The Art Blog

Botanica I - encaustic w / mixed media  2009 This is one of seven botanical works that will be featured in the Second Nature show along with the gems and landscapes. Below you can see how the paintings play off of each other. I imagine these as if you were to enter one of my larger landscapes and return with clippings and specimens for further study. Hard to believe the show opens in just 5 more days. I am looking forward to seeing dear friends and meeting new ones. Tomorrow I will post another gem: Serpentine Botanical Specimens I, II & III as a grouping Click on the art to view full images.

Amber - encaustic w/mixed media 2009 I chose to feature Amber as today’s gem. Below is a detail so you can see the under currents of this painting. There are many subtle layers to this piece that are not coming through in the photo. This painting easily jumps back and forth between the abstract and representational imagery. I will post new work from the botanical series tomorrow. Detail from Amber

Jasper - encaustic w/mixed media 2009 Today’s gem piece is titled Jasper and in doing my gem research I learned that jasper and agate are the same stone. This has the tones and translucency of an agate and someone told me they see a figure skating or running in it. I was hoping for an abstracted tree form and I love the playfulness of this piece. I’ll keep tomorrow’s posting a surprise – not sure if it will be a gem or a botanical or perhaps both.

Sapphire - encaustic w/ mixed media 2009 Today’s gem is Sapphire and the colors in this piece are very intense. The blue veining that runs through it has the appearance of colored glass. I find the vibrancy of this color pallet very energizing. Tomorrow’s gem: Jasper

Black Coral - encaustic w/mixed media 2009 Today’s gem series painting is titled Black Coral. Only nine days and nine gems until the show opens next week. Tomorrow’s gem: Sapphire

Fire Opal – encaustic w/mixed media 2009 Fire opal is the featured painting today and the warm colors are speaking to me on this blustery Monday. This piece has a simple composition and much less going on in it than most of the other gems in the series. The simplicity creates a nice visual balance when paired with the other paintings. This week I deliver the remaining works to the gallery and the show will be hung early next week. Tomorrow’s gem: Black Coral

Emerald Pond – right panel detail from triptych - 24 x 72 - encaustic w/mixed media 2009 This is a detail from Emerald Pond, one of the four large triptychs that I created for my Second Nature show. See the full image below . Creating this piece was a unique challenge for me as I struggled to find the border between abstract and representational imagery. The chaos of it all is what brings this painting closer to nature rather than the subject matter. Looking at the painting as a thumbnail it seems quite literal but as you move in you can see the flow of the materials, the lines scratched in wax and the wild paint splatters. This is one of those paintings that inspire me to drop everything and walk into the scene. I am looking forward to experimenting with more work like this in the coming months. Tomorrows gem: Fire Opal. Emerald Pond – triptych - 24" x 72" - encaustic w/mixed media 2009

Diopside - encaustic w/mixed media 2009 The gem stone diopside is known for its bottle green color. The organic forms on the left of this painting look like green glass so diopside seemed like the perfect title for this piece. The show images are now posted to the Pacini Lubel Gallery website so you can view the entire show online. I am thrilled to report that several pieces have already sold. Tomorrow I will post some images from one of the larger works in the show.

Turquoise - encaustic w/mixed media 2009 The gem for today is Turquoise and it has the look of a real stone. The marbling and veining are exaggerated and combined with the depth and translucency of the wax, this piece really mimics the properties of natural minerals. I delivered some of the show paintings to the gallery today and I can’t believe the opening is less than two weeks away. Another gem tomorrow…

Botanica III - encaustic w/mixed media 2009 Making a departure from the gem series today, I am posting this image from my botanical series. These will also be featured in the November show along with the gems and abstracted landscapes. And like the other work, I created these plant forms as a group of companion pieces. They are my contemporary interpretation of vintage botanical prints. The plant forms themselves are purely fictional and I imagined them as pressings and renderings from the archives of an 18th century botanist. Image: Hero - Barbara Dunshee - Ceramic 2009 Today I also wanted to direct you over to the blog of ceramic artist, Barbara Dunshee . She has written up an amazing and lyrical blog post about my new work. While you’re there check out her enchanting ceramic work. I especially love her haunting face sculptures and whimsical vessels. I have been lusting after this sculpture titled ,Hero, for months now. Barbara is the ceramic artist who so graciousl...

Amethyst - encaustic w/ mixed media 2009 Today’s gem is Amethyst. When I look at this piece there is a subtle romantic quality to it that speaks to me. Many of these gem pieces are more like studies for what will become much larger versions of them in the future. I am going to recreate this image as a 24” x 24” panel. I have a few of these large panels started already and they are waiting for me to return to the studio. Hope I can get some studio time in soon. I am still busy with the other side of things today. I will post an image from the botanical series tomorrow.

Jade Tree - encaustic w/mixed media - 2009 Jade Tree is today’s installment from the Gem Series. The splattered tree form really pushes this one into a more abstracted realm. In this recent work I am attempting to combine abstraction with representational images all while wrestling with this process driven media. It’s quite the journey and I often know where I want to be but have no idea how I am going to get there. I play this cat-and-mouse kind of game with the medium as the imagery fades in and out until finally it all makes sense. Today I am feeling the desire to paint but have to attend to the business side of being an artist. Another little gem tomorrow…

Lapis - encaustic w/mixed media 2009 Today’s gem is Lapis. This color pallet is more intense than I typically use. The original is quite vibrant and this whole series has sparked several new directions and techniques for me. If I were not so preoccupied with all the preshow prep I would race back into the studio right now to keep pushing these and see where they take me. I have another solo exhibition in Sun Valley slated for July 2010 so I will be starting new work next month in preparation. For now it’s time for me to step back and examine this new series and take in the visual dialogue. Tomorrows gem: Jade Tree

Onyx - encaustic w/mixed media - 2009 The countdown continues with this piece titled, Onyx. As I was working on this gem series I was seeing each smaller painting as part of a larger whole. The same way you might examine an individual bead of precious stone before combining it with others to create something new. Once the work is hung for the show I will post some installation photos so you can see how they work together. Still framing up the artwork all this week and will post a new image tomorrow!

Topaz - Encaustic w/mixed media 2009 Here’s another little gem to share with you. The actual painting looks a lot more golden- yellow in person. This is another piece I would like to keep for my own collection but it will go up for sale with the rest of the show next month. Sometimes it’s hard to let go of the work after living with it so intimately and watching it evolve. “There will be others.” I tell myself. More tomorrow…

Botanica II - Encaustic w/ mixed media 2009 I posted an in-progress photo of this painting back in August and this is how the final piece turned out. I created a small series of these otherworldly botanicals that will be part of my solo exhibition. I look forward to exploring more work in this direction when I get back in the studio. For now I am taking a much needed break. I will post a new painting image tomorrow.

Tiger's- Eye - Encaustic w/mixed media 2009 This is one of my favorite paintings from the gem series. I’ll try to post a new one every day now as I countdown to my opening on November 5th. There will be a total of 38 new encaustic works on display next month at the Pacini Lubel Gallery so please come by and say hello. Gallery openings are such a stark contrast to the months of solitary studio time leading up to them. More thoughts tomorrow...