Navigating Heart - New Encaustic Mixed Media & Collage Work

"Navigating Heart", Encaustic Mixed Media & Collage, 24 x 24 x 3, 2012

"Navigating Heart", Encaustic Mixed Media & Collage, 24 x 24 x 3 - Detail of heart

Here is the first piece for 2012 and one that will be my title piece for the new exhibit at Homer Watson Gallery, Kitchener, "Navigating Heart" will open March 25th, 2- 4 p.m. 

A lot went into this piece, I sculpted my heart, left it open intentionally, and placed within it old love letters, a past story, and left room for new stories to unfold...The heart is layered with paper collage, maps, bengali letters/script, handmade paper.  Maps will be a common element in this new exhibit.

Winter Greetings Newsletter, UpTown Sparkle and Shine Opening this Friday November 25th 6:30 - 8:30 and 'the hive' Winter Solstice all encaustic exhibit

Uptown Gallery's new show, "Sparkle and Shine", opens Friday November 25th  p.m. come out to meet the artists and see the great work there.  I will be one of the featured artists for this show.



Another great place to visit, please join us for: The Winter Solstice Encaustic Show at 'the hive'!

What: an exhibit of small, exquisite encaustic paintings by:  Daniel Beirne, Andrea Bird, Supria Karmakar, Jane Longman, Elsa Mann and Tania Wycherley

Opening Reception: Saturday, November 26th, from 1 - 4pm - join us for refreshements and to meet the artists - demonstrations of this ancient painting medium will be taking place during this time!

When: Saturday, November 26th until Sunday, December 18th

Where: Alton Mill Creative Centre, 'the hive' - Studio 201, 1402 Queen Street West, Alton, ON  www.altonmill.ca

Hours:  November 26, 27: 10am - 5pm, December 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18th: 10am - 5pm or by appointment/chance.  Call 519-323-3437 to arrange an alternate time.

Just south of Orangeville, nestled in the Caledon Hills, the Alton Mill is a wonderful destination for a day or half-day trip ... a great place to enjoy the treats at Shaw's Creek Cafe, go for a hike on the trails, and/or do some holiday shopping.  We hope to see you there!

My Studio will be open for vistors Sat. Dec. 3rd and Sunday Dec. 4th 10- 4, come for refreshments, and see what's new.  For directions or map check out: http://www.elorafergusstudiotour.com/index.cfm?page=mixed_media

Here are some much better photographs of these pieces...and a new piece Silver Essence, 36 x 36

"Silver Essence", Encaustic Mixed Media,  36 x 36, 2011

"Wide Open", Encaustic Mixed Media, 6 x 12, 2011

"Listening to Heart's Whispers", Encaustic Mixed Media, 6 x 12, 2011

"A Different Journey Knocking on My Heart", Encaustic Mixed Media, 6 x 12, 2011

"Roots of Change Bloom", Encaustic Mixed Media, 6 x 12, 2011

A new series my heart is creating.......Heart Mapping Series

New Heart and Mapping Series, Encaustic Mixed Media, Sept. 2011

"Listening to My Heart's Whispers", Encaustic Mixed Media, 6 x 12, 2011

"Roots of Change Bloom", Encaustic Mixed Media, 6 x 12, 2011

"Wide Open", Encaustic Mixed Media, 6 x 12, 2011

"A different journey knocking on my heart", Encaustic Mixed Media, 6x 12, 2011

"Heart Dream #5", Encaustic Mixed Media, 6 x 6, 2011

"Golden Autumn", Encaustic Mixed Media, 8 x 8, 2011

New pedestals for the studio, tops made by Livio Finora...Thank you!

Another view from the side of the studio 

These photos above are a glimpse of my new work....I showed them at the Studio Tour this past weekend...they are sold, however, the customer, kindly agreed to let me get a professional shot of them...so I can get them back on loan for a day or two next week...I often acknowledge in myself the process of creativity..this being one of creating within one's own psyche first, journalling, reflecting on the journey, then creating hands on, showing and selling (as I make a living doing this)...and on occasion if I haven't lived with work long enough, I find I might long or miss the pieces for a while...

It feels like this for these new heart and mapping pieces....a sense of attachment has developed...Could be that it is new work and I didn't get to live with them long enough, or that I haven't yet gotten them professionally photographed...the good news is the person who bought them, lives here locally, and has offered to let me have them back for the day to photograph them,...and I know I have more within me, to create more with this new heart & mapping series....

I wonder how other artists manage this process of letting go of their art work?

How do you know when a piece of artwork is complete? ......

"Contemplating Toscana", Encaustic Mixed Media, 18 x 18 Framed, 2011

How do you know when a piece of art work is done? What are some things you do to know..?

I know sometimes I live with the work for a while, keep it somewhere I can view it often, and sometimes it becomes obvious what might be missing, or what might be needed...

Other times just putting it away and then coming back to it with 'fresh' eyes helps...

I would love to hear back from other artists on how they decide when a work is done or not....

This piece currently on exhibition at the Whitestone Gallery, Guelph, ON.