My studio is cold these days. I adore the space but I have to heat it up with a wood burning stove. Once the stove is roaring though, it’s a toasty little den. There’s something about building a fire and warming the studio that makes me pull out the encaustics. I think it’s because it’s a molten art form, can get fairly physical (creating warmth) and the heat of the beeswax beneath my hands warms my bones.
Continue reading An Encaustic Piece in Progress
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I’ve been friends with Amanda Williams, owner of Arabella Salon, for over a decade. I’m in awe of Amanda…I’ve watched her build a savvy salon, tame the tresses of movie stars and opera singers, raise a son and remain connected to everything cool and happening in Portland.
Recently, Amanda agreed to have me curate art for the salon which is a really beautiful space with hardwood floors, high ceilings, lots of natural light and amazing brick walls. This month we opted for some edgy, a little creepy, art befitting October and asked Portland artists Mike Fields, Jesse Reno and Lana Guerra to hang.
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Yesterday, Anie and I rolled around on the rug with boredom. Mistress Muse was not amused. She hoisted us up by our paws and took us on one of her famous nature walks. Our assignment was to invite the plant people to tea. In order to invite plant people to tea you have to collect a variety of flora and assemble them as guided. The plant bits actually tell you what to make. We came back with a large pile of gorgeous plant bits…colors, shapes, textures and sizes.
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Today is my dad’s birthday. Happy Birthday dad! We spent the morning cleaning beeswax we collected from spinning honey a few weeks ago. Actually, some of this wax has been sitting for a couple years. You can see we had a lot to chop up, melt down and strain.
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When people ask my dad, Waldemar, about his farm animals he likes to say he has a million head…of bees that is! My dad calls himself a hobbyist beekeeper but I think he’s an amazing caregiver of these incredible little creatures that keep our trees and plants bearing fruits and flowers and share their honey with us. They are the ultimate sustainable artist. Everything they create is used and returned to the earth to be used again. Did you know that the honeycombs are built at exactly 7º – tilted just enough so that the honey won’t slide out of the comb. And when the honey is ready it only has 17% water remaining. How do the bees know that? They are truly the Leonardo DaVinci’s of the natural world.
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Sometimes summers are hard to be an artist. Sometimes I yearn to be in my studio but the small people in my life yearn for me more. Today, I had to switch gears and give up studio time. So, Anie and I set Fairy Tables. Fairies adore the attention and usually leave special gifts for later…beautiful flowers on a doorstep, extra honey in the jar, special scents when you’re falling asleep. Here’s how you can set a fairy table:
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Framing is always an issue when show time rolls around. Choosing the right frame can really enhance or wreck a painting. Nowadays, choosing the right frame can also help save the environment. In the past, I tried to use re-frames but that can be a challenge if the painting doesn’t fit or the frame is too banged up for a show. Most people don’t like distressed frames unless the piece is supposed to look that way. Thank gawd for Green House Framing! I learned about them from my friend, Cheryl’s blog, Planet Pink N Green. What’s really great is they are the original source for reclaimed wood picture framing and they’re right here in Southeast Portland (my stomping grounds)! Here’s a picture of their quaint studio. Take a tour of their website and it’s astonishing how much is going on in this little hot spot of creativity!
Each frame is hand constructed + finished from salvaged lumber with only animal + earth friendly ingredients. I’m almost done using all the frames I have and plan to switch to Green House Framing as soon as possible. I love collaborating and I think working with owners Lisa Pratt and Lars Jorgensen will enhance my work so that the painting and frame work as a whole. I also want to refer my collectors to them so that their dollars are being spent in the green community. I’ll let you know how it goes!
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