From a blank canvas to?

I love the water and the moods it has as well as plant life that thrives at the water’s edge.  Here is a scene to depict this simple stretch of water that laps against the reeds in the breeze.

Created with my trusty waxes and hot iron I blended the colours together on a box canvas measuring 30” x 20”.

Sometimes, you just don’t want to part with one of your own creations so perhaps I will re-create another but it will be slightly different!

By the waterside at Lake Indio

An English Autumn Scene

I am slowly returning after the Christmas/New Year celebrations when I was totally laid up with flu!  Great!

Then as I was getting over that, I got another cold.  Now, over all that and trying very hard to get on with everything again.

And so, my friends, I have listed this encaustic painting in my artfire shop entitled ‘An English Autumn Scene’.

Autumn always incorporates some of my favourite colours, so warm and bright as nature gives a final blast before she beds down for the cold winter.

You may remember that this was actually one of my entries into the First Annual Autumn Arts Painting Challenge and Competition on Facebook.

Hopefully, this will be the start of my muse coming to work again!

A new painting!

Yes, I know!  Please do not shout but I have really been a wee bit busy with wedding plans, wedding of DD and now in a couple of days she will be returning to reality after a wonderful honeymoon!

So, at long last a new creation!

‘Just off the Headland!’

Using my waxes I ‘ironed’ the colours onto canvas.  It is one of those views where you can sit and find different things, can’t you?  See the mountain range in the distance coming down to the water’s edge?  A couple of boats are just messing around on the still water.  Perhaps one of the only sounds would be the gentle lapping of the water?

Want to read more about it?  I have it listed in my Etsy shop, see you there!

Different aspects of water

For the first time for quite a while I am in the right mood to put iron to canvas!  The wonder of encaustics is that you might have an idea of a subject matter but how it will evolve is up to the waxes on the day.

For the first painting I used my hot air gun.  Ooooh the power!   Well, actually, the heat.  I am always very conscious of where I place the gun once I have used it.  I really wouldn’t want to set the house on fire!

Whilst I was blowing the waxes around on the canvas and using different colours the idea of water lilies came to mind.  I am always amazed to discover how diverse water lilies can be in colour.  Remember the famous painting by the artist Monet?  Here is his interpretation of the subject.  I love the softness of this painting.

Now here is my interpretation.  A very different view but I still feel that the title Water Lilies is right for this encaustic.

 

 

Interestingly enough, I only searched out Monet’s painting after I had completed mine.  This painting is for sale on Artfire.com

 

In complete contrast but still using water as my main ‘prop’ I painted this one entitled Sail Boats.  I loved the feeling of release and freedom that the sea and sky offer to the lone sailor.  Just enough breeze to keep the boats moving!

This encaustic is for sale in my Etsy shop.

So, you see water has many moods depending on colour, application and ultimately, subject matter.

The Brothers Grimm

I don't know about you but I guess I must be showing my age since I was brought up on the fairy tales created by The Grimm brothers.  Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm collected stories in the early 1800s that were neither sweet or soothing.  In fact they often tended to be more on the cruel side as in Snow White, Hansel and Gretel.  I so remember wanting to hear more but being terrified as well!

When I completed the painting that I entitled Fantasy Fortress I couldn't help but remember some of these stories!  There was always a dark, cruel side to them

However, I hope this painting doesn't frighten you too much!  By looking deep into it you can see shadows, birds, mountains, castles and fantasy fortresses where a giant might live or a dragon, or even the wicked stepmother!  Oh wait, I am a stepmother!  NO, NO I am not the wicked caricature, honestly!

As we change the focus onto the painting again I have to admit that this painting started out as an abstract painting of pansies!  I was not totally happy so decided to experiment with my hot air gun to see where the waxes would take me.  Here, you have it!  Fantasy Fortress which is for sale in my Etsy shop.  Please follow the link for more information and thanks for looking.

 

 

 

 

 

How styles evolve

Well, actually I am finding it very interesting to see how my style of painting in wax is evolving as I gain more confidence and experiment more with the supports and techniques that can be applied in encaustic art.

From the descriptions of my paintings you will note I tend to use block waxes.  This is simply laziness on my part and for ease of use/storage.

However, I have been experimenting with different types of supports from encaustic card, canvas panels through to box canvases.  I must admit that I am rather taken with canvas panels at the moment finding it easier to manipulate the waxes with the various hot tools such as iron, hot air gun and stylus.  The stylus actually has different tips to create different effects which I found very useful for my latest offering.

An English Field is the title of my newest painting.  This was inspired by a recent walk in the grounds of Scotney Castle.  Although closed to visitors during the winter the general public are allowed to wander around the estate.  It was the weekend before we had snow so although it was bitterly cold, it was a beautiful crisp and sunny day.  It was lovely to be walking around the various fields, watching the sheep as they grazed by a stream that ran nearby.   This painting is to be found for sale in my Etsy shop where you will see more photographs.  Some of the pictures were taken with flash and some, like the one above, without flash.  Hence the difference in lighting effects! 

BEES!

Perhaps nothing on our list of disappearing Europe and America is so dire; plummeting so enormously; and so necessary to the survival of our food supply as the honey bee. 'Colony Collapse Disorder,' or CCD, has spread throughout the Europe and the US over the past few years, wiping out 50% to 90% of the colonies of many beekeepers -and along with it, their livelihood."

FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, A GROUP OF ARTISANS ON ETSY ARE DONATING 5% PROCEEDS (of participating items) TO BEE RESEARCH. Look for the red bee logo in my shop, and see our team web site for more details www.beeswaxteam.com

Since I am proud to be a part of the Beeswax Team on Etsy I have offered some of my paintings to be considered in this sale.  All you have to do is check out my Etsy shop to find which items have the above bee sale logo!

To give you a head start I will let you cheat and help you by listing the three paintings that are part of this sale.

 

Pastel Pansies - original encaustic painting

 

A Tori - an original encaustic

 

 

 

Icy Waters - encaustic painting

 

 

So, do check out all the paintings which are listed on the Beeswax Team's web site for further wonderful examples of what can be done with beeswax! alternatively check out the shops on Etsy that show the logo as their avatar.

A Tori

Many years ago I lived in Tokyo and saw some wonderful temples in Tokyo itself as well as in Kyoto.  The peace and tranquility that surrounds these places just envelopes you as you approach.  The actual act of passing through the gate is supposed to purify the soul.

One of the most famous is the Tori, or gateway to a temple, at Miyajima which is a boat ride of about 40 minutes from Hiroshima.

I have not tried to depict this Tori but wished only to convey the feeling of calm and so this painting is not a true replication but only one based on such a sight!

For further information about this encaustic please follow this link to my Etsy shop where you will find it listed.

A landscape entitled The Expanse

An image I have had in my mind for a while emerged today.  I wanted to convey a feeling of expanse albeit across dunes, fields with a sky to match.  Hence The Expanse was born!

You could really be anywhere but just imagine the stillness allowing you the luxury to put your thoughts into some semblance of order.  How often in these busy days do we find ourselves swept along with a hurry to go nowhere.

You will note I have finished off the sides with a brown wax thus allowing the viewer to hang this painting without a frame.

This painting can be seen in more detail in my shop on Etsy.com.

TADA.... the unveiling!

Well, as promised, the picture is now hung!

My husband got out the ladder. Have you ever tried standing, safely, on a ladder that has been extended on the stairs? Very scary. Having placed a towel at the top to protect the wall from the ladder making any marks we discussed the height at which the painting should be displayed. Once that was confirmed, he put two screws so that the painting could balance nicely and it would be easier to keep it level and straight.

Once the screws were in place I handed him the painting after having made sure that he still liked it!

Carefully the painting was lowered onto the screws, levelled and once we were happy with the positioning the ladder was safely removed.

And, so my friends, thank you for your patience! Now is the time to stand back and view my latest, largest encaustic entitled 'Flora'.

Although initially the painting was to be for us, I have decided that if accepted favourably enough it could well go on sale! Then the headache of how to pack it!!

See how the light changes the images as it picks out the metallic wax. Remember if you want to see any picture in more detail just to click on the individual one to blow it up!

Let me know what you think. Honestly, I won't be offended if it is not your cup of tea but I really would be curious to read your views.

Thank you for looking!

It's all in the anticipation!

My husband asked if I felt like paining a large canvas as we both realised that since changing and installing new lights on our stairs and landing a large space had become rather obvious and needed filling!!  I took pictures in daylight and also with the light on showing how it accented the wall where we wanted to hang the picture.

 

Being more used to painting ACEO size pictures up to 20" long paintings I knew I would be looking at something a lot larger.  This was indeed a challenge!

So, we both went along to our local crafty shop to look at canvasses and decided on one.  It measured roughly 36" x 24"!!!!  Now to buy some more waxes which would be required to cover this size canvas.

I had already thought about various ideas to paint but knew that whatever I started out with it would change because the waxes will do what they wish to do!

We got home.  I looked at the canvas and was very apprehensive; it was massive!  Anyway, I unwrapped everything and tried to make enough space to start the masterpiece.  That was the hardest thing to do!  I then made sure I closed my door so that I could be undisturbed and also opened the window so that fumes would not build up.  Now to start!

Later today I will talk through the process and, hopefully, show you the final piece after my husband has hung it in it's new home!

EEny, meeny, miny,mo.....

Having just finished creating my latest encaustic painting I now have a difficult decision to make.  To which shop do I post it?  Do I list it in Artfire.com?  What about Artgallery.co.uk?  In the end I decided to stick with Etsy for the time being and list this encaustic in my Etsy shop, On A Whimsey.

For those of you who are feeling the cold today including me I think this painting will give a warm feeling.  Hope so!!

Once I had completed it I had to put my thinking cap on to make another important decision!  What title to place on it.  Then like a bolt of lightening I thought of that wonderful group called Simply Red and realised that would be my title for this encaustic!

So, ladies and gentlemen, may I present....... drum roll please.....

Simply Red

Painted on box canvas this painting needs no frame since the sides have also been painted.  Measuring roughly 11.5" square and 1" deep it would not look out of place in the home or office.

 

Here are a couple of pictures showing the side angle to demonstrate how the sides have continued with the main theme and colour.

Last day of 2008

Whilst we spend the last few hours of 2008 reflecting on the past year, our mistakes, our joys and achievements, we should still be looking forward to another wonderful year ahead.  Life is what we make of it with a little luck thrown in!  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't so well.  It's all trial and error!

I am not trying to make light of situations but just feel you have to try to think ahead..... you know, the light at the end of the tunnel idea again?

Well, whilst you are all doing that I decided to have one more listing on Etsy for 2008!  Actually my shop On A Whimsey is just over a year old and I am pleased with what I have achieved so far.  I have loads of ideas in the pipeline for 2009.

Meanwhile, I digress!  Here is my latest addition to my shop.....

Pastel Pansies - giving us the hope that a lovely spring is just around the corner!

I love the delicate petals that pansies have with their meaningful centres which seem to give them all a soul!  Here I used my new hot air gun to swirl the different colours around the canvas.

That just leaves me one more thing to do and that is to wish each and everyone of you a very hopeful, good, healthy and happy New Year!!

Thank you all for your continued support - I do so appreciate it and look forward to seeing you and meeting new readers in 2009.

The Muse .... She has returned!

My long suffering friend has returned! My Muse. Oh, I have been truly lost without her and have just drifted along with no real ideas or aim regarding my encaustics. This is really unusual for me but now I hope to be all geared up again.

At least with all those Christmas preparations over and done with I now have more time to devote to creating again. What really helped was that I was given a hot air gun with variable heat settings as a Christmas present. This would make hot air work so much more easy to do rather than fight with my hair dryer all the time when the hot air and wax had lives of their own!

Anyway, my first creation for quite some time has now been completed and I have listed it on http://onawhimsey.artfire.com

It is entitled The Eyes Have It. I love flowers and I guess I often look right into their centres and imagine I can see into their souls through their eyes. Using several layers of colours I moved the hot air gun over the box canvas. To add detail I used another small iron attached to the hot stylus to create the flower aspect. The final detail of the eyes was added with the hot stylus. The grasses around the painting which were also taken around the sides were added with my encaustic iron. So, there you have it. A touch of fantasy with some thought thrown in for good measure!

The birth of an encaustic

When an idea comes into my head I just want to get the waxes out, support and decide which tools I am going to use.  Once I am nearly at the completion stage I wish that I had taken some pictures to demonstrate the process of how one of my paintings become the finished product.  Always, too late so I was determined to remember this time!  Some of you may remember this post from my other blog which will gradually be 'run down' since I find blogger more user friendly!

To continue, with this in mind I have used my latest encaustic and remembered, just, to take pictures along the way.

Step one was to take a blank, white canvas that had been triple primed with gesso and to decide whether I would use it landscape or portrait.  For this exercise I decided on portrait style.

I wanted to paint a flower using my iron, hairdryer, stylus and tissues.

The top of the painting would need a yellow background. Next I wanted some depth of colour.  To do this I used a hot iron, tipped it up with the point heading for the canvas and melted some wax on it so that splodges of wax would fall in dots overall.  Now to heat up the hairdryer and blow on those spots so that they would blend  and I also used some tissue to blend even further.

Each layer of spots would be blown and pushed around with some tissue until I got the effect I was looking for.

Bit by bit more depth is achieved by adding darker colours on top of previously lighter ones.

In this third picture you can see the different coloured layers producing different effects.

 

 

 

Now the time has come to heat up my mini iron.  This is inserted into the stylus which can heat up different sized tools to create different effects.

As you can see I have started to paint an idea of a flower using the mini iron.  The painting continues to evolve although I am not totally certain of the final direction the waxes will take me!

At first I thought of a poppy flower and here is where you will see the dilemma I have put myself in..... should I continue or just stop!  There is always the time to decided to walk away from the painting or to add just that little bit more.  If I were doing this on support card I could just redo the whole thing and start again.  However, painting with wax on canvas is a little more permanent.

Well, I just couldn't resist it!  I went that bit further and now have changed the whole structure of the flower.  I stopped using the mini iron for a while and started with the hairdryer again.

The shape of the flower was beginning to evolve but it needed some finer work to be done on it.  Now, I really had to be careful not to overdo it so that it would be completely spoiled.

I added, using the nib of the hot stylus, some stamens and detail for the centre of the flower.  It was very nearly finished.  Again, I carefully heated the centre to try and soften the look.

Here we are!!! TADA!!!!

The completed painting!  What do you think?  I find the ragged edging to the flower helps make it more interesting.

So, you see, you never really know where you will go with encaustic art.  The waxes decide the final outcome for you and to try and go against the flow just will not work.  Believe me, I have tried!!