2009

a moment of fragile grace
encaustic/christening gown/barbed wire/original photo transfer/paper/permanent marker

The story of this piece is written in the folds of the gown. (Part of my Clothing Series.) Clothing brings with it a history of its own – and I use that a jumping off point to tell another story. This story especially touched me.

traveling
encaustic/original photo transfer/collage

I captured these photos on Highway 400 – the blurred landscape was flying by… an experience of traveling or being in-between, not yet arrived. This is a place of anticipation, boredom, waiting and suspense.

together
encaustic/original photo transfer/gold leaf/silver leaf

These wild thorn trees grow so closely as to become one. My idea here was to focus on this ‘togetherness’, this tangling up.

this was the way of saying thank you
encaustic/collage

This piece goes back to a series I started a few years ago, that had words taken from my Dads grade school notebooks. The title and sentence in this piece are a reflection of the gratitude I felt at the time I made this, and the vibrant colours celebrate this.

the vastness
encaustic/collage/photo transfer/robin's nest

Made right after ‘Bent out of shape’ and ‘…where she’s been’, I wanted to incorporate the grid, horizontal lines, the nest and the written story in the wax! This piece tells a story of being in the present moment, of finding balance in the vast expanse of possibilities inherent in being alive. The empty robins nest was another gift, and is woven with words and fabric.

the (fragile) honey bee
encaustic/collage/photo transfer

I felt a real optimism and joy during this time, and the bright colours in this piece reflect that. This piece is part of an on-going “fragile” series. The underlying fragility and fleeting quality of this feeling is part of its beauty.

subdued landscape
encaustic/original photo transfer/collage

This series incorporated many horizontal strips of collage, cut from a wide, random variety of sources. These unrelated bits of music/newspapers/fabric/photos came together to create something new, and whole.

spring gathered
encaustic/photo transfer/collage/rusted spring

Here is an abstract meditation on spontaneity – looking for connections between the various elements. The threat to honey bees was on my mind as I made this series. I marvel at their skills, and have concern for their future.

opening up
encaustic/nest/photo transfer/rust/metal/leaves

Here, another in the Empty Nest series, this small nest seemed to be on the move – towards the opening in the outer circle. I wanted to explore the idea of taking ‘home’ with us when we move in the larger world.

only 28
encaustic/original photo transfer/collage

This series incorporated many horizontal strips of collage, cut from a wide, random variety of sources. These unrelated bits of music/newspapers/fabric/photos came together to create something new, and whole.

now what shall we do?
encaustic/collage/photo transfer

This piece goes back to a series I started a few years ago, that had words taken from my Dads grade school notebooks. The title and sentence in this piece are commenting on being at a crossroad, of wondering what is next. The bright, rich colours point towards a future that is positive, balanced by the barbed wire suggesting caution.

memory of an old friend
encaustic/collage/photo transfer

Another piece that underwent several ‘beginnings’ and layers – it grew around the found object (a rusty piece of metal from Georgian Bay)… the tree is also an old friend that has long been a destination for me on walks. This painting is about all the friendships we have: with people, nature and places.

love, burn, give, fall
encaustic/collage/photo transfer

These four words pulled from an old spelling text book struck me as poetry – such beauty! The grid here is softer and more subtle, gradating from colour to pastels, “falling” away to the edges as the words suggest

integrity
encaustic/original photo transfer/silver leaf/collage

This word, integrity, kept coming to me, so I did this small piece to explore the idea further… it seems to me that at a certain point in life, our integrity is there, a part of us – integral to our being.

how time changes us
encaustic/photo/barbed wire

A small meditation on the nature of time, this caught my eye. The way that branch had to bend in order to grow fascinated me.

handle with care
encaustic/photo transfer/collage

Here is an abstract meditation on spontaneity – looking for connections between the various elements. The threat to honey bees was on my mind as I made this series. I marvel at their skills, and have concern for their future.

floating
Encaustic/clothing/original photo transfer/rust

This camisole seems to float through the air… bringing with it the mysteries of its history, and those imagined by me.

find me here (again)
encaustic/collage/photo transfer

This painting underwent many stages in its development… I left it outside for over a week under a tree to collect pine needles and natural detritus that I fused in the wax with four prayer flags. A friend and I were discussing the role of chaos in my art, so in this piece I surrendered to chaos, experiencing a letting go. The tree house has shown up in my art before: as a retreat, and a place to be focused and alone in the midst of a busy life (chaos!)

blackout (it was lovely)
encaustic/original photo transfer/leaves/collage

Made just after a blackout last spring, I was reminded of the joy that comes when distractions are removed and we are left in a quieter, simpler world. “It was lovely” words written by my Great Grandmother – found their way into the work. The tree that grows out of the rock symbolizes strength and beauty for me.

bent out of shape
encaustic/collage/assemblage

Done right after my experience at the Encaustic Conference in the U.S., this assemblage incorporates lathe and other three-dimensional wood elements on the surface. This is similar to a style that my husband, Daniel Beirne, used for many years, and is in part a tribute to his generous creative spirit. There are many stories here, one written in pencil on the substrate, barely seen below the layers of wax. A bent, rusted washer hangs over the center circle – a found object I thought beautiful.

another story
encaustic/robin's nest/fabric/paper/robin's eggshell/graphite/flower petals

This is the first of the Empty Nest series that began in the summer of 2009, as our youngest son made plans to move away. The nest was found under a tree that was planted when my Dad died… and felt very much like a gift. Inspired by the shows that I’ve had with my husband, Daniel Beirne (interPLAY & Full Circle) I used the wax to hold the three-dimensional nest to the board. Fabric, paper, dictionary definitions, delphinium petals and other detritus were woven into this nest. Still, something was needed – out walking, I found a broken robins’ egg and embedded that in a subtle circle around the nest. Under the wax is a story written in pencil.

wending my way home
encaustic/collage/original photo transfer

A tiny little wind-blown landscape... this piece has fragments of letters, rusted iron fencing, and the feeling of returning. The place is welcoming and also sheltering.

the questions ceased
encasutic/collage/original photo transfer

Working on a ground from an earlier collaborative work (with Daniel), the organic elements below informed the piece. The transfer took on a new role: becoming a collage element and not the main focus of the painting. There are areas under the wax that are scorched, burned black, and I left these rich, dark areas with a minimum of wax - allowing them to sing. There is music, barbed wire, found objects and organic collage in this piece - and fragments of an old letter written to myself.

I too have been young, yesterday
encaustic/collage/original photo transfer

These two trees are growing side by side in the hedgerow behind our home... but the words and collage elements come from various, unrelated elements for the most part. The typed words are from a letter, and the 'yesterday' from my Great-Grandmother.

i have this day
encaustic/collage/original photo transfer

Many layers make up this painting... from the photo taken in a Toronto parking lot to the seven photos taken by Daniel (that are steps along the path around our house) I am exploring the idea of hidden meaning, and the juxtaposition of diverse elements to create a whole.

i had no choice
encaustic/collage/original photo transfer

My Great-grandmothers' handwriting was transfered into the wax, with these words written so long ago to my Grandmother. Her lack of choice was not a sacrifice, but rather a gift... meaning she had accepted unexpected generousity with gratitude. The letter collaged below the stitched fabric was given to me by a long lost friend... leaving me with no choice but to accept his departure.

how small a glimpse I have
encaustic/collage/original photo transfer

A small, contemplative piece, that pulls together fragments of images, alluding to a whole that does not appear. This piece is an honest reflection of how little I can see and understand.

blowing a kiss through time
encaustic/collage/original photo transfer

Working on a ground from an earlier collaborative work (with Daniel), the organic elements below informed the piece. The transfer took on a new role: becoming a collage element and not the main focus of the painting. There are areas under the wax that are scorched, burned black, and I left these rich, dark areas with a minimum of wax - allowing them to sing. There is music, barbed wire, found objects and organic collage in this piece - with the red 'x' appearing near the end, becoming the 'kiss through time'.

nest
encaustic/wren nest/fabric/paper/barbed wire/string/rust

After ‘Another Story’ – nests kept coming into my life. This wrens’ nest was very different to work with – looser than that robins nest, it was a challenge to work with! Building up layers of wax, barbed wire, twine, dictionary definitions and other found objects eventually built up and strengthened the nest. (Part of my Empty Nest series.)