The last three months were centered on family time, and their were memorable moments such as: our youngest daughter’s wedding, my husband’s retirement party, our yearly family reunion on July 4th, and family visiting from out of state. Still, I managed to get some work done in the studio.
New works, new direction
In early March I finished a cat painting that started back in February.
Cat under the Eucalyptus was meant to be a fun light painting, focusing on design, colors, and today’s décor . The painting is a mixed media, using ink, wax and oils.
Cat under the Eucalyptus 36x36"
The two following paintings were done in oil and cold wax.
Back in March I read an article by Janice Mason Steeves about a workshop she attended working with cold wax medium. Since I’ve worked with oils and encaustic medium, I was naturally interested in knowing more about cold wax. I had a hard time finding the material, but found the recipe on line and mixed my own, and began working with it, completing 2 pieces by late May. There must be many ways to applying cold wax, but my knowledge and technique is limited. However what I found intriguing was the tactile surface I obtained as I laid the wax on the canvas. These layers also made me aware of the visual layers that I was trying to illustrate below and above the water, which was the intent of the paintings.
Aquafarmwas inspired by a plein-air painting-sketch and photos, done in April at a friend’s aqua farm. The second painting is Near the Surface, depicts our koi pond.
Aquafarm oil & cold wax on canvas 30x48"
Near the Surface oil & cold wax on canvas 36x36"
In these two painting, the water becomes the great divider from the dry world above to the wet world below. In Aquafarm, vegetation overlaping in layers above the glassy surface of the water, but below the water, the layer becomes murky. By contrast, Near the surface focuses mainly on the multi layers of kois swiming above and below each other unrestricted by gravity, plus the additional layers of aqua plants and leaves floating on the surface of the pond.
New Abstracts
After completing these two paintings, I was ready to play with colors in an abstract space, combining them with tactile layers. By doing this, I finally open myself to experimenting with abstract. These four little paintings are the products of walking through that door. I found the process intuitive yet intellectual and extremely enjoyable, perhaps because they were so small.
Pink Sand, oil on canvas 14x11"
Lawn Chair Oil on canvas 14x11
After a kildeer oil on canvas14x18"
Sun Spot oil on canvas 16x20"
