Mixed Media Artist

I work primarily in acrylics and collage.I use collage and beewax in my assemblage works and am now completing several shrines using found objects. I have been experimenting with encaustic collage and have found the medium very challenging. The paint is a combination of melted beeswax and pigment. A small amount of damar resin is added for hardness. I mix these paints myself and while painting all custom colors are mixed directly on a hot palette.
I will share my progress with this exciting medium with photos of work in progress and finished pieces.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Entry for the National Collage Juried Exhibit 2012

        Judson's Art Award                              
                                                                    

"Flight"
21.5" x  17.5" x 1.5"


For the assemblage that was selected for the show I combined found objects, paper, encaustic paint and milk paint.
The center piece is part of a sewing machine carrying case that I mounted on linen mat board. It is attached with antique brass brads. The rolled scroll is an antique book that had lost it's cover.
I wrapped it with silk and wired it to the surface. It is dipped in beeswax.





On top of this I mounted a piece of black paper that I treated with bleach. The bleach left a nice organic shape (see detail below)





The collage is on hardboard, with clear encaustic paint and an image transfer from an antique
 botanical print.





This image shows a detail of the handmade envelope with a feather inside and a piece of
vintage silk cloth. It is  hand sewn to the mat board with natural thread.






The # three is a copper number distressed, painted and wrapped with wire. An air force uniform
 button in brass is sewn on. I attached the vintage watch face to a piece of found wood I painted
with encaustic paint.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Watermedia Class 2012


I had the pleasure of teaching nine talented, budding artists at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.
Since I am a huge fan of this creative place, the opportunity was both exciting and so much fun. Arrowmont is a well equipped school with state of the art classrooms and a friendly environment. Unfortunately, on the day I photographed, Debbie, was not present so I am missing her work. She paints lovely whimsical collages and combines paint with stamping. We are having a reunion soon to see what new exciting work is being created and I'll have more examples to post then.

Robert busy at work researching for this piece


Chuck showing off his self portrait




Robert's Acrylic on board
The brushstrokes add so much to the surface of this work, I especially love the burnt sienna,
it reads as a worn patina on rusted metal.

A colorful landscape by Chuck
Acrylic on board, he is a master at layering color, and the palette he has chosen is bold and clear.
This is the very first painting he has ever done! All these fabulous colors were mixed by the artist.



Anne and Beth sharing like good friends should, and Carolyn
in the background standing at her table in the back



Victoria ventured out of her comfort zone and tried some of the acrylic techniques I taught.
Her talents are many and she showed us her recent work... beautifully rendered portraits in colored pencil.



Victoria's vibrant trees
The quality of the foliage is so loose and textured and the little touches of color in the grass contribute the
success of this painting  




Linda working on placement for collage
Linda's Landscape
This girl is not afraid of anything and was willing to go for it. Great composition and such exciting lively color.
Acrylic and collage
Beth's cute little bunny
This is a perfect example how simplicity can make a painting sing.
She was able to resist the temptation to paint a background. Good job!
Carolyn's autumn leaves
The play of light is so great in this painting
Her shading gives the scene so much depth it looks 3 dimensional.
I love how the darks and lights are dispersed





Anne working on one of her paintings
She was very productive and came away with lots of finished works






Anne's tissue paper collage
This beautiful background was made by crumbling white tissue and attaching to the surface with medium. A fun and unpredictable technique that was really embraced by this student. You cannot tell by the photo but that is an actual  piece of driftwood attached with gorilla glue. She embraced this glue as well.