White Roses

White Roses 10 x 22 Encaustic on wood panel

The Chaos of Summer. Part III

The Chaos of Summer III

Encaustic

12 x 16

I don't really know where I'm going with this little series... I think it's just pure creative outlet at this point. Plus I might be starting in on a pretty hefty cloud obsession, amongst other things...

Yesterday...

 The Whitefish Garden Tour and Open Studio day went really well. There was a good turnout, paintings sold, children discovered the delights of rhubarb, sorrel and steppable mosses, and anyone that was interested got to learn about what encaustics are and how they are made.  I will definitely be doing this again! Here are a few photos from the day.

The working side of the studio (actually shot these the night before)

 The "gallery" side.

My office

 It was fun transforming this area of my studio into a little gallery. I took this shot before I fixed the

track lighting I see.

 My book nook

 My main work table, I'm currently on the hunt for one more large, sturdy table 

so I can start making bigger pieces. Mostly works in progress on that wall.

 There's the easel that Daniel made for me 10 years ago,  Jolie's heart painting, and my beautiful utility sink.

 This is why the paintings are hung just a little higher than normal ;)

 After the tour, the gardeners met up and relaxed in Bonnie's garden, which really deserves a post all it's own... I love her little greenhouse

 My favorite thing about Bonnie's outdoor decor

Topped off the day with a refreshing Wheatfish at Great Northern Brewery.

The Chaos of Summer. Part II

The Chaos of Summer II 

9 x 12 

Encaustic

Lily

Lily

8 x 8

Encaustic

The Chaos of Summer...

The Chaos of Summer I

11 x 14

Encaustic

Listening to The Swell Season

Grateful for a cool day in the studio

Mixing paint

What else?

Getting ready to record at Renegade Ridge...

 Need to clean my messy studio...

and weed the garden in preparation for....

the Whitefish Garden Tour

need to go out and trim back the damaged things as well, 

what a crazy hail storm we had yesterday! this is one of the few 

beautiful nasturtium leaves that didn't get ripped to shreds

getting some panels prepared for the inspiration they'll give me when they bloom :)

also,
Can't wait to tour Bonnie's Garden.  She's the brains behind this whole lovely idea.

Landscape

Blue Mountains

8 x 10 

Encaustic

Searching for the Sea

The Sea  8 x 8 encaustic

In the spring of 98 I was at a crossroads, not knowing where I'd be going next. I wrote this hokey little song called the Trask River Blues. One of the verses goes kinda like this;

I grew up along the banks of the Trask River

I always thought I'd follow her to the sea....

 The mountains they beckon 

The ocean she reckons 

If I didn't say I loved her I'd have lied

I'm going to have to climb that ridge

Or set my sail to sea

Lord which one will it be?

Recently, I was reading somewhere about how many people find themselves in adulthood unconsciously trying to re-create situations and memories from their childhood. I realized how often I think about those endless summer days my family spent on the Oregon coast. I wish I could give those days to my own daughter. What a luxury of space there was to be found. What riches we naively possessed; Long horseback rides, abandoned hobo shacks, smooth black rocks, pure, ever-shifting estuaries...  We built crumbly sand castles with cold, salty fingers, played in the freezing surf,  and ate gritty picnic lunches nestled in wind protected hollows. These memories are like little gold nuggets, that I mine for over and over. 

Jailbird Belles

Jailbird Belles 8 x 8 Encaustic

I went to the Whitefish Art Walk last night. Man, there are some talented artists here. It was inspiring

to see such gifted sculptors, potters and painters. I'm going to try to be better about getting out and seeing shows, it's completely enriching and it's a great way to get involved and support the arts. There were some gorgeous wax resist ceramics at the Stillwater Gallery that are dancing in my head still. I might have to go back and break my budget rules a little.

Summer is Blooming

 Summer Bloom 10 x 10 Encaustic

I'm working in my studio this morning and it's so hard not to put the brush down and follow the smell of sun warmed strawberries out into the garden. I know if I do I'll lose myself for hours weeding, poking seeds into the ground, watering, trimming, transplanting and munching rhubarb... It's very distracting

The flowers are going off now too, I mean really, it's ridiculous, just look at this peony!