Wabi-Sabi Rust

My teenage grandson was over yesterday and I showed him how I rust cloth. He isn't into art, but he does like to see processes. I sprayed cotton muslin with a solution of vinegar and water (50/50). Then I sprayed a bunch o' rusty things and wrapped them up in the cloth. I covered them loosely with plastic and let them sit in the back yard overnight. I really like how it turned out.

Wabi-Sabi. Might be inspiration for a painting!

I'll bring some of this cloth to my upcoming classes at Art and Soul Retreat, Va Beach! Another instructor, Erin Keck made this lovely collage of the classes I'll be teaching! 

Sneak Preview

I've been hard at work this summer on my new book for North Light Publishing. I've been writing up a storm and also creating a lot of new pieces. 

Here's one of my favorites, which will be in the book on oil/cold wax work and the creative process. The piece evokes to me a sense of wabi-sabi solitude and contentment.

Essence      Oil/Cold Wax/Sand on Panel

Wabi-Sabi in Taos and some exciting news

 

A wabi-sabi ruin in Taos

One month ago I was in Taos, NM with Leighanna Light where we held a mini-retreat at her studio, called "Wabi-Sabi Enchantment." As always I was enchanted by Taos--the light, the colors, the sky, and the people. Those who attended our workshop were wonderful!

I've posted a ton of pictures here of work done in my encaustic class in Taos. Believe me, there were even more great pieces created.

On my other blog, I've posted some pictures from the fantastic book class Leighanna taught. At the end of this post, I will share some news I'm super excited about.

Our encaustic class with Sam who had to be in the picture

What has got me so excited? I have contracted with North Light Publishing (F and W Media) to write my second book. This will be about oil and cold wax painting and mixed media work. I'll emphasize the intuitive creative process as well as provide lots of techniques to create your own work.

I know what I"ll be doing this summer! I hope you all are having a fun and creative summer. If  you take any wabi-sabi photos, I'd love to see them!

Papers Wabi-Sabi from Art and Soul Retreat Class

Here are a few of the many beautiful papers student created recently in my Art and Soul Portland class, "Papers Wabi-Sabi." We used mulberry paper and other papers to create strong and flexible papers for collage, book covers, or wall hangings. 

I'll teach this class next March at the next Art and Soul Retreat in Portland. Textile artist Liz Kettle will teach a class the following evening called "Wabi-Sabi Tote." She'll show how to make a gorgeous and sturdy tote bag from your wabi-sabi papers!