Taking a Break From Our Studios

new encaustic work by Cynthia Hamilton

The art reception, and open studios, Sunday was fun for us. In spite of roads being blocked by Indignious dancers and some people not being able to get here in the usual 15 minutes, - (rather an hour and a half ) we had a constant flow of guests who came to enjoy the art, eat Cynthia's delicious food, (lettuce wraps and pasta salad) drink wine and talk about the portraits and Cynthia's encaustic process. The rain held off until 4 pm.

It took a lot of time and energy to prepare for the show and we are taking a break to go to Mexico City to refresh and inspire our creative spirits.

I only got a couple of photos when the first guests arrived.

Our first guests,(a coup;e of faces are missing, because they were purchased)

Marsha with her portrait.

Cold Wax and Oil

I made 6 more portraits, but not for the show. They are cold wax and oil. A very different process. I hadn't worked in cold wax for ages and I had to re-think the process. I haven't seen many (or any) portraits done in cold wax and oil, just abstracts.
If you know of any artists working figuratively in this medium, please let me know.

The rest of this day, I will be working in the studio, cleaning and arranging for the show on Sunday. NO painting. I need a break.

Both Cynthia (Hamilton) and I will have our studios open Sunday and there will be a variety of work, sizes, techniques and prices along with champagne and pop corn

Fifty Faces & Open studios, Sunday, June 28, 1 - 4

    You will get clear directions to our home/studios/gallery at my website: www.ezshwan.com

More older work and maybe a new blog

 I am being besieged by hits on this blog from Russia. I can't image that my work is wildly popular over there. I am thinking that I may have to start a new blog. It would be a shame to loose all the years of posts.
I looked into the possibility of blocking those hits - they  do not come in as spam, but can't find a way to do that. Any suggestions?

Abstract Paintngs

I have been posting paintings from my archives. Some of you may not know or might have forgotten that I also paint abstracts. Here is a flip book from a coupe of years ago showing some of my encaustic abstracts.http://www.flipsnack.com/7CAFB586AED/f7plv3mp.html

After the commissioned portrait that I am working on and after our open house exhibit of the 50 Faces, I want to experiment with abstract painting using cold wax - or may be a HUGE face. So much to do and so little time.

Jazz Paintings

For more than 12 years, I painted and sketched only jazz musicians. I traveled with my late husband to recording sessions, jazz festivals and concerts and always had my sketchbook with me, I drew with ink, working rapidly. The musicians were in action and I wanted to catch the energy. I converted many of these sketches into paintings that I exhibited at the Nice (France) jazz festival every summer. I continued to go to jazz clubs to sketch even after Kai died, but realized after a couple of years that jazz wasn't a big part of my life anymore, and moved on to other series. It is nice to look back and remember that special time.

The paintings are no longer available. All have been sold. One is in a museum permanent collection; another is in a college permanent collection.

A Mural from the early 90"s

I have always enjoyed working big and there is nothing like the challenge of a wall mural. This one was for a client of Cynthia's in Chicago. I was living in Phoenix, AZ. at the time, so I flew in and did all the figurative painting on this mural that wrapped around 3 walls in a private home. Cynthia Hamilton, (my daughter) did all the background. We were a good team since our schedules were so different. I arrived at her huge loft early in the morning, quit about 5 pm and she arrived late and worked most of the night. Cynthia and a friend installed the finished mural in the home after gold leafing the ceiling.

I sketched it out in charcoal and then painted with acrylic

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finished portion of the mural

More from the Archives

Feeding the Chickens

These paintings date from about 1969. All were painting with acrylic. None are available.

The Dress Aunt Minnie Made

John

The New Shop

Going Back in Time

Maybe it is Mercury Retrograde that is influencing me to look at older work or just a space in time between projects.

I was once asked if I had ever had therapy, and it was then I realized that my art is my therapy, marking passages of my life, experiences and learning.

You Must Lift Yourself From Hell Alone, 1996

Other Realities 2002

The Earth is Expecting... 2000

I don't remember the name of this one. It was sold years ago and it was large enough to be a room divider. It is the back of this triptych.