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I knew it was a matter of time before I wound up needing three areas in which to work! And this was the little guy responsible for it:  This is a typical mop head found in this part of the world. Someone had discarded this mop and I spotted it. Something about the multitude of colors, the threads, the yarns -- it all really talks to me. In fact, it was yelling at me: "Take me! Do something with me! Turn me into art before I wind up in the trash heap!" So I did. I took it, cleaned it, and made it all pretty. And then I did this to it:  I cut a section of the yarn and pinned it to a used "Bounce" dryer sheet. (Another cast off that speaks to me. Dryer sheets say: "Take me and use me! Do not throw me out---and there's many, many more of us. Save us all!". So I did. I've got a butt load of used dryer sheets just waiting for a second use. Here's what it looks like pinned together:  And this is why I needed another room to work in. I used to have a hammock hanging up in this area, but I've converted it to a "sewing room".  You can see where I pinned the mop strands to the dryer sheets -- it's on the table next to the fan in the background. The encaustic section (the next step in this process) is off to the right of the table where I did the pinning. And that makes 3 areas. I'm absolutely amazed I've expanded to use this much space. And to think, a year ago when I found this space, all I wanted was one table to play at. I guess it's true what they say: "We expand (or contract) to fit the rooms in which we find ourselves." By the way, that little room on the left in the above picture? That's actually a kitchen, but a friend is renting it so she can play at mosaics. But when she comes in to work, she hates working alone, so she usually takes one of the areas I've got. She's in for a bit of a surprise if she comes in today, 'cuz I've got all three tables occupied. Anyway, enough of that. Here's the next step in this "let's create a fabulous work of art out of a mop" project. Below is a shot of a longer strip of mop threads. I sewed two dryer sheets together to cover the new dimensions. Then, for fun, I left some of the dryer sheet attached alternatively between the sewn lines. I have no idea how it will look after I dip it in wax.  Here's the first small piece out of the wax. I really like the way it looks actually, But knowing me, I've got to push it...I'll be experimenting with adding more wax, scraping it back, manipulating it. And, oh yes, you see where I cut the dryer sheets away from the sewed columns? Don't think I just tossed them out. I'm saving THEM! I'll do something with them, trust me. (I swear, in another life I must have been a first class hoarder!)  Below is a shot of the first one with more layers of wax on it along with a first dipping of the longer piece. I like the smaller piece in the above shot better, I think. And I'm going to fiddle with what I'm going to do with the bottom one, but for now, I'm still fascinated with the possibilities of this path I'm on.  I hope you'll stay with me on this journey over the next few months. I plan to post lots of progress shots and discussions and I look for your feedback and input! I cannot get this art show ready without your help!
Later, caio!
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Encaustic Workshops, February 2012 -- Part DeauxIt's been a while since the remaining two workshops.....I've been travelling, moving, painting the walls of the new place and working on a couple of commissions. So now, I'm just finding the time, early in the morning to get this post completed. The remaining two workshops were just as fun as the first two. The beauty of workshops is that each one takes on a personality of its own. Some workshops are loud with raucous laughter, others are quieter, with students heavily concentrating on their work. Either way, all work stations began their day with a complete set up. I charge a full price for my workshops, so I do not skimp on the tools or supplies for each student. This is what each student started with each morning, which I think is a pretty good set up:  As you can see in the above photo, each student receives a substrate (canvas) upon which to apply the encaustic paint, multiple brushes, carving tools, texture tools, stencil supplies, and other implements to manipulate the colors in the pots on the hot griddle. Here are photos of students at work, followed by their paintings: 
 This is a close-up of the kind of texture an artist can create utilizing one of the techniques I taught.
The beginning classes were so successful, I have an interest list already built for a second set of beginning classes. Yippee! I think we'll do them towards the end of May. Plus, many of my students are interested in an Intermediate Class where we'll learn more techniques, such as image transfer, more embedding techniques, and possibly the shellac burn technique. Stay tuned for more information on when those workshops will be scheduled! In the meantime, keep scraping to uncover, discover and discard!! Encaustic Workshops, February of 2012 Thinking that others would like to learn about the art of encaustic, I developed a Beginner's Encaustic Workshop at my studio in Boquete, Panama. I wasn't sure just how much interest there would be, and so I limited enrollment to 4 students per workshop and I scheduled four 1-day workshops. Imagine my surprise when almost every spot got filled! I've held two of the four workshops and people seem to be genuinely pleased with both the content, how it's presented, what they've learned and the value received. I'm genuinely pleased with their results. Check out these photos of their paintings and people at work:
And check out these results....
 Library Installation One week ago, the efforts of many years' work by many honorable people in Boquete came to fruition. Boquete's first lending library, in a new, sleek and modern building opened to fanfare. Many speeches were made by local dignitaries -- all in Spanish -- and the folklorico "polleras" ( the gorgeous fancy dresses) were on display. After the typical congratulating of all the hard work by everyone involved, a ribbon was cut, the doors opened and we all filed inside. This is where my involvement began. I had been asked to paint a large encaustic piece as a permanent endowment to the library. In exchange for permanent information about myself displayed next to the 3 ft x 7 ft piece, I agreed. If you want to see pictures of the opening of the library, click here to read about it in my other blog, "thirdworldwife.com". Because RobynColeArtworks is about art, this discussion focusses on the piece itself. For the past 7+ weeks, I have been in my studio full time preparing this piece. Dreaming about it, planning it, designing it, envisioning each panel as it tells the story of Boquete's evolution of art, music and literature. Rather than type on and on about what the piece is all about, I think it's easier to show the painting and the written description next to it. Here goes:  "Art Music, Literature: A Boquete Tapestry" And here is the discussion of the piece:  Here are a couple of more photos, just for funzies:  Showing parts of the painting to friends.  A side view, while patrons explore the piece.  The slightly over-excited artist talking with a patron.
"Ruh Row, Raggie!"
I haven't posted in 6 weeks. And I have a good excuse. Really. They're called Henry and Joe. They're my grandkids and they've been with me for a month. Oh yeah, a couple of others came with them. Like their parents, their aunt, and their other grandmother. But those people are incidental, right? I mean, compared to two darling, blonde 6 and 3 year-olds, EVERYONE else is incidental. They leave tomorrow for England, which is home. Yup, my grandkids speak with English accents because my son married a Londoner and they're raising them in a darling village south of London. Odd to hear my own grandkids say: "Grand-muthuh, might I have a glahss of woe-tuh?" Jeez, they sound smarter than me. After they leave, I'm in the studio solid until January 26th. All will be revealed, but suffice it to say I'm doing a large painting for the new Boquete Public Library. It opens on the 26th and my painting will be featured on the ground floor. And with family staying with us over the holidays, I'm late. Very, very, late. I will see you in late January and I will have posts on my art activities: A truly successful Holiday Selling Season (0ver $1,000 in art sales and 2 more commissions), 20 people interested in an encaustic workshop, progress and photos of the library commission and its development and more! I have no idea what is going on in the world, but I can quote word and verse of the Scooby Doo movie. Rock on, Scooby. "Ruh Row, Raggie!" I'm Like a Kid on Christmas Eve!You know that feeling you had as a kid on Christmas Eve? When all of life's wondrous gifts were still possibilities? When the puppy you'd been praying for could STILL be on Santa's agenda? When that guitar you'd begged and begged for just might be hidden in the house somewhere? That's how I fee right now. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. Because starting tomorrow, I will be able to roll up my sleeves and get into making encaustic art BIG TIME!! I haven't been able to truly begin experimentation because: A) the encaustic set of medium and paints I originally had were only a starter set and B) I've been researching the best way to get the best grade wax imported into Panama. But now that all comes together: My 10 pounds of wax and 2 lbs of damar resin (for hardening) have arrived at Airbox Express in downtown Boquete. I found a set of pots for melting large amounts of wax at a patio sale at The Zapadora in Potrerillos today. My neighbors gave me a hot plate they're no longer using. I've bought 5 tubes of oil paint I will use as pigments after I dry some of it out. And, through the generous loaning of a miter saw by my friend Kelly Collier and the access to a free wood pile by Michelle Brewer of Bajareque Wood in Volcancito, I have been making my own substrate wood panels for next-to-nothing in cost. Tomorrow I plan to lay out oil paint to dry, I plan on melting 6 to 7 parts wax with 1 part resin to create my medium. Normally I would use an 8 to 1 ratio, but encaustic expert Joanne Mattera suggested I use a little bit more resin because of the additional oils from my oil paints I'm using as pigments. Normally one would use dry pigments to mix with the wax medium, but I'm starting with oil paints as they are more accessible here in Panama. I don't have any photos to show you, but I would like to begin referencing some of my favorites in this industry. I love love love the work of Gilda Snowden. She is a Detroit artist my age and loves to upload videos. I've watched almost every one and this recent one has really captivated me. I plan on painting in the pouring style she shows in this studio tour. Enjoy, and I'll post pictures of work in progress tomorrow! I had troubles embedding her video, so just click on this link to watch it. |
