Faux Encaustic Experiments

As I said in a earlier post this morning, I've been reading about faux encaustics. I don't have all the supplies I need....oh yippie! More art supplies to order! But I decided to mess with what I have and see what came of it.

I didn't spend too much time on planning these small studies. I really wanted to get into using the mediums. They are both done on gessoed watercolor paper with fluid acrylics, acrylic mediums, Caran d'Ache Neolocor 1, cheese cloth and threads. The pics are by my sister, Roberta Fair. The first one is acutally not cut off on the right tree. I just took a crooked pic and ran out of daylight. On the second one, anyone know why the 'here kitty kitty? :)

Lots to learn here and several techniques and materials to try. And it's time to move to canvas. And bigger. EEEK!!!

Mixed Media Collage

Sunday I finally picked up a brush and have been sort of going nuts! I have only one finished piece to show for it, but lots of experiments in the works. I'm working on the faux encaustic techniques and have some supplies to get that will help, but I've got several little ones going that will be posted soon....if I don't wreck them in the process! Learning tons! More later...

This new one is a mixed media collage done on gessoed watercolor paper. It's 6 1/2 x 14 and is mostly acrylics. I've used several mediums, all by Golden, including a new one to me that's already a favorite, fiber paste. Cool stuff. It's also got garnet gel , coarse and extra coarse, and charcoal. The paints are all fluid acrylics. The photograph is by my sister, Roberta Fair, a fantastic photographer.

Lingering Muse

It's been several weeks since I've gotten my brushes wet. I've been in kind of a slump I guess. I've been really busy at work and church and dealing with some personal issues. My muse has not been gone, but lingering. So I've been doing what my friend Bob Hague says to do at such times....I've been reading my art books and watching my art DVDs. And it's working! I'm getting all inspired! Yippie!

I've been reading about encaustic painting and some of the faux encaustic techniques in my current 3 favorite books. If you haven't yet, check out Acrylic Revolution by Nancy Reyner, Rethinking Acrylics by Patti Brady, and Creative Paint Workshop for Mixed Media Artists by Ann Baldwin. There are so many cool things that I can't wait to try!

Congratulations Jessie!!!

I'm so proud of my wonderful niece, Jessie Fair, who graduated from Cornell on Sunday. She's one of the most talented people I know and I just know the Lord has big plans for her! Check out her fantastic tights on her new ShiboriLove Esty Shop. I love this picture of her taken by my sister and her mom, photographer Roberta Fair.

Waiting for Mom....

My babies waiting in the window for me to get home. By the time I got to the door, they were there waiting for kisses. That's Leapy on the left in the box and Sweet Face on the right.

My Annie

Today it's been one year since my Annie died. I still miss her so much and think about her all the time. I miss the way she was always with me, following me, never leaving me alone. I miss her sleeping on my chest every night. I miss her being next to my computer in her box whenever I was working. She was perfect in every way and there will never be another like her.

I'm very grateful for my new babies, Leapy and Sweet Face, who have done much to ease me through the grieving process. They are working hard to fill the void. I adore them and they're just what I've needed. I think Annie would like them. I can imagine her playing with them...she could be so kittenish at times.

Annie, I will always love you. My girl.