Moving forward

Last week I received word that my painting "Drought" was accepted into the 36th Harper College  National Exhibition featuring small works. 23 pieces were accepted out of 893 submissions. I was thrilled to be included and this show will be the first of what I hope to be many more successful exhibition opportunities in the Midwest. I may even be able to attend the reception in April although I won't be living in Chicago full time until June. It's a good sign.

"Drought"

12" x 12" encaustic on panel

For several months I have been unhappy with a large painting that has been begging me to re-work it. After hearing about the show acceptance and reviewing the direction my work has taken, I decided to make changes by exposing the colored layers of wax below the surface. I also added color inlays and now feel this newer version shares greater depth, texture, and interest.

"Rise", old version

"Rise", final version

24" x 24" encaustic on panel

Last week ended with additional small works inspired by my Tuscan stay-cation, details can be seen in my Etsy shop

Tuscan Stay-cation

In New England, President's Day is the start of a week long vacation for the public schools. My youngest daughter has been waiting to hear from colleges and I am waiting to hear on an apartment lease in Chicago (should know what's happening by weeks end) and the best way to calm myself is to paint. I decided to pull out favorite photos from my Tuscan vacation several years ago and re-used them in small image transfers.

"Silhouette"

6 x 6 encaustic on panel

"Road to Cortona"

6 x 6 encaustic on panel

and I made some minor adjustments to the piece I shared here yesterday...

"Cobblestone Alley"

6 x 6 encaustic on panel

 Together these paintings create a fond memory of my visit to Tuscany.

A week from Saturday I am back at Montserrat College of Art teaching my last watercolor workshop until I am moved. It's a strange feeling to know so much will be changing but I look at it as a new chapter waiting for me to mold it as best I can. 

Red

"War"

12 x 12 encaustic on panel

In the mind of a visual artist, color conveys ideas better than words. I continue to play with "primitive scratchings" in order to build a more cohesive body of work that can bring us closer to the indomitable human spirit.

I am also having fun replenishing my Etsy shop (with more new work to post soon).

"Cobblestone Alley"

6" x 6" encaustic on panel

3 out of 4

"Nemo", the blizzard of 2013, has finally ended. Traffic bans have been lifted, and it will take most of us at least all day tomorrow to shovel out the over two feet of snow we received in the past 24 hours. Fortunately where I live we did not loose power and I was able to spend the time working on new submissions for an upcoming small works on paper show.

My substrate of choice has become encausticbord however for the show all work must be on paper. I decided to re-use some of my favorite images and now I have the task of choosing three submissions. 

Each painting is 3.5 x 2.5 and will need to be mounted and matted on 8 x 10 paper if accepted. I usually float, stamp with my chop, and place in a shadowbox frame (and that's what I will do if my work is not accepted).

Which 3 would you choose?

I continue to develop two completely different bodies of work. These small representational landscape paintings are my bread and butter in art sales plus I love creating textures by etching into the wax. Just today I sold another piece on Etsy and it's hard to ignore the success. 

The other work I am developing challenges skill and represents my thought process. I am hoping to put together a proposal for a solo show at the Copley Society in the next few weeks featuring my primitive works. Submitting requires an artist statement, something I edit on a regular basis.

The motivation behind the work is as important to me as the work.
new statement - Artist Statement

new work - Primitive 

A few blizzard photos: this is what I woke to, Charlie just wanted a way out!

My driveway, and Charlie.

Beach at high tide, down the street from my house.