Four at Midnight Sun Brewing Co

What started out as a blustery end of winter day ended with spring sunshine on our opening afternoon.
The show looks great and is a fun mix of art styles. Just in case you can't get there, or need more prompting I'll give you a quick tour of most of the show. I dashed in yesterday to get some photos right at opening time, as it often too busy to get photos without people while they are open. It was a little challenging due to the sunlight streaming in, but you can get the idea. If there is a cloudy morning-I'll head back over and get some more pics. Enjoy.

Darla Myers oils  Erin Osinkosky Monoprints

Darla Myers encaustics

Darla Myers encaustics      Erin Osinkosky collage

Erin Osinkosky collage    Darla Myers encaustics

Cheryl Lyon Oils and Encaustics

Cheryl Lyon encaustic

Wendy Gingell ceramics

Wendy Gingell ceramic

Cheryl Lyon Oil

Cheryl Lyon encaustics

Darla Myers encaustics

Be careful what you ask for!

Artmaking has been a lower priority these past few weeks. This is not a optimum thing in any shape or form. First it was the Pre-Holiday "things to get done and sent", then the Annual Winter Solstice Party-with lots of homemade food to prepare. Now throw the fact that your Lucky Husband just landed a job that he has been preparing and trying for for over 15 years. Oh-the job is just a few states away-Montana! With a short hiring timeline he got barely 3 weeks notice. I'll be holding down the fort in Alaska until warmer weather, then working on the move south.

Can I just say it's always something? I'm feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement which trade place rapidly through each day. My secret hope is that with the "distraction" of Lucky Husband gone-I will spend more time buried in my world of Art. We will see if that comes to fruition. Coping with the anxiety of all the change and facing a BIG move coming on I have turned to ORGANIZATION as a way to settle my mind, not to mention it will make room in the Studio and will make packing and selling art before the move much easier.

I just rediscovered Bento-loaded it on my IPAD (thanks Santa) and am committed to inventorying all  new works and gradually getting older works documented. It's super easy and fun to set up. I'm using a trial version on my Black Mac and know I will be purchasing the full version soon. Also  I decided to make sure that all finished works were wrapped, labeled and accounted for-this is the almost free way to organize paintings. All are wrapped with kraft paper and labeled on the side, as well as a masking tape label with painting name and medium corresponding to it's placement in the box.

Paintings wrapped, labels and put away

More of the finished work new organization 

I did manage to fit in time to rework a painting for the Members Show at International Gallery of Contemporary Art. It is an encaustic that I was not satisfied with-now I like it! The photo does not do it justice-needs to be seen in person. The Members Show will open Jan 6, 5:30-7:30pm and will be on display for the month.

Fall Foliage, encaustic painting

Quiet on the Blog, Busy in the Studio

Yes-I'm attempting to get back to weekly blog posts. While the blog has been pretty quiet, they studio has been busy. Encaustics have been the complete focus with a show coming up next month. I've been listening to my favorite pods casts, which include: Latina USA, Fresh Air and E-town. I think I'm caught up  and need some suggestions for a few new podcasts to paint by. I find that listening to spoken words puts my mind at rest and the creativity flows easier, I listen to the speaker and not my inner critic I guess.

Here a a few quick snap shots of parts of some recent paintings. Better ones will be posted when it's closer to the show.

Two paintings just neared completion this afternoon and I'm really excited by both of them.

 I've got some new formats including a couple diptychs (two piece paintings), that are on 2 square panels, also a couple narrow rectangles. The show will be in downtown Anchorage at the hip little gallery, "Octopus Ink". Stay tuned for more information as the date nears.