Winter Wax

I spent a rainy winter Monday playing with wax at Deanna White's country studio. There were just four of us, so it was intimate and cozy. I wasn't feeling overly ambitious or productive, so I just allowed myself to putter -- paint on wax, scrape it off, add a bit more, carve out a door, fill it with wax. Relaxing and meditative. Just what I needed.

Painting With Wax

I got to spend all day Friday playing with colorful wax. I was sicker than a dog, but I had signed up for this all day encaustic workshop a couple of months ago and didn't want to miss it. So armed with cold meds and a very large handkerchief, I made the drive to Deanna's beautiful country home and studio. This was the setting and the view from a couple of windows. It felt luxurious.



My work space. So tidy and full of promise . . . but not tidy for long! Here are before and after shots.



I just love paint pots! I even love the drips, or as Deanna says: Drippity, drip drip.





A word about Deanna. She is everything I want in a teacher: thorough, generous, and patient. She gave us time to create, but was always available if we needed or wanted help. She was encouraging, but not afraid to challenge us. I recommend you take one of her classes if you live in the area.






By the end of the day, I had completed two little encaustics. I was quite pleased with myself and the results!







Toward the end of the day with a little time to spare, I pulled out an unfinished encaustic I had started in Serena Barton's class in the fall. I didn't get a before photo of what I was working on, but here's a link to the class I took with Serena and here is how the piece looked at the end of the day yesterday. I already have an idea of what I plan to do with this encaustic, but will save that for another day.



Deanna and I recently did an art trade and I got to see my Curious Elements hanging in her sun room!

Private Studio Tour: D & D

I have known Deanna White since taking an encaustic class from her several years ago. Recently, we were both on the Visual Artist Studio Tour, so we were unable to visit the studios of other artists. Deanna had an ingenious idea: to tour each other's studio. So we recently did that. Deanna came to my studio for a visit and then I got in my car and followed her out to her studio. Deanna's studio is located in her home - and her home is a beautiful estate in the country. Let's go inside first.









Some of the art in Deanna's studio.




Deanna graciously allowed me to snap a photo of her in her studio.


Here's a peek of her valley view, the grounds, her garden, and of her friendly kitty.






Before heading to Deanna's studio, she picked out four of my Curious Elements that she wanted to purchase. Well, after I saw her work, there were two that I wanted so we worked out a trade! Her art for my art. Perfect.


And look what I came home with.