all the ways...
encaustic/collage (broken key, root, photo transfer) (2010)
Working the key too hard in the lock one night resulted in me breaking the key, and locking myself out of the house. Something about this ‘trying too hard’ stuck with me, and eventually, this painting was the result. The tree and root mirror each other, and have been separated… there is a disconnect, which fits for this theme of ‘all the ways I try too hard’.
are you calling me bird? (dance #2)
encaustic/collage/nest/branches/charcoal (2010)
The second in a new series that involves dancing on the natural beeswax with charcoal on my feet. The process begins with the art flat on the floor, pristine... then I dip my feet repeatedly in the charcoal (taken from our Solstice fire in December) and dance. The imagery, shapes and flow of the piece emerge from the energy of the dance below. The song I danced to was 'That's not my name' by The Ting Tings. The title was taken from a line in the song: 'are you calling me bird?' which was my favourite part to dance to and kind of funny. I had such a joyful time making this piece, and am learning about really letting go with this series.- complete
encaustic/collage (2010)
This series of small paintings were an exploration of disparate parts, with the challenge of making the whole work within this context. I chose items/words/collage elements that appealed to me and then found ways to bring them all together. A grid was carved into the wax, to create a sense of order. - fragile forgiveness
encaustic/collage (nest) (2010)
These substrates have a wonderful recessed 'pocket' (made with precision by my friend Jane Longman... Jane's Frames in Fergus, ON) that holds a particularly fragile nest... as I pondered the nature of forgiveness, I decided to use the dictionary definition of 'forgive' in the painting. Forgiveness, by its nature, is a fragile and often multi-layered state... it happens in increments, often slowly, unfolding and softening around a tightness, or holding. - home: here
encaustic/collage (2010)
These substrates have a wonderful recessed 'pocket' (made with precision by my friend Jane Longman... Jane's Frames in Fergus, ON) that holds a particularly beautiful and oval nest... as I settled it into the pocket, I began to think about what it means to be home, and whether that is possible wherever we find ourselves in the world. The idea that home can be here, wherever I am, is both comforting and unsettling. I love how the strands from the nest reach out to the edges of the piece... making that stretch from 'home' to 'here'. - moon reflection
encaustic/collage (silver leaf, roots, rust, photo transfer) (2010)
Commissioned by Michael Mucci, a musician from Guelph, this moon piece was inspired by another done a few years ago. Michael’s music is very meditative and beautiful, and listening to it as I worked on the painting really informed the piece. This will be the cover for his LP which is available in July 2010 from www.michaelmucci.com - no words, only music
encaustic/collage (2010)
This series of small paintings were an exploration of disparate parts, with the challenge of making the whole work within this context. I chose items/collage elements that appealed to me and then found ways to bring them all together. A grid was carved into the wax, to create a sense of order. - present
encaustic/collage (rusted metal, roots, flower petals, dictionary page, photo transfer) (2010)
Wind became central to the theme in this piece, always moving and yet pulling us into the present with its sound and fresh perspective. This piece was inspired by an earlier series, and also incorporated new learning from the past several months. This painting is about being in the present moment, aware of what is around us… - queen bee
encaustic/collage (gold/silver leaf, graphite transfer, stems, seeds, flower petals) (2010)
This piece was done for The Artist Project, held in March 2010 in Toronto. The theme for the show was the ‘queen’, and what better queen to honour than the queen bee?! Truly miraculous creatures, bees do such crucial work by pollinating, create honey and of course the wax that I paint with every day! - something extraordinary
encaustic/collage (2010)
This series of small paintings were an exploration of disparate parts, with the challenge of making the whole work within this context. I chose items/words/collage elements that appealed to me and then found ways to bring them all together. A grid was carved into the wax, to create a sense of order. - sunshiney day
encaustic/collage (2010)
A small piece that is a celebration of being with small children at the beach... the way the sun shines so brightly, the day seemingly endless. The photo transfer of the mother and child are my grandmother and father. Such trust, and joy, so fleeting. - with wings outstretched (dance #1)
encaustic/collage/photo transfer/charcoal (2010)
The first in a new series that involves dancing on the natural beeswax with charcoal on my feet. The process begins with the art flat on the floor, pristine... then I dip my feet repeatedly in the charcoal (taken from our Equinox fire in September) and dance. The imagery, shapes and flow of the piece emerge from the energy of the dance below. The song I danced to was 'There is XXXX within my heart' by You Say Party We Say Die. The title was taken from a line in the song, and is truly such a departure for me, that I feel I am flying, 'with wings outstretched' into very new territory. I had such a joyful time making this piece, and am learning about really letting go with this series. - as far as I can reach
encaustic/leaves/charcoal/gloves (2011)
This piece was started back in the fall of 2010 and is only recently finished, and represents the late afternoon light shining through the forest outside of our new encaustic school, 'the hive', in Alton, ON. The gloves are my Grandmother's white gloves from a very different time, and I used them to rub the charcoal into the top layer... this piece is about letting go of outdated modes of being, about moving forward and reaching out to the limit of what we're capable of. It's also about loving nature, light and being. - half full
encaustic/collage/found objects (2011)
The grid here relates to the on-going theme of 'letting go' in my life/art ... in this case, letting go of perfection, and 'getting it right'. It's a celebration of chance, of random connections, and of finding beauty in unexpected places. The remnants of an earlier idea remain under the found objects in the center, as the history of the 'mistakes' is to be seen, not hidden. Gratitude and going with the flow inform this painting... yes, my cup is 'half full'! - i'm alive, oh oh so alive (dance #3)
encaustic/charcoal/transfer/gold leaf (2011)
Dancing on the wax with charcoal on my feet has been a new departure for me, as I find new ways to 'go out of my mind' (in a good way). This one is the third in the new series, and smaller than the first two. I danced to the song 'I'm Alive' by Love and Rockets. The images/composition emerges from the charcoal dance and in this case it revealed the cross-section of an island in Georgian Bay, my favourite place on the planet. There is a line along the bottom of the painting: 'being alive means being in this dance of moving to the edge so many times until the path is worn thin - until we finally can fall or leap or get pushed...' - inside out
encaustic/transfer/collage/rusted metal (2011)
A small exploration, a playful juxtaposition of elements was the jumping off point for this series... done in collaboration with Daniel Beirne (my husband and partner in crime). Based loosely on a landscape, we wanted to play and push some new edges. - It couldn't come at a better time
encaustic/transfer/collage/rusted metal (2011)
A small exploration, a playful juxtaposition of elements was the jumping off point for this series. Based loosely on a landscape, I wanted to play and push some new edges. - sanctuary
encaustic/transfer/collage/rusted metal (2011)
A small exploration, a playful juxtaposition of elements was the jumping off point for this series... done in collaboration with Daniel Beirne (my husband and partner in crime). Based loosely on a landscape, we wanted to play and push some new edges - stepping stones
encaustic/collage (2011)
This beautiful nest inspired the painting... a gift from my friend Jen. I wanted to explore the places that birds build their nests in: forests, hedgerows, branches, and then play with those ideas further by including seeds, flower petals, thorns and feathers. These grid pieces are time-intensive labours of love, each square telling a story, and relating to the overall story in a unique way each time I look at it! - the ways I try
encaustic/transfer/collage (2011)
A small drawing of the pear inspired this painting, with may layers below describing the surface... I love the shape of the pear, and it's elegance. A celebration of colour and depth, this piece was made at the same time as "True Blue", a companion piece - true blue
encaustic/transfer/collage (2011)
A small drawing of the pear inspired this painting, with may layers below describing the surface... I love the shape of the pear, and it's elegance. A celebration of colour and depth, this piece was made at the same time as "The ways I try", a companion piece - begin and continue (to forgive)
encaustic/collage/gold leaf (2012)
Inspired by the five lovely pink roses in the center, recessed part, I found myself contemplating what is at the core of forgiveness. I paged through 'Women Who Run with the Wolves' to see what Clarissa Pinkola Estees thought about this. She wrote that one of the most important aspects of forgiveness is to 'begin and continue'. Right on Clarissa! Love that - bent into shape
encaustic/collage (2012)
Here I went back to an image that has inspired me in the past... a tree that is so bent by wind. Is it bent into shape? Out of shape? Regardless, that is now its shape. There is something for me to learn from this tree. - following a dream (dance # 4)
encaustic/collage/transfer (2012)
As I pondered the idea of following ones dream, the infinite number of possibilities seemingly overwhelmed me at times... this abundance comes through in this complex piece. Where to go with our dreams? Which path to follow? - Less is More
encaustic/collage/nest (2012)
A tiny, perfect nest. Collage elements that hint at mystery, hidden messages, and renewal. The words 'less' and 'more' are stitched into the beautiful nest. Lots of stories here. - love notes, baby
encaustic/collage (2012)
This playful piece spells out the word LOVE diagonally, and each rectangle is an envelope with a secret or semi-secret message in it. Sometimes the message is words, sometimes an image. - moving to the place beyond words (dance # 5)
encaustic/collage/charcoal/transfer (2012)
This piece is a pivotal one for me, as it incorporates the dance, the grid, and a transfer of my hands letting go. In other words, it brings together a variety of important themes in my work. The gold leaf in the center really shines, shedding light on that 'place beyond words'. - not grasping
encaustic/collage (2012)
This small exploration about holding/not holding was a challenge... to work with such precise lines that are both organic and not. It took way longer than I thought it would. Talk about 'not grasping'!
