Autumn Fungi – original encaustic

Well, I have gone and done it!  Yes, I have listed as for sale this painting entitled Autumn Fungi in my Artfire shop.

I decided to include the picture showing how I got my inspiration for this subject matter.

Inspiration!

Result!

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!

I just squeezed this one in too!

Sometimes I like to play with my waxes.  This time I cut some card to measure 4” x 4” to create a square.  Then taking autumnal colours and my trusty iron I created

Autumn Mandala!

Keep watching this space since once the competition is over I shall be selling all three entries in my two shops, Etsy and Artfire

I have entered an art competition!

Yes, you read it correctly! 

The First Annual Autumn Arts Painting Challenge and Competition on Facebook.

When I read the title I just couldn’t resist it!  I first had to make sure my style of art was eligible since the categories were oil, watercolour and mixed media.  I need not have worried as my encaustics fall within the mixed media criteria.  Phew!  First hurdle overcome!

OK.  The title of the competition suggests an autumnal theme.  Now to see what artists are submitting.  Oh my goodness, what talent!  And, I have committed myself to place two entries in the competition.  Much scratching of heads required to see what my trusty waxes can come up with.

After trying out a few ideas I decided on fungi (mushrooms).  I had recently been on a walk through some local woodland and discovered some amazing mushrooms growing and since they do seem to grow more in the autumn due to the dampness I decided that they could be my subject!

I really did feel very nervous because once you have browsed through the other entries you will come to realise the incredible talent from around the world.  Some of the paintings really give the impression that the viewer is actually there.  Just wonderful!

The rules are simple.  The painting has to have been completed in October and entered before 31 October.  As long as it falls in the categories I described it is free to enter.

Anyway, you will be curious to see my first offering?  Here it is!  Woodland always has such a diverse amount of foliage, fungi offering a bountiful supply for the artist to enjoy and try to replicate.

‘Autumn Fungi’

Once the competition is over I will be offering this painting for sale but in the meantime just enjoy the view!

Creative Cafe

This painting comes under the subject matter called ‘Mandala’.  That is to say the pattern created is called that.

For those of you who are not familiar with term 'Mandala' think of your childhood when you used to play with a tube which you held up to the light and along which you could view moving beads etc as your rotated the tube. This would have been called a kaleidoscope, remember? Anyway, moving on! A Mandala is a uniform pattern that can be viewed from any direction. 

The word "Mandala" is from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Loosely translated it means 'circle' and can be related to all aspects of life: the celestial circles we call earth, sun, and moon, as well as conceptual circles of friends, family, and community. I suppose apart from enjoying the design there will be many ways in which to approach the concept of a Mandala whether in a material or spiritual sense.

Now to the interesting part from my point of view!

A little while ago I joined a group on the Internet called Creative Cafe.  Creative Cafe is a social network where members show off their art, photography, crafts, music, videos and write blogs. Creative Cafe is a charitable group run by volunteers with mental health and other disabilities in Brighton UK. Membership is free and open to everyone.

As is often the case, you will find the most amazing talent on show here so it is well worth a look and if you are interested it is easy to join!

Well, Jill who is the founder and leader, came up with an idea. She invited members to submit a picture that would look good if it were placed at the side of the main text area.  Winners would be pulled out a hat and as well as having the opportunity to see their work for a period of two weeks they would also be eligible for more!

Guess what?  I was the first one to be pulled out of Jill’s hat! Yippeeee.  Check out this post to see the above Mandala as a side picture.

Now to wait and see who will be the next winner?