kdb-ART Laboratory & Studio

The new kdb-ART "Studio/Laboratory" has been an ongoing project for many months. How exciting to have different areas for Encaustic, Painting & Assemblage. The Studio will be ready for the exploration and creation of Encaustic, Paint and Assemblage Art very soon. YAY.

Note the use of old church doors as the balustrade for the stairwell.

This Birch Tree will provide the perfect place to keep my nests for further study.

The antique windows create a visual wall for the client area, yet allow the light to reach into the north side of the studio.

Mirrors allows the light to bounce around and make the space feel like an Aerie. The studio looks out from the third floor, through the treetops and out to the river in the distance. It feels like an Eagles Aerie.

The client area is located in the sunny south facing area of the studio. Great light and views. A big special thanks to Greg Simard our very creative builder and Neil Shankman, my partner and great supporter of the arts.

Topshelf Event...

This Seaweed shelf was created for an event at the Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor. "Topshelf", is a fundraising event featuring many Artistic interpretations of a pine shelf that the committee gave to each of us to "paint" as we see fit. I thought seaweed and shells would be appropriate for Maine, we have over 4000 miles of coastline and a whole lot of seaweed. I mounted Rice paper on the Pine surface and then used Acrylic paint for the Seaweed and background. It was fun to attach the gastropods on the edge of the shelf and give them a light coat paint creating a golden glow. Mmmm. I was tempted to keep this little beauty. If you would like to check out the Auction and see all of the other Artist's work, log onto the Maine Discovery Museum. You will not be disappointed.

Avian Box of Curiosities

As an Artist I like to use many mediums. Recently I gathered up a stack of antique and vintage wooden boxes, some embellishments a few scientific items, eggs and nests.
I am a longtime fan of Joseph Cornell who was an amazing Assemblage Artist in his time. He typically incorporated whimsey, science and natural materials to create his very cool masterpieces.

So with Joseph Cornell and a world of birds as my muse, I created this Avian Box of Curiosities. Some of the materials are natural, others are man-made. It is always fun thinking of how to fit various boxes into a cohesive whole and then the challenging but fun process of what to do with the negative space.

Most of the materials used for the box are antique and vintage. I attached all of the boxes and small drawers together and added a scroll and some trim pieces. Painting them all white unified the pieces making it seem like it was always a whole unit. Painting the box white was a nod to assemblage artist Louise Nevelson, a famous NYC Assemblage Artist who grew up in Maine.

It is always a joy to display eggs & nests in a creative manner.

The egg being held by an antique draftsman's caliper is one of my favorite moments in this piece.
I find a pattern emerging in my assemblage pieces, a large magnifying glass. This seems to be a signature that I regularly incorporate into my assemblage pieces.

I like the interactive quality that a magnifier brings to a small object and it allows the viewer to participate in the piece.

Look closely, notice a large Shell with a nest, 2 Eggs as drop finials at the top of the piece or the Araucana Egg used as a vase for a feather.

Fun, Scientific and somewhat entertaining, a Curious Birdie World!

Drawn From Nature Art Show...

I have been working very hard to create pieces for this very special show.  You will see some new kdb Encaustic paintings Assemblage, and Acrylic paintings.

The other artists in the show are Nancy Keenan Barron a painter and Allen Ponziani a sculptor. Chocolate Church Center for the Arts, Art Gallery is hosting this show. This show will be featured through October 30th.
The big opening is Friday, September 16th, 5-7pm.
I would welcome a visit, stop by if you have a moment.
If you miss the opening, the gallery hours

can be found at the Chocolate Church website.
If you would like to keep current on all of the shows and openings for kdb-art you can "like" on Facebook.

See you Friday.

Encaustic Shore Birds...

I am currently working on a series of Encaustic Shore Birds. Caspian Terns, Great Blue Herons and a few Pelicans, adolescent and mature.

These birds can be found in nature at their rookeries on the gulf coast. To be precise the North Eastern corner of the Everglades. These shore birds breed on the outer islands. Some are nesting on the Mangrove Islands, others can be found on the around the lagoons on the outer islands that are formed from shells and coral.

They are best viewed quietly from a small skiff. Using a telephoto lens is the trick. The experience is amazing. As a society we need to make sure these birds and habitats are still around for many generations to come after us.
The first in the series is the Herons. To learn more about the sea around us you may want to check out my two favorite and highly informative books.The Edge of the Sea and The Sea Around Us, both by the naturalist, Rachel Carson. Also  Oceana, by Ted Danson
If you are a curious sort of person you will not be disappointed and I think we can never know too much!

This series will be hanging at the Group Show,  "Drawn From Nature" at The Chocolate Church Arts and Performing Center in Bath Maine. September 16th-late October.

Under The Sea and on The Shore...

The newest Kelp in the ongoing series. The Bullwhip Kelp is Acrylic on Canvas with Rice Paper. I also finished an Encaustic and Oil Pastel of a Great Blue Heron.
All are on display, Friday August 12th at The Brunswick Inn, 165 Park Row, Brunswick, Maine. 
See you there.

KDB ART Books...

So for all of you who are fans of kdb-art, I have several books available online. You can click this link,  KDB-ART Books and order the book of Art or Photography that interests you.
I have several books of Encaustic Painting mixed with a bit of paint on canvas.

The first is "The Natural World of KDB ART"
this small gem is filled with work created in the late winter through late spring of 2011. You will find, Birds, Bugs, Ferns, Nests, Shells & a few winter Birch with Crows and Cardinals.

Next, "Under The Sea" is a collection of mostly Encaustic pieces inspired by the sea, Hamachi & Blue Fin Tuna, Octopus, Clam Shells, Mussel Shells, Lobsters and Kelp floating in the ocean currents.

The following two books are both Photography.

"Birds of Marco Island and the Gulf of Mexico" is filled with images of these graceful creatures who grace the coastline. They inhabit the many Barrier and Mangrove Islands of this ecologically delicate region of the world.

"Summer Nature. . . .  M a i n e" is chocked full of images that reflect my deep love for warm months and all things living or displayed mostly in our garden, in Topsham Maine.
Take a look, you will not be disappointed. To order click the link, KDB-ART Books.