GASP--The Studio is Finished!

My encaustic area and major storage. (Okay, the one undone
bit of construction is the exhaust fan. You can see where it is going to be at
the top of the picture.)

I can't really believe it! After so many months and after days and days of my friend Julia and I painting until our eyes were crossed--the GASP project is finished!!
Today we actually got to the fun part of arranging furniture and decorating. Next week I'll move in the large bookshelves and tables. It looks like a real studio! Can you tell I'm excited? Waaahooo! Yee-ha!

Here are a few vignettes that I hope will whet your appetite to come see me at Open Studios, the second and third weekends of October.

I'll see some artistic-minded clients here and hang out with friends

Closeup of sitting area

Corner of what I'm starting to call the "Rococo Bathroon"

More of the bathroom

Top of the entryway cupboard

Cupboard shelves with old treasures and garage sale finds

Closeup of Goodwill armoire, all dressed up to celebrate

Have I mentioned how excited I am?

The One and Only Miss Havisham

Remember Miss Havisham from Dicken's Great Expectations? It used to be required reading for most of us in the 9th grade. I've found I'm not alone in considering Miss H. to be the most interesting feature of the book. Here's how Dickens describes her:


"She was dressed in rich materials--satins, and lace, and silks--all of white. Her shoes were white. And she had a long white veil dependent from her hair, and she had bridal flowers in her hair, but her hair was white. Some bright jewels sparkled on her neck and on her hands, and some other jewels lay sparkling on the table. Dresses, less splendid than the dress she wore, and half-packed trunks, were scattered about. She had not quite finished dressing, for she had but one shoe on-the other was on the table near her hand-her veil was but half arranged, her watch and chain were not put on, and some lace for her bosom lay with those trinkets, and with her handkerchief, and gloves, and some flowers, and a prayer book, all confusedly heaped about the looking-glass."


As you may remember, the fiftyish Miss H. had been jilted on the day of her wedding as she was getting ready. She stopped all the clocks, and left all as it was, including the cobweb-ridden wedding cake rotting on the table. Deliciously creepy.

So here are a few images from my new altered book. Guess I'm feeling Halloween-ish early.

Front Cover

The woman on the left would probably weather a jilting just fine, but our
Miss H. hides behind her wilted garments and flowers.

Here's little Pip, (left) our hero. He doesn't get to go

out shopping like the young Miss H. and her family did.

Two of Miss H.'s more fortunate school friends who have
become an explorer-ballonist, and an actress-mistress.
(I made this up--it's not in the book.)

Hunting and Gathering Bulletin and GASP Report

Rancho Deluxe

What a great day. Hunting and Gathering today and going to
Ten Tiny Dances at TBA in the evening. If you've never seen Ten Tiny Dances--do! This event happens twice a year, one time being during TBA (Time Based Art.) It's always different and always wonderful. As I'm typing this I'm hearing a medly of Reba McIntyre songs. Dot is preparing to interpet her concert, so now it's All Rita, All the Time. Okay by me.

Today's H and G bulletin and a brief GASP report. I kept the H and G to a minimum, hitting just two stores. I've been wanting to go to the celebrated Rancho Deluxe for some time since I read about it on Dayna Collins' blog. This antique and junque store is only open on Saturdays!

(I seem to be going for a link record in this post...)

I finally made it there and came back with two grab bags, a funny tree thingy, and for a dollar I got a play diamond necklace and a bug encased in hard plastic. Lots of stuff for art in the grab bags. The funny tree thingy and the bug will be perfect for my studio. If any of you are familiar with Interior Alchemy by Rebecca Purcell, you'll notice that I seem to be going for an Alienated decor.

Funny tree thingy, faux diamond necklace, and a bug-in-a cube

Closeup Bug

Purcell defines the Alienated style as "an otherworldy tableau...combining vintage pieces, strange flora and fauna, and humble man-made objects that are modern or futuristic in a naive sort of way with various Gothic embellishments...Think of it as future Gothic and you'll get it immediately."

Grab Bag #1

Grab Bag #2

Purcell's Alienated style is perfectly realized in my favorite shop, Flutter, whose praises you've seen sung here before. They have exquisitely, heart-breakingly beautiful re-imagined vintage dresses that I desperately wish had been around when I was 20. They also have taxidermy, a whole suitcase full of vintage postage stamps, and way too much inspiring stuff to list.

Flutter's Alienated Interior

Restraint was my watchword today. I came home with just one thing from Flutter. One perfect thing. (See below.)

Bird's Nest with Eggs from Flutter

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The studio is getting so closed to being finished! It's insulated, the egregious garage door is removed and replaced with a nice new wall. It's hard to believe I'll be in there in less than a month.

Of course a new studio, teaching at Art and Soul, participating in
Open Studios, and teaching a few weekend courses for PSU weren't enough to schedule for September. As my therapy office mate, Diane, and I both have our own studios now, we're downsizing the office and moving this month! Geesh. Wish me luck!

No more ugly old broken garage door

Cement River where the concrete was repaired. I know I can
do something cool with this "river, I just know I can...

Studio is starting to look human with a new door

Living Now, Remembering Then

Sara in 1922

I tend to get extra energetic as fall approaches, but the last few years I've been surprised to find myself a bit blue when September comes around. I always spend a few days wondering why that is until I remember that it was this time of year (four years ago now) that my mother became ill with her last illness. She died at home about a month later, with her husband and children at her side.

We didn't always get along. One of my mother's old friends said we had a "colorful relationship." But I miss her. I still find myself wanting to ask or tell her things. Today I want to share some pictures in her honor.

1933



1942

c. 1954

Early 1990's?

With great-grandson 1999


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Today's News

Derelict Garage Door Removed: Neighbors Cheer

Lester Loves His Urn

More Hunting and Gathering

This gal knows how to have a good time

Maybe I should just call this blog The Hunting & Gathering Bulletin and be done with it. I did limit myself to one sale this past Saturday. I'll show you what I found and also the dancing lady above, from a previous yard sale.

Now I'll have you know that I bought two eminently practical items Saturday. The one below is a very curiously designed case and appears to hail from the Victorian or Edwardian era. It's metal and doesn't quite close right any more. The seller wondered if it was a glasses case. He also suggested a purse, but I don't think so. I've never heard of anyone carrying a metal purse around in those previous eras. My theory is opera glasses. Anyway, is this not pure steampunk?

Perfect for glasses or a lorgnette (if I used the latter)

The mysterious case opened. The insides are really a lovely dark blue.

So pleased was I at my thrifty practicality, that I treated myself to a 1920's gilding kit, complete with all the supplies I'll need. Every home should have one. And if you look at the labels, the first thing they suggest you gild are the radiators. Of course, why didn't I think of that?

My mother used to warn against gilding the lily, but I say why not?

All the supplies are intact and there's still gilding solution in the bottle, see below

The little gilding pan is so sweet.

As I'd been so circumspect in my purchases heretofore, I threw caution to the winds and acquired this bowl below for 1.00! On the bottom of the bowl there is a picture of a duck and the notation "foreign". The country that dares not speak its name, apparently.

No garage/vintage sale is complete without a bunch of cabinet photos on offer. I found this lovely gentleman. What a dapper fellow he is. That very afternoon I cast him in a 3-D encaustic drama.

Wedding of a Dandy Mixed Media on Wood Panel 13" x 9"

(Encaustic medium, encaustic paint, vintage metal findings, reproduction of vintage photo, fabric, vintage pressed flowers, waxed thread, vintage watch part)

While in more or less steampunk mode, I also made the piece below.

Watch Me! Mixed Media on Panel 9" x 13"

(Encaustic medium, oil paint, reproductions of vintage photos, reproductions of vintage engravings, vintage pressed flowers, dried flowers, charcoal pencil, vintage watch part, vintage text, and photos by Julia Gardner.)

Encaustic Jam Session!

As yet untitled: encaustic paint, paper, old washers

I made the encaustic assemblages above and below in preparation
for the Encaustic Jam Session, held Saturday by the Portland International Encaustic Artists chapter (Titles to come to me later...)

Also waiting for a title: encaustic, fabric trim and ribbon,
old washers, transfers, repro of old French fashion paper,
vintage watch part, tissue, Frozen Charlotte doll, fabric embellishments

The Jam Session was so much fun! We all learned a lot from each others demos, comments, and work produced. We met at 9 AM (dawn to me) at Camas High School where Gina most generously let us use her art classroom for the day.

Kimberly Kent gave the first demo. Her subject was use of color.
I always admire her color choices in her plein-air work.

Amy's demo

Amy Stoner taught us about incising, drawing with carbon paper on the wax and using Ranger alcohol inkand Sennelier inks to color the incised lines. Amy's work is quirky and delightful.

One of Amy's demo pieces

I did the above piece after the first two demos, drawing the leaves with carbon paper. I loved using the alcohol inks along with the wonderful paint donated by Enkaustikos. The bottom of the piece is done by rubbing on a laser copy of text.

Natasia Chan demonstrates her unique processes
which include using printing ink, charcoal, and much more.
Natasia is one of the most innovative artists I know.

Natasia fusing her demo piece

I did this piece using some of Natasia's methods

Melinda demonstrates

Melinda Fellini shared her process of creating her painterly encaustics, using layering and scraping along with careful color choices. Melinda is the master of patina. She inspired me to want to translate oil painting techniques and effects to encaustic and to learn from her methods and tools.

One of Melinda's amazing encaustic paintings

I was up next to demo, so I got wild and created a 3-D piece using some ingredients I'd tossed in my bag after ransacking the spice drawer.

Cinnamon sticks, cardamon, and loose tea, with a used teabag and a bit of paper

Window on the World

I started this piece during the demo and finished it later in the day. It has encaustic, rusted wire mesh, faux jewels, fabric trim, vintage thread, copper wire, a metal shower curtain ring, Italian potpourri and a repro. of one of my paintings.

Bridget holding my favorite of the pieces she brought

Bridget Benton demonstrated using fabric in encaustic collages. She will try anything in her mixed media work, and it usually turns out great. I can't wait to do more of this fabric struff too! I am so thrilled to be part of this inspiring and talented group!!

This cool piece was done by the person next to me. She used

drops of red wax under varying layers of clear encaustic.

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My PSU class, Women, Creativity, and Healing ended last week. I will miss this bright and lively group. Below is a picture of their wonderful altered books grouped together. I feel so honored to view these creative and very personal works of art.



How fortunate I am to have so much art and so many artists in my life. I truly believe the words of the bumper sticker that says:

"Art Saves Lives"