Sunflower Heaven

It has been a busy two weeks. My mother had surgery that didn't go as planned and I got behind on my studio work. Today I decided to take a needed day off from responsibilities.
We spent the morning at the flea market and on the way home couldn't resist stopping at this field of sunflowers and taking pictures. Hope your enjoying your Sunday.

Ink drawings for the Rhinebeck Inn

I was commissioned to paint four paintings for the Rhinebeck Inn.
This is a detail from the Deer Hill suite.

This is the Rye Field suite.

An another view of the Rye Field room.

This is the Spirited Dove suite.

A detail of the old chest from the Spirited Dove room, did you notice the date? The inn keeper didn't ask for a painting of the antique chest. It was so lovely I couldn't help myself. This ones for me.

The Plow & Harrow is the final suite.
Tomorrow I will start adding the watercolor, and by the end of the week you will see the final paintings.

Pursuing his dreams...

This summer, my son Luciano was pursuing his dreams of acting by attending Geva Theatre's
Summer Academy. Geva's summer academy is a five-week professional theatre training program for 30 selected young actors. The students took courses in acting, voice and diction, movement, monologues, expansions and improvisations.

This year's camp celebrated Modern theater. The 2010 showcase was based on Ray Bradbury's classic novel, Fahrenheit 451.
Luciano's character was the young boy in the adaptation from Shipwrecked by Donald Margulies.

Final photograph of the entire cast and directors. Bravo to all! It was an amazing show.

Proud parents

Grandparents Marlene and Donald Maggio

Great Aunt Georgia and Grandma Jane

Just love this picture, and I wonder where my children get their creative expression from.

Final day of our workshop

Mix media college with rice paper, cheese cloth and stamps.

I think this one needs something more, and think I should take off the brown paper dragon fly and just stamp it onto the piece.

Tried using magazine college with tea leaves and cheese cloth. I did add three distressed tea bag tags but lost them when I added clear wax. The wax turned white when it dried.

Final piece for the day. Lots of layers that I drew a grid into, than pushed purple oil pastel into the lines. I wiped most of the purple off and thought it was looking good. Then tried adding clear wax over that turned my piece white again so I added more color and tried scraping away some of the color. I actually think I like this. There most be something you can add to the wax that allows it to stay transparent when it dries.

On a side note one of the books our instructor suggested we purchase was Embracing Encaustic by Linda and William Womack. During lunch, I pursued though the book and to my delight one of my favorite encaustic artist's work was featured in the book,
Bridgette Guerzon Mills . I also follow her blog and left a message telling her I was taking the workshop. Please make sure you stop over to her website and blog, Contemplating the Moon.
You're in for a real treat.

Encaustic Workshop day 1

Enkustikos Hot Cakes
Today and tomorrow is professional development for the art teachers at Eastridge. We are learning how to paint using bee wax or better known as Encautic painting.

Artist and teacher, Giacomo Sciarrone is teaching the class.

Catherine shown above is working on her painting. She has definitely done this before.

My first time working/playing with encaustic paint.
Wasn't really sure what I was doing but it sure was fun!

First stage of the second painting. I discovered the heat gun.

Building layers with contrast and texture.

Last picture for today. Tomorrows class... college, more incising and image transfer.

Wishing for cooler days

Another hot and muggy morning and I'm dreaming of being at the lake. Thought you might enjoy this mix media piece that I did after a trip to Keuka lake.