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Unhinged for the new year!

I have been asked to participate in a ‘works on paper’ show at BodyTribe next month. I’ve spent the last semester working on several series of monotypes in both ink and encaustic on rice and mulberry papers, so am thrilled to have a chance to share some of them. Since all the pieces will be hung without mats or frames, I’ve decided to show my latest trace monotypes. They are quirky and fun and perfect for this type of display. So come on out next 2nd Saturday, Jan 10th, for the “UNHINGED” Art Show and see the work of some of Sacramento’s favorite artists! The show runs through Feb 7, 2015. 



And the next Saturday, Jan 17th, is the 3rd Saturday reception at Blue Line Arts in Roseville for the Hallberg Merit Award Exhibition! The 4 award winners will each have a small selection of their exhibit pieces on display from Jan 9 – Feb 7, 2015. The 3rd Saturday Art Walk reception runs 6:00-9:00pm.  


If you don’t want to want until the new year to see some of my work, you still have time to catch the Twelve: Small Wonders show at Viewpoint Photographic Art Gallery! Show is up through Jan 3, 15. 


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I can’t wait for what 2015 will bring! 

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Going with the flow… or not!

Someone long ago had painted “ONLY DEAD FISH GO WITH THE FLOW” on a sidewalk at the University of Michigan. I don’t know if it was something I walked over once or everyday while I was there, but it was forever etched into my memory.

Struggle against the flow. Go with the flow. Fight. Surrender. I don’t have the answers. Some days it’s one. Some days the other. 

Making art is a struggle. Sometime you find that flow and go with it. The painting comes easy. Some days not.

But I understand the game. “Don’t fall in love with the background!” The “ugly teenager” phase. It’s temporary! The “click” when it starts to come together. And  I know the materials. I feel competent that I can make them do my bidding. No big surprises. And then I started painting with encaustics, and the unknown is as vast as an ocean. I am a beginner here. Any sense of control that I may feel is false. With heat the wax becomes fluid and unpredictable. The lines move. Too much heat and you melt through to the wood panel underneath all those layers. You blow a hole into the painting. And you have to remember what you learned in printmaking – “you can’t go back, you just have to roll with it”. Go with the flow. damn.

I really struggle when I work on an abstract piece. I need the painting to “be” something. I like a narrative. Even if no one else sees it. I started this painting 4 months ago. People who saw it said it was great, but I knew it wasn’t finished. And I was stuck. Didn’t know where to take it next. So I would walk by and doodle on it out of frustration. Carve into it, or draw more lines on it as I explained encaustic painting to visitors. It sat on the workbench and I would glare at it. And then a couple weeks ago I started working on it again, found the story and was able to finish it. finally!

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Ophelia” 18″x18″

Of course I have started another encaustic painting. Another struggle. I am letting it sit. Giving it the stink-eye as I pass. In the meantime I’ve been making encaustic monotypes. A printmaking technique that allow me to make quick and easy prints with wax on paper. I had been using thick printmaking paper, but picked up some rice paper after attending the last Sierra Wax Artist meeting and seeing a monotype demo by Barbara Nilsson.  I must say I am really loving the results I get with this thinner paper! These are all 6″x9″ encaustic and graphite.

monotype001

Photo Aug 11, 1 04 27 PM

Photo Aug 11, 1 41 39 PM

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The ‘Other’ Printmaking

Mid-August update. I’m old so I’ve been busy painting* and waiting for school to start. For all of us.

Erin has made the switch from The Phoenix School summer camp to Star camp at her new elementary school. Big changes for a big girl! Kyle is all registered for 11th grade, though I think he has already lost his schedule. They both start next week. My semester doesn’t start until the 27th. My big change is no photography class this fall (I’m sure I’ll be sneaking into the darkroom on occassion)! I’m finally taking that Printmaking class I’ve been thinking about for a couple years now. Excited and nervous.

So today I decided to break out the Gelli plate, cut some stencils, and make some monotypes.

These are 8.5 x 11

And these are 5.5 x 8.5

These were printed on a smooth heavy paper. There are a couple of them that I might add some ink to – and a few not posted because they need some additional work.  I’ll probably make a few more tomorrow as I just remembered I have a nice sheet of printmaking paper in the front room! yay!

* I have created a piece for this year’s Artists for the Cure event – I’ll post info and a photo soon! I am really enjoying this month’s True Free Spirit project and am on my second painting. And the Visual Quest class has started so I have a canvas in progress on the easel. So much good stuff going on!

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