I am an Artist. I am also an Engineer. I am always both but today the engineer really took over in the art. I read a lot about how on encaustic (wax) paintings you must fuse the wax or it will flake off. There are as many ways to fuse as there are artists - heat gun, torch, heat lamp, the sun, red lamp, just until the wax shines, it needs to melt, slow, fast, 3 inches, 12 inches, or any number of processes. It all seems like a bit of hocus-pocus, but not disingenuous. The artists believe that they need to do whatever it is that they are doing. Some even hide their "secrets". My experience is that the wax seems pretty "fused" immediately without any additional fusing. As an Engineer I
I'm an emotional guy. I may hide it most of the time, but I feel deeply. I care deeply. I am a sucker for the charity emotional appeal, and romantic comedies. So I should understand my emotions pretty well. I do not. They are confusing and spinning around in my mind. This is a source of stress for me. It is difficult to express feelings. We ask , "How are you doing?" and are shocked and embarrassed if someone really answers. Even when expressing ourselves to a close friend and telling them how mad, or happy, or surprised we are. We rarely truly understand our full range of emotions, or why they are so varied and confusing. Crazy emotions can come from almost any event: An insult fro
You've worked on a big important project for months, maybe years. You've put in many long hours, stressed over problems, and rejoiced over big successes. You've been stretched beyond your comfort and came out a success (or maybe not) -- and you are better for the experience. You've probably had doubts in the down times, and huge expectations in the great times. It has been a roller-coaster of emotions. The day finally comes that you are done. All the details are wrapped up -- a big red bow is tied on your work. Now what? Move on to the next project. Probably. But what about the one you just sweated over? It can't just be over like that. There is an exhilaration and a depression of
Since becoming a full time artist I have noticed a few common approaches to browsing and buying art. I have a bias for buying directly from the artist, but most of these approaches can be seen in galleries also. Art can be intimidating when you see the multi-million dollar sales and the pretensions of many art lovers and museum people. The most important thing to remember when looking at art is your impression of it. Do you like it? Does it elicit a reaction? Your opinion is what should matter to you, and not everyone else. As you learn more about what you like, and about art styles and techniques, you may find that your tastes expand or shift. This is what makes art so fun for me --
Today is the the opposite of Friday. On Friday I was looking for anything to do except get in the studio and start working on my new painting series -- doubts and fears! Today I can't wait to get back to the studio. I woke up at 2AM all excited like I was a kid going to the Puyallup Fair. (Interestingly, in Tacoma they gave all kids a day off of school to go to the fair.) I had a great day in the studio on Friday. The work I had done to prepare this series really paid off and I got several paintings started and I am really pleased with how the are turning out. I can't wait to keep this going. So the fear was misplaced... maybe. But why do I always have this apprehension to start a new