Encaustic Painting in Maine...

I have become totally enamored with Encaustic painting. Studying the Encaustic's Realm, a tutorial and some inspiration from Jasper Johns, Miranda Lake and other Encaustic Artist's sealed the deal. I am in love with this medium. The sweet smell of honey and the rich colors of pure pigment are absolutely intoxicating. I recently finished a workshop at MECCA (Maine College Of Art) with a fantastic

instructor Kim Bernard. She is brilliant, fun and very talented. If you have a chance to study with her, do it.
The workshop was "Technique" driven. Brushing up on the the basics and also many new tricks with color, heat, fusing and transferring images. This was the perfect 2 day Art Workshop.
Each piece featured in this article is 5x5 "The Bee, Butterflies,Dragonfly, & Nest". All feature different techniques, approaches and colors. My Art Studio here in Maine is a very busy place these days!

Science & Art...

This mixed media portrait was a fun and interesting project. I have featured the physicality as well as some of the "interior' stuff that makes me tick. I am amused by most things and love the analytical and scientific, the natural and celestial world and of course, quirky and beauty. This incorporates many of those key "me" elements. I am looking through a monocle, haloed by a map of the starry sky, with a radiometer perched above, which when hit by the sunshine whirs about giving the piece instant motion! A paintbrush with dried paint is balanced atop of 2 eggs (Yes they always seem to show up!)
This piece also features a California coastal map, covered in some of my favorite Fibonacci numbers. I used a variety of color mediums, pastels, paint, grease pencil and medium gel. All in all it is fun, interesting and makes me smile. This piece is 16x21.

Three Feet of Goldfish, Sweet...

This has been a very productive 2 weeks of painting. One of the finished pieces is 3, 12" canvases with 9 Goldfish swimming happily along. This piece has an abstract style water background and the fish are painted with thin layers of Translucent Golden Acrylic paints. Ahhh, swim little fishies!

Goldfish, at Last...

I have been studying Goldfish for well over a year. My goal was to figure out the shimmers and glimmers of these beauties. Goldfish have a unique shape and they come in many sizes and colors. So after slogging through numerous photos, books and other paintings I was ready to paint these fish myself! I created a background that has the colors of water with plant, light and sunshine affecting the shades. Fun.

After sketching the fish, loosely with a pencil onto the canvas, the moment arrived. All of my theories and techniques came together in a perfect storm and 5 Goldfish appeared on the canvas.. Yes I am joyous, I am happy to look upon my canvas of Goldfish, finally!



Goldfish #1.... 2'x2' Acrylic on canvas.

One Morning In Maine Laboratory...

This piece has been in the works for several months. Inspiration? Simple, I love Maine.


I have been walking on the Rocky Coast for more than 20 years. I was lucky enough to move here in 2001. What a truly beautiful spot, this Maine coastline. On my walks I find funny and interesting things like Heart Rocks, Egg Rocks, Moss and Seaweed, Junky Bottles, Feathers, Sea Glass, Sand Dollars, Urchins, Clam and Mussel Shells and funky pieces of Wire. Most of the pieces in this box I have had stashed away for many years. I found this old junky brown 4' box at a Junk Store and knew that it was indeed the box for my Maine Laboratory. I painted the box to look as if it was also found on the shore, added a glass front and pulled the whole piece together with wire and string. That is it. One of my favorite moments of this piece is the magnifying glass section. It allows one to see up-close a fun Mussel/Barnacle sculpture Neil gave to me last September when we had the magical "Full Moon Week in Harpswell." This piece measures 4'x 15".
CLICK ON ARROW BELOW TO VIEW SLIDESHOW

Branchy Nest...

Branchy Nest was inspired by the color palette I was using when I was working on my Assemblage piece "One Morning in Maine Laboratory".

This very large Nest Painting was painted loosely and more abstract. I have been studying Field guides to Nests mostly because it is very interesting.






I was struck by the amount of energy that truly goes into building a nest and how large some birdies make their nests. Cool fact: Crows nests have an outside diameter of 22-25" and an interior measurement of 10 or so inches. WOW! It is winter in Maine and there is plenty of time to study things of this nature! I like the peaceful, quiet, all is right with the world feeling it seems to evoke. This canvas is 6'x2', it was painted with Golden Acrylics and Glazes.

December POP Art...

December is a busy month for all of us but I was on a mission to finish these pieces before Christmas. Achieved!





I love creating pieces of art that feature my darling fellow and partner Neil. I found an old photo of him para-sailing in Florida. These 2 pieces were inspired by the Warhol series of manipulated photos. This was fun and I loved using the bright primary colors. The energy is as strong as the color palette. This is a mixed media piece: wood substrate, paper, Acrylic paint, Black Grease Pencil, a compass and found words.