Now is the time of year for fantasy!

It really doesn’t take too much imagination to visualise these busy fairies darting about!  Hither, thither as they fly, darting from one area to another…..

An encaustic ACEO – Darting Fairies

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

Last two in the Tulip Series

At last I have come to the end of the Tulip Series!  I created the last two.  Now there are five.  They can either be mounted separately or together to make a bigger impact.

Created in an ACEO size (3” x 2.5”) they allow you to own an original work of art for next to nothing!

#4 and #5 to be found in my Etsy shop.

  

Now to see all 5!

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 brush with Winter

One of my latest additions to the ACEO family…..

First of all, what is an ACEO?  Well, there is only one rule governing the creation of an ACEO which is short for Art Cards, Editions and Originals.  That rule being that an ACEO must measure 3.5" x 2.5".  No more, no less.  It can be portrait or landscape and be created in any medium.

This means that if you are interested in original art you can now afford to have your very own collection!  There are different ways of showing off your collection too.  Either you can purchase all manner of miniature easels on which to stand your treasured ACEO or you can place them in attractive albums which are then placed on your coffee table so you and your visitors can browse to your heart’s content.  Another idea is to mount them in frames, either individually or as a group.  Sometimes, using this latter method, especially if grouped by subject matter or colour, you can give quite a visual impact!

Anyway, back to showing off my latest ACEO for sale in my Etsy shop!

This one I entitled ‘Winter’s Brush’.  I know winter is just around the corner in the northern hemisphere but maybe this little spot has already been brushed by the cold of winter and then was just left?

Forsaken Landscape

Countries where drought persists; places where farmers have tried to tend to their animals but simply had to give up to the forces of nature which made life too harsh to bear.  Perhaps, something totally different?

Take a look at this encaustic ACEO I have called ‘Forsaken Landscape, an original painting in wax and tell me what you see? 

Weather systems at Sea

Having lived much of my life near the sea, well my main youth years, I have a total fascination with water in its many forms.

The encaustic medium is amazing at helping to create the image of lucidity and volume of water on a support.  Here are a couple of examples to be found in my Etsy shop.

The first painting in wax is that of a turbulent weather system which can produce ‘twisters’.

Imagine the wind howling as it pulls up the water into an amazing rough sea and then tries to drag air up into twister shapes.

In total contrast my next painting, A Cliff Walk,  is that of an image I often encountered as I walked along cliff tops on an island called Guernsey in the Channel Islands (mid way between England and France).  Although there are many concrete relics of WW2 from when Hitler invaded the islands, there are many areas of peace where the walker is allowed to enjoy and contemplate along with the local birds.

Tidal Movement

The ebb and flow of the neap or spring tides along the seashore can be related to our feelings as they rise and fall. As the water rises there are turbulent feelings aroused as the sand gets churned up with the currents and disturbs the sea bed making the water cloudy until things settle down again.

I have listed this original encaustic on Artfire.com

Pat

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.

What an honour!

Not only was yesterday a special day for me (my birthday and what a brilliant day that turned out to be!) but someone I recently came across on the internet by the name of Mel Avila Alarilla who lives in the Philippines has posted an amazing recount of my work! http://literatti-aliteraryblog.blogspot.com/ is the link if you would care to visit.

His critique made me blush uncontrollably!   Not a pretty sight but I was so honoured to have someone look at my work and enthuse in the way he did.  I guess more than that it was an even bigger honour to be caste amongst so many hugely talented artists.  Very humbling.

Thank you Mel!

 

In honour of Spring!

My husband and I went for a walk on Saturday in one of our favourite parks run by the National Trust in UK.  This particular park, called Sheffield Park, was designed by 'Capability' Brown in the eighteenth century when he created irregular belts and clumps of trees and cleared informal paths through the woods.

There are truly some wonderful views.

Meanwhile, in encaustics, I have painted some flower images similar to crocus flowers or tulips.

 

This one entitled Windswept Flower reminded me of a delicate flower being buffeted by a fresh, cold wind in early spring.

 

 

 

Here I tried to convey how delicate the petals could be.

This one called Meadow Flower could be seen as more of a crocus or even a tulip!

Isn’t wonderful to be able to bring all these flowers to bloom with the new warmth of the fresh sunshine.  The world looks a better place already!

If you are interested in viewing more like these please visit my Etsy shop, Artfire or Zazzle.  If you wish to contact me I would love to hear from you too either through my Etsy shop or directly through my blog!

Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoyed your stay?  Do come again soon!

An ACEO?

I am sure you have seen much chat about ACEOs? Trouble is often you hear about expressions and because everyone appears to know what they are talking about you feel nervous about admitting you don’t actually know what an ACEO is!

Well, do you remember the old cigarette packets that contained small cards which were collected and traded? That’s how ACEOs came about! Originally, termed as an ATC or Artist’s Trading Card, people loved the idea of collecting these cards but unless you already possessed one, how on earth did you start to trade since this was the only way in which to secure others? Answers on a postcard!!!! No, seriously, someone came up with the bright idea that you could call it something else and therefore now you could not only trade but also buy and sell them! Eureka!!

An art format started by an artist on Ebay two years ago it has grown in popularity ever since. This artist is known by “bone*diva” on Ebay, but her real name is Lisa Luree. Here you can see an example of her work entitled ‘Luree tiny Madonna with bird’ which you will find for sale on Ebay.

So, an ACEO or Art Cards, Editions and Originals. They are small at 2.5 x 3.5 inches, or baseball card size. That is the only rule that governs this little critters! They can be created in any medium you wish from a painting to print, from polymer clay to glass. You name it, you make it. It’s that simple!

ACEOs are avidly collected all over the world whether bought/sold or traded and is a wonderful way to collect original works of art at a sensible price.

When I began painting ACEOs in a wax medium called encaustic I found it an exciting way to experiment. There are many collectors out there who all belong to many wide and various groups. Even Ebay has a collectors group!

ACEOs can be presented in a selection of different ways. For instance in an album or slipped into a card as a surprise present! They can be matted and framed to be displayed on the wall either singly or as a collection.

Although the concept of an ACEO is still in its infancy you will find more and more people, like you the reader, learning about them as they are being offered for sale on more and more websites, as well as in some real-world galleries.

Like what you see? Why not check out my Etsy shop or Artfire where you will find a varied selection of ACEOs.

So, what is stopping you? Want to buy or sell an ACEO? Just remember that whatever you do they can become addictive. You won’t be able to stop at just one! Best of all enjoy!

One of my alternative selling venues

Yes, I know!  I am extolling the virtues of selling my goodies in my different selling venues/shops but if I don't, who will?  I must admit it is one of my least favourite things to do and is so time consuming!  I would much rather just play with my waxes and have someone else do the marketing and listing etc.  However, that will not happen so you are stuck with me doing the dirty work.  Someone has to!

Today, I listed quite a few ACEOs and paintings on my Artfire.com shop.  Have you seen them recently?  They certainly vary in subject matter but do suit all sorts of budgets and I do try to make my art affordable for all pockets.

This is an ACEO entitled 'Looking out of the Cave'

 

If you have ever visited UK you may have travelled to Somerset and seen the Cheddar Gorge, a natural formation where many like to walk, climb or visit Wookey Hole which are awesome caves.  In this ACEO I have tried to convey the magnificence of the rock formation that could be found.

Cheddar Gorge, UK

 

 

In complete contrast here is a painting created using the inspiration I have of underground passages, water and caves.

A Journey Below

 

 

 

Like what you see?  Then why not visit my shop on Artfire or my Etsy shop where there are more examples of my encaustic art.  Thanks for looking!

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.

It's not just Pandas who like Bamboo!

Bamboo, the word, conjures up all sorts of images from the actual plant to furniture! It is an extremely versatile plant that is also very strong. Here some can be seen growing in a wood in Kyoto, Japan.

Bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant in the world. The plant is used extensively in gardens, as a building material, and as a food source. Here I come back to the theme of a food source for the giant Panda! Not only this the bamboo pulp is now made into a bamboo fabric which is light and strong and is supposed to have some antibacterial properties!

The plant is often used in painting since it has such an interesting formation of colour, texture etc. The Chinese have always been the masters down through the years creating the most beautifully delicate images.

I do not profess to have those qualities but did enjoy trying to depict an abstract image in different colours for my latest set of ACEOs. Remember ACEOs (Artist Card, Editions, Originals) only have one rule and that is that they must measure 3.5" x 2.5". They can be created using any medium which makes them an exciting and affordable way to collect original art!

Here I have created 3 different ACEOs with the same theme. They can displayed separately or as a set! For further information please visit my store on Etsy.

Bamboo - Purple original encaustic ACEO

Bamboo - Blue, an original encaustic ACEO

Bamboo - Green, an original encaustic ACEO