I am always seeking new ideas in all I do. Now I have turned my attention to my shop on Etsy.com where you can find not only my encaustic art but also beautifully handcrafted items. The holiday season is virtually upon us!
Anyway, I thought I would refresh my shop banner. I took a painting I created some time ago and simply ‘cropped’ a chunk out of it! Then typed the title which includes my name and hey presto….. a new banner.
What do you think?
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?
Once in a while the group I belong to on Etsy.com called Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team, or just plain the BBEST team, enjoy a swap experience. Those interested in swapping with a secret partner put their hands up.
At a given date the names are all collected and it is then decided to allocate names. This is usually done by pulling out the names from a hat. Somewhat similar to when our football teams have their names pulled out of a hat to see who they will play next.
The joy of this system is that you learn to whom you will be sending your swap but you do not have a clue who will be sending something to you!
And so, we come to the point where I now know to whom I should post my swap but do not know from where or who my swap will be coming from!
Oh, since I have only just posted my swap….. I can’t tell you where it is going! But, I can post a picture of it here!
The painting has been created on canvas with my usual waxes and sealed.
I guess most visitors to the UK will come to London although there are beautiful parts to the UK which often get missed. However, London does draw the majority since it offers so much history and places to visit all in the one city.
The Houses of Parliament where the seat of our heritage and government sits is viewed in many different guises. Here I have used my encaustics to create an ACEO depicting an artist's impression of the Houses of Parliament with the river Thames flowing in the foreground. You will also note the tower which houses the famous London clock, Big Ben, whose large bell resounds the time over the City of London.
Remember, ACEO (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) can be mounted, framed as a set or individually. Or, simply kept in a wallet as part of your collection. The only rule concerning ACEOs is that they should be 3.5" x 2.5". Thus allowing the ownership of an original work of art at affordable prices.
Check out my Etsy shop or my Artfire shop for more ACEOs and other creations!
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’.
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.
Wow! Look what I found this morning when I switched on my computer!
‘Featured Artist of the Week’ Pat O’Neill
Also Kim has chosen one of my personal favourites, ‘Cascades of Water’
If you want to read about some extraordinary artists do visit the Top Artists’ Directory - it makes for fascinating reading!
Interested in seeing more encaustics? I have paintings in a wide variety of subject matter. Although, my favourite is water in all its forms. Paintings to suit all budgets are also available in my two main shops on Etsy and Artfire.
Last year was the first Yart Sale. What is a Yart Sale I hear you ask. Yard + Art + Sale = Yart Sale!
The first one took place on Etsy.com last year and was totally unofficial but so many joined in, including me. I took my time changing all my listing descriptions and prices to reflect the sale as well as a special shop announcement. I can honestly say that it made no difference. So, 
Now Etsy have decided to make the Yart Sale official this year. Many are joining in and I really wish all a very 
For me? No, not this year. I feel my prices are just about as low as I can afford to offer and making them less in the sale would not be of any benefit.
Therefore, you will still find original art to suit all budgets in my shop, all at a very reasonable price!
Do stop by!!
Well cool, cool, cool really! I awoke this morning to find I had sold an ACEO entitled ‘Into the Inferno’. Actually, I was very lucky because the buyer had spotted this ACEO a little while back but when she came to order it…. it had disappeared! Thank goodness she sent me a message asking if it had been sold or was still available.
Having been rather busy with builders etc I had rather neglected my Etsy store. Putting on my Sherlock Holmes hat I realised it had expired. Soon sorted that out!
And, now, I can report that the ACEO is safely packed and on its way to its new home!
Just goes to show you have to keep on top of things, don’t you?
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 
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.
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 b
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!
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 
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!
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. 
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 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.
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