Mary inspired by Della Francesca

Egg Tempera on Board

I have a couple of spaces left in "The Egg and I", a new workshop I'll be holding on June 4. If  you've ever been curious about how to paint with egg and pigment, come join us! Register here.

The title of this workshop comes from a 1940’s book about chickens. But it’s not the chickens we are interested in, it’s the eggs! 

Learn how to make the simple and inexpensive paint that Botticelli used for "The Birth of Venus." Using pigment, water, and egg yolk, you'll create rich and luminous colors, just like medieval painters did. The process is fun and easy. You'll use the paint to create a glowing portrait, still life, or abstract. You'll learn how to prepare your support, layer colors, develop lights and shadows, and how to scrape and incise paint for special effects. You’ll experiment with using your collaged backgrounds with your paintings. 

You'll leave with at least one wonderful painting and with the knowledge that you can make your own paint any time! Don’t worry if you haven’t painted before—I’m here to help and encourage!

Note for Art Unraveled Attendees: I'll be teaching this class in August!

Art Unraveled Coming Up

Palimpsest (detail)   Encaustic/Mixed Media on Wood Panel

I'm looking forward to Art Unraveled coming up July 31. I'll be teaching "Wabi-Sabi Wax", so if you are headed to Art Unraveled consider taking this fun and easy class! You'll fall in love with beeswax and with the freeing process of adding mixed media, scraping, incising, and fusing. (Torches are involved, for those who so choose.)

The wax "dries" instantly yet you can continue to make additions, subtractions, and changes literally forever. If you took my Wabi Sabi class last year, join us again--the addition of wax will inspire you to new heights of creation!

My Show at Comma

Blooming       Encaustic/Mixed Media on Wood Panel

I have a solo show coming up next week. I hope those of you who are Portlanders will join me at Comma Spa, Winery and Gallery. In addition to the art work, you'll be able to sample the "Spa Tapas"--15 minutes of spa treatments for 15.00.

"Seasons of the Heart"

Work by Serena Barton

First Thursday Opening: June 2 from 5-9 PM

Comma Spa, Winery, and Gallery

1126 SW Morrison St.

Portland OR

Navigation with Lesley Riley

My Navigation Journal

 I'm reaping the benefits of a class I took at Art and Soul in Hampton VA a couple of weeks ago, "Navigation: Charting a Course to Your Soul".  Lesley Riley has developed a workshop that is invaluable for understanding more about our art, our goals, and even our lives. Lesley is an experienced artist, the author of several books, and an outstanding art success coach.

Lesley provided the book cover sheet, collage papers, binding materials, and loads of creative support. This included sharing with other students and creating using written and visual prompts. 

 

  A really useful exercise was looking at the images of our own and others work that we had brought to the class and then writing about why we responded so much to the images. We then were able to compile information and insight about what characterizes our own work.

What I learned about my own style

  

A mosaic of images that speak to me--I love it!

 A major breakthrough for me was looking at my goals and what is stopping me from pursuing them. One of the promises I made to myself and the class was to go home and mail the book proposal that had been sitting on my desk for almost a year. I'm not usually a procrastinator, but I was sure blocked about this task. Once I could articulate my fears to myself and others, I was ready to take the plunge. 

I sent the book proposal to a very well-known publisher in the art/craft field. Imagine the thrill when I received an email from the editor, the day after she received my proposal, telling me how much she liked it! We're still in the process of seeing if the firm will publish the book. Whether it happens or not, I sure learned an important, encouraging lesson. Thank you, Lesley!

I'm Offerng a Brand New Class

The Lady     Egg Tempera on Panel

 

I've enjoyed working with egg tempera for some time and I'm pleased to announce this new class:

Egg tempera painting has been used for centuries and it is still makes an exciting and durable medium. Learn how to make the simple and inexpensive paint that Botticelli used for "The Birth of Venus." Using pigment, water, and egg yolk, you'll create rich and luminous colors. The process is fun and easy. You'll use the paint to create a luminous portrait, still life, or abstract. You'll learn how to prepare your support, layer colors, develop lights and shadows, and how to scrape and incise paint for special effects. You'll leave with a wonderful painting and with the knowledge that you can make your own paint any time!

 Saturday, June 4, 2011 1-5:30
75.00 Supplies provided.

Incandescent Apple   Egg Tempera on Wood Panel

Dancing Onion   Egg Tempera on Panel

Messing Around with Art

Teahouse      Encaustic/Oil /Mixed Media on Wood Panel

 One of my dear friends came over for a evening of art last night. We always have a great time playing around in the studio following dinner at Ya Hala, a restaurant in my neighborhood. I find that having a good friend over to make art greatly increases my inspiration and productivity. 

The above piece is a reworking of a demo I did during one of my classes at Art and Soul. Doing demos is a fun risk, as I never know what is going to emerge. I liked this piece a lot before, but am pleased with the changes I made today. It's done on a piece of wood from a broken up bureau or cabinet.  The piece has all kinds of stuff in it including teabags, vintage book scraps, WW II letter scraps, strawlike paper, and handmade paper.

My Friend's What the Heck Painting

My friend and I were both feeling a bit off last night, and she wasn't sure what she wanted to do. She decided to play around with acrylic paint on Masonite. She said she didn't think she was in the mood to produce anything good, so she'd just make a mess. As usual when we give ourselves permission to make something ugly, something good comes out. I think this painting turned out great! I love the movement,  color, and free brushwork.

Untitled as Yet    Photo Transfer/Encaustic on Wood Panel

I've been returning to my stash of pieces that didn't turn out so well and reworking them. I chose one encaustic piece that was okay but nothing special.  I excavated and found that under many layers of wax were some blender pen photo transfers on the bare wood. I painted white around the images, added oil and encaustic colors, and some text done by one of my students. I ended up with this abstract piece that was fun and freeing to make.

Texture Garden   Encaustic/Mixed Media on Wood

 

The above piece was another re-do. This encaustic piece had been done over so many times I have no idea what was underneath. So I decided to make the piece an ode to texture. I found some dried flowers, specialty papers, tissue paper, vintage book pages and raffia-like skinny thingys in my stash and went to town. You can see from the burned bits that I had fun with the torch, water nearby of course just in case.

The moral of this post is: Play, Play, Play!

In the Mail and Around Town

It's Arrived!

When I was a small child I was fascinated with the idea of getting packages in the mail. This rarely happened as my close relatives lived in town and this was decades before ordering online became possible. 

I still remember my excitement when a large package showed up at our suburban door one day. I ran to my mother and begged her to open it. Alas, she told me the package should have been delivered to Mr. Blackwell across the street. He was in something called "business" and thus was known to receive packages occasionally. I was devastated.

Maybe this is why I still get excited to get packages in the mail. Especially if they contain books or art supplies. My most recent package contained elements of both. Stephanie Lee and Judy Wise have a new book, Plaster Studio, put out by North Light Books,that will teach us all about the magic of painting and collage with plaster. I can't wait to get started!

I made this in Stephanie's class

I took a plaster class with Stephanie a few years ago and a class with Judy last year. I've known Judy for years and am continually amazed at her energy and talent. Both women are inspirations to me. 

The book contains Judy and Stephanie's work and also showcases pieces by other talented artists. One of these is Linda Womack, encaustic painter extraordinaire. Linda is showing this month at Comma Spa Wine Gallery
(yes, spa services and vinotherapy--what's not to like?)
Check out her new and recent work at this new Portland hot spot.

Wabi-Sabi Wax at Art and Soul Hampton--Pictures Say It All