again at it hanging on a wall of my home. The model who was a friend has passed away, my memory of working in another friend's studio, for this is the largest oil on canvas I've ever done, came back. This was in the early 80's and although it has been many times admired I kept it.  I called it my "Lucian Freud" in admiration of the painter who died this past year and had made figurative painting once again fashionable.

And the water rose up.

Although it is months since it happened I am constantly reminded of the time at the end of August when "the water rose up". No one would have predicted that a tropical storm from down south could cause such wide spread devastation as it did here in Vermont. As I began this series of small 6" x 6" pieces using encaustic paint and mixed media my interest in Japanese prints, notably Hokusai and Hiroshige 's became apparent.  I looked up their varied approaches to showing moving water being reminded that the Japanese know well the quiet and the tumultuous qualities of water.

My soul is from elsewhere,
I'm sure of that, and I intend to end up there.

Rumi ♥

New Work for a New Year

 Lately I'm drawn into the studio each day to work on another version of the latest obsession which is the universal forces. The sky, moon, light and dark passing of each day are giving me new places to inhabit. The work is mixed media combining my new found encaustics (beeswax, damar resin and pigments) with oil pastels, found objects and pencil. The texture along with colors that seem to swim together is propelling me forward.

30 years ago

Looking through old drawings I came upon this one I had done of my son and his cat.

A room hung with pictures is a room hung with thoughts. Joshua Reynolds

 

Working now in a series of leaf forms I wanted this one to shimmer the way I saw leaves quaking on the trees outback.

The texture fascinates me.

 

Having been oil painting for years I have found the new medium that I'm using doubly interesting because of it's finish. The combination of beeswax, pigment and damar resin dries to a smooth, shiney surface that is enhanced by smoothing and rubbing it with my hand. Commonly called encaustic this ancient application of mixed mediums is gaining new recognition.

Getting dark in mid-afternoon.

This time of year calls for projects to occupy dark hours. I have moved my studio into a room with more light, two big french door windows but still find that by mid-afternoon on a dull day I'm looking for more light.

I am working on a series of paintings that are mixed media, incorporating encaustic paints, medium, paper and found objects on 10"x10" wooden panels.