Encaustics in West Linn

The Portland Chapter of the International Encaustic Artists has a lot of amazing artists in it . . . If you missed our show at the West Linn Library, I just want to give you a little taste . . .

The variety of the work is amazing!

A lovely piece by Susan Freedman.

Chicken portraits by Shannon McBride, art teacher in Lake Oswego School District.

Beautiful arctic landscapes by Kimberly Kent, the only plein air encaustic painter I know!

A piece by the talented Linda Womack - author of the highly recommended encaustic how-to book Embracing Encaustic.

A few of my little pieces on the left, and a big beautiful piece from Amy Stoner.

Some lovely encaustic photos from Vicki Moser, who is also a wonderful graphic designer.

More encaustics by Vicki Moser, as well as expressive works by Robyn Bogardus.

Deeply textured, organic work by Manuela Kalestiantz.

Triptych

Not long ago, the International Encaustic Artists issued a challenge. A triptych challenge. So, I made a triptych using some sample boards I had started during classes, and some other encaustic bits and bobs. This piece is absolute proof that you can make art without a plan, and that you can make art with studio leftovers. I had a wonderful time stacking the little encaustic panels, collaging in map parts, and incorporating the window to get them all just so. It speaks to me of leaping, jumping, journeying.

I've still got a bit of work to do, but this is how I photographed it for submission to the juried IEA show. I had a very hard time photographing this . . . The colors are a little washed out, and there's shadows, but hey, I rose to the challenge!

Love Letter to Social Media: A Tale of Crafty Inspiration

A while back, I posted a link on Twitter to this awesome tutorial for making little notepads from recycled cardboard from Sister Diane over at CraftyPod. A few weeks later, I ran into my Sweetie's mom and her friend at the bookstore. Sweetie's Mom's Friend (we'll just call her "Donna"*) was giddy with excitement.

Donna had seen the link, gotten inspired, and made a bunch of notebooks! She had one in her purse, and had a whole stack at home ready to give as gifts.

She showed me how she'd used lined paper - she's a writer - to make it easier to jot notes, lists, and ideas.


Donna even used an envelope to add a pocket inside the notebook to hold receipts or business cards or other odd paper bits.

Donna was excited, and I have to admit, I was excited, too! Sister Diane put the tutorial on her blog, and I saw it on my Google reader. I tweeted about it, and that tweet got forwarded to my Facebook. Donna's my friend on Facebook, and she saw the link to Sister Diane's tutorial, and the rest is crafty inspirational history.

And this is the reason I love social media. Because it inspires us and connects us to people and ideas, and ultimately, gets us making things. And I'm happy to be one of many crafty worker bees spreading the creative digital pollen.

*Donna is not her real name. Names have been changed to protect the craft addicted.

Crafty Ideas from Anthropologie: Spring!

I've been doing a lot of tidying around here. Spring cleaning, almost. I finally got my hard drive backed up, and I've spent the better part of two days of washing plastic bottle caps in preparation for some new projects. Thanks to the awesome folks at MacForce, I was also finally able to get a bunch of photos off of my iPhone and into my computer!

So how does this all connect? Some of the pictures were of the latest window display at Anthropologie, and they're very much inspiring some of my new work with reclaimed materials. Anthropologie has wonderful window displays - and they often feature recycled materials. I snapped these just a few weeks ago, and this time around they've used cut up plastic bottles to create Spring-inducing flower arrangements.



Check out the bicycle on display with flowers in the spokes! It looks like the designer may have used pastel or white spray paint to bring out the pastel colors . . .