The Art Blog

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.