Finished the last image for an International competition

Why does the White Dove Call?

Peace Now is a competition being held in Pozos Mexico. It is to benefit Wings of Peace International, an organization with its head quarters in Florida.

Expecting the Change, 24' x 24"

Holding the Light 16"x 28'

"The Way is Not in the Sky. The Way is in the Heart"Buddha

24" x 24"

It has been over 20 years since I entered a competition. It will be interesting to see if the jurors pick any of these pieces. Three of these I have posted before.

Expecting the Change

24" x 24" encaustic on board

This will be my last figurative for a while. I am preparing fresh boards with a milk paint base and will start some more "soft, stained" abstracts.

I couldn't leave well enough alone!

After posting "Holding the Light" a few weeks ago, I felt dissatisfied with it. I worked on it some more and now I don't know if I ruined it or improved it. l'll put it back in the stacks and look at it next week.

#1

#2

What do you think?

Encaustic Art Institute

The Beat of My Heart

Germination

Enthusiasm

Stratum

I am shipping these paintings to the Encaustic Art Institute in New Mexico, tomorrow. All are 6" x 6" in box frames.

recent work

 Layers of Expression, 22" x 32"

Whispers #2, diptych, 32" x 26"

Embolden, 24" x 24"

Tripping the Light Fantastic, 23 1/2" x 16" This last one took off and claimed its own life

I finished several painting that I have been working on for a couple of weeks. The layered oil and encaustic are tricky because I need to give them time to cool and clear before more scraping and fusing.



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a different direction

I felt it was time to change directions in a new series. I still am working out the technical kinks, but I am striving for is a stained canvas look. I start out with milk paint on a new board, or the imitation Venetian  plaster if I am re-using a scraped board. Then I am using oil paint thinned with Liquin and with a gloved hand I move the paint around the board. After the paint is dried or absorbed into the base, I cover the piece with several layers of encaustic medium, scraping and fusing until I get a very smooth surface.

22" x 31" Whispers

 So far I only have a picture of one, a diptych was taken to the Pergola Gallery before I had a chance to photograph it. Soon, I will take more photos....

Weekend in Michoacán

I had a three day vacation in another state in Mexico, Michoacán. It is very different than Guanajato were I live. Michoacán is called the soul of Mexico and is very green. 
Once a year there is a huge artisan market in the city of Urapan where the state judges the crafts that are made by artisans from all parts of Michoacán, buys the products of the prize winners and then sell them in state run stores and museums. This encourages and supports the best artisans, and cooks, to create and compete. Can you image any state in the U.S. doing this?


Before the stalls are opened, there is a big parade where representatives from all the participating cites march and dance, wearing their unique, colorful clothing and carrying  their wares.


I didn't think I could use anything else in my house, but I couldn't resist bringing home some special treasures.

getting ready for Palm Sunday

all hand embroidered

note the ribbons in the hair

carving while in the parade

straw market

I love these black pots, but didn't buy one

We took a cooling break in the park

 Some of the treasures that I couldn't resist.