Judy Wise

My Dream

2012-01-31T19:41:00.000-08:00

This is from a dream I've had several times. In it I begin as a seed in a river bank, break loose from that lodging, and am swept downstream. It's painted in the big big Art Book; 16x23".

Checking In Before Checking Out

2012-01-27T15:00:00.000-08:00

This is my big-big Art Journal. It's over 16x23 inches opened up and has sheets of 300# Arches paper for pages in a coptic bound format. The cover was inspired by an illustration by an artist whose name I had and then lost again (if I can find it I'll amend this post). His monkey was on a tiger which represented the id but my id is so slow lately that an elephant was more in line with truth. An elephant on skittery wheels.

The artist on the Catherine Wheel was painted on the back cover after a late night session with a group of friends where the suffering of artists was the topic of conversation. We don't suffer because we're artists; we're artists because we feel everything so deeply. And because we are driven to communicate in a language only our tribe understands. To the rest of the world we are just weird, weepy or mental.

Still, we wouldn't trade our lives with anyone. Not one of us, we agreed, would trade our age for youth. We love the puddles in which we find ourselves.

I've been sick for a week now; subjecting a house guest to my gusty sneezes and trips to the doctor. Haven't felt like talking at all.

Painting in the big-big Art Book has been my consolation. Thank you Misty for the ongoing inspiration. I could name some names here. So many good and loving friends who keep me going and make me feel worthwhile. Who seriously know the way and carry the lantern for others.

I painted this one over a copied drawing. It was still hard.

And now some recent journal pages.

I'll be scarce in February or reporting from southern climes. Going to do some high-tailing.

Have a sitter who will send out Hot Wax DVD's for me and help me stay in touch though. And I'll be responding to the Mixed Media Journal Class sign-ups.

In the meanwhile, get your flu shots and wear a scarf outdoors. Listen to music that moves you and keep in touch with the people who make you happy. Let the sun shine down on your days. I'll be back asap.

Renewal

2012-01-17T14:53:00.000-08:00

Four friends grabbed their suitcases, boxes of produce and favorite snacks, and headed to the Oregon coast this weekend to escape the pressures of home and business. Quiet time for writing, painting, sewing, doing whatever presented itself while the rest of the world made do without us.

We did a lot of talking (as women do), tea drinking, and sharing recipes. The weather was our 5th companion for the weekend.

We got a little bit of everything, from rain to wind to blue skies to hail and snow.

The surf roared while the sand blowed and we tucked safely into our warm beds each evening.

If I could give every artist or anyone for that matter a weekend like this I'm sure the world would be better for it. Sharing what we know.

Telling our secrets and dreams and troubles.

Allowing ourselves to be open and trusting with our deepest desires.

It rarely snows on the Oregon coast but on the third morning we woke up to a white beach. It was a sparkly surprise.

This photo above was taken by Jen Goff and she gave me permission to share. Ahhhhh ...

And also she took the picture of the firmly rooted tree, so dreamy in the snowy field.

We all watched the horizon for the fabled green flare and instead we got this dramatic sunset that looked like fire at sea.

I am renewed spiritually but maybe coming down with a cold. Sweet earth, thank you for your staggering beauty. For the colors, the cold, the fragrances, the hard and the easy. But most of all for so many beautiful human beings to befriend and enjoy. Right besides each of us; there's one now. Love the one you're with. xo

Singing with all my Heart

2012-01-08T19:52:00.000-08:00

I have a beautiful share; this post from the Dishwasher's Tears. Check it out and then come back. (But you might need to add him to your blog lines.)

I love underwater things. It's the best metaphor for the subconscious, rich and fecund. It's full of hidden treasure; better than a pirate's gaudy bijoux by far. The subconscious is where I go diving and what I bring back is the self-knowledge that keeps me whole.

The etching in the photograph is one that I got from a friend (Kevin Moore) back in the '70's when we were printmakers in the same studio. It's very large; over 21x35" which is a lot of zinc plate to wipe by hand. The print hangs in our bedroom and reminds me of the quiet deep; the hidden mysteries. My private sea fever.

Here's Laurie's song in case you want to hear it again. Although reading the poetry as written in Scott's blog is a beautiful experience in itself.

http://youtu.be/xkeB-J9IlAI

So two brief announcements here.

Numero Uno

The first is that I'm opening up sign-ups now for the Mixed Media Journaling online class that I've been working on for the past 2 months. We'll start on March 12th and work together for 4 weeks doing art and writing in our personal journals. This is a class that's been very popular at numerous art retreats and because we have 4 weeks we'll be able to do more writing and self exploration. Go here to read more about the class and sign up.

Numero Dos

While the Hot Wax online class ended nearly two months ago, I now have the entire class available on DVD as an eBook. This eBook, beautifully designed by Laurie Jacobsen with internal and external links, contains all the videos, lessons, questions and answers and is downloadable to your desktop or to read directly from the DVD to save space on your hard drive. You can read about the topics covered in the class and order it here.

I'm preparing for a beach weekend with a group of women; can't think of a better winter break right now. I'll sneak in some watery, sea fevery photos for you soon. mmmm salt water dreams.

What A Year!

2011-12-29T13:04:00.000-08:00

I'm over here working my buns off for the next online class (mixed media journaling) which of course will contain everything but the kitchen sink. I cut the stencil above as part of one of the demos; my father, mom and older sister from a photo taken before I was born. Daddy left for Guam shortly after this was taken; he was an airplane mechanic and it's probable that I was already in the oven here. That was all so long ago.

The brown paper bag journal bug has bit again and hard. More about that in a moment.

I'm living in smoothie-ville now. I'm always the last one on the turnip wagon. There's a food revolution going on in the country (or is it just Portland?) and everybody's getting healthy. At least until the next trip to Mexico. The purple smoothie is red cabbage, blueberries, mango, banana, almond milk, nutritional yeast, chia seeds, lime juice and spinach. We're eating more vegetables than Bugs Bunny.

I've been hunkered down low trying to get all the videos made for the March class before we take off in a month. It's been so dark and rainy here that we're really looking forward to breaking free and getting out into some sunshine. We hardly got to wear our summer clothes this year so maybe we can go where it's summer all the time.

This long, sweet week between Christmas and New Year's Day is the perfect time to dream, count blessings, bid adieu to the old, and to conjure up the coming year. Like a good witch I like to think I have a hand in what happens; not that I'm in control of anything but that I can choose to help things in the right direction here and there. I feel like it's my responsibility as a pushy old gal.

I used to choose words for the coming year but recently I've stopped at Grace. I don't think there are many better words than that. To be willing to accept what comes whether you like it or not. To hold it in your heart toward others, especially when they try your patience.

I like to sit for long sessions with my journal and write it all out. How the miracles just keep coming. How glad I am to be a creator instead of a destroyer, politician or meanie. I have great sadness for those people and for the very wealthy. I think it would be a curse to be rich or famous. I love being a nobody. And I love other nobodies. I think we're the bomb.

See my little fingers conjuring up a wonderful new year?

Nathan and his new camera. Just because. Did I ever mention his beautiful hands? No?

So here's the latest brown bag book. First the measured papers, soaked, scrunched, flattened.

Then dried quickly on the red hot woodstove between gulps of coffee.

The dried pages looking like a stack of tobacco leaves.

Ironed lightly and folded into folios.

And sewn with aqua linen book binder's thread into a coptic journal.

This is one of the other brown bag books that I wrote about here.

And the first brown bag book that I wrote about here. Long live the brown bag book. I'm going to try milk paint on the pages of this new one. White milk paint. I can't wait. And then I'll show you. Because it's so much fun to get excited and see if I can get some of you excited too.

Happy New Year 2012. May grace, beauty, magic, and miracles follow wherever you find yourself in the coming year. xo

Blog on the Run

2011-12-23T15:56:00.000-08:00

It isn't you, it's me. Having a lot on my plate just now as I'm sure you do too. Shellie has been coming over every day and hanging out with me. I haven't sent out my holiday cards yet but that's par for the course. What's unusual this year is the number of projects I'm working on all at one time. I'm spread thin.

I can't get the ceremony of St. Lucia day our of my imagination so I thought I'd paint the young girl in her crown of lights. The painting probably isn't done but at this point perfection isn't in the cards.

Happy Holidays to all . The solstice has crowned the year and once again we're looking toward a new beginning. I hope you light your candles and have some loved ones nearby to touch and be touched by. It's so good to be alive in 2011. Wishing you a joyous New Year and the gift of grace. May you be touched by the spirit of the season.

My Little Painter

2011-12-18T22:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, she isn't little; she's my grown daughter and she hasn't painted in ever so long but feeling the depression and sadness of a dark winter's day she picked up her paint brushes and painted this tender scene. Then she brought it to my house to show mama.

It takes my breath away with its tenderness.

Maybe say a little prayer for the people out there who have a hard time in this season when everybody is expected to be happy. Give to the homeless, pay it forward, whatever you can do for the forgotten. If you're here I know you do that anyway. So thank you.

The Olden Days

2011-12-12T18:11:00.000-08:00

Is it even possible that 32 years have passed since this picture was taken? An old friend sent it to me in a Christmas card; precious memory. This was 7 months before we got married. Here we are in the first blush of passionate love; I'd just returned from 2 weeks in Japan and John is a week or two away from a job on a tuna boat that would keep us separated for another 5 months.

Hey, if you've never had an afro you probably weren't around in the 70's. ha ha.

And the Winner Is ...

2011-12-09T11:12:00.000-08:00

Wooden Spade from Bountiful, Utah. Please send me your address and I'll get it to the publisher who will mail you your free copy. And thank you to everyone who commented; you guys gave me some terrific ideas for personal maps. xo

For the Love of Maps

2011-12-04T22:38:00.000-08:00

Last year Jill Berry invited me to be part of her new mixed media book on making personal maps. I sat right down and made the map above, recounting my journey through a series of surgical "adventures". It was therapeutic to remember the progression of events and to make light of an unusual (thank goodness) experience.

This week my copy of her book arrived and it is a trove of fascinating maps by a variety of artists. I got many new ideas for making maps and in studying the various styles realized that mine is based on board games that I played as a child. Plus this is just the way my brain processes experience; always an area of fascination to me (how our brains work).

A handful of artists whose maps are featured in the book are participating in a blog hop to familiarize you with it and today it's my turn. Here is what the cover looks like:

And here is an excerpt from the press material:

“ Personal Geographies gives you the tools and techniques you'll need to create artful maps of your self, your experiences and your personal journey.

Inside Personal Geographies you'll discover:

21 mixed-media map projects featuring artistic techniques like working with alcohol inks and pochoir, painting on a black surface and carving custom stamps
Insight into the world of traditional and contemporary maps and how they relate to and inspire personal mapmaking
A gallery of maps by contributors from around the world to spark your own creativity”

If you would like to win a copy of the book, just write a comment on this post saying what you would make into your personal map and on December 9th I'll pull one name out of a hat and that person will receive a free copy.

On the other hand, if you can't wait to get your hands on the book, you can get a copy for $11.75 here until the day of the drawing. (free shipping!!)

And if you want to visit other map makers there is an interesting blog Jill has started here. I think you'll find lots of ideas for making a variety maps there.

Now I'm off to paint and make some more videos. Busy busy. Got the twinkle light tree up yesterday and feel the season advancing in a delicious way. The days are short but the art is long. Something like that! (Ars longa, vita brevis). I never could tell a joke or quote a saying.

xo

Not Until March

2011-11-30T22:10:00.000-08:00

In response to a number of inquiries - I've decided to hold the Mixed Media Journaling class in March instead of January. I'm not quite ready yet and I don't want to rush any thing that's going to be as much fun as this is going to be. I love preparing for these classes, poring over all the details and doing the best I can for you.

So I'll put up a formal announcement and sign up button some time in January.

This class is going to be a combination of visual and written exercises. In my shorter in-person journaling classes I never have enough time to really delve into the deep core strengthening work that is afforded by writing so in this class we will be doing more writing along with the mixed media. I'll tell you more later; this is just to let you know what's coming. xo

Thanksgiving Rumination

2011-11-25T14:51:00.000-08:00

Quiet afternoon following Thanksgiving. Vanilla tea with almond milk. Sun shining and crisp blue skies. Autumn graces the studio, garden and home.

We are warm inside. Give thanks.

Our family gathered for the feast here at Grandmother's cottage. My precious precious.

Kind and beloved grandson.

Minor additions to the big panels and I think they're done.

The bounty of the garden - give thanks.

The little cloche.

Which protects the green cilantro.

The nodding sunflowers, giving up their seeds to the hungry birds.

A house filled with laughter.

Swiss chard still colorful for morning smoothies.

Wooly mullein.

Witchy shapes.

A new painting called "Turn" about the changing season.

The sides are pretty too. 12"x12"

Shocking beauty in the underbrush.

For all of this and so much more we give thanks.

Slowly, November

2011-11-18T16:37:00.000-08:00

It's been quiet in the studio since the online class ended. I sort of threw myself over the finish line and curled up in a ball. I had planned to do a journal class in January but that was before I knew how satiated I would feel. Now I just want to lie back and stare at the ceiling.

Four weeks of being consumed by the computer; tunnel visioned and in suspended animation. Is this how gamers feel?

Anyway, I'm starting to wiggle my toes again and wanted to make an announcement.

The Hot Wax eBook is available for pre-order and will be out to you in time for Christmas. Twenty days of encaustic lessons; you can read what a few of the students had to say at the link. I'm so proud of it. I can recommend it whole heartedly to anyone who wants to know everything I know about wax.

The persimmons are nearly ripe and most of the leaves have blown off the tree.

The studio waits patiently.

Pink lemons; a new fruit this winter in our stores. The outside is green and yellow stripes; really pretty. They taste like a cross between a lemon and a lime.

The tree by our driveway; another kind of lemon. That green rosebush under it was covered with lavender roses this spring; a completely different palette. Fall is so wistful.

I think I've spent only 2 days in here in the last month.

Still working on these guys. Slowly. Slowly I go. xo

Gratitude

2011-11-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

Just when I think I'm never going to get back into the studio again the angels come and gently lift my mood and mysteriously I think I just maybe can do it again and then I find out I can. The two panels above are only underpaintings; I'll serve up additional versions in the coming days but I'm so grateful to feel open again. It is such misery when I am not painting.

Once again my so called students are inspiring me. First the plaster players and now the waxing busybees have me jonesing to get back in the wax and plaster. It's either a drought or a flood; funny how that works.

The journal of course helps me keep my momentum even in the dry periods.

And woo hoo for me. I ventured out with John on a "date" to Guardino Gallery for an opening where I had a painting on display. It was a wonderful, spooky occasion and a beautiful show. The "ghouls" are Stephanie Brockway and Tori Brokenshire; it was fun.

We've been eating lots of salsa from the tomato and pepper crop.

I never get tired of pictures of produce.

or food!!

That's all I got for you today, friends. I'm planning Thanksgiving and practicing gratitude every day. Thanks for stopping by. xo

Spooky Weekend Coming

2011-10-27T15:55:00.000-07:00

I love Halloween. Not the costume holiday with the trick or treating of my past, but the way it feels inside my being every year at this time as the season turns and things get wiggly. Fat spiders. Ripe pumpkins. Then the miracle of decay. It's like life expands and expands until it has nowhere to go except return to the beginning. It bursts, scatters it's seeds and falls down.

And the whole thing is just so beautiful. So mysterious. What a full and amazing miracle the seasons are.

The garden is falling asleep. We've had 2 nights of light frost and the more delicate plants have burned leaves. They whisper their good-byes as they slowly lie down.

Thank goodness I can watch it all from the comfort of my house.

Where I have my friends, my computer, my imagination to keep me entertained.

But I thought it was time I ducked out to grab a few photos for you. Of the Maximillian sunflowers.

The Guanajuato Blue Salvia.

The gourds and vines, letting go.

The vast beauty of things passing.

Scarce as Hen's Teeth

2011-10-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

Yup, I'm going to be awol for the next few weeks as the online wax workshop has started and I am knee deep in sharing. You still have 2 more days to join us; I'm getting wonderful reviews from the gang and I'm having a blast on my end. The piece above is one of the demonstrations I do in the class. I even show you how to cast the baby out of plaster.

The family spent the weekend at the beach. Ahhh, is it really that time of year again.

We had mild weather. The kayakers were out as well as the surfers; everyone flying kites and dogs with slap happy grins running back and forth. All of us a little dazed and squinting in the sunlight.

Kayak. It's still on my bucket list.

Here is our enormous yerba santa plant growing next to the rosemary and parsley.

Look at the size of those leaves. John will distribute them to our Mexican friends who appreciate what a culinary find they are in this part of the country.

Peppers from the habanero collection. Actually, there is one pepper in there that is an aji amarillo from Peru, but the rest are habaneros. Don't they resemble halloween candy? These are just the habanero varieties. Yes, he still grows the serranos, jalapenos, jimmy nardellos and more.

And here we have a precious late bloomer, Buff Beauty, doing her best to outrun the fall weather.

Every moment is precious, precious.

Oh it is.

Calm Waters

2011-10-07T12:17:00.000-07:00

Well now, October. Despite the shorter days in the northern hemisphere and the cooler weather I am finding myself unaccountably uplifted. Maybe it's the proximity of my online class in Hot Wax that starts in a little over a week. Setting up the Yahoo group and hearing the introductions. Picturing people in other states and countries who are as excited as I am about 4 weeks of waxy adventure.

I only have a couple more video demonstrations to tape and have already composed the first 3 lessons. That's how excited I am. All this in my sweat pants and oversized fleece shirts. Cozy like. This is the life.

While I was hunting for something else I came across my travel journal from a trip to Japan taken back in 1979. I remember sitting in front of the Todaiji temple painting this monochromatic watercolor. That was my first travel outside of the U. S.; a solo trip with only a few changes of clothes and very little money to spend. I remember the crying of crows everywhere and music wafting in from a nearby conservatory. My faithful travel companion was my journal.

Writing, thinking, making stuff up.

Refusing to live in "their" world, I decided to create my own.

Thank you Steve, for making all of our lives more connected. Thank you for 5 computers, an iPhone, 2 iPods and iPad. For allowing me to work at home in my jammies. For bringing me news and beauty from all over the world. We live in a time of miracles and awesome technology. For artists this is a freedom and an enrichment.

Teaching and Thinking About Teaching

2011-10-04T12:21:00.000-07:00

Just finished teaching a couple of classes at Art and Soul this past weekend. I've been telling everyone that I'm preparing to retire from teaching.

The little doll above was made by one of the students in class.

Before I go into the classroom I feel anxious and a bit overwhelmed. It's the same kind of fear I feel about boarding an airplane.

But once in the classroom I feel alive and not at all afraid. Instead I feel connected to the people who have come to learn. I feel like I am doing the most natural thing in the world and the thing I do best.

I have a dilemma inside me. An argument over whether to use my energy for teaching or making my own art.

I ask myself which matters most to me, my studio time or being an instrument to encourage others. I do both of course but each one could be a full time committment.

I was very happy this weekend. I loved being in the classroom again. I don't know of a nicer group of people anywhere; free of judgment, conflict, competition.

While our hands are busy we talk about our lives. We laugh about things that when faced alone would make a person weep. We lean on each other. There is an energy in the room that is joyful.

While we make these objects there is deeper work going on.

If it were just about the things we create I think I could let it go.

But it is more than that.

Although the things we create bring us a lot of happiness.

You should have seen how happy we were when we lined up our dolls and saw what we had done.

Each little creation was a surprise and a wonder.

I'm thinking I probably wont quit teaching just yet.

It was a good way to usher in the month of October.

To sit quietly in another classroom the next day and play with photographs of our families. Making gifts for people we love.

Sharing our stories and making new friends.

Thank you sincerely to all of my students who shared such a happy time with me. It was very good.

IEA Retreat

2011-09-26T15:19:00.000-07:00

This will be a short check in. I just returned from 4 days at the International Encaustic Artists' Retreat last evening. I was unfocused and tired much of the time at the retreat but woke up today clear-headed and wishing I'd shot more photos for you. It was a successful retreat and I learned a lot.

Encaustic is so broad and there is so much you can do with wax that there is no end to the new discoveries. And the shopping is fun too; lots of lovely colors and tools to collect.

There was a beautiful gallery show titled "Encaustic Masters" and that's my piece on the wall. The opening was a solid crush of people; it was great fun.

On the home front John worked hard getting the harvest in ahead of the rains. The garage is full of produce while my car sits outdoors. Here are just a few pictures; it's too dark in there to get very good ones.

John's pride and joy; the Orenco gold tomato that he has kept going from a sport of a red roma. We love this tomato and he offers seeds through Seed Savers Exchange. As you can see it is thick walled and similar to the roma. It's so pretty in salsa fresca with red tomatoes, cilantro, and green chilis.

Along with everything else we have a new septic tank now. Nothing like a little noise and mayhem to rattle your nerves.

Beans.

Onion seed heads.

These are Magnum Orange Habaneros. They're hot.

These are called Tiger Teeth and originated in the Caribbean. 155,000 Scoville units.

This is Aji Limon hot pepper from Peru.

This is the Mayan Red, another habanero.

Some Orenco Gold tomatoes.

Some of the corn that will be ground up for polenta.

Gotta go now. Stuff's happening!! Art and Soul this weekend; I'm teaching 2 days. See some of you there. I WILL take photos for you.

This Year's People

2011-09-16T17:40:00.000-07:00

Once again my friend and teacher extraordinaire, Shannon McBride, has invited me to come to her art classroom and guide this year's people through the intricacies of the long stitch journal. Here's what we did this week.

These journals will be used for writing and art exercises. And secrets. Personal stuff.

Each student tries a personal approach for their covers. Some paint, some collage, some glue fabric or paper.

Not one of them is afraid to try.

I consider that advanced.

This is happiness.

These are the raw materials.

"I made it!"

The boys thoroughly charmed me. Graceful, willing, promising.

This is what pride looks like. Each book a masterpiece.

Well done, grasshoppers. Once again ... I love the classroom. I love these kids. They really, really give me hope. We have to take good care of them, fund our schools, protect their future. xo

The State of the Studio

2011-09-11T14:10:00.000-07:00

Sweet summer lingers on in Oregon. It's been an unusually busy time, with harvesting, canning and time in the studio keeping us occupied. Tomorrow I teach journal making to the high school kids near where I live. I'm taking stacks of my filled journals and I hope to instill in several of them a life long habit of writing, creating and loving the book form.

This is the back cover, spine and front cover of the journal I'll be putting together in class. The photo is a picture of my mother when she was 16 years old. Yesterday would have been her 87th Birthday and I just love this picture of her. It's printed on tracing paper, glued over an underpainting and then coated with 2 layers of tar gel.

This is how I treated the insides of the journal covers. Wallpaper scraps glued randomly.

Recent pages. Lots of deep thinking.

I had a dream a few nights ago that I was telling a class that now that my mother is gone that my journal is my mother; where I go with my good news and bad. And the people in the class looked at me like I was stating the obvious and said, "everybody knows that".

This afternoon I'm determined to get back to the cold wax paintings. I have a bunch of panels stacked up at the in-between stage.

Stephanie and I put in the mostly-final edits on the Plaster eBook this weekend so in days now I expect it will go through the final edit and on to the master disk guy. We check his work and then we get the disks made for all of you who have ordered them. It has taken awhile for this to come together but in seeing the final product I think you will appreciate all that's gone into it. Thank you all for your patience; you've been wonderful.

More studio stuff. Gotta get some of this packed away so I have room to make more stuff.

John made a very spicy soup out of these ingredients that had a creamy base of soy cream. It was just incredibly good and involved a trip to the neighboring farm stands for the corn because ours is not quite ripe yet. John is on a gluten free vegan diet now; good thing he's an awesome, creative cook.

Here is the recipe, it's in Spanish but I think you can figure it out. John made substitutions; olive oil for butter and soy cream for mayonnaise. He left out the meat too, obviously. Oh, and the chicken feet too - lol. That might disturb some people.

That's all the news I can think of today. Just breathing in summer, eating strawberries, giving thanks for life. I've said it before but I'll say it again, "Life: even when it's bad it's good". xo

Hot Wax Fit

2011-09-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

I kept wanting to prolong the fun of working with the ivory confetti imagery so I did 3 more in the series.

Those of you who have taken classes from me know how these were created. Patience and love of the materials.

I'm pretty sure I could keep going here but other sirens are calling ... is that you, cold wax?

Look what I discovered at our local taqueria. What is it about the mexican culture that is so brilliant about food and drink? This is not carbonated and I had never seen it before in my travels although it must be common somewhere. Have you guys seen it?

Buff Beauty is still carrying on.

These are our regular daylight neutral, ever-bearing strawberries.

And this is a strain of very fancy incredibly flavorful little strawberry. The best.

And these are a mixture of the two which happened by accident in our garden. Now that bitty delicacy is big and fabulously flavored. Yum!

Heritage has put on a hearty re-bloom.

The little house John built over the tomatoes so they don't get rained on if we get an early rain. Our tomatoes don't like to get wet in the fall.

The sunflowers are nodding their heads; heavy with summer memories. Sleep will come soon enough.

The glorious sunset over our lane.

All is quiet here. Everything that lives is holy.

More Wax

2011-08-31T13:16:00.000-07:00

Wax. Sweet summer. Friends visiting. Lots of work and dreams floating around with travel talk and living vicariously through friends who are having adventures. A rich imagination is a good thing to have on a lazy summer day. Especially knowing that tomorrow brings a delicious change; when things get fast again, when fall's charms present themselves.

I've always loved September. That's when school starts, when we put on our thinking caps and get to work. I love work too. As daydreamy and lazy as I am I have a strong streak of loving book lists, goals, studying and learning.

So today I'm celebrating the last day of August by wiggling my toes in my sandals and looking toward September with real enthusiasm. Looking forward to the International Encaustic Association Retreat at the end of the month here in Portland and then to teaching at Art and Soul.

I don't know if this last encaustic is done or not. I've been painting over work this week. I love that about wax, hot or cold. There is always the next layer. Like life come to think of it. Layers of memories, history, experience. It's good, all of this. xo

Some Goofiness

2011-08-28T21:13:00.000-07:00

Checking in. My friend came to visit today and we made a little video after she asked me how you could tell the difference between a cheap brush and a good one.

We horsed around for awhile and then we turned on the hot wax and I did the painting below; exploring some of the landscape imagery I've been working with.

I'm working cold wax over a large old encaustic painting as an experiment. I'll show you in a few days if I can get back to it. And for those of you who get my blog on a feed and never see the side bar, I am gearing up for a huge, tell-everything encaustic lollapalooza-extravaganza online class that starts on October 13th and goes on 6 days a week until November 11. You can read about it here.

Here are some kind words from participants of my last online class ...

"This really is the best online course I have taken. Such attention to detail." ---Sharon

"The videos for this class are wonderful! The images are so clear, the sound is great."---Ginny

"I loved the fresco wash video! I have watched it 8 or 9 times now. I was sooo excited to try this technique and paint a beautiful woman's face." ---Dorylyn

"I am loving (!!!) this class." ---Mary Beth

"Thanks for opening my creative eyes! This is definitely one of the best online classes I have taken .. and I've taken quite a few! "---Fran

Okay, see you in a few. Don't forget to get your brushes wet before you purchase them and make sure they are springy. You're welcome!! :-D

Another Painting and Some Other Stuff

2011-08-25T20:33:00.000-07:00

Another 20x20". My friend visited today and we discussed the big-big painting I'm going to do for her. Yeeks, I'm scared but also determined to follow the advice I always give to students and that is that you will only improve by spending lots of time in the studio.

Seth sent the cover of his new book on over. It won't be released until March but we are already getting excited to visit with 100 artists and read about their secrets and passions. That yellow arrow points to an image of mine.

And while I'm telling you about new releases I'll give a heads up on the new stencils that Mary Beth Shaw is selling based on my designs. Her stencils are so strong you can use then with hot wax, then just melt the wax off the stencil by laying it on the hot plate after and wiping with a cloth. It really works.

This was supper last night. Although by the time I took this picture the guacamole was almost gone.

And the beans are coming now. Here is the recipe from healthy-recipes-for-kids.com

Sesame Green Beans:

Ingredients:
Fresh Green Beans (whole or already trimmed)

1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil

1 teaspoon Sesame Oil

1/2 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper

2 Tablespoons toasted Sesame Seeds (untoasted is fine too)

Coarse Salt to taste

Steps:
Steam or boil green beans for about 2 minutes (still crisp.)

Drain the beans in a colander.

Heat a wok or large pan over high heat.

Pour or spray a small amount of vegetable oil and spread around the pan.

Add the sesame oil and crushed red pepper flakes to the pan. Don't worry if the pan smokes. That's normal.

If sesame seeds are not already toasted, add them to the wok or pan at this time.

Add beans to the pan/wok and stir fry for several minutes.

Sprinkle sesame seeds (if not already added) and course salt over the beans, stir, and serve.

Later gator. xo

I'm Good, Really

2011-08-23T19:53:00.000-07:00

Oh dear, I must have overdone the drama in my last post; even my daughter phoned to ask if I was okay. The answer is "of course, just the usual". I've been working on more cold wax pieces, my artist statement and visiting with friends here in town which has made me very happy. The piece above is 20x20", the largest I've done so far. Cold wax and oil paint. Make it big so you can see the detail.

More soon xo.

Working Away

2011-08-19T20:55:00.000-07:00

This will be short and sweet. I'm working well after a period of letdown following my trip to Telluride. I wonder if others have the mood swings I do to deal with on top of everything else. It's fascinating, really. How differently the world looks on some days than others. I liken it to a piano. Some pianos have x number of octaves. Artists have 10x number of octaves. Higher highs. Lower lows.

I'm not saying we're nuts. Just a little amped up; a little different. It can be a blessing as well as a burden.

That's all I have for today. A good day. When I am working it is a good day.

My Journal, My Friend

2011-08-15T12:56:00.000-07:00

It always comes back to the journal.

This is where I bring all my questions, celebrations, depressions and boredom.

With a pen in hand, coffee nearby, relaxed and receptive, gifts arrive.

Sometimes it's just about the fun of pasting, doodling, playing in color.

Sometimes it's about time to fill while I should be doing other things. Dreaming of adventures. Lots of dreaming.

All I know is that it is a part of what I need to feel whole and hopeful.

It helps me gather myself in and give myself the gift of time and solitude.

I've heard from my friend the incredibly gifted art teacher that I get to spend time in the classroom showing this year's crop of high school kids how to make books. I love the classroom; any classroom. Eager minds, clean slates, and OMG their beauty of which they are mostly unaware. It fills me with awe to spend time with them, to tempt them to acquire the lifetime habit of journaling. Something bright on my horizon, a happy feeling!

Wax and A Garden Visit

2011-08-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

I'm even dreaming of wax now; closing in on the last of the videos.

The gardenia has given me three glorious blooms at once.

It's almost too much beauty to bear. And the scent. Takes me back to the prom in my 16th year when I saw and smelled my first gardenia. I have loved them ever since.

Oregon is lavish in her gifts this time of year.

All the good things we love to eat.

Colors to bring us cheer.

Divine scents, loamy earth, tomato vines, buzzing bees.

The garage smells like ...

garlic! Drying in the racks John brings out once a year.

Lots of tomato, cucumber and onion salads with rice vinegar.

Sunflowers for the birds and because they are so beautiful.

Blue salvia to attract hummingbirds.

Someone asked about the corn. It is up and away.

Fairy roses. These grow under a blue spruce.

Daisies.

And those beans have grown all the way up since you saw them last.

The days are long, filled with sunshine and work.

John spends his days on his knees tending and tilling and watering.

I hope you get to eat a fried zuchinni flower in your lifetime. It's decadent.

And until we planted a persimmon tree I didn't know that they looked like this in the green stage. Aren't they flower like?

This is the big fried egg flower. Big as a dinner plate.

I just heard John pull into the garage with the groceries so I'm going to go now and see what treats he brought home. Thank you for the visit. It's very good to have a friend stop by. xo

More More More

2011-08-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

I love to be productive; to go into the studio each day and see what waits to surprise me.

I'm shooting video for the last of the hot wax classes. I have to dodge the droning planes and lawnmowers and train whistles outside but that's part of the fun.

I watched a lot of the videos I'd previously shot a couple of months ago and am surprised by how much I want to go back in and perfect them.

Left to my own devices I would never finish anything. I have a bit of a compulsive streak ...

"Perfection is the enemy of done". I'm trying to cultivate that.

So if you do hear a train whistle in the background or see me light my torch off camera when I should be on, just remember that it's killing me too.

I have about a zillion things I want to say here.

A zillion photos of the garden and what's cookin' in the studio.

But I have to go back in there now. The days just slip away, no matter how try to hold them back.

BTW, these are cold wax, not hot.

Cold Wax II

2011-08-03T09:44:00.000-07:00

This is a time of asking the big questions. It has frankly gotten more difficult for me to teach with my voice challenges. I've pretty much decided to take 2012 off from teaching with the exception of EncaustiCamp. I have been teaching and traveling to teach now for the past 5 years and I'm feeling the need to get back to my own work (oh, that sounds pretentious!) ... but surely you know what I mean.

In 5 years great changes occur. New yearnings arise and new issues in the studio. My paintings have been poems (the etchings I did for 12 years), then still lifes (watercolor), then landscapes and interiors (reverse paintings on glass) and then storytelling (acrylic on canvas). After that 5 years of teaching mixed media classes. Getting out of the studio and reconnecting with other artists. Feeding the social part of my put-together. Falling in love with students, encouraging them and encouraging myself to take whatever path beckons.

Now I feel pulled. I don't like to do my interior work in public but today I feel like sharing this. What I have to express in my paintings is seeking a new form. I still have a story to tell; of life being this lush adventure. Of finding myself in a physical body that has certain affinities, that is picky, near-sighted and yet brave. Of coming to the conclusion that the world is a place of great beauty and great sorrow.

That's enough for one day. I'm sure each of you is on your own adventure of discovery, change and awe. What an opportunity we each have. Freedom to search and draw our own conclusions; freedom to leave our marks and words behind as we ourselves pass through.

I love the saying about our ground time here being short. All the more reason to say it, paint it, leave some evidence.

Cold Wax

2011-08-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

Cold wax, hot wax, I simply cannot choose my favorite. Where one is liquid and transluscent, the other is nuanced and minimal. Lush or austere? Why should I choose at all?

I flew into Telluride Airport in a little mosquito of an airplane that bounced all over the sky and swooped around the high mountains sideways. The beginning of my adventure. Not for the faint hearted.

What greeted me next were the most beautiful colors and piercing contrasts imaginable. Alpine wildflowers. A toy city in a box canyon at 8750 ft. elevation. The airport at 9000 ft. is the highest in the United States and sits atop a flat mountain where the runway catapults you out over the tops of even higher mountain peaks.

These are Rebecca Crowell's well-worn tools.

Yummy oil paints.

Simple tools and media. Cold wax. Oil paint. Spatulas and things to press into the paint.

It was a 6 day wonder. I walked everywhere, even in the afternoon thunderstorms.

I painted what I felt in the colors that bring me joy.

Making beauty. That's all I want to do.

Off to Telluride

2011-07-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

It's been a beautiful week. Experimented with some new wax techniques. Unpacked and repacked for my next trip. Ran around in circles. Acted like I knew what I was doing. Finally did get settled down.

The usual studio mess after teaching; after a frenzied bout of wax. This morning I got an e-mail from the person who is translating our book into German. I am floored. I have co-written a book that's being published in a foreign language. Is this really my life?.

Meanwhile the sun shines, the flowers bloom, the bees collect pollen and the days pass. I'll be taking a 4 day workshop with Rebecca Crowell this coming week. I know. I'm one lucky person.

This is another one of the wax portraits from last week's class. Somehow I missed posting it then and I really like it. Mary Beth Shaw painted it.

Happy journal pages. Summer is easy.

Starting a brand new journal. Always a momentous occasion in my little world. I start with a ceremony.

More wax play.

And now I have a story you'll love. I've known Jessica Greene for over 3 years now after meeting her in New Hampshire. She has faithfully signed up for my classes wherever I've taught and we have formed a trusting and close friendship. She has been an eighth grade teacher for the past 5 years while her art dreams have been on the back burner.

We met up again at the Encaustic Conference in Massachusetts where Jess was lamenting to my room mate Kimberly that she dreamed of going to an artist residency program where she could have some space and time to put together a body of work. An impossible dream; the kind we each have tucked away somewhere. The kind of thing that's too much to even hope for.

So Kimberly asked her how many programs she had applied to so far. Crickets. Jess had applied to none. Kimberly laughed and told her that to be accepted it was necessary to apply. This was in June.

Long story short. Jessica went home and applied to several residencies. She was accepted to one. OMG was she overjoyed!! She can go to Spain in October for one entire month if she can raise a little bit of money.

Here's where we can become fairy godmothers. Even if you cannot contribute, reading her story here will warm your heart. It is a real blessing to witness a hopeful young artist as they strive toward their dreams. I hope Jess gets to Spain. I know the work that will come out of this will be thoughtful and will contribute to the well being of many people who haven't even met Jess. I love the way that works.

I'm wishing everyone's fondest dream could come true. Especially the ones that help others so that all might participate in the wide circle. See you down the road. xo

EncaustiCamp 2011

2011-07-18T17:53:00.000-07:00

Oh my. EncaustiCamp in Salem, Oregon in July. Mark your calendars. I'll let the photos do most of the talking. Here we are; most of us anyway. It's hard to get all the campers together at one time.

I baked brownies for the troops. Yeah, me in the kitchen! Hoo-wah.

Jessica Greene allowed me to use her photo montages here. Above from Bridgette Guerzon Mills' class. Boy, were her students lucky to study with her.

This is Krista's piece made in my class but 100% her own creation. (I didn't write down last names - wah!)

Taken in Trish Baldwin's class. Did you know she pioneered the amber shellac technique? Was one of the first to experiment with tar? She was not the one who told me this but I did find out. Man, we all owe her for those cool tricks.

Michele Belto's class in paper molding and wax. Very cool approach.

Trish's classroom was buzzing with creativity. Wow, great things came out of here.

We had a show at the end where we admired the work.

It wasn't all slavery, however. We did manage to get quite a bit of laughing, late night visiting and story telling accomplished. We all ended the retreat as friends; we can't wait to meet again.

The fab five teacher-guides; left to right - Michelle Belto, Trish Baldwin (Seggebruch), Crystal Neubauer, Bridgette Guerzon Mills and mwah, Judy Patootie.

We painted portraits.

This was one of Michelle Belto's demo pieces. See what I mean? (awesome!)

Oh, is there anything more compelling than the human face?

More "student" work.

And now if you're not too exhausted I will direct your attention here where you can read about the latest goings on in Judy-and-Stephanie land. She says it so well and at this moment I can hardly hold my head up. Someone called it ExhaustiCamp and boy, that's how I'm feeling now. Come and join us next year. You will love it and learn so much.

And go here too. ZZZzzzzzzzzzz

Thank You, Thank You

2011-07-10T17:28:00.000-07:00

Well shut my mouth. Thank each of you who commented; wow, I feel connected again. That feels wonderful.

These are images from a sample I made for my class this Thursday. We are learning to mix paint and to paint directly from the hot palette. No bars of color (at first), no containers of swoony colors already mixed up.

My feeling is that color mixing and color theory are the basis for all painted work and we will be learning how to use color, to mix color and in the process we will paint in wax. I'll show you class work with the permission of the creators.

We'll be doing simple paintings like this; basically color book paintings with glazes. Yummy wax.

These puppies are all packed up and ready to go.

Here's what John's corn experiment looks like today. It was waist high by the 4th of July and it's gaining speed. The potatoes behind it are as tall as I am. (okay, I'm practically a pygmy, but still ...)

We met a woman this morning at the farmer's market who had never heard of fava beans. My jaw dropped. I love favas more than ice cream. More than chocolate. Less than salt caramel.

Here are the steps for every single bean. Two peelings. So if I'm willing to do that you know I love them.

MY JOHN'S RECIPE FOR FAVAS

Peel a bunch of fava beans twice like in the picture

Have some chopped onion ready in a bowl.

Blanch the favas about 1 1/2 minutes

Pour the drained favas over the onions

Drizzle on olive oil

Mix it all up and eat it.

There's hardly ever left overs but if that should ever happen they are awesome the next day cold.

July. Officially my second favorite month. I'll bring news back from the Wax Campers. Be crafty!

PS (added the next morning after receiving several wax class inquiries) - Don't forget that I'm teaching an online encaustic class in October. Information here.

Do People Still Read Blogs?

2011-07-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

I feel like I've been to the moon; out of touch with you here. Do you still come? Are people not reading blogs as much as they used to? Should I get everyone on an e-mail list and just send out newsletters once a month? I'm thinking about it. The newsletter that is.

I've never done a newsletter before because they sort of felt like junk mail to me but maybe that is a more convenient way (for you, not for me) to keep in touch. Do you have an opinion?

The journal. How I love my hour of meditation each morning in my journal; a time for me to calm my thoughts, write slowly and enjoy my coffee while I transition from sleep to full awareness. While I organize my thoughts and plan my day.

Cy passed this week. He was a shy man from all accounts; he never realized we were good friends. Good-bye beloved friend. I will miss you. You have taught me how to live inside my brush strokes. Like you I am exhausted after a large, successful painting and have to rest to recover. Thank you for that.

We have so many mentors. People who show us what it looks like to be brave, to keep your own counsel above all the opinions and pressures to conform that come from others. How good it is to feel that strength grow within and to join the legion of artists who went their own way.

Violetta is making a spectacle of herself again.

She is buzzing with honeybees. She knows how to attract attention.

My morning stroll. Portland is exquisite today. Not too hot. Good for the flowers.

It's poppy time.

Spider Mum time.

And EncaustiCamp time!!! I'll be teaching a hot palette class next Thursday in Salem, Oregon along with several other teachers and you can still sign up for day classes there. All the information is here; now I have to return to my packing. And flower smelling. And life appreciating. xo

The Remains of the Day

2011-07-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July leftovers. Smoked ribs and so on. We had 9 adults and 4 dogs at our gathering and perfect weather. Insanely gorgeous; not too hot but still sunny. We had strawberry shortcake and homemade ice cream. It was amazing; beautiful, perfect.

I've been in full-on teaching mode now for weeks; this is the last week. Seriously, my booty hurts from sitting at the computer for so many hours each day. But the plaster class that Stephanie Lee and I have been teaching has been so incredibly fulfilling and awesome that it's been a treat. Everyone is making amazing plaster art, sharing and asking questions.

Stephanie and I are going to be offering this class as an eBook. Really this announcement from me is premature but since there is nothing else in my brain right now than this gorgeous class that we are offering for pre-order ... well, just pretend I've whispered it in your ear and don't tell anybody.

Press these words for more information.

Okay. Back to my plaster players. Hope you are loving the season wherever you are. I'm going out now in my sunbonnet to pick cherries for a galette. Hope you are making more art than I am!

Sweet Summer

2011-06-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

Oh it's good to be busy, to have work that you love and a quiet, calm life. Not that every day is but on balance it is so.

Out takes from the wax video demos. I'll dribble them in here and there. I love the rhythm of these days; "filming" in the early part of the work day then editing and sending them to the vault. Going to bed each night with a feeling of accomplishment. It suits me.

And it solves the vocal challenge. All I have to do is increase the volume in the editing process and my voice is strong. And not worn out at the end of the day. I would just deflate if I couldn't teach. It is who I am.

Meanwhile the corn is gaining ground, very happy in their little bucket homes.

Who wouldn't be happy under this pampered little tent? Protected from stray corn pollen; cozy as anything.

It's been so long since I've posted journal pages and art. But I've been making. Just not blogging. Sheesh, it's busy over here after all in the middle of the Plaster class and all.

And that has been fun too; I just love being on the computer and actually feeling like I'm working and not just roaming around. Well, I still do that too.

I'll finish with some garden shots.

The beans and carrots are stretching their arms.

The apples are slumbering, dreaming of fall's pleasures.

And the sign-ups are coming in for the wax class this fall. What a bargain. If only someone had offered me all this information in such a concise, easy form. Instead I've studied for years, traveled from one coast to another and driven back and forth to many classes to gather the knowledge. For you guys.

Oh yes I did.

Midsummer Night's Dreaminess

2011-06-21T15:26:00.000-07:00

Summer arrived today; 80 degrees of delicious, sweltering heat. We love it.

Last night we celebrated the solstice with friends.

And desserts. And smoked salmon. The farmers swapped stories and plant news and bug information and more.

We got to inspect the new bee house where the honey is made (and the wax!).

When you open the little doors you can see the bees working away. What a fun and educational bee house.

The lawn is green and soft beneath bare toes.

Everyone is tired after a hard day's work but not too tired for a visit and a nip of wine.

Good people. Really good people. Gives you faith in the worth of the human race.

Meanwhile the roses put on the show of the summer.

Each one has it signature fragrance.

June. How I love you.

Pink and Yellow

2011-06-19T10:42:00.000-07:00

Just a check-in before heading into the kitchen to whomp up some food for the Father's Day BBQ. June is crazy busy over here as it probably is at your house too. In my case I'm either online conversing with the plaster class or in the studio shooting more video for the wax class. Teaching online compared to teaching in person is an interesting contrast. Certainly there are many more hours involved, even when factoring in the making of travel reservations and hours sitting in airports.

But it is so nice being at home; doing it all in a warm setting that I have more control over, having access to all my tools and not having to hunt for everything in a series of packed boxes.

What I miss is the interaction; the look on someone's face when they get it, being able to see that quiet one in the corner who is too shy to ask but needs a little encouragement. I love the performance of the face to face experience and reacting in the moment to the class dynamic.

Anyway, just a few reflections on teaching online. Meanwhile the world is moving faster than ever, change is everywhere, only a few more "in person" classes later this year and then I'm hanging up my apron in 2012 to paint and spend more time here sharing. This has become yet another kind of journal for me - beside the main journal, the diary, the calendar notations.

I'm just a gusher. It's in my DNA to opine, record, report and hold forth.

Okay, I'm shutting up now. Time to be the kitchen goddess. I hope your Sunday is sweet.

June Garden

2011-06-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

Time for a little walk around the garden. The June garden in Oregon, before the weather turns sultry and the dry season is upon us. Yes, believe it or not it gets dry in the summertime. We like to say that's what saves Oregon's bacon.

While I'm in the house sitting at the computer, making videos, editing videos and doing business tasks, John is outdoors making the world blossom and grow. He is the most nurturing person I've ever met, man or woman. He treats his seedlings better than most of us treat ourselves.

He is the soul of patience. Oh wait. That song "Don't Advertise Your Man" just drifted through my memory. I'll stop. I'll try to be quiet and just show you the garden.

We have taters. Nicely growing within their little boxed in bed. They look happy.

The roses and rhodies co-existing peacefully, each showcasing the beauty of the other.

Lots of garlic. Soft necked and hard necked. John says the soft necked stores longer even though the catalogs say the opposite.

The strawberries are on their way. This one is now in my belly. :-D

The cherries will ripen in time for July desserts. My sister has a July birthday and we always celebrated it with cherry pie instead of cake.

Red Ribbons. Such a low growing, stickery little girl but I accept her as she is for the redness of her blossoms. They speak to me of passion, gypsies and dark longing.

Big fat onion.

Plums on the way. Promises everywhere. The earth is generous.

This is John's new corn planting method which I describe as genius. He cut the bottoms out of the planting containers and planted 3 or 4 seeds in each one. The soil inside is lower than the surrounding soil.

So that during the droughty months of summer the pots will hold the water in longer. And the roots go out the bottom. I'll keep you posted; this is a first year experiment.

The purloined rose. Dont know the real name. Snatched off a bush in the country growing wild about 10 years ago. It's enormous now. Very fragrant.

One of the wascally wabbits that drive John crazy. They are soooo cute though.

Mountain Bluett.

The cozy little cloche. Mostly to keep the seedlings from drowning but also it keeps them warm in our cool spring climate.

Corsican mint. I have this underfoot everywhere. When you walk on it, crush it, the scent is divine.

Buff Beauty. Fragrant. I will not have a rose that doesn't smell wonderful. That is their job.

The old grapevines with rhubarb growing underneath. We have 7 varieties of grapes now or there abouts.

Golden Showers.

The black fig. John planted more fig trees this week. We love our figs.

Another color of rhody.

This is a special cloche that contains a bean trellis and carrot seedlings. The wire fence is to keep the bunnies out.

Looking inside that cloche at the beans and carrots.

Cecile Brunner is taking over the world. I keep hacking her back and she just grows all the faster.

John's lusty garlic. Nearly ready now. When the 2nd leaf up starts to dry out we harvest.

Kathleen. The bees love this. I gotta feed the bees with all the wax I use.

Peaches!!

Volunteer Brunia lettuce. Yeah, probably spelled that wrong.

Onions going to seed. Holy it is. All of it.

More rhody.

We loves our fava beans.

Yet more rhody.

mmmm. Artichokey.

You know what this is.

One last stroll through the walnut orchard. Now let's go sit on the porch and have a lemonade. Thanks for stopping by. xo

This Is It: My Big Announcement

2011-06-08T02:00:00.000-07:00

At last, an online course in encaustic painting with Judy Wise!

I hope you will join me in this online wax workshop as I share my knowledge of encaustic painting. This is not a beginning course although beginners will learn to take the first baby steps; I will teach
techniques that I have learned over a decade of experience as a gallery artist, facilitator and mentor. Most of the class instruction will be through daily videos so a high speed connection will be helpful.

In addition to demos there will be projects presented that we can make together. You do not have to work in wax every day, just watch the videos and then decide which techniques appeal to you the most.
Some of you may choose to just watch the daily videos (taking notes) for later use in your work while others will choose to follow along with daily hands on activity.

Here is a rough outline of how I have structured the course:
I have held nothing back, there will be no Part 2.
This is the whole enchilada.

studio arrangement and equipment
keeping costs to a minimum
safety issues
tools
making wax medium
how to make our own color blocks to save money
substrates including paper and grounds
fusing
excavation
accretion
inclusion
scraping
smoothing the surface
transparency and opacity

silk

tissue and paper

photo collage techniques

transfers

stencil

stamping

masking

intarsia

intaglio

burning and branding

glazing and inking

surface texturing

ghostly layers

cavo-rilieveo

asphaltum

photos

shellac burn

shellac color burn

color mixing on the hot palette

portrait project

2nd portrait project

carbon project

putting it all together -

treating the paper substrate

gold foil

collage

making a sample board

layering up

painting over

spatial dynamic and composition

content vs technique

personal voice

The supply list is not daunting and I can show you easy solutions to ventilation and gathering the minimal equipment you will need to get started.

You can do many of the techniques with nothing more than a hot pot of wax, a few chip brushes from the hardware store,

a heat gun and things you already have around the art studio or garage.

I'm really busy that time of year. Are you going to overload me with work?

You will be the one to decide how much time you wish to devote to each day's lesson.

I am teaching you techniques that you will apply to your own paintings along with a few projects that we can

work on together to advance our experience with the medium.

This sounds really hard. Is it going to be over my head?

My goal in presenting this class is to offer something for both the beginning wax artist as well as the more advanced.

You may not use some of the techniques presented but you will have more knowledge to draw on at every level.

Is this going to ruin all my paint brushes?

(laughs) No, we'll use cheap dedicated brushes for the wax. But if you accidently grab the wrong brush I'll tell you how to get all the wax back out so you can use it again.

I'll even tell you how to get all the old gunked up acrylic out of your good brushes.

I work in my garage with only one window. Can you help me figure out the exhaust situation?

Yes, in the first video I'll cover that.

What if I fall behind? I've taken online classes before and I can never keep up.

I'm going to leave the videos and all the links up for 30 days after the class has officially ended. That will give you plenty of time to view

all the videos and work on the projects that interest you.

Will there be give aways? I love give aways.

(laughs again). Yes, I'll be giving away 2 original encaustics during the class through a random drawing.

Will this help me get my work in galleries?

Well, that depends on where your work is now. But certainly I can give you the perspective

of a juror and gallery participant. I will do everything I can to help you

move to the next level. I would love nothing more than to see each of us succeed in our goals.

What if I really cannot draw at all? Will encaustic be a medium that I can enjoy without drawing skills?

There are so many techniques that include photography, collage, sculptural effects, abstract design and outright lucky accidents

that I would say this is the one area where you dont need to know how to draw.

I think you will make beautiful work right away with this most forgiving medium.

Are you going to offer this material as a DVD or an eBook some day?

Right now I don't know how to do that but I am interested in doing either one or the other.

So to be honest with you I can tell you that much. If I do get the course made into one of these media in the future I can assure you

that the class members will have access to it at a reduced rate.

There will be a Yahoo group where we can post images and share discussions about our work.

I will make myself available for questions and support until the class ends however the site with all the videos will be up for you for an extra month.

This class is a culmination of my many years of wax study and experience and I am proud to present it to you.

I think it's going to be an awesome class. (big smile)

Once registered you will receive a confirmation response and full supply list with links within 48 hours. Please email me at judygirl7@gmail.com if you have not received it by then.

I am one person doing everything so please be patient. I am efficient but not infallible.

IMPORTANT: When you register for the class, PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK THE EMAIL ADDRESS THAT PAYPAL HAS ON FILE FOR YOU.

If it is not your correct or preferred email, please let me know right away.

First the Conference

2011-06-07T12:48:00.000-07:00

Home late last night from the Conference in Massachusetts after a 6 hour flight from east coast to west coast. There are 200 emails sitting in my inbox. It's going to be in interesting week catching up. But I couldn't wait to share with you.

It's all about growth and change over here. The wide arc of learning the next thing. The teacher's love of gathering and sharing. Of seeing my knowledge grow and of embracing newer, better ideas and ways of doing things.

After spending the first night in Boston with my traveling friends Bill and Linda Womack and Kimberly Kent we boarded the ferry to Provincetown. It was 1 1/2 hours from Boston to P-Town on the ferry and I'm looking a little woozy in this photo that Kimberly took on her new iPad.

Oh the iPad love on this trip. Everyone had one but me. I intend to change that. eBooks, movies to download and watch in bed and on airplanes; where have I been?

My first lecture was on the critique conducted by Toby Sisson. We shared a lunch table. I am her big fan. She is now an even bigger hero to me. She said the things that I practice; the dialogue as opposed to the hierarchical structure in the classroom. Exchange as opposed to top down. How to grow through the art of critique.

These individuals shared a panel on "Mastering Media" - the media of the internet for the most part but also getting our work noticed if that is the goal. Linda is our voice from the west coast.

One new product this year was water soluble encaustic. It sounds like an oxymoron.

I believe these fellows came from Italy and they demonstrated this medium which works a lot like alkyd paint. No fusing with heat.

There was a beautiful juried show at the Kobalt Gallery in town and this was one of my favorite groupings in the show. Lots of texture and variety.

Gregory Wright's work. What a delightful artist he is. He demonstrated all kinds of textures to us. His paintings are wonderfully detailed in person and obviously colorful.

My room mate Kimberly and her work that not only made it into the juried show (yay Kimberly!) but also sold. The theme of the show was "Beeline" and the works selected were based on the them of bees and all that could pertain to the avian world.

This was Catherine Nash's piece that won an award. My photo only shows the boat but the piece was rather large extending on both sides of the photo. You must visit her site.

Kimberly and Jess Greene enjoying lunches in the sunshine outside the door of our room. Jess has a new enterprise called "Seeking Your Course" which you can read about at the link. Please support her.

Laura Moriarty's work based on rolled layers of wax. Looking like sliced geodes. She paints in layers and then says she "cartwheels" them off the substrate.

Bill and the lobster feed. Oh man, did we eat!

Tuna Delmonico. And a big piece too.

I liked this little clay doll even if it wasn't made of wax.

The scenery was spectacular. I got to take a water taxi back to Logan airport.

I'm hyper-stimulated from my 3 days of wax, the fabulous people who make the wax products (R&F, Enkaustikos!) and the teachers and artists who contribute to the culture of this country, often without salary or celebration. Civilization. Civil behavior. That stuff.

Book suggestion: For The Time Being by Annie Dillard. It will drop you to your knees.

Announcement tomorrow.

June, the Best Month

2011-06-01T12:04:00.000-07:00

It's here at last, sweet beloved June.

I'm leaving in the morning for the east coast, 6 hours away, to participate in the International Encaustic Conference in Provincetown, Massachusetts. This will be my 2nd time attending and I'm starting to get excited. I haven't started packing but I'm starting to get excited.

It is soggy and cool here, not summery at all. Everyone is grumbling about the weather. But not me. I'm glad it's not too hot.

The flowers sure aren't discouraged. Soaked but not discouraged.

I would post more photos but my feet were wet so I quit shooting.

I've been on a roller coaster of work and high energy that usually comes with summer.

I'm preparing a big surprise for you that I'll unveil on my return from the conference.

Something I thought was impossible until I tried it and found out it was possible after all.

I'm taking all kinds of new risks lately; pushing myself to the edge of the cliff.

What have I got to lose? This is my one amazing life.

I'm reading Just Kids by Patti Smith. She is a brilliant writer. I am mesmerized by her story.

The book will travel with me to the east coast.

Oh yeah. So my big announcement.

Coming next week.

A bit of a stretch.

Because it's summer and I feel expansive.

And a huge thank you to everyone who has written with their congratulations on the book and the class. The best thing in the world you can do for your own happiness is to try and make someone else happy. It is brilliant the way that works. Everyone gets to shine.

Last night before yoga one of the other students said that a 114 year old man just passed who was the last remaining survivor of World War I. When asked his advice for a long life he had 2 suggestiions. He said to limit meals to twice a day and to embrace change. I've been thinking about that ever since. It sounds like excellent advice.

Slumber Party Part Deux

2011-05-25T19:23:00.000-07:00

So here are my exquisite corpses. First a close-up of the face on one painted over glued patches of fabric. I had a lot of trouble at first with the free motion quilting attachment and finally broke it trying to figure out how to make it work. The terrific people where I got it allowed me to trade it in for one that worked better on my machine. (Thank you Montavilla Sewing Center.)

This is what the attachment looks like. There are many different kinds. The one I broke cost $29 while this replacement only cost $9. It works great.

This is the entire hanging. My stitching is not well controlled yet but I'm improving.

This is a detail of the 2nd one.

And the entire piece. Painted on lightweight canvas. I love painting "skins"; what I call unstretched canvas or fabric. And now adding stitching is a 2nd way to play around. My friends have all done this a lot but it is a new one for me - now let's see what else I can sew on!

Book Signing and Slumber Party

2011-05-24T11:50:00.000-07:00

So on Thursday Katie drove to my house and on Friday the two of us drove to southern Oregon to visit Stephanie and Sue Hadden for a weekend of slumber party, girl sharing, book signing and art making. Girls never outgrow slumber parties, remember that. Few pleasures are better than leaving your responsibilities behind for a few days to hang with the girls.

We all slept at Sue's house and painted on fabric in her converted horse barn. Sue lives in the country just outside of Grants Pass where we woke up to wild turkeys, wild bunnies, sunshine and the most amazing gardens that Sue put in all over her property. It was heaven.

Stephanie and I got right down to business and signed stacks and stacks of books for the people who ordered them from us. We enclosed a print from each of us and they'll go out in the mail today. We are both so proud and happy to share the projects in the book with our friends near and far.

After we painted we sewed on our paintings and Stephanie and Katie showed us how to use the special thingy on the machine that lets you roam around on the fabric and draw pictures in thread. That was a new experience for me and it is so much fun. Now I'm going to do some at home.

Katie shared kimono fabric with all of us. Stephanie is sorting through the treasure in this photo.

We stayed up late to paint and discuss and yes, the wine was available to those who enjoy it. (now who would that be?) We all felt so creative playing exquisite corpse.

Above is part of the long, narrow piece that Sue is going to make into a pillow. It shows the four of us and Sue's little dog Ozzie who was a member of our party. (we let one "boy" come.) We chose nicknames for the weekend: Raven, Moonshine, Stardust and Annie Bedsprings. We'll leave it up to others to guess who is who.

I didn't get photos of all the pieces and mine aren't done but here is another I happened to shoot. I loved everything about this painting-fabric-sewing process.

It's so much fun to see where your friends live, to stare at their studios and the art on their walls, to learn more about each other and to feel the affection growing as we gain insights into each others' accomplishments and challenges. We all have both and it helps to share that amongst ourselves.

Here is a wall in Stephanie's house that is pure amazing, incredible Stephanie. She and Sue whomped up the most delicious food for us, provided every comfort and sensory delight; we even got to see the fuzzy little chicks and meet some new friends during the visit. And she has a treehouse. A big, terrific treehouse that lots of adults can sit in and from which they can look out over the rolling green hills and talk like pirates.

I'll try to finish my exquisite corpses (just the sewing, not the painting) and show that to you tomorrow.

Let's all inspire each other! Pass it on. xo

New Paintings and Road Trip

2011-05-18T17:49:00.000-07:00

Another cold wax painting to add to my growing collection. I learn a bit more from each one and see how they relate to the work I have done in the past. Not the far past (I'll get to that) but the past couple of decades since my work has been celebratory and nervous.

This is a close up. I am not a fast worker. I ponder and pick and change and think about what I'm doing. Of course I'm not satisfied. If I'm ever satisfied I suppose I'll be able to stop and I can't imagine that.

I made a new journal as part of a plaster project and this is the back. It is not plaster; only gesso, acrylic and a bit of textile. My daughters in the photo.

My latest routine is to paint a spread in my journal each day before I start painting for real. Just a warm up that I can paint over, write over, whatever. An opportunity to play.

And look what I found up in the back of the barn. This is oil - a self portrait that I painted around 1972. Ack. It's weird. But there you go.

Road trip. Company coming. Tomorrow. Packing now, reporting later. xo

Taking A Breather

2011-05-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

Exciting times over here. Amazon has shipped the book and you can even look inside it and see some of the projects on their site. Yay! While Stephanie and I are still awaiting our shipment to send out. (boo hoo) And I've been shooting videos for over a week for the online class that starts exactly one month from today on June 14th. Yay! The image above is a teaser from one of the projects in the class. Make it big ... lots of detail.

This is what my studio looks like after days of shooting video on the table. The video is all cool control while chaos swims just outside the lens area. That describes a lot of things in my life - ha!

Spring tiptoes in while we are doing other things. Nature and art are the comforts that sustain me.

This is my new passion. Vanilla Stevia and aguas made from fruit. I use very little juice; mostly filtered well water and a squeeze of various fruit juices plus the natural sweetener for tart things like limes and lemons. We make our own raisins from grapes we grow so those in hot water make a delicious sweet tea before bedtime. Yes, I'm 2 weeks off the nightly wine drinking and proud that I could give up my old relaxant for something healthier.

This time I left the writing on the right side of the page alone and made the image large enough for you to read if you care to click on it. Years ago the diary of a very old woman fell into my hands and I read that diary breathlessly right up until the day she died; I love to see what others write about, think about, and find important.

Thank you for the visit. I love knowing we can touch each other without leaving home.

Gone Fishin'

2011-05-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

The journal is not getting the usual love and time due to the heavy video and editing going on around here. Many of my friends have computer savvy partners who do this task for them and to everyone who envies me for a husband who cooks I can say that if your guy knows how to fix a troubled router or convert a video file then you are lucky indeed.

I'm shooting the video for the online class and it takes me a day to shoot about 15 minutes of video with a tripod and then edit it and save it to DVD.

So far I've got the first week of videos in the can and last night John and I watched one of them on the TV and he gave me so much praise that I suspect he is just showing me how grateful he is not to be involved. (The stencil of the boy with the shovel is after a photo of John as a little boy - so sweet he was.)

I have to admit that he has been working up beds with his broad fork; sometimes in the rain and cold outdoors. That makes what I do (warm, indoors) seem like an easy ride.

So if I'm not here as often, not churning out the cold wax pieces, be assured that I am preparing wonderful goodies in my time - I'm really proud of how this class is shaping up. I'll do my best to keep you informed. And oh yes! The book. Soon now.

all the way to heaven ...

2011-05-03T16:34:00.000-07:00

Before I started painting these abstracts the most beautiful images in my head were my nightly dreams. I am a vivid dreamer; dancing the tango with Picasso, that I am not only a ballerina but that I can hold my jumps for amazing lengths of time, that I can fly above the city and land safely, that I am walking down a long tunnel with brilliantly colored plaster walls, aged and warmly beautiful.

Now it is like I have walked into these dreams. Only these are even more magical. I never know what's coming. I just show up and push the paint. This way and that, all the colors that sing to me. And in the end my heart is so full that I feel complete in a way that is utterly new and wonderful. I am closer to heaven.

One of my teachers in trusting my heart has been my friend Katie Kendrick. I have taken classes with her several times and each time I gain a little more trust in my instinct and benefit from her fearless model of treating the search as a playful adventure.

Katie is teaching in Malibu this weekend; here to be exact.

If you want to curl your toes in the sand, paint with Katie, revitalize yourself as an artist, please consider joining her for one or two days (yes, you can choose). She is a very good teacher; a most wonderful example of how to live and get the most out of our time here.

Momentum

2011-05-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

This is my most recent cold wax painting that I finished moments ago. I like the depth of field I see in it; that some parts are in focus and some not. I like the colors too. It isn't really getting any easier so a success here and there is a good thing.

This is the mess I still haven't cleaned up in the studio. I worked mostly with powdered pigment in this one.

And halleluia, we finally got up to 70 degrees here. It won't last but we are thrilled for the sunshine; lawnmowers buzzing in the distance.

I ran around the yard and took random pictures for you.

I have been a lousy reporter.

And I have lots of weeds in my garden as well as a few old favorites.

John's pruning grapes today.

The studio door is open.

We have 2 cherry trees now and cherries on the menu for July desserts.

This photo is for William, the Bleeding Hearts you gave me for my Birthday last year are alive and well; that's saying a lot for this lazy gardener. Yes, I see that dandelion in the background - I'm going out now to disappear it. And clean up the studio. xo

Staying Unruffled

2011-04-29T19:15:00.000-07:00

The latest wax emulsion painting. I am completely taken with this medium; meaning to post here, having so much to share (lots of announcements coming soon) but wanting every possible moment to work in the studio. I am so booked up this summer that I feel like I have to make use of every moment now.

I'll be attending the Encaustic Conference in Provincetown, Massachusetts in a month, teaching Painting from the Hot Palette encaustic at EncaustiCamp in July and of course presenting the Plaster Online Workshop with Stephanie Lee beginning June 13th.

I've been formulating a recipe to use in plaster projects that will stand up to vigorous water media brushwork and take a crisp intaglio line - yes, there will be things in the class that aren't in the book and vice versa. So add to my list of upcoming events a trip to southern Oregon to check in with Stephanie, plan the online book launch party, stay up late, cook up future plans and make a bunch of messy art.

I want the whole world to get excited about making art. Then everyone's hands will be too busy for the mischief of war, competition and other such tomfoolery. A simple, good life. Good food, loving families, cooperation, community, time for friends and a slower pace. That's what I'm all about. Hug your neighbor.

Seeking the New

2011-04-24T11:58:00.000-07:00

I am so impatient. This is a slow process; adding a few strokes, staring a long while, pondering, making judgments, reminding myself that I am not making this for others to judge. This is for me, a search for what I find compelling and a language that is my own. (This one 12x12")

This 2nd image was done before the one preceding it and I like it less. I like the more nuanced, the more ephemeral. But that's today. Each time I go into the studio I find another clue in my search. (8x8")

And then there are the insistences of daily living. Those promises you made. The demands of the body for meals, maintenance; that stuff. You lose the thread.

The next time you enter the studio things have imperceptibly changed. Still you pick up the tools and begin again. Down the rabbit hole.

I don't want to to anything right now but paint.

Cold Wax

2011-04-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

I spent 3 days on this little painting; 3 days of glorious fun. It is 8x8"- cold wax and dry pigments.

Never Say Never

2011-04-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

This is cold wax. Years ago, when I cleaned up my studio after 12 years of oil based zinc plate printmaking (etchings) I swore I'd never let oil back into my studio. But then encaustic snuck under the door. And one thing always leads to another.

So here are the suspects. Dorlands cold wax. CitraSolv. Dry pigments and oils - tools, gloves, rags, ventilation, the whole wonderful, stinky, gosh-awful business.

The hardest part is waiting for things to dry. Overnight!! my friends. While I tap my little toes. The images above were where the little canvases were at the end of day one.

And at the end of day two; still not finished, hardly even started but I wanted to share my pain. What you can do with the cold wax is so similar to some of the plaster painting techniques that I am in a frenzy of experimentation and manic happiness. Then I will try some of the techniques with slow drying acrylics. One of my mentors told me to slow down and focus but if that were possible I wouldn't be who I am. I am just not product driven. I am a girl who still likes to play in the "mud".

Plaster Face Book

2011-04-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Remember the plaster book I started to make here? Well today I sat down with the pages and painted 11 faces in the book.

I love the way pencil and watercolor look on the plaster surface so that is what I painted the faces with.

I love the way different people paint faces. The fact that none of us paint them like anyone else.

I got 3 sets of vintage watercolor tins off eBay and used the colors in them to paint these.

The colors were really grubby and old but there were two gorgeous shades of red that I kept returning to.

I know I need to paint from models but I am lazy. These were all drawn freehand from various sources around in studio.

So many of them end up looking like people I know that it's unsettling.

As the day wears on and I become more tired I think the faces get better.

It's been a long time since I've done watercolors.

But I still like to try one now and then.

I waxed over the lace and plaster cover.

But the pages will stay chalky and plastery. I like them dry and porous. Such a beautiful surface on which to paint and draw.

I'm getting myself pumped up for the online plaster class. Stay tuned for more appetizers.

EncaustiCamp Preview - My Class

2011-04-13T20:37:00.000-07:00

Just a little reminder that I'll be teaching at EncaustiCamp July 13-17. My class is entitled "Painting from the Hot Palette" and will cover the techniques of adding colorants (dry pigments, oil paint) to encaustic medium and then painting with those colors just as you would paint from a palette of colors in oils. The difference is that wax hardens immediately so there is no waiting for paint to dry. In addition, the texture is yummy!

I'll be throwing in some transfer techniques (the above painting includes a transfer) and some collage tips. This class is suitable for beginners as well as experienced encaustic students.

The way the retreat is set up is that you'll choose 3 instructors for 3 days of intensive wax study. After hours there will be extra-curricular activities on schedule as well. Trish has worked hard to make this event affordable as well as inspiring and we hope you'll consider joining us for a weekend of intense creativity and fun.

Welcoming Spring

2011-04-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

April is a very good month.

The tomatoes are coming along.

The peppers are sending up determined energy.

A slumber party with some dear ones in a cabin on Discovery Bay near Port Townsend.

Where rocks were collected.

And journals written in.

A ferry was taken across the water to Edmonds.

And a class was taken with an admired colleague.

Everything was recorded in the journal.

These sketches were made after brayering color on the page.

After staring at the page for awhile little figures begin to emerge.

I capture the figures unquestioningly.

I think John Cage would approve.

Weird gifts from the beyond.

Perfect for calming the restive spirit.

Captured words while doodling; Clarissa Pinkola Estes on CD.

The year is gathering steam.

I am paying attention.

And I am happy. Really, really happy and grateful.

And the Winners Are...

2011-04-05T22:02:00.001-07:00

For the book - Cindy H. From the blog Polka Dot Possom. And for Mary Beth's painting - Marit. Please contact Mary Beth and she will send out both prizes.

We are both in a cabin by the bay in Port Townsend tonite. I'll post more later.

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