Withered, Summer Encaustics!

OK, I know, it has been in the high 90's, but the Encaustics go on!

This one is titled appropriately, 'Withered' 12 x 12. 

Encaustic Monotypes!

     Last week I had the pleasure of teaching encaustic monotypes, an intro course! Fleta Monaghan, who is  creator of 310 Art at the Rivers Edge, Arts District, Asheville, N. C. , organized a Hot and Cold show with artists from across the Nation who work with wax, hot or cold. The show runs through the end of July. She also organized a week of wax classes! The week began with Cindy Walton and cold wax, followed by Erin Keane, Bet Kindley, and myself. 

     The classroom was absolutely fantastic! We had four hot boxes and several palettes with small plates fro printing! Enkaustikos provided samples and I was able to find paper sample packs on their website! The intro class covered safety (which is always first and foremost in importance), papers, mediums, working techniques, how to mount or show the works, and we ended class with a critique and discussion of the process. A special thanks to everyone behind the scenes for making this class a success! I look forward to seeing you again!

A snapshot of our classroom.

 Erin painting her plate.

 A finished (or not) print.

 Fleta working on a plate.

 Rebecca taking a break.

 Finished pieces!

Jean's favorite!

As the River Flows Encaustic

                                    (C) gls

     Time now to create....my work is done until August! Finally time off to paint, create, and teach!

I will be teaching encaustic printmaking! I am very excited to share what I have learned about this medium with others. It is such a freeing medium! Being that monotype was my thesis focus and for the past six or seven years, I have been exploring cold and hot wax, there is a way to print with encaustics!

     Encaustic Monotype is a contemporary medium combining the ancient art of encaustic painting with the general concept of monotype. The technique was originated byDorothy Furlong Gardner, a printmaker who in the early 1980′s “wanted to combine the directness and immediacy of the monotype with the richness and luminosity of encaustic painting”. In the late 1990s, Paula Roland, a painter, began her work based upon Dorothy’s discoveries, and modified the monotype process. Encaustic Monotypes are still in an incubation period and are being transformed in many new ways. Elise Wagner is an encaustic printmaker who uses wax to create encaustic collagraph monotypes and is still making new discoveries in her processes.

     Historically, the first monotype was attributed to Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (1616-1670) a contemporary of Rembrandt (1606-1669). Many artists experimented wit monotype, Degas, Blake, Picasso, Oliveria, and Johns, to name a few. Conventional monotypes or monoprints are typically one-of-a-kind prints created with oil based inks on paper with or without utilizing a printmakers press.  (Jung, William, History of the Monotype, 1996).

     I plan on exploring printmaking first this summer, then I want to dive into more experimental ways to work with traditional encaustics.....It's going to be a great experience!

Sidewalk Art Show

NOTE: After 35 years, I WILL NOT be at the Sidewalk Art Show again this year.

I WILL be showing new works at my studio only on Saturday May 31 from 12-4pm, so please stop by! 

If you can't make it, feel free to call for a time to visit 

my studio/gallery or take a class in cold wax, 

encaustic, or soldered pendants. 

My studio/gallery is located at 114-A Kirk Avenue, 

Roanoke, VA. 

(OR CALL FOR APPOINTMENT)

Thank you!

Special Saturday pricing May 31st!

Open Studio Tour 2014

What a wonderful day yesterday for Open Studio Tours! 

I met so many wonderful art lovers and was glad they came to the new location at 

2238 Sewell Lane, SW! 

My guest artists were part of an amazing team that made the extra mile to 

make the tour a success! A special thanks to Jane Frank, Meridith Entingh, and Maya Bohler! 

Today we will open the studios about 11:30 am and hope folks will come visit!

A special thanks to all of you who supported the arts yesterday!

New Encaustics

Well, January sure was a colder-than-I-can-remember month! It sure made it great to work with encaustics, firing up the hot plates and staying all warm and toasty. I was able to try a myriad of techniques and just 'play'. Here are a few of the results.

Guess it is a good thing I had this time, looks like I will be the featured artist at Art On Kirk for February! WOW! You can see most of these works on Art By Night, Friday February 7th from 5-9pm.

It will soon be time for Open Studio tours and I hope to have more new Encaustic works then.
Stay warm and safe everyone.

Red Earth-Oil and Cold Wax

     Winter days have lent themselves to time in the studio, much needed time. 

Music, hot beverages, and paint....

Again, I find myself falling in love with oil and wax. Cold wax and hot. 

     Days of creating provided the discovery of working on new substrates and I am 

elated with the results. New papers, samples from Canson, and Gamblin and more....

     Not only was I creating, but I spent a lot of time teaching, cold wax and Encaustic as well. I passed these experimental findings to my students. I was so impressed with the workshop participants works! 

Creative juices were flowing....that always elates me, seeing others create and the smiles that come across their faces as they discover their creative path. I am looking forward to teaching more classes and 

meeting more new folks. 

  Today, however, I am back in my studio creating....new juices brewing on another cold winter's day, made just for being artful.~

 Red Earth 2 (C)

Red Earth 3 (C)

Happy 2014

My wish is for everyone to have a Happy, Safe, Healthy, and Artful 2014!

This year I plan on offering even more adult and children's art classes. 

Most classes will be offered through the Studio School of Roanoke, 

and the others will be held at my home studio. 

If there is something you are interested in taking, please email me 

and I will respond with more information. 

My work is shifting a bit as I explore new substrates for my current medium. 

So far, I am very pleased with the results. 

I want to thank everyone who has supported my work by either purchasing it, or coming to my shows, hanging out at the Art on Kirk Gallery Studios, and just being part of my creative life!

Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

Yellow Earth (C)                 oil and Wax (SOLD)

Creating.....

December is a wild month, dashing here and there for classes, art shows and openings, and shopping, but I have had a little time to get in the studio and create. My goal was to create the watercolor cards and have them ready to send. This is something I used to do until my mum became ill and that became my focus. Sometimes when you stop doing something it is difficult to get back into the swing of things; this year, I had planned to get the cards going....instead, I just enjoyed being in the studio 

going with the flow of things.....

Dancing Field (C) oil and Wax

I have begun a huge new series of oil and wax on paper. I am experimenting (as usual) with merging the image types of my ink drawings into larger pieces created with oil and wax. So far, I am pleased with the results. There are more to come......

In the meantime, I am still working on the cards. 

Winter Light 1(C)   

Winter Light 2(C)    

Red Trees (C)

Grand Opening Art On Kirk!

Sunday is the grand opening of Art On Kirk!

AOK is a unique art-space of nine working artists plus gallery. 

Meet the artists: Susan Egbert - Miki Overcast-Kallan - Robin Poteet Deborah Poore - Susanne Sellers - Gina Louthian-Stanley Nancy Stellhorn - Petie Stringfellow - Rebecca Talbot Original paintings, photography. pottery and jewelry will be on display for those special Holiday Gifts. Enjoy refreshments and join the artists in celebrating their new creative space.

We will be open 1-5pm for the opening, 114-A Kirk Avenue, SW!

Giving Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I was sitting here this morning, as I do most mornings, thinking about all the things I am thankful for.

This morning I thought about friendships and many of the people who have crossed my path over the years; some are still with us, some are not, and a couple are hanging on to the precious life they have.

The gratitude I feel for each of the folks in my life is so large. Maybe I never say it enough nor have I said it at all, but each and every person, for better or worse, has helped shape who I am and enriched my life in some amazing way.

My heart is full of good energy these days because of my friends and family. They are always there and present, and I am so blessed. Thank you my friends and fellow acquaintances for being there and being who you are as part of my life. Sending Thanksgiving wishes to those of you reading this, and prayers for friends who are struggling at the moment, and remembering my kinship and those who have passed before me, in fondness and gratitude. Blessings.

Cold Wax Landscapes

Winter, winter is here.....

I love how the crisp skies compliment 

the textures of the Earth, especially

the white snow and fences along the countryside....

 Winter Journey 1   (C)         

Winter Journey 2   (C)    

November- Art, Cold Wax, and A New Studio Space

Stars  (C)             gls  (SOLD)

November has been a great month! Busy, but great! I have met so many wonderful people and re-connected with folks I have not seen in a long time (or nearly often enough). I have also been honored to have been accepted into two major juried shows! I appreciate all the time and hard work the hosts put into the shows! The hanging of the works and receptions were awesome! 

October began with teaching children's classes at The Studio School, Roanoke, and teaching a three day workshop for the League Of Roanoke Artists. So far, I have been teaching most weekends in November, and I love it! I am always amazed to see what the participants create, and I always hope they have taken as much away from the workshop (or class) as I do....I learn so much from my participants. I appreciate the suggestions for future workshops and I love watching them create art in a new way!

Even though it's been great, I am looking forward to a nice Thanksgiving break. I truly have so much to be thankful for. 

While I am off, I plan on getting ready for the new downtown studio and gallery space, Art ON Kirk's grand opening! This event will be December 1st from 1-5 pm. I do hope many of you will come and see the new space, which houses nine working artists. 

 Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Shows Abound

     Well, this October has most certainly been one of my busiest months when it comes to art. Our group from the old Studios on the Square just moved into a new space at 114-A Kirk Avenue; We call it Art on Kirk.  Do stop by for Art By Night, first Friday of each month!

     Last Friday evening, I had the pleasure of going to the New River Art Biennial Show at the Perspective Gallery in Blacksburg. I was very surprised to learn that I had won the Innovative Art Award given by Leslye Bloom for my piece, Caged Window. The show is a strong show and was very competitive. Here is the opening statement about the show:

“The artists chosen for this exhibit had to pass muster from three very competent jurors: Michael Haga, Associate Dean at the College of Charleston School of the Arts, Charleston, South Carolina; Jeffery Allison, Paul Mellon Collection Educator and Manager of Statewide Programs and Exhibitions, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; and Robin Boucher, Art Programs Director, Virginia Tech Student Centers and Activities.” PERSPECTIVE GALLERY 

I am very honored. Only 15% of the entries were chosen, and I was also surprised when I found out two pieces were selected!

Caged Window (C) (award)

Caged Window 2    (C)

I do hope you can get by to see the show. There is a fine display of very fine work. 

Congrats to all the other artists and to those accepted into the show. 

     Riverviews Juried Show opens November 1st in Lynchburg. I also had a piece selected for this show. 

Clouds  (C)   ink  (SOLD)

     This coming weekend I will be teaching at the League of Roanoke Artist Retreat! I taught there last year and it was a wonderful experience. I am anxious to share more advanced techniques for the artists that are returning, as well as the beginning techniques for those new to the media. I always learn as I teach and look forward to this experience with fellow artists and friends. Hopefully, November will give me a breather so I can get into the new home studio and paint. I am so anxious to get in there and create!

Fall is in the Air

Leaves and light are all changing. 

Fall is upon us. 

WOW....Busy Days

I was just filling in my calendar and was shocked at what all I had signed up for. 
It is a busy time and I hope I can keep up the pace. 

Last week, I attended the Academy of Fine Arts National Photography Show in Lynchburg! I was mesmerized by so many of the works there. I am proud to have a piece of my photography hanging in this show! David Eakin and Lisa Pitcher also have outstanding pieces that were included in this show! Congrats to the Roanoke winners! Beautiful work!

I finally moved out of my downtown studio. As of today, I am officially gone. 
I will miss my little room! I have such great memories of visits with friends and fellow artists as well as meeting many new folks. I will, for now, miss Art By Night in my studio. I will, however, be at Signature 9 Gallery for most Art By Nights since I am now affiliated with this beautiful gallery and fellow artists. 

This weekend is the Lynchburg Fine Arts festival from 10-4 PM at the E. C Glass ball-field! I have to say, this is my favorite show to do. The Lynchburg Art Club knows how to put on an art show, and the town really supports its artists! I will be in space 95, so come by and visit! 

Air and Water (C)                        oil and cold wax

Scott Kitts Salon featured my works for the month of August, and it is being featured again for the whole month of September at

1102 Brandon Ave SW Roanoke, VA 24015 (540) 904-7528 Scott does a lot to promote art! Stop by his salon on a regular basis to see what beauties he has in store for you! He also carries handmade jewelry and pottery. Thanks Scott! Until October, I have two pieces hanging at the Jefferson Center, where Wings, an ink drawing, won a second place prize! Be sure to see this show! It is a great representation of local art! October will be a busy month too. WOW. I have children's classes on a few Saturday mornings (check the Studio School of Roanoke's website for info). In addition, I just found out I had two pieces selected for the New River Art Juried Show! This is the first year there was a panel of three judges! I am truly surprised to have been included in this show. The opening is at the Va. Tech Perspectives Gallery on October 18th. Hope you can get by to see what I think will be an amazing body of work! Later in October I will be teaching at the League of Roanoke Artists three day retreat! They invited me to come back to do another cold wax workshop! I always have a good time teaching with this group! In-between all these happenings, I am trying to get the home studio set up and create a body of new works. Busy, yes, but its all good!

Mid-November, I will be teaching a cold wax workshop at the studio school. Feel free to contact me or visit the Studio School of Roanoke's website for more info. As of right now, there are a few slots open. 

Changes.....

Sometimes changes are good, even if they are not something we truly want. I got particularly comfortable in my downtown studio at the Studios on the Square. A few months ago, the building sold and I was unsure (as many of us are), of the fate of the building, and the answers were rather vague. Not being one who likes last minute surprises, especially bad ones, I decided to give my notice and leave before I unexpectedly had to do so. By mid-September, if you look for me there, I will be gone.

For now, I will work from my home studio and teach via the Studio School. My work can be seen and is available for purchase at Signature 9 Gallery, on Jefferson and Kirk. Or you can email me with questions. I will keep you all posted as I move through these changes.

I will miss all the folks, for the time being, that would visit at Art y Night. A special thanks to those of you who came to visit! I always enjoy the visits!

Until then  be well, and safe....more to come!

Misty Day                            ink drawing(C) gls