The Power of Doodling: Imaginary Flora and the Brain

I've been doodling this week, or, to be a bit more precise, my whole life. Yes, I'm a doodler from way back. In first grade, my teacher asked my parents to send in a special notepad I could use to doodle on in school. She could have scolded me, or tried to make me stop, but instead, she accepted that it was something I needed to do and found a way to make it possible. From that point on, my doodling passion flourished throughout my entire academic career, and I'm proud to say, it's still alive and well!  Even so, I sometimes I feel like I need to do something more 'serious' with my art than 'just doodle' and I don't always give in to the fun. But this week I gave in to the doodling and doodled on a grand scale! 

First in my sketchbook:

Then on my Ipad!

And finally, I got my encaustics and played around with a doodle design in wax:

Doodling is not only fun, it's good for your brain! Studies have shown that it can help you concentrate, and improve your problem solving ability. This Ted Talk by Sunni Brown outlines some of the benefits of doodling. I think any of us who doodle know this instinctively. It's just a part of who we are, and as natural (and necessary) to us as breathing. So if you're doodler, keep on doodling. And if you don't doodle, why not join in the fun and give it a try?

Summertime Fun: Outdoor Encaustic Studio

Summer can be a long time time coming in the Pacific Northwest, but when it finally arrives, it's nothing short of magical. Last week was especially lovely, so I decided to move my encaustic "studio" outdoors. I hadn't had the time to work on my encaustics in awhile and it felt so great. (If you haven't done encaustics before, you can see that the "palette" is actually a griddle.)

I had started this piece earlier in the year and wasn't happy with it at the time, so I decided to work on it more. I collaged some hand-printed tissue paper toward the top and then added some branch-like lines. I'm calling it "Dancing Under the Moons."

And here are two more pieces I did that also incorporate some hand-printed tissue paper. Tissue paper is a great collage element in encaustic because of its light weight and transparency.

All in all, a productive day! Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm linking this post to Paint Party Friday. Check out all of the wonderful artists who participate and join the fun!

Sketchbook Inspiration: Variations on a Vase

One of the habits I'm working on this year is to use my sketchbook more consistently. Often I'm so excited to be doing art, that I jump right in on a piece without doing much planning. That approach can actually work just fine, but it is also very useful to use a sketchbook as a place to try out ideas and find inspiration. This morning, I decided to draw one of my favorite vases. First, I did a quick sketch.

Then, I did another sketch, and started added some doodling, dividing it up into smaller areas that I thought were interesting.

I played around with each little area, adding doodles with no particular plan in mind, using the curvilinear shape of the vase to guide me. From there, I decided to get out my encaustics and make some little paintings.

If I hadn't decided to draw my vase in my sketchbook, I wouldn't have found this crazy bit of inspiration. How about you? Do you use a sketchbook?

Ink Blot Painting

Today's paintings began with inkblots and swirls on prepared panels. I did some quick doodling with the ink, and then blew the ink around with a straw to help it flow around and make interesting lines.

I then added layers of wax and color, and some image transfer of text and numbers to add more texture and balance out the black from the ink.

This was really fun. I'm happy with my colors here, and I love the way the ink shows through the layers of wax. I'm pretty sure I'll do some more like this, but I'll look for some interesting poetry or words that can actually be read to add some more dimension and meaning, perhaps some haiku to go with the Asian vibe I'm getting with this color scheme and medium. Thanks so much for stopping by! Feel free to tell me what you see in those inkblots and I'll get back to you with an analysis if you'd like!

Encuastic Image Transfer Fun

I am sure loving my encaustic class. This week we learned how to do image transfers into the wax. It's quite easy and I love the effect! First you place a photocopied image into warm(not molten)wax. Then you dampen the paper to gently rub away the paper and the ink magically stays behind in the wax. Of the image transfer techniques I've tried, this definitely ranks up there in ease and speed. Of course by now there is a very good chance you're scratching your head and thinking image transfer? What image? Well, in this case, I transferred some text for some visual texture. I'm secretly amused that it comes from a handout that I used in my day job as a teacher. Perhaps on some level this bridges the gap between the competing interests in my life. I also used stencils for the leaf design and for the circle (my first, and possibly my last, homemade stencil).

Thanks for visiting! Happy Paint Party Friday!!

Encaustic Painting: "Eight"

Aside from getting powdered graphite spilled all over me and my workspace by another student in the class, I had a pretty good day in my encaustic class this week. Fortunately, as it turns out, powdered graphite makes some very interesting effects in wax. After years of working primarily representationally, I'm learning to do abstract compositions. It's fun and scary at the same time. One question I wrestle with is whether there should be deeper meaning or if it's acceptable to work according to what pleases me visually. My approach is very process-based. I start with the visual and as I work, more ideas come to me. In this piece, I used stencils for the shapes. I used 8 because it seemed like it would look good and I used the two leaves to balance the composition. Now I'm toying with the idea of adding something more mysterious about the number 8, maybe something from numerology or an astronomy map, which is based on an 8-point star like this.

If I do, I will try to print it on tissue paper, and then collage it into the piece with wax in next week's class.

Thanks everyone for visiting, especially to Paint Party Friday friends! I so enjoy seeing the work others are doing, and appreciate your comments.

Slowing Down with Encaustic Painting

There's something really soothing about working with encaustics. You need to slow down, wait for the wax to melt, stir the medium, fuse the layers, and be sure not to burn yourself or start any fires! I'm taking an introduction to encaustic painting class over the next two months. Today, in class, we got to play and experiment. I'm pretty happy with how this little piece I did in class turned out.

I used a stencil for the leaf design, along with plenty of incising and oil paint to create other lines.

I am not completely happy with the photos here of my work, though. I haven't figured out how to get rid of the glare from the wax. That's why I have the two pictures here, and yet I'm not completely happy with either one of them. Photography is not my forte! I will need to learn more about this if I continue working with wax in my art.

Encaustic Painting

"Couldn't you just use the same griddle we use for food?" asked my practical minded husband as I was unpacking my newly purchased griddle to use for encaustic painting. My encaustic starter kit had arrived a few days earlier and now with griddle and heat gun in hand, I was ready to try encaustic painting at home. Last October I'd had the privilege of taking an encaustic workshop with Serena Barton in Portland and immediately fell in love with this medium. Even though I was somewhat hesitant to try it out at home, in the back of my mind, I knew resistance was futile.

So here is my first home effort.

Before the first layer of wax, I painted a watercolor background, and stamped with hand carved stamps. The butterfly actually began as a stamped image which I then layered over with paint, followed by some incising marks and rubbed oil paint. I also used some oil paint stick and pastel. Though you aren't able to see it, there is also a layer of collaged tissue paper from an old dress pattern with some pastel drawing in the bottom part. I love the effect of wax over watercolor! It creates a beautiful depth and luminosity to the painting.

And here is another one I did the next day.

This one includes some collage elements and image transfer. The haiku (that might not be a real haiku) collaged into the painting reads:

No one travels
Along this road but I
This autumn evening

Hence the subdued tone of the work.

So now I know I can do encaustic at home with very little mess or trouble. I don't have a studio (yet) so I bought a big plastic tub that the griddle with paint tins fits into, along with the heat gun and other supplies. When not in use, it's easily stored away on a shelf in the garage. In February, I'll be taking a class in encaustic locally to learn more about this exciting medium. I can't wait!!

Encaustic Painting

I had a wonderful opportunity to try my hand at encaustic painting today in Portland in a fabulous workshop by Serena Barton at the Art and Soul Retreat. Here are two of my paintings from today.

This one was very well received by the class, including the instructor! I was somewhat surprised because it wasn't at all planned and is in fact, a simple doodle, much like I do on my notepads every time I'm on the phone, or sitting in a meeting. But somehow, it works here, with a muted palette. We were supposed to be striving for a "wabi sabi" aesthetic, using a muted palette, and embracing imperfection.

Here's another one, in which I used more collage elements.

I think this is my favorite one of the day. I'm happy with balance of collage elements, paint and texture. It was fun letting these paintings evolve, without worrying too much about the outcome. The process of encaustic painting definitely suits my approach to my artwork. So now I'll need to think about whether it is worth the trouble to try this at home.