As I was creating “Earth’s blood/heart’s blood“, the painting began to suggest to me a native American sort of significance for the land. As with almost all my paintings, the title seemed to emerge from the work as it progressed. As this painting evolved, the red felt blood-like, but in a very positive sense – as a shared element between earth and man.
earth's blood/heart's blood 16" x 16" encaustic, oil and image transfer
In this painting, “Climbing” I find myself making references to the landscape, to science and history, but I feel it is mostly about a yearning for celebratory sense of freedom and escape over order and routine – a poetic and panoramic sky juxtaposed over tiny type and the archaic pages of an old science textbook.
"Climbing", 16" x 16" encaustic, oil and image transfer on wood
Canoe Route #2, 24" x 50" - just completed commissioned painting
I’ve just completed “Canoe Route #2″ as a commission for clients who fell in love with the original “Canoe Route” at the TOAE, but as it was sold and a bit too large, decided to go with a custom sized version of their own.
Aside from this commission, I’ve been working hard creating new paintings for a show at the Academy Gallery which opens October 16, titled “Timeless”. This beautiful gallery is in the picturesque town of Bath, 15 minutes west of Kingston.
Mark Gleberzon, artist, friend, happenin’ dude and all round great guy, has opened a lovely new gallery in Toronto’s Cabbagetown area. His doors opened yesterday, August 15, and he’s pretty much ready for business. He has yet to schedule a grand opening soiree – I’ll post that information soon as I know. I have a brand new encaustic painting hanging there, along with some of Mark’s great work and work by several other local artists. MJG Gallery is located at 555 Parliament St, just north of Carlton. As soon as his website is ready, I will post the link here.
"The moon and the tide #2", brand new 36 x 48 encaustic painting - at Mark Gleberzon's MJG Gallery
Its been a while since my last post…. but after the Toronto Outdoor show, once paintings were delivered to clients and galleries, I decided to take a motorcycle road trip with a friend. We were ten days on the road, through the Adirondacks in New York, Green Mountains of Vermont, White Mountains of New Hampshire, Maine, New Brunswick and Cabot Trail of Nova Scotia, and then back again. This incredibly fun and exhilarating ride has left me fully charged to get right back to the studio and into full production mode!
Me and my Ducati on the Cabot Trail, overlooking Ingonish.
A stay -- including gourmet dinner, distillery tour and scotch tasting -- at the beautiful Glenora Distillery and Inn, on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.
The Kancamangas pass, White Mountains, New Hampshire
Now I have a couple of commissions to attend to, plus several of my galleries made sales during my vacation (bonus!) – so aside from creating now work for them, I am beginning work on a series of encaustics for a show at the Academy Gallery in Bath, Ontario. “Timeless” is the title of the show, for which Academy Gallery owner Janice Teare has invited me to be the feature artist. The show will run October 16 to November 6. The picturesque town of Bath sits on the shores of Lake Ontario, just 15 minutes west of Kingston.
I plan to include this painting... well, assemblage really... in the Academy Gallery show. "Lake Effect", 24" x 40", is a set of 15 8" x 8" encaustic tiles, inspired by Lake Ontario
Phew! The dust is starting to settle, in the aftermath of the TOAE. Overall I’d have to say I had a terrific show. I sold eight of my new encaustics, which not only lines the coffers for a while, but is extremely encouraging in terms of the more abstracted direction my work has taken.
The weather was hot – as always! – and the show was exhausting and physically demanding (as always! – artists must take home their work each night… re-hang in the a.m.) – but the crowds were fantastic, and visitors to my booth were full of wonderful comments and appreciation for my work. Many, many people were interested in a further understanding of the encaustic process – which is truly fascinating – so I will publish a page in my blog on that shortly.
Thanks to all who attended, and to numerous friends who stopped by to say hi.
a few folks at my booth
"but does it match the carpet....?"
the happy artist
the client who purchased this large painting, "Canoe Route" told me he felt it was a cross between the work of Tony Sherman and David Bierk - a compliment that made my day!
Its down to the wire (as usual!) with art show preparations! Last minute details, final touches to paintings, wiring and framing, gathering all show materials together, making sure my canopy is waterproofed!!!…. lots left to do yet…. and all fueled with a high level of pre-show excitement/stress/anxiety/anticipation. I’m fully charged up and exhausted at the same time.
So this is my last pre-show post. This piece is one of the farthest abstracted ones I’ve done to date. Its still about the sea, time, distance and navigation… and a powerful longing to travel – not on a plane – but real-time travel, and to watch the sea and the land and the day unfurl as they should….
navigational chart series #2, 16" x 16" encaustic, oil, image transfer and collage SOLD
Hope to see you at the show!
Cheers!
Laura
sea swallow me, 12" x 12" SOLD
This little painting was inspired by the beautiful and haunting song of the same title, by Harold Budd and the Cocteau Twins, which I love.
the moon and the tide, 24" x 24" encaustic and oil SOLD
Fragmentary Blue
Why make so much of fragmentary blue
In here and there a bird, or butterfly,
Or flower, or wearing-stone, or open eye,
When heaven presents in sheets the solid hue?
Since earth is earth, perhaps, not heaven (as yet)–
Though some savants make earth include the sky;
And blue so far above us comes so high,
It only gives our wish for blue a whet.
Robert Frost
