Woodstock, a charming upstate New York town where the locals are laid back and friendly, there's a "certain" perfume in the air and it's really easy to relax :-))
I hooked up with my friend Nancy, to take a 4 day workshop in conjunction with the Center for Photography and R&F Paints. We stayed at a charming B&B - "The Woodstock Inn" and could not have wished for a more idyllic spot with a top notch Inn Keeper and accommodations to match.
The first two days of the workshop we spent in Woodstock at CPW - printing, messing with cyanotypes and prepping images.
Unfortunately most of what was covered on these two days was not new to me and not quite what I had expected, but I digressed a little from the lesson plan and played with a pinhole camera set-up and enjoyed experimenting with printing cyanotypes on fabric.
The next two days we spent at R & F Paints, working in their fabulous studio. As I'd already done a workshop with them several years before there was not too much new learning to be had here either but I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to spend two days dipping, painting and fusing - without having to worry about anything else.
I created some 20 or so pieces over the two days of wax studio time. Some of them were simply experiments that I had the luxury to do, working in an uninterrupted fashion. Others are more complete and perhaps require just a finishing touch here and there.
So, here's a selection of some of the work.... in varying sizes and formats. Most of them 8x8", 7"x7" or 5x7". The smaller sizes were easier to work as samplers as I fussed with ideas and techniques.
Techniques that I worked on included, basic fusing, pouring, embedding, incising, transfers, painting, collage, layering and texture.
The square pieces are all worked on deep cradled gallery boards. The rectangular pieces are all worked on flat masonite.
I'll share some more of the work in another post.
For now though, cheerio and I hope you enjoyed a peek into my waxy adventures!
It all looks wonderful to me!
Posted by: joanne thieme huffman | June 21, 2011 at 09:53 PM
It's a winning combination, using your own photos encased in layers of wax, the results are beautiful. Time spent creating free and clear of everything else life throws at you is priceless, I'd say you made good use of the studio!
Posted by: Bren | June 21, 2011 at 05:37 AM
Loving your creations here. The wax work is simply wonderful!!!
Posted by: Marcie | June 19, 2011 at 02:52 PM
Your adventure with hot wax is fabulous looking....makes me want to go plug in the iron but then my DH might want me to actually USE it so I better not....but your pieces look marvelous!
Posted by: Cynthia Schelzig | June 19, 2011 at 04:31 AM
my favorite is the grey.
Posted by: Susan M | June 18, 2011 at 12:32 PM
This sounds wonderful. And even if the classes were not so new to you, I am sure 4 days of nothing but art was well worth the price of admission. I think the pieces you are showing here are wonderful. And so diverse in style too!
Posted by: Seth | June 17, 2011 at 04:43 PM
amazing work!!!!
loved our time together
and the inn will be on my list for places to stay again!!
Posted by: nancy donaldson | June 17, 2011 at 08:04 AM
Marie, these are so lovely, and what variety! I was reading more about encaustic just this morning. I love your ability to work up a variety in such a limited amount of time! I think my favorite is the middle blue one with the tree, but those buttons! I love the last one. Actually, they are all yummy.
I hope it was just refreshing to be able to play in a warm, friendly setting with a certain 'perfume' in the air!
Posted by: Chris | June 17, 2011 at 12:28 AM
Beautiful work. The first and the b/w are amazing.
Posted by: Ludgera | June 16, 2011 at 10:38 PM
Wish I had been there. Wonderful images. Must get my beeswax out and start messing again soon. Look forward to seeing more.
Posted by: Heather | June 16, 2011 at 04:16 PM
Such beautiful work! And so prolific you were! The textures look amazing!
Posted by: Katja | June 16, 2011 at 04:10 PM
What fabulous "Away Time" you've had. Even if the learning curve wasn't too steep, you've come away with a wonderful stash of waxworks.
I really love the look of depth you've achieved in encaustic. Layers and layers built up with treasures entombed within. I once saw a HUGE piece on show at the St Hilda'a Art Trade Show. It was like a huge vellum piece, until I looked closely and saw that it was encaustic wax.
Looking forward to seeing more of your work,
Cheers,
Cindy
Posted by: Cindy Lane | June 16, 2011 at 09:35 AM
marie, your wax works are interesting, but I'm sorry you werent too taken with the classes. the opportunity to work without interruption must have been delightful! and the location looks pleasant. Do you ever put your work into book form?
Posted by: lyle baxter | June 16, 2011 at 06:42 AM