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?

Some more new work - Flying Series

"Birthing New Dreams" Encaustic Mixed Media, 10 x 10, 2010

"Flight of the Flying Fish", Encaustic Mixed Media, 16 x 16, 2010

"Wonderous Flight", Encaustic Mixed Media,  16 x 16, 2010

"Hare of Time", Encaustic Mixed Media, 10 x 10 , 2010

This new body of work is a whimsical exploration of the notion of time & travel through flight.  It is about the possibilities that could be, if we choose to step out of our comfort zones, to discover new lands, create new stories and embrace fresh new ways of being.

The imagery of the various modes of vehicles in flight, ladders, wings, lotuses, houses, clock faces and flying trees with roots depict for me the various portals to time & travel.  I specifically use the opposing textured and smooth areas of encaustic medium to further explore the sense of change that comes from taking steps outside of one’s everyday routine.

What's on the Horizon - Changes, Growth and Possibilities

"Just Arrived", 2010 Encaustic Mixed Media Collage 7 1/4 x 7 1/4 

Well, lots of changes are on the horizon....I guess that is what is to be expected with the changing of seasons...much like spring, I am choosing to view these family changes as possibilities to open new doors, for growth...like seeds for new life, new beginnings...

Perhaps that is why a lot of my new work is depicting seeds...seedpods, bulbs, tulips, birds etc. All of which symbolize birth, growth, and the ever changing of life like the seasons.

After a year long search for a new job, Jeff, my husband/life partner has found work..What a relief..but the bittersweet thing is that it is FAR...and it means a real look at where this will take us as a family....one moment at a time is the mantra I repeat in my mind, spirit and heart...perhaps this will open new doors, new adventures...we will see....

Other things on the horizon are: new teaching schedule, for spring and summer anyway...New dates are posted on my website...As usual I am excited about teaching and look forward to the spring and summer sessions...the one addition this year is a WEEK LONG Altered BOOKS program I am offering in the Summer in July...can't wait..students have already signed up but there are a few spots left.

The altered books format with encaustics is really beckoning me..and I am happy to announce that I have been accepted to show a piece of work at the second WAX LIBRIS II exhibit at the Fourth Annual Encaustic Painting Conference at the Montserrat College of Art in Beverley,Mass. this June..the piece is called "Ponder"...it too has seeds, pods, and organics symbolizing birth, growth, possibilities.....take a look....

"Ponder", Encaustic Mixed Media Collage Book Structure, 2010, 10 x 12 x 2 (closed)

Detail of bottles in "Ponder", 2010 Encaustic Mixed Media Collage Book Structure

Elora Fergus Studio Tour 2009 Begins this weekend! Come for an artist date!

The Elora-Fergus Studio tour opens this weekend, Sat. and Sun. Sept. 26th and 27th for two weekends...ending next weekend Oct. 3rd and 4th 10 - 5 each day. Over 30 artists are opening their studios during this time, it is a free event and a great way to get inspiration and spend an artist date with yourself or friends and family.

I have new work using exotic butterflies that I am excited about showing...photos of my new work will come shortly.... when I get a chance to get them photographed. If you are around town, come for a visit, mingle and chat. Looking forward to seeing you. I will have various pieces for show and sale, from small to larger sizes and some encaustic cards.

The first encaustic card making workshop at Wise Daughters in Toronto, on Sunday Oct. 25th is sold out and a second date has been added for Sunday Dec. 6th...if you are interested in attending this second session, connect with Mary at Wise Daughters. 416-761-1555.

To Thine Own Self be True - New Piece -Sold at Art In the Yard

"To Thine Own Self be True" 12 x 36, Encaustic Mixed Media Collage 2009

Click on image for a closer view.

This piece provided me with great joy in the process of 'birthing' it...the piece is about loving oneself deeply and unconditionally.  It is also about my reflections on relationships, their significance, the role of 'marriage' in the traditional sense vs. non-traditional, the wondering about 'expectations' and letting go of all that is 'expected' but following your own heart's desire and creating your own notion of marriage, relationships and love.

I will be away from the online world for one week at a silent week long meditation and creativity retreat...at a beautiful location called Dunedin, Creemore, Ontario.  I am not taking anything except myself, art supplies, meditation equipment...I am wondering about taking my camera....if I do I will share visual images for later when I return.

Wishing you all creativity and joy in abundance.

Shanti.

Celebrate Earth Day Everyday

"Today I Fly", Encaustic Mixed Media Collage, 2009 - 7 x 7 

In Tune with Mother Nature

If you listen for the songbirds

As they greet the summer sun,

And love the way the wind can make

The trees sing just for fun;

If you like to hear the ocean

As it drums upon the shore,

And imagine all the whales out there,

And hope they'll sing some more;

If you think of all the animals

As players in a band,

Each with a lovely tune to play,

All needed on the land;

And know that as a boy or girl

A woman or a man

You have a vital role to play

In Mother Nature's plan;

If you honor every living thing

As a part of nature's treasure

You're in tune with Mother Nature

So let's all sing her song together.

Anonymous

I will clothe you with feathers - three xxx's (kisses) to share

" Three Kisses xxx's", 8 x 16 x 1 3/4, Encaustic Mixed Media Collage, 2009

Another great reminder from Rumi - 

There is a channel between voice and presence, 

A way where information flows.

In disciplined silence the channel opens.

With wandering talk, it closes.

Time to be still, listen and feel deeply in the stillness.  This takes constant commitment and practice.  I am still growing in this practice. 

Thou Seemst a Little Deity - Ode to the Queen Bee, New Work

"Thou Seemst a Little Deity" 30 x 24 Encaustic Mixed Media Collage, 2009

I have been enjoying working with the iron lately...  Years ago I found a gem of a find, a travelling iron, the kind without the steam holes, at a thrift store...but didn't use it much really...However, recently I attended a mini workshop that Andrea Bird taught on using the iron, in her preparation for doing a demo at the Third Annual Encaustic Conference in June.  Andrea is a fabulous encaustic artist, check out her website here.    A group of us are heading down to the conference and are very excited about it...it was fabulous last year..my head was on fire after the intensity of 200 + encaustic wax heads coming together in glee and delight...

I used the iron quite a bit in this piece to get the crisp flat drips and drops...This piece is inspired to honour the  "queen bee", who provides us with great fruits of her labour and the honeybee's labour of love, liquid gold, delicious and precious.... There is a Canadian Show in London coming up called "Beecause" which is being held to celebrate Honey Design's 20th Anniversary, London and Canadian Artists are invited to enter a juried exhibition and auction celebrating the theme of honey.   I am thinking of entering this one, if I still have it by June end, their deadline for entry.

Some New Work in Honour of International Womyn's Day 2009

These are a few of the new works I have been working on as part of a commission order for International Womyn's Day 2009.   I have thoroughly enjoyed creating this...with each piece I think about the multitude of gifts womyn encapsulate each day in their daily tasks and roles all around the world..and how we all, as womyn need to love ourselves first in order to continue to give to others...

Art- Elation

"Art Elation" - Detail view, 8 x 16, 2009 Encaustic Mixed Media Collage

This new piece along with three other newer pieces are at the Alma Gallery for display.

If you are in town, check out the great "I Heart Art" show until March 12th, at Alma Gallery in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Yours - Yourself to Trust

"Yours, Yourself - Trust" 2009 

 This piece is about letting go and beginning the process of loving yourself, 

trusting yourself...With that all is possible.

Love after Love by Derek Walcott

The time will come

when, with elation

you greet yourself arriving

at your own door, in your own mirror,

and each will smile at the other's welcome

and say, sit here. Eat.

You will love again the stranger who was yourself.

Give wine, Give bread, Give back your heart

to itself, to the stranger who has loved you 

all your life, who you ignored

for another, who knows you by heart

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf, 

the photographs, the desperate notes.

Peel your own image from the mirror

Sit, Feast on your own life.

Today is this moment Feast on your unique and outrageously beautiful life.

Faith - Journey

New work created and inspired by the upcoming International Womyn's Day on MARCH 8th...IWD is often celebrated with a day off in many countries..honouring all womyn all over the world...

The first IWD was in 1911.  It followed unanimous agreement at an International Conference of Working Women the previous year.  Clara Zetkin proposed that every year in every country there should be one same day when women's solidarity presses for equality.

Journey - There blooms a garden....

"There blooms a garden in your own home." by Rumi.

Stopping to be in the moment...not wishing the last days of summer away..Embracing this moment and savouring every bit...like a great full bodied red wine or a deep dark brew, smelling the thick aroma of a bed of roses, or the enchanting smell of beeswax melting in the studio....it is still summer and it is still lovely...enjoy the day.

Botanical Blessings - Summer Treasures

Holding onto those last days of summer...creating with treasures found from summertime...no bees were hurt in this creation.  These are the blessings from today, enjoying the moment.  This piece is called "Botanical Blessings".

Etsy Shop Announcement- Coming AUGUST 15th!

Here are a few pieces of product to be put into my new etsy shop...a few examples, more to come, 

Just wanted to let you know that I will be opening my own Etsy shop by the end of next week, August 15th,  I have been working hard at getting it all set up and working on new product to upload into the shop...This will be a great new way to view my new work and let others know too....if you like something you could even purchase something for yourself and/or someone special in your life...it will be as easy as 1, 2, 3,..... Or as my good friend Leigh says, "Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy!"

There will be a number of items in the shop, from framed original encaustic collage, mixed media work to prints, matted and/or framed, as well as in greeting card format both orignals and prints again...There will also be some original work on thick substrates of wooden blocks, some upcoming other products will include paper doll creations and altered books.

Take a look at some of the first few items here..more to come and will be available by the end of next week, August 15th, in my etsy shop.