They're Here: My DVDs from North Light

My New Wabi-Sabi DVDs from North Light

Last August I had a real adventure. I flew back to Cincinnati to film two DVDs at the North Light studio. I've made my own videos for online classes, but this was the first time I'd been filmed by professionals. Everyone was so friendly and fun to work with that I was able to overcome any apprehension and really enjoy the process. 

 

Here's where we filmed. You can see my "mark" on the floor.

The DVDs have just come out and I am thrilled with them! Aside from having to watch myself and see that in fact I am not as young as I feel, I was very pleased with the photography, sound, content, tone, and well, everything! 

The DVD above features a wabi-sabi walk for inspiration, working with photos for color and texture inspiration, using acrylics, using re-inkers, The Great Cover-Up, and more. 

The DVD below moves on to encaustic techniques and inspiration, using plaster, and using cold wax and oil. Both DVDs contain an informal interview with me and my editor, Kristin Conlin. You can see the interview on YouTube and find out my first career aspirations known only to a few before now! 

 

The DVDs are available from Amazon and will be available soon from Create Mixed Media, North Light's art site. They'll be available there also in the form of an online video from Artists Network TV, also on the Create Mixed Media site.

This piece was featured in one of the two DVDs I filmed earlier this week at the North Light studio in Blue Ash, Ohio. I demonstrated adding 3-D elements to this encaustic collage, including vintage wooden buttons and several fish vertabrae.

Though I've made my own videos for online classes, I had never been in a professional filming studio before--I'll admit I was a little nervous! My editor, Kristy and the film crew, Rick and Christine, I had met before when I went back to North Light to photograph the project steps for my book. They are warm, and funny, as well as being highly skilled. They soon put me at ease, and I had a lot of fun creating the videos. They even used a clapper, like in the real movies, which made me feel so very cool.  

The lovely and talented Kristy

One of the videos features Kristy and me going on a walk to find wabi-sabi in nature and objects along the way. We did find some cool stuff that served as inspiration for some of the projects shown in the DVDs. The DVDs will include using acrylics, collage, re-inkers, alcohol inks, coffee, encaustic, cold wax and oil, plaster, 3-D elements and more.

I'll keep you posted on the release date for the DVDs. It will likely be the middle of December. Now that I've overcome my nervousness, I hope I get to do this again some time!

The table where I demonstrated techniques. You can see my "mark" on the floor.

Some of the set dressing with book prominently displayed

A blurry photo of some of the many cameras in the studio

Get Out of the Road

I think the most challenging thing about making art is to get out of our own way. It's not something we can do for once and for all--we have to do it over and over. Today I made a quick piece from the place of not knowing where I'm going. I think I may be working in this vein for awhile and that's part of the process.

Where Does this Road Go?      Acrylic on Panel

 

 

 

 

 

This piece reminds me of driving over the mountains to the coast as it gets dark. You know you'll get there even if it doesn't feel like it sometimes. What are some ways you get out of your own way?

From the Art of Life Group

A couple of works in progress from last week's women's art group held at my studio. Pretty cool!

Cindy's magical and surreal acrylic painting in progress

 

 

 

Tristen's wabi-sabi landscape in progress

My Book is Almost Here!

I found out yesterday that my book, Wabi-Sabi Art Workshop, is available for pre-order from Amazon, Create Mixed Media, and Barnes and Noble. Those who pre-order get a 34% discount! I hope you will check it out and help me spread the word.

 
Ah, the glamorous life of an author/artist. I was cleaning a toilet this morning when Fed-Ex dropped off the final galleys from my editor at North Light. Needless to say, I left the toilet to clean itself and dove into the black and white pages. The editor, Kristy Conlin, also sent a CD of the book in color. I am so thrilled. She did a great job of editing. The pictures taken by Christine Polomsky are delicious. The book designer, Julie Barnett, did a wonderful job--it's simple and elegant. I couldn't be happier. 

Authors these days are responsible for marketing their books to a large degree. I'll be giving a blog tour later on and will keep you posted on this and other events. I should be a marketing expert by the time I'm finished. I'll have a few giveaways, too. Stay tuned!

And thank you all, for your support and encouragement! 

Enjoying the Quiet Days

Now that retreat season is over for the year, I'm enjoying everyday things like hanging out with my 13 year old grandson, cleaning and sorting, and oh, yeah, dealing with the remodeling of two water-damaged bathrooms. Okay, that last isn't everyday, thank goodness.

Dexter and I went to his local coffee shop recently where we spent several happy hours playing a card game he invented. This game is humorous, fast paced, and at times cutthroat. He won. One feature of the game is that when you draw a blank card you can create your own card on the spot.

Dexter makes a new card.

Just a few of the many cards in the game.

My Art of Life women's group met recently. Here are some of the cool things created there:

Cindy painted these three lively dogs as a present for their owner

Kelly's encaustic icon

The "Winter Wax" encaustic show opened last Friday at Milepost 5. The show features work from the International Encaustic Association's Portland Chapter, of which I'm a proud member. Check out the link to see who's in the show and to see a sample of the work shown! I am continually amazed at the variety of effects encaustic can produce!

A fun day with Wabi-Sabi

I had a wonderful time teaching "Wabi-Sabi Wonder" at Julia Gardner's studio in the Troy Laundry Building on Saturday. All the participants in the workshop were experienced artists. They were excited to experiment with painting and mixed media work with a wabi-sabi aesthetic.They were all such delightful and interesting women--I hope I get to spend time with them again!

 

One of my demos--done with a painting knife

  

 

 

 

 

Wabi-Sabi Photos

I took some wabi-sabi photos the other day on the way to my neighborhood coffee shop. Two of them served as inspiration for paintings.

Grate Texture

In the Distance  Acrylic on Wood Panel 8" x 8"

Sidewalk Crack

Coming Through    Acrylic/Re-inker on Wood Panel 8" x 8"