You Will Return to Me

10x10 inch original encaustic painting on 2" cradled wood panel. For sale here.

This is a new encaustic piece that I completed this afternoon. I have been thinking of this one for a few days now. I must say it was quite a challenge painting his beach scene using encaustics. It made me long for my sweetly obedient acrylics. But I do like the ethereal, somewhat mysterious effect of the wax. And I like the girl's flowery dress set against the dark background. I think it seems quite symbolic of her feelings of hope for her beloved's return.

Love Lives Here

"Love Lives Here" original encaustic painting 4.5x5 inches. Available here for purchase.

I've been so busy this weekend with the 20% off sale & lots of painting. Visit my Etsy shop to take advantage of this sale for 1 more day. Just type "Weekend Deals" in your message to seller & I will refund 20% of your entire order through Paypal.

Today I'm off to the "Micro Craft Fair" in Huntington at the Cinema Arts Center for a special screening of Handmade Nation. Stop by if you are in the neighborhood! :)

Two new encaustic pieces & etsy highlight tomorrow...

"The Place Where my Heart is Quiet' -- 8x8 inch original encaustic painting on 3/4 inch wood panel. Available to purchase here.

"A Song For You." 5.5x6 inch original encaustic and mised media on wood panel. Original has been SOLD.

Oh how I wish there were more hours in the day. These are my latest encaustic works. They were both labors of love, but "The Place Where My Heart is Still" is very special to me because it seemed to have a mind of its own. My initial idea was a bit different than this one, and halfway through I stopped for lunch and told my family that I had 'hurt' the new painting. Axelle responded VERY sagely for a 7-year-old. "That just means it's real. " How smart is she?! Anyway, I went back to work and let the 'realness' take over. The result is a piece that looks different than planned but feels exactly right.

Now, onto business. I've just received a delightful email from "MaryMary" over at Etsy, and she says that my painting "then there was you" will be highlighted in their "special deals" email tomorrow. So if you have your eye on this one, act quickly! :)

20% Off this Weekend to Celebrate Handmade Nation Screening & Craft Fair in Town

Hi friends, just wanted to give my kind readers a heads-up for my sale this weekend. Etsy is having a weekend deals promotion from 10/23-10/25, and I am participating by offering 20% off of an entire purchase from my Etsy Shop! Just type in "WEEKEND DEALS" in the message to seller after your order, and the 20% discount will be refunded by Paypal. I decided to participate in the sale in tandem with my table at this weekend's special screening of Handmade Nation at the Huntington Cinema Art Center. Etsy will be providing gift bags, and filmmaker Faythe Levine will be in attendence. It should be a lot of fun if I figure out how to mount my work on a slab of wood for display. Hmmm...

Speaking of Handmade Nation, or well, handmade things... my stepdaughter, Axelle, and I created mini origami books today. Look at these cuties. You would be amazed at how long a 7-year-old can be enthralled by a flower punch, old magazines, glue & her imagination!

then there was you

"then there was you" 5.5x5 inch original encaustic painting on wood panel. Original has been SOLD.

Another new encaustic piece completed today! It seems that I am creating a little story. I'm not sure how it will turn out; I guess I just need to listen very hard and record what I 'hear.'

I'm very proud of this piece because of the incredible work that went into detailing both of these figures and their ensembles. I am not working with a stylus, so everything here is either etched in wax or painted directly with a (now nearly melted) bristle brush. I love the bright vivid color of the couple & red butterfly against this vibrant, sculptural white wax. I must take 3d pictures and post them tomorrow. The scan doesn't quite do the painting justice.

Meanwhile, if you are in the online neighborhood, please visit me at the Poppytalk Handmade Marketplace tomorrow. My work will be part of the "Indie Love Pre-Holiday" market.

Waiting for My True Love

"Waiting for my True Love" 5x5.5 inch original encaustic painting on wood panel. Original is SOLD. Thank you, Carren.

Here it is. My first encaustic painting in a loooooooooong time. Actually, it's the second painting I did today. I melted the first one off the wood support with my heat gun like Lucy Liu in Charlie's Angels in a fit of frustration. But the second one was better behaved. Gosh. Well, it was an exciting morning. I just adore the way wax looks in the light. It just captures a feeling of romance and mystery that I love. More will be coming soon. :)

Evolution

"The Artist's Assistant" 8x16 inch encaustic and gold leaf painting on wood panel. 2006. Original is sold. (I am searching for the digital scan for prints)

Ahhh.... let me just say right now that I am VERY EXCITED. About four years ago, I fell in love with encaustic painting. There is something about the process of melting wax and carving, inscribing and transforming it into visual stories that just makes my heart sing. It's almost like cooking or... alchemy. And once I got started with it, I never wanted to stop.

But then I had to stop when I was pregnant with Annabelle... then Nicolas. And even before Nicolas, it just didn't seem feasible to paint with hot wax in an unventilated apartment in NYC with a toddler sharing my studio. And, over time, I put encaustic painting out of my mind. My style, though -- even using gel medium & acrylics -- did retain some of this influence.

Now, though, something very wonderful has happened. I've realized that I finally have a space to create my encaustic work again, and -- as a belated birthday present- -my husband has kindly helped me to re-furbish the tools that I left in Venice & sold in Melissa Moss's going away garage sale. The equipment arrived today, and I am looking forward to this renewed adventure.

Small Art Blocks at the Shop

I spent most of the day yesterday creating these sweet little prints on wood for my Etsy shop. They all measure 4.5x5 inches and arrive ready to hang on the wall. These were my biggest sellers at the gallery in Venice, but I made them in a smaller size to accomodate smaller budgets this year. If you don't see your favorite, you can order a custom piece from me here.

2010 Wall Calendars are Here!

2010 wall calendars featuring 12 of my paintings are now on sale at my Etsy shop.

In a very uncharacteristic move, I actually created 2010 calendars that are ready to purchase right now. Usually I think to myself, "hmmm... wouldn't it be a great idea to do a calendar this year?" sometime around December 15. And that is why this is my very first calendar. If you want one, though, please order quickly as there are only 16 left! I should have made more... but the limited quantity just makes them more special, I think.

Harvest Moon Tonight... So Beautiful

Harvest Moon - 8x10 inch print. Available here on Etsy.

Tonight is the Harvest Moon, and it is just so darned beautiful as I gaze out my upstairs window. Is anyone else out there feeling particularly soulful this evening? It certainly has a magnetic energy. I hope, you, too are enjoying this gorgerous Fall gift.

Surf Shack

"Surf Shack" 5.5x5.5 inch original mixed media on wood painting. Click here to buy original.

I've finally taken some photos of my new paintings, and I am busy uploading them to the Etsy shop. This happy little one was also inspired by my Amagansett trip. We bought some great surfing gear from this shop during our vacation! This original is now available for sale on Etsy. The others are coming soon.

Sea Dunes

5.5x5.5 inch original mixed media painting on wood. Prints now for sale on Etsy.

(Original coming soon - I need to photograph it.)

This is the newest in the surf series -- #10! I was inspired by seeing these beautiful boards all laid out at the beach in Montauk. The real boards were pink & red, but there is something so refreshing about seaglass blue and green. It really captures the feeling of fresh sea air. Mmmm.... now if only I had some lobster.

Back to the Beach

"Last Ride" 5.5x5.5 inch original mixed media painting on wood.

I have decided to put the sweet little bear illustrations on hold until after Christmas when I have more time for their story (and when little Nicky bear starts school). In the meantime, I am continuing work on my surf series of paintings. This is #9 in the series, and will be available soon for sale on Etsy.

Little Sister, You Are my Best Friend in the World!

"Best Friends" original gouache & mixed media on paper. 6x6 image on 8x10 drawing paper. Click to buy original on Etsy.

First of all, I want to give a big thank you to all of the kind people who commented on my "Little Brother" painting. That painting was a bit of an experiment for me, and I so appreciate your words of appreciation!

As you can see, I am continuing with my 'bear' series. In fact, I haven't slept for 2 nights because my mind has been working on overdrive thinking about illustrating the adventures of two little bears -- Pink & Blue. The idea for Pink Bear is inspired directly by Annabelle's beloved Pink Bear. She has had this tattered pink bear since she was born, and she sleeps with it every night. And Blue Bear is inspired my her brother, Nicolas. The white bear pictured above is an older sibling (based on my stepdaughter, Axelle, who is 7). The piece above is my first work on paper, and I had a lot of fun with it! I definitely plan to do more, though I am not abandoning my cherished wood surfaces. Stay tuned for more in this series... but probably not until after Christmas!