brilliant use of photos collages and encasutic

Cynthia Hamilton, my daughter, also works in encaustic - completely different from how I work.
I am impressed how she can combine photos and collage into a interesting  story- telling

surfaces - not just sticking a photo in the middle of the board and painting a frame around it. To see her whole series of "The Brides and the Bees", click on the link: http://youtu.be/HvbXfCqjrKs 

This is like being at Grandma's house!

I had 3 of the most delightful people in my workshop Monday and Tuesday. I had planned an advanced technique class, and then at the last minute, after I had gathered all the materials, the class became an introductory one. Since there were only 3 people, everyone got what was almost a private class and by the second day, they had experimented with several techniques beyond the intro level. Gary, a photographer, exclaimed, "This is like being at Grandma's!" You have everything we want just for the asking. I loved his comment and told him I would share it.

We joked a bit about being with Grandma (me) and Flora said, "No you are more like a mother, very caring, thoughtful and directly to the point. I have spent a lot of money since I have been in San Miguel, but this class was the most worthwhile." I said, "I have considered stopping teaching", and she said "You must never stop teaching. You have too much to share." My heart was filled to over flowing.

An encaustic demo

Painting figures in encaustic

Here is the link to the video of how I made this painting. It is 100 cm. x 80 cm. http://youtu.be/9vTFBu6CxvU

Family Vacation, 1937

Are We Painting Who We Are And/Or Our Desires?

This morning I received an email about Feng Shui. The art or science of placement in and around our homes. I have studied it a bit through the years and much of it seems to be instinctual for me. It is similar to composition in a painting. The flow in a home or office should be balanced with no energy blockages.  That is a very brief explanation of Feng Shui.

I have felt for years that we paint who we are. I for one am a very organized, no-frills person. I like to to wear tailored clothes, and can't stand clutter in my home. (Now, I can't say the same for my studio when I am working on several paintings at once.) Even when I was a child, I didn't want to wear anything with ruffles or puffed sleeve's. I do like soft fabrics, textures in clothes and color. My paintings are not subtle. I see them as anything but playful or mysterious. It is not that I don't appreciate that in others' paintings. That is just not who I am.

Back to this mornings email. The invitation was to join Marie Diamond's online a Feng Shui classes.
Marie Diamond is one of the ffeatured teachers in The Secret DVD and in The Secret book.

She related a story of a famous film producer who couldn't get a date. Ms. Diamond noticed that in every corner he had this beautiful image of a naked woman draped with a fabric, kind of turning away as if she were saying, "I don't see you."

She said to him, "I think you might have trouble in your romance."

And he said, "Are you clairvoyant?"

"No, but look. In seven places, you have exactly that same woman."

He said, "But I love that kind of painting. I painted it myself."

Shes aid, "That's even worse, because you put all your creation and creativity in it."

She asked him, "What do you want?"

"I want to date three women a week."

I said, "Okay, paint it. Paint yourself with three women, and hang it in every corner of your living space."

Six months later she saw him and and after he made the self portraits with 3 women he couldn't keep the women away.

This story made me think. "Am I painting what I want in my life?' Looking around at my new series, I thought I sure am! I meditate everyday - twice a day. Going deep into the consciousness of Spirit is the most important thing in my life. I am enjoying this last chapter of my life and choose to spend more and more time in solitude.

What are you painting?

 Take your encaustic painting to the next level!


 https://vimeo.com/ondemand/4167  Here is the link for the 11 advanced technique videos that I have posted for those of you who can't fit in a trip to beautiful San Miguel de Allende. Once they are purchased, they can be viewed over and over at your convenience.