The Art Blog

Emerald explorations are emerging... as a juicy pallet of greens (with infusions of blue and amber ) keeps flowing on my worktable this week. Here are a few detail images of what’s taking shape in the studio...     detail...working with a few new techniques for this effect In this photo you can get a sense for the visual flow that's happening. Had to show you the close-up details on this one because the size, about  24" x 80 ", makes it a challenge to capture the richness of the surface.  Another little wax paper experiment...back lit with day light.  Several more works-in-progress are heating up now and this larger emerald piece should be done soon. I will share more images when these are ready.

Another great workshop wrapped up last weekend. My studio was filled with the creative energy of some very inspired and talented students.  Here are a few highlights from our weekend of wax...   Students from the latest workshop... The "Gang" from left to right: Nichole, Betty, Chris and Ashley. Gallery of student work! All this and more in just two days! These are all from one very prolific student...great work Chris! Nichole concentrating on her work. Student work-in-progress. Betty made the journey up from Las Vegas just for the workshop. Encaustic painting by Betty. Ashley was the master of  the image transfer technique. Chris was an art makin' machine! ...more work from Chris  Thanks everyone! It was a delight to have you all in my studio for this workshop! For more information on my encaustic painting   workshops click here !

This weekend the Pratt Fine Art Center will hold it's 29th Annual Fine Art Auction at the Bell Harbor Conference Center in Seattle. I am honored to have one of my paintings selected for the LIVE auction portion of this event. The funds raised support Pratt and its many wonderful programs. You can see the artworks and meet participating artists in person at the FREE Preview Party on Friday, May 13th from 6-9 or you can view the auction catalogue online. (see link below) Pratt's Mission Statement: Pratt Fine Arts Center makes art accessible to everyone, offering a place for spirited exchange, self expression and personal transformation through creativity. Pratt is dedicated to fostering artistic development and engagement locally, nationally and internationally. A unique multidisciplinary visual arts resource, Pratt provides education and instruction, community programs and professionally equipped art making facilities. Pratt aspires to extend the visual arts experience ...

The spirit of the west is alive and well on the working ranch of artist Theodore Waddell . I was recently invited to his studio for a visit and was immediately impressed by how prolific he is as an artist.    Stacks of canvases fill a corner of the studio.  My favorite piece ...this little bronze horse and rider. Above is a detail of the heavy texture and thick application of paint that carries Waddell's work beyond the Western genre and into a more contemporary realm of art. a new work in progress hangs on the studio wall The studio, located on a small ranch in central Idaho, is housed in an actual barn that is also home to his many horses.  In the back is a large area devoted to painting where generous mounds of oil paint line a well-used worktable and several works-in-progress hang on the surrounding walls.  oil paint laid out in mounds larger than my fist spreads out across a worktable  work...

May highlights from First Thursday’s art walk: The work of John Dempcy was featured last month at the Grover Thurston Gallery but you can still see some of his mesmerizing spot paintings on the upper level of the gallery.  This image and the one above, John Dempcy, Acrylic on panel.  This piece by Kenna Moser is from Recollection : Solo show at Grover Thurston. On the main floor of Grover Thurston are the charming works of Kenna Moser in her show titled, Recollection . Her delightful mixed media works are small in scale and her imagery congers up enchanted stories of a Lilliputian universe…on display May 5 – 28.  Darren Waterston, oil on canvas at  Greg Kucera.  At Greg Kucera the work of Darren Waterston is featured in a solo show titled, Kingdom . This exhibition features oil paintings, small gouache works on paper and some intriguing sculptural pieces. I am drawn to the intuitive painting style of Waterston's work. I find his art a bit ...

The Seattle Channel paid a visit to the studio a few days ago and filmed me at work on a new painting. This will air as part of a larger segment on Art Zone in a few weeks. The program showcases the INScape Arts Building and it’s transformation from the former home of the federal Immigration and Naturalization Services to the burgeoning artist enclave that it is now becoming.   The episode will air on June 3rd and I will post the time and a link to the video when it’s available. So stay tuned…

These photos are a preview of some experimental pieces  I have been working on in the studio...testing out a few small works on paper... I am calling these paintings my "Wax Paper" series  and I will share some additional  images of these little experiments with you soon.