Beautiful review

I just read this review of my memoir on Amazon, and I am touched and humbled. I don't know the person who wrote it, but I hope to meet her someday.
If you are interested in reading my story, you can download it in digital form:
An Artist's Memoir, Fireworks at Dawn:
http://tinyurl.com/9s37z7y


I found Ezshwan's amazing encaustic work online. All of her images are so well executed. I love her use of color and texture. Looking into the eyes of the portraits she paints, one can almost feel life in the images. I have been amazed with the variety and scope of her art, so I knew at once I would love to read her memoir.
I settled into a comfy chair on my deck and spent the entire day reading. This was my Summer read and it was greatly satisfying. True to the scope and variety of her art so it was/is with her life. It is amazing how harsh realities and struggle can shape a life into one who shares so readily and brings such beauty into the lives of others. Ezshwan is very much an inspiration to me and many others and I hope one day to meet her.
Ezshwan bravely tells her story in a heartfelt authentic way. I would highly recommend this read for anyone who wants to see genuine accomplishment and preservation through grace under pressure. Thank-you for sharing Ezshwan. :) 

 

Welcome to my home gallery

Living room

  

I have hung a lot of paintings in my home to prepare for an open house/open studio in October. Here is a preview of how it is shaping up. What do you think about home shows? And do you have any suggestions for portable walls? I am thinking of something like a strong folding screen.

Dinning area

Entrance hall

Hall

Bedroom

Bedroom

Hall

Entrance to living room.

Between kitchen and dinning area

Kitchen

Hall

Lots of replacement paintings when needed

studio

Studio

Making a new painting out of an old one

I got this painting back from a gallery last week and put it in the kitchen where I could see it while I was taking a break and eating dinner. I wasn't comfortable with it. The composition seemed awkward.

So yesterday, it went back into the studio for a complete face lift. Now, I am ready to send it back out into the world. It is part of my "Arms Wide Open Series".

I have been working on this painting off and on for a couple of weeks. I started out by putting it in the hot sun and scraping it down to the board, leaving lovely stains on the milk paint base and a very thin layer of wax. I then starting drawing with charcoal, and scraped out the figures. I kept adding encaustic paint, oil stick glazes, more charcoal and on and on.

I am thinking of calling it "Flirtation" Any suggestions or comments?

Usually, I work to achieve a glass-like surface, but because I teach so many workshops, I experiment with other techniques and surfaces so I can share the information.
These two paintings are like excavations - so the titles...Lots of digging, cutting into and spraying water into hot encaustic to create a lava-like surface.

Excavation 1

Excavation 2

I never run out of things to try with encaustic.

I have received some personal messages from readers who have liked and/or identified with my memoir, but now I am requesting that  any of you who have read my book to please add a comment on the Amazon page. http://tinyurl.com/9s37z7y 

Still reworking

What's my name? 16" x 16"

"Oriental Jewel" 12" x 12"

I am pulling more and more old paintings out of the stacks and working over them. With encaustic, it just seems to make them more interesting and luminous. Here are two I finished today. I have many more unsatisfactory paintings that are waiting to be saved. At this rate, I can keep busy for many weeks.

I can't think of a name for the orange painting. Can anyone suggest a title?