New Mexico Inspiration

 

Santa Ana: Patron Saint of Grandmothers

 A couple of New Mexico inspired retablos--thanks to Mary Stilwell for the title of the piece below.

Our Lady of Perpetual Errands

Pictures, At Last

Harwood House Museum in Taos

A few pictures to share from my recent trip to Northern New Mexico. I am so appreciative of my friends 

Donna and Don of Albuquerque for the opportunity to stay in their house and spend two weeks of inspiration and relaxation. I had the perfect mix of solitude and sociability. While in Taos where my friends let me stay in their condo, I visited with Leighanna Light and Thomas Ashman. I got to see their new home in Ranchos de Taos.

Leighanna's Studio in Progress

Leighanna and I visited the Mabel Dodge Luhan House where we are planning to teach workshops next year.

 Look at the site of this historic and beautiful setting.

       Leighanna at Mabel Dodge Luhan House

 

Birdhouses at Mabel Dodge Luhan House

 Shops Near Taos Plaza

Driving Back from Taos

Back in Albuquerque, I spent a day with Annie Hooten who lives there. We went to a great thrift store and then to a meeting of her Art Journaling group. Thanks to all you group members for letting me visit your dynamic meeting!

Annie and Me at Journal Workshop

A few days later I ventured up to Las Cienegas, just outside of (or just inside of?) Santa Fe to drop in on Ariel Gore and Maria Perez who moved from Portland about a year ago.  They kindly fed me a vegan, mostly raw food dinner which was delicious, as was the conversation sitting on their patio. Maria and I share a love of Hispanic/Indigenous Catholic iconography. (You'll see my first attempt at my own version of this arte popular in the next post.)

The drive back to Albuquerque that evening was gorgeous--sunset in the huge sky, and and the mountains--well, words fail me.

No pictures...

Alice (in Wonderland) famously asked, "What is the good of a book without any pictures?" I feel the same about blog posts without any picture. But here I am in magical Northern New Mexico without a way to download and publish my photos until I get home. If I were better at writing, I'd try to evoke the Italianate light, and the life-affirming scent of juniper and sage...Just come here someday, that's my advice.

I came here by myself for some R and R in Albuquerque and Taos. The rest of the fam is home minding the fort. Tuesday in Taos, I visited Leighnna Light and Thomas Ashman in their new adobe home. They just moved there and are still unpacking, but the walls are already filled with art.

Well, I just tried to put in an image of one of Leighanna's pieces, but this  borrowed computer won't let me. Ah well...later. BTW, there is a wonderful store in Taos called Wabi-Sabi ...

Heading to Art Unraveled on Monday

I'll be heading out to teach, take a class, and vend at Art Unraveled. It's held in Phoenix, and yes, it will be hot there. But I don't plan to leave the hotel very much, except for a walk early in the day. I'll be teaching "Wabi-Sabi Wax", a mixed-media encaustic class, and "The Egg and I", painting with egg tempera. I'm taking Pam Carriker's Pan Pastel class. I've never used these before, but the word is they are amazing.

 I'll be selling my art at the Saturday Shopping Extravaganza. Here's a sneak preview of two altered books I'll have for sale.

 

Playing With New Toys

Don't you love trying out new art supplies? I recently got a delightful encaustic iron and yummy hot sticks at Muse Art/Design. The iron is lighter than my other ones and covers a larger area. The hot sticks are made by Enkaustikos and contain rich encaustic pigment with a metallic sheen. I made this triptych just playing around with the iron and sticks.

 

Triptych       Encaustic on Wood

 I used the iron to smooth out my base coats of wax, then did a couple of coats in off white. I then melted the hot sticks onto the iron and ran the iron over the piece. I first used a quinacridone gold stick and then a gold pearl stick. Finally, I used encaustic paint on a brush and made the black swirls. As often happens when I'm just playing, I was happy with the result and with the experience itself.

If you don't live here in Portlandia, you can order these supplies and much more here. I love the iron for an interactive experience with the wax, and the hot sticks are delicious!

Woo-hoo!

 

Contemplative Chaos

I'm thrilled to announce that I have had a book proposal accepted by North Light Press--I just found out! The book will be on wabi-sabi painting and mixed media techniques with lots of inspirational prompts. What an adventure this will be. Thanks to all of you who encouraged me to go for it!

In Praise of Altered Bits and a Coffee Filter Dress

 

 I won a cool steampunk goodie bag from Altered Bits Altered Art!

I'm excited to a be a giveaway winner from one of my favorite blogs, Altered Bits Altered Art. Alicia Caudel is a mixed media artist after my own heart: a lover of mystery, rusty things, steampunk, and artistic possibilities. She has just released her first print zine. I ordered mine right away and I love it. The zine has lavish pictures from various artists and from Alica herself. I find it pure magic. Alicia is one of my "imaginary friends", that is to say we haven't met yet. We both live in Portland and I'm sure we'll soon manage to have our long awaited tea party and art supplies swap.

 You can find this zine through Amazon and through Lulu.

 *

 I was heading for the parking garage today after a routine dental visit when mine eyes were arrested by a window display in the Galleria. In the window were several mannequins wearing garments of recycled materials. My favorite was a dress made of discarded coffee filters by Adrienne Duckrow. As I paused to take a  picture, several people crowded around this window, looking at the dress. Apart from a couple of inane comments as to the dress' practicality, I heard many gasps of wonder at its beauty.