Artful Dreaming

Emergence of a Dream         (C) oil and wax  gls

Could be the slightly cooler temperatures signaling the end of summer coming, or maybe the fact I have been super tired from returning to work after an amazing summer, or perhaps I just have a lot of unconscious inner ramblings which have been filling my nights with vivid dreams. Perhaps they arose from a Reiki session, my first, which was very enlightening. Perhaps the dreams come from an inner peace....For whatever reason, my dreams are filled with a myriad of imagery and even sounds. Some are waking dreams which cause me write them down, some lead to a deeper dreaming path into a world full of visual language and some sort of geography of my inner most thoughts and visions. My mental notebook is full of these images. Eventually, I will transfer them to a visual reality through art. 

New Cold Wax and Oils

Heat Lightening

Rising Above (SOLD)

 Fincastle Field 

 Passages 1

Winter Messenger

 Earth Speak

Geography of the Soul

End of Summer

     With summer break ending soon, I am not really sure where the summer went. Most of it was spent dodging the horrid heat. It has been a very long time since we have all experienced a summer like this. I tried staying cool by flashing back to cooler days, much cooler days, and snow days! Sometimes it would actually work....sipping hot tea, making a pot of vegetable soup, and curled up with a book as I looked out at birds scrambling for seed on the newly fallen snow. (Coolness....ahahah). I can not wait....has anyone heard what the 2012 winter forecast is?

     Many adventures were mine over the summer. New flower beds, a new studio to create in, meeting new friends, spending some time (although not enough) with long-made friends, taking new classes and teaching new classes; yet I do not feel as if the summer was long enough. There are still things on my list that I wanted to do....one day at a time now, I guess. I guess that's why there are 'to do' and 'bucket' lists.

Lucky Garden Charm

On the way to Asheville

     One of the most interesting things I did over the summer was to take a cold wax class from the amazing Cindy Walton. Not only did she share her talent and knowledge, she also (after long days of teaching) took us to various galleries during the Friday Art Walk in downtown Asheville and then joined a few of us for dinner. The following day, after teaching, she invited us to her studio at the Wedge! It is a space filled with light and lots of creative energy. I do not know if you are familiar with her work or not, but I have to say, I have fallen in love with her work, especially her oil paintings, which are as inspirational, vibrant,  and beautiful as she is.
Cindy Walton

     Not only did I meet Cindy, but I met so many astonishing artists from the Rivers Edge Arts District. I was extremely impressed with the comrade of all the artists, but most of all at the unity of the artists to have a main, or specific area where ALL the artists seem to show and work. Fleta Monaghan, the owner of 310 Art @ Riverview Station, was another beautiful person I met along this journey.

      I was impressed with her vision and how she opened up her gallery and teaching space and nurtured ALL artists. I was amazed with the fact that EVERY ARTIST in the area appeared to work together for the common good of the arts...collaborating and sharing ideas. I also was impressed that there was a designated 'district' that was well represented by the CITY!!!! How refreshing. My wish is that one day, in Roanoke, we can make this happen.

Autumn Color (C) gls cold wax and oil   POR

      Well, summer is about gone. I hope yours was healthy, happy, and creative. Now it is back to the schedule and time to get ready for the plethora of shows that are upcoming.

P. S. Here are a few images from my MIXED MEDIA and cold wax class July 2012

 Dreama

 Hope

Vera

Jacksonville Juried Show 2012

I am just tickled! I have had two of my encaustic monotypes and one cold wax painting accepted into the Jacksonville Art Center's Juried Show! 

2012 Jax Juried Exhibition

July 6 – September 15, 2012

Artists Reception: Saturday July 14, 5-8pm with Juror Talk at 5:30pm

Anita Allan Summer

For the third year in a row the Hayloft Gallery is proud to present a Juried Exhibition, a show offering substantial cash prizes and professional and public recognition for artists. This year’s juror is North Carolina based artist Jim Moon.  More information on Jim Moon can be found at http://www.jimmoon.net.

Participating artists include Anita Allen, Charlotte Lou Atkins, Jos Biviano, Rebecca Bordeaux,  Jeanette Bowker, Audrey Caywood, Pam Chappell, Nancy Clark, Linda S.  Correll, Carly  Correll, Carolyn Deck, Aileen Fletcher, Rowland A. Guidry, Jane Haddad, John Havran, Kristie Hayes-Beaulieu, Doug Iverson, Fred Jones, Robert Wren Jones, June Kelly, Vikki King, Charles Knighton, Sherrye  Lantz, Sandra Lear, Gina Louthian-Stanley, Louie Scott Lovitt, Cheryl Mackian, Linville M Meadows, Liz Mears, Darcy Meeker, Larry D. Mitchell, Roseanne Moon, Steve Pickford, Nathan Pop, Linda Rae Russo, Helen Shaw, Beverly Shideler, Aaron Staengle, Machiko Oshima Turner, Gibby Waitzkin, Howard Wenger, Shaun C. Whiteside, Emily Williamson, Aleen Wilson, Adija Wolf, Joli Ayn Wood, Gerri Young

Monotype

Loving the Earth!

Springtime

IRISES (C) 12" x 31"           encaustic monotype on rice paper

This spring, the Irises were more 

beautiful and colorful then I can remember....

Thank you for your inspiration Mother Nature!

Upcoming Shows

• 5th Annual Weslake Library Show, Westlake Commons Hardy, VA                                  June 7-July 26, 2012;Reception June 15th 5-7pm

• Studio Open House and Sale;                                                                                              June 2nd, 10-4pm                                                                                                                        126 West Campbell Avenue                                                                                                   Studio -A

New studio open house show and SALE!!!!

Studios On The Square Gallery

126 West Campbell Ave SW,                                            Roanoke, VA 24011-1206

Studio 2-A

Saturday, June 2 from 10 am until 4 pm, 

come and peruse Gina's studio to see 

her new work in cold wax and encaustic. 

She will have many 

watercolors, monotypes, and ink drawings on SALE!
Some works reduced up to 35-40%.

A portion of all sales will go to the Studio School. 

Also, Robin Poteet and Petie Stringfellow 

will be opening their studios. 

Come check them out!

New Cold Wax Works

New works...

 Queen Anne's Lace 1     (C) cold wax and oil

 Queen Anne's Lace 2     (C) cold wax and oil

Studio Sale 2012

Coming, June 2nd (10am-4pm), 

I will have a studio show and SALE! 

Take a break from the Sidewalk Art Show (heat or rain) 

and peruse the watercolors, monotypes, and ink drawings 

I will have on sale.....

The sale will be in my studio at 

126 West Campbell Avenue, SW.

Open Studios 12th Annual Tour - Roanoke

Time again for Open Studios. 

This year, as many of you know, 

I will be in my downtown studio space. 

This is the first year I have had a space to call my own. 

I am rather excited. 

I have decided to give a portion of all sales to 

Angels of Assisi, and League of Animal Protection. 

They both do great things for the animal community, 

so I wanted to give something back to them. 

Hope you will stop by for a visit during the tour!

126 Campbell Avenue, Studio 2-A, Roanoke

Open Studios, Roanoke

Mother Spring (C)   10" D                          encaustic monotype   gls

Time is flying...this coming Saturday, April 21, I will be in my studio working. I will be completing new works for the following weekends opening of Open Studios Tour. 

Of course, you don't have to wait until the 28-29th of April! Just give me a call (I'll have to let you in.) and stop by any Saturday, between 12-4pm for a pre-view. 

Open Studios Tour of Roanoke 2012

     This year, Open Studios in the new studio! 

April 28-29th, 2012

10-5pm

I hope I will have lots of visitors! 

The studio is located at 126 Campbell Avenue, SW, Roanoke.

 It is in the Studios on the Square building, 2nd floor. 

(Get on the elevator and take a left, I am in the corner.)

New work will be on display. 

Ink drawings, cold wax paintings, 

encaustic monotypes, and encaustics.

I would love for you to come by and visit!

Open Studios Tour, Roanoke 2012

Academy of Fine Arts National Juried Show

Academy of Fine Arts 

National Juried Show, 

Lynchburg, VA., April 6-27, 2012

Opening this Friday 5-8pm

Hope to see you there!

Open Studios of Roanoke 2012-New Studio

This year, Open Studios in the new studio! 
April 28-29th, 2012
10-5pm

I hope I will have lots of visitors! 

The studio is located at 126 Campbell Avenue, SW, Roanoke.

 It is in the Studios on the Square building, 2nd floor. 
(Get on the elevator and take a left, I am in the corner.)

New work will be on display. 

Ink drawings, cold wax paintings, 
and mixed media.

New Studio, Just In Time For Open Studios, of Roanoke 2012

     Well, it will soon be going on four months since I moved into my studio. I love working there. I can spread out, work in a larger format, and leave things out if I want to. I know when I return, I can pick right  up where I left off without putting things up and then back again. That's nice!


     The studio is mainly an encaustic studio, but I will be working on larger format prints, cold wax paintings, altered books, and a plethora of 'whatever happens'. 


     This year I will be doing the Open Studios of Roanoke in my own space. For 10 years, I have been moving about from one place to another. I have loved my hosts one and all, but it will be fantastic to show where I work. After all, that IS what Open Studios is all about. For now, here are some abstract images of the new space. 

New Works

     This past week I explored some new techniques working with hot wax, better known as Encaustic. Since I have been primarily a monotype printmaker for most of my art career, I wanted to 'play' with monotypes. 
   

‎"Emerging Earth" (C) 

 monotype on rice paper 10" diameter

      I had ordered the Encaustic printmaking plates and used those with the griddle with much success. After getting bored with the same shape and size, I rummaged through some of my old aluminum pieces I had used with the oil based  and Createx monotypes. I found a round 10" in diameter piece of the flat aluminum, and placed it on the griddle. Much to my surprise, it worked very well! I slowly fell in love with the circular plate. 

     I discovered that using the wax directly on the plate, then manipulating it with the brush worked best for me. I experimented with various papers, ranging from rice papers to traditional printmaking papers. 

     While I am new to this process, I plan on experimenting even further. 

Academy of Fine Arts National Juried Show 2012

     I just found out I had a piece selected for the Academy of Fine Arts National Juried Show 2012; Lee Sandstead is the juror for this show. The show opens on April 6th at 5 pm and closes on April 28th. 


     Also, try to make the opening of the Jacksonville Center's New Works show this coming Saturday at 6 pm in Floyd, VA at the Jacksonville center. Come meet the artists and feast your eyes on the beautiful works of regional artists. 

Fireflies

The full moon is on the horizon and I am dreaming of spring. 

The wondrous changes that take place on the Earth will soon be evident. 

"Fireflies"                                 (C) oil and wax on paper

One of my favorite parts of having warmer weather come are the fireflies. 

Magical fireflies. 

I long to sit on the porch and watch them again. 

Peaceful Waters

Peaceful Waters   ink drawing on recycled paper (C)

Spring...spring is around the corner. 

One of the most amazing changes signaling spring is observed in the ponds around me. 

The cloudy, grey, murk slowly emerges into a colorful place ready for the frogs to re-emerge and sing, peeping their spring songs for all the hollar to hear. 

The birds come to sip the fresh spring waters. 

Color is reflected from the seeds and bulbs planted in the fall, along with the spring skies splattered with the baby green fronds of new growth shooting from the sepia bark of winter on to the waters surface. 

Not as cold,  echoing the harsh staccato music of winter, the creek water is peaceful, making it's soulful music once more as it flows over the rocks.

Life emerges again.