What I'm Working On

These three paintings are nearly finished. It brings to mind the question "How can you tell a painting is done?" For me sometimes it's easy other times it seems to be done but when left for a while then looked at again it's clearer if my intentions are actually seen the way I want them to be seen. I'd be interested in hearing about your experience deciding a painting is finished.

The first , "Immersed" is mixed media predominantly encaustic and collage on wood panel. I've included a detail image as well. I still want to build up the texture on the bottom of the painting. The source image is a winter reflection of trees on water. The title reflects my process while working with wax. I'm totally immersed in the process, hours can go by without my noticing. inspired by Stickup Artist photo Visit her site and see fantastic photography!

The second "Branded" is encaustic on wood panel. The source was my imagination with the goal to have horizontal layers creating distances. I wanted to make a comment about humans relationship with nature. I decided to place simple geometric shapes on the horizon to represent manmade invasive constructions on the environment. I burned the shapes rather than painting them after same fashion ranchers brand livestock to indicate ownership.

The third piece, "Running" is acrylic on canvas. The source is a photo of water running over various metal pieces at a deteriorated building site. I was attracted to the movement and colours in the image. Painting in acrylic is very different from oil or encaustic. The paint dries quickly and I'm still learning about  how and what I can do with it.  Still have a ways to go before this one is finished. source: American Ruins This facebook page is devoted to deteriorating landscape mostly located in the USA

"Immersed", mixed media on wood panel, 4' x 3'

"Immersed" detail

"Branded", encaustic on wood panel, 20" x 24" 

"Running" acrylic on canvas, 4' x 3'

Lifelong Learning

I wanted to do a MFA when I finished my Bachelor of Fine Arts however life circumstances has altered that goal. I realize that the postponement may be a permanent one. So instead of wishing and hoping, I am working on my own to do the things I might have done within a Masters program. I invite you to join me in my journey and will share with you resources as I discover them. 

While in school the nature of my art process was situated in the classroom. What, when and how I chose to do work was reflected by assignments in any given semester and instructor. As I look back I realize how lucky I was to have a rich and varied experience from which to draw from for my next phase.

My process since finishing my BFA has been exploring new mediums, techniques while at the same time responding to artist calls. It has made the transition exciting. However I am ready to create a body of work that is defined internally from start to finish. I often hear and indeed notice that some artists can be recognized by their work. One looks at a painting and says that's a Van Gogh. I also have been told that this is important to strive toward, I need to settle into one mode to be recognized. My internal response has been "but I like many different mediums and styles. I love to experiment with what a medium can do and I want to learn more by doing". Is this naive? 

"Be Still My Pounding Heart" 

Although I explored encaustic, oil, video, performance, acrylic, and sculpture  my content has remained the same, "What is it like to be human in our world". I am interested in the psychological processes when meeting life challenges. Hence my exploration of carcinoid tumours and my inspiration from Ross Bleckner both in style and content. The first work I saw from Bleckner was his painting of glowing funeral urns in his "Memorial" paintings. I was captivated by the glowing images and the subject matter. I researched him further and discovered "History of the Heart" which was created as a response his father's medical crisis. I was attracted to both his style and willingness to explore those internal physical and psychological life crisis. I think this element is still a constant in my art making whichever medium I use.

My first step to finding my equilibrium outside school is to re-evaluate my process.  I want to tease out details of my process for creating. My goal is to be spontaneous but rigorous in my approach. One area that I am revisiting is the use of the seven elements of design: balance, unity, emphasis,movement, rhythm, contrast and proportion. So this is where I begin - the basics. I found the resource below that I'm sure to use many times over in my travels. 

Resource: Art Dictionary

2013 I'm on my way!

During the last week I had paintings accepted into a local show, major surgery and my 63rd birthday. All in all a fairly successful and eventful week. 

work in progress, 4'x3', encaustic on panel

I'm chomping at the bit to get painting larger pieces and ideas for both 2D and 3D projects  keep popping up. I'm writing them all down because I know no matter how good the idea, it  probably will get lost unless I pin it down in writing. What stimulated all this thought is an offer of space for a solo show. I'm looking at a specific site that has challenges that need to be taken into consideration. The theme I'm thinking of is Reflection/Refraction which addresses properties of light, thought and identity.

My goal this year is to identify the annual local shows and make a timeline for working that considers the trigger dates for the shows. The themes change each year but depending on the organization there are elements that recur. I'm hoping that if a piece doesn't work for one show it can for another. I guess I'll find out if this strategy will work.

In addition to the work I plan to incorporate networking into the mix. It's going to be a busy productive year. I guess I really have graduated.

A big thanks to all my bloggy friends who teach and encourage me. I'd be a little lost without you all. :)