Cup Overfloweth!

I just came back from a visit to Santa Fe, NM (first time being there). Since I've been back in town I have been painting with new ideas, revisiting older works trying to make them new again, embracing fresh energy and vision. It's been like a painting frenzy!

I fell in love with Santa Fe, I think this happens often to artists. There are loads of galleries on Canyon Road, but one has to wonder how they all stay in business. The combination of adobe homes, incredible hand made turquoise jewelry, galleries everywhere you look, the Georgia OKeeffe museum and home, all adds up to inspiration from a wonderful place with bold mountain vistas and desert.

"Doorway"

10" x 8"

mixed media encaustic

Below is a smaller version of the doorway combined with mountain and desert cactus. I have framed this as a triptych, each painting is 3.5" x 2.5", I call it "Santa Fe - scape".

One thing that surprised me was the overwhelming number of health and wellness centers, oxygen and cleansing bars, and a strong presence of the Buddha (along with other symbols of spirituality). I photograph Buddha where ever I go, and decided to use photo transfers fused into wax medium in the three new pieces below.

I have also been revisiting older paintings trying to make them new again. The Chicago cityscapes below were done when I first moved back to the city over three years ago but were drab with minimal color. I've added rainbow colors using pan pastel, and now feel like the paintings have some zing.

Currently I'm working on a mountain scene after a visit to Pecos National Historic Park. I hope to finish before my next and final art festival weekend of the summer. Show details here:

Evanston Art and Big Festival