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.

I Keep Remembering More Things

Last month my sister commissioned me to do one of my striped abstract landscapes after she saw a couple of pieces I had done over the summer. I took an old canvas that already had some sand on it from a sand painting class a year ago. The texture on the canvas was perfect and I got started adding layers and layers of colors.


I finished the piece this week, which I've titled: I Keep Remembering More Things.



I personally delivered Denise's art to her on Wednesday afternoon, and although she was waiting for John to get home to hang it, she held it up so we could get an idea of what it would look like. Perfecto! She was thrilled.




Denise forwarded this photo later that day:

Anatomy of a Creepy Doll: Meet Molly

Anyone that knows me at all or has been to my studio knows that I love me a good creepy doll. I collect and display them throughout my studio and never get rid of them. But when Renee of Stone Buddha in Silverton put out a call for her Creepy Doll Show, how could I resist. So I chose Molly, a recent addition to my menagerie of lost dolls, to be the centerpiece of an old wood box. The box was also a recent acquisition and came filled with vintage shoe repair bits: an assortment of heels, rusted nails, and all kinds of push pins and tacks. Turned upright, it begged to house a doll. Enter Molly with her poor little gnawed off hands.









Molly is ready for her debut. Her story goes like this:

It was a tragic accident -- a day at the park that went horribly wrong . . . the merry-go-round was removed a short time later. Molly has been on a quest ever since, devouring medical books and articles on transplantation, implants, and prostheses. Molly hopes that one day science will catch up with her dream, her dream to become a surgeon.




Molly's housing with prosethic information and her story tag attached.




Preparing Molly for her journey to Silverton.



Saying good-bye to Molly after dropping her at the store.


Stone Buddha is located in the heart of Silverton and the Creepy Doll Show runs through the month of October.

Wabi Sabi Wax

I had the privilege of spending the day with Serena Barton on Sunday taking her Wabi Sabi Wax class. Last year I took Serena's Wabi Sabi class, sans the wax, and loved it so much I came back for more this year with the luxurious addition of wax. I spent the day playing to my heart's little desire. I started about five pieces, and finished two. Here's how my day progressed, from Serena sharing her supplies, to her demos, to my attempts, and finally Show 'n Tell and my finished pieces.








Time for me to jump in!






At the end of the day Serena led us around the room for a time of Show 'n Tell. Here's Serena and a sampling of the other artist's work.







I believe these two are completed!