A Cornfield, some Fireflies and a Starry Sky...

March has been a very busy month. I have curated 3 Exhibits. The Salt Exchange "Farm To Table", Tao Restaurant, Maine Nature " Birds, Sky & Water" and later in the month at The Chocolate Church Art Gallery "Fiddleheads and Springtime Pleasures.
For the "Farm to Table" Exhibit I created a Series, "In and around the Cornfields".

A Cornfield as the Crow Flies 40x30 Acrylic on Canvas

   I was inspired by the thought of  a Crow, who would be swooping towards a Cornfield then up towards a fair weather sky, I was interested in the point of view that would translate onto a canvas.

Corn in a Twilight Sky  24x18 Acrylic on Canvas

CornStalk  18x24 Acrylic on Canvas

Cornstalks have many colors in the leaves and the stalks. It was fun to paint them with a Twilight Sky and on a Sunny day.

Fireflies on a Starry Night  48x24  Acrylic, Rice paper mounted on Birchboard

Fireflies are the magic of a warm summer evening. I loved the thought of these blinking beauties on a Star filled Night. Looking up over the tops of the Cornfield and up into the heavens. Life is a wonder.

Encaustic Etched Birds...

"Blue Jay" Encaustic, Etched + Oil Pigments 10x10

I recently completed these two Encaustic pieces.
The Blue Jay is a fun one, I was imagining him on his perch high above the forest floor, sqwaking.
The Jay is part of the larger family of birds called Corvids. Not surprisingly, this family includes Crows and Ravens. Explains the noisy nature of the Jay!

"Red Crossbill" Encautsic, Etched + Oil Pigments 10x10

The Red Crossbill is perched in the pines. The winter sky tells the story of a cold day. This birdy has its feathers ruffled out a bit to keep warm.

Seaweed Paintings on Rice Paper and Canvas...

Seaweed/Bullwhip Kelp Forest. 20x30 Acrylic + Rice Paper on Canvas

Kelp Forest II  24x36 Acrylic + Rice Paper on Canvas

This series of Kelp Paintings is very dear to me. When I am painting a Kelp forest, it feels like I am swimming in the currents of the Sea. So gentle, yet strong. These paintings are available. For  inquiries, please send an email.
 I love the sea, under the water, the surface and the rocky shore. Kelp lives in healthy Oceans. Fall in love with the Ocean, the Gifts you will receive are many. Check out the organization www.oceana.org this is a wonderful site, your curiosity will be engaged and delighted!

Encaustic Heron in the Marsh...

Great Blue Heron in the Marsh    Encaustic+Oil Pigments    30x20

Today I finished a very large Encaustic piece in my Studio.
This Heron has many shades of greys, blues and whites. It is a very large portrait, almost life size!

Great Blue Heron      Detail

Great Blue Heron      Detail

Encaustic Birds and a few Bees...

I have been busy working in my Encaustic Studio.
On these cold days the warmth of the hotplate and molten Beeswax (210 degrees) is a heady combination. Nothing is quite like Encuastic medium that smells like sweet honey!

Blue Jay - Encaustic + Oil Pigments - 16x20

Detail, Blue Jay

Kingfisher - Encaustic + Oil Pigments - Etched - 8x8

Bees Collecting Nectar from a Chive Blossom - Encaustic + Oil Pigments - 10x10

Opening Night at The Salt Exchange...

Come and see my Marsh Collection, featuring Encaustic Paintings of Herons, Egrets, a Kingfisher, a Raven and a Blue Jay with a few other Encaustic Painting surprises!
The Exhibit runs through the month of February. Tonight is First Friday ARTWALK in Portland.
The Salt Exchange Restaurant and ART Gallery is hosting 5 Artist's and will have the Band, Jazz Alchemy playing their sweet riffs. Great food, prepared by Chef Adam White. It will be a fun evening. I am excited!
5-8, Friday February 1st
The Salt Exchange Restaurant and ART Gallery
245 Commercial St. Portland, Maine

Encaustic Heron Paintings...

Heron in the Marsh, 8x10 Encaustic + Oil Pigments

I was going through my portfolio and noticed in the past few years I have created eight Encaustic paintings of Herons. I love to walk on the edge of the sea or on the paths that skirt Marshes and Estuaries, listening and looking for these majestic Shorebirds. In the winter in Florida they really are every where, Herons and Egrets, both very tall and gawky and kind of out of proportion. Herons have a 6 foot wingspan and are quite graceful in flight. They are easy to study because they stand still, always waiting for a fish to come by so they can spear them with their super-sized beaks. You can recognize their call, it sounds like this, krooooonk, if you made that sound deep in your throat.
They will always leave the summer marshes, and head south before the cold and ice set in. If you see a Heron in a winter setting, that Heron has chosen not to go south. They know they have just enjoyed their last summer in the marsh. Herons delight me. They are fun to watch, photograph and to paint.

Heron Caught a Fish, 8x10 Encaustic + Oil Pigments

Heron waiting for a Fish in the Marsh, 8x10 Encaustic + Oil Pigments

Heron in the Marsh, 8x8  Encaustic + Oil Pigments

Heron Wading in the Marsh, 10x22 Encaustic + Oil Pigments

Early Morning Heron 14x14 Encaustic + Oil Pigments

Heron Portrait, Detail, 10x22 Encaustic + Oil Pigments

Heron in the Mangroves, 10x10 Encaustic + Oil Pigments