Encaustic Workshop

I just completed an excellent workshop given by Tom Swanston and Michael David in a small town just outside Atlanta called Serenbe.  Here’s the website that gives you all the scoop. http://www.fineartsworkshop.com/FAWS/Home.html  This was by far the best workshop I’ve ever taken.  The only issue I had with it is it’s too short!   Just a weekend (2 days) but I got more out of those 2 days then I’ve gotten out of any other workshop I’ve ever taken.  If you have a chance to attend, whether a beginner or intermediate, you must.  Not only did they supply tips, trick, and materials it was inspirational and motivational.   

Tom, www.studioswan.com and Michael, www.michaeldavidartist.com, both represented by Lowe Gallery here in Atlanta are fabulous artist’s and teachers.  They are so supportive and understanding of artists and how we work.   Tom Swanston’s gallery is located in Serenbe and the workshop was in his studio which was right up the street from the gallery.  I’ve heard they will also be offering workshops at a new studio space in Atlanta at the King Plow art center http://www.artery.org/KingPlow.htm.  Can’t wait to attend another one!!   Be sure to get on their email list for updates.

 

S.E.A. Premier Exhibit!

 

 This exhibit was part of The Stacks Holiday Loft Tour in Atlanta,  Georgia this past December. 

                                                        www.thestackslofttour.com 

 

 

 

Pictures from our first group exhibit. All 11 members participated and the event was a big success!!

Thanks so much to one of our artists Edie Morton for getting us such a great loft to exibit in!  The Stacks Holiday Loft Tour is going to be an annual event so if you didn’t make it last year hopefully we’ll see you this year!

The loft was large with 25′ ceilings.  Each artist had a width of 6′ to work with.  We also had work in the upstairs and downstairs bedrooms as well. 

 This is me with my art.  We definitely were having fun at our first show!

Become a fan of our group on Facebook!   Visit our blog and sign up to receive all of our upcoming exhibit info!   http://southeasternencausticartists.blogspot.com/

 

Atlanta Artist Chery Baird

An Atlanta artist who is internationally recognized spoke last night at our member meeting of Kudzu Art Zone.  Chery Baird teaches at Spruill Art Center  http://www.spruillarts.org/in Atlanta and has very impressive teaching and exhibiting credentials.  She said something last night that has resonated with me all day today.  She said if you’re having a very easy wonderful time in your studio than you’re not working hard enough to learn new things.  However if you’re frustrated in the studio than you must be learning and trying new techniques.  One of her recommendations was to try to achieve the same results or resolve your painting using materials you’ve never used before or materials you’ve never used in that way. 

Chery has her work in the National Collage Society’s show at Mason Murer gallery in Atlanta.  She allows wins awards in this show.  Congratulations Chery!  Check out her website at  http://zkartz.com/CheryBaird/

Finally all I’ve got to say is I must be learning by leaps and bounds in the studio!  I seem to be frustrated everyday!!!  I feel so much better 

 

Cabbagetown Exhibit Update

Wow things are really coming together.  Thanks to Milltown Arms in Cabbagetown for offering to sponsor us with food and wine!  Also a big thanks to Atlanta Sound & Lighting for giving us a deal on lights for the space!  We’ve been struggling over the past couple of weeks trying to figure out what the best solution was for lights.  The loft space is finished and has electricity but no exisiting lights except for track lights at the entrance.  We have a 20′ x 25′ space with a 20′ ceiling and 2 bedrooms to light and were stumped at what to do.  Atlanta Sound & Lighing really hooked up us. 

Here’s a couple of pictures of the empty space so later you can see how it’s magically transformed.

I guess I better get to painting!!!

 

SEA Premiere Exhibit!!

Our premiere exhibit is coming up!  Come see us at The Stacks Holiday Loft Tour on Friday December 4th from 6 to 10pm and Saturday December 5th from 2 to 8pm in Bldg E, Suite #221.   We’ll have a loft all to ourselves!   The Stacks is located in a part of Atlanta affectionately called Cabbagetown.   It’s a group of buildings that have been renovated into lofts that were at one time known at The Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill.  Alot of the history has been retained within the buildings including some of the old machinery.  On Saturday morning Dec. 5th there’ll be a tour of of the buildings from a local historian.  For more info visit www.thestackslofttour.com. 

Please join us!   I’ll be giving periodic updates on the happens leading up to the exhibit.

 

Thanks Rodney!!!

I just have to say my great day in the studio today was brought to me by Rodney Thompson.   I received the IEA newletter in my email this morning which I read while having my morning coffee.   Rodney had contributed an editorial on “The Practice of Excellence”. 

I’d been feeling slightly out of sorts lately while working on my husbands photography. He’s in 4 exhibits during Atlanta Celebrates Photography the month of October and I’ve been busy managing his website, ordering prints, making labels and doing the framing.  I thought the change of pace would be helpful but it just got me into this kind of funk.  So thanks Rodney for pulling me out of this funk!  I had an excellent day today! 

Here’s an except: 

The Practice of Excellence
Guest Editorial by Rodney Thompson

 

 

 

In its earliest appearance, “excellence” was a notion bound up with the
concept of fulfillment of purpose or function, the act of living up to
one’s full potential. As artists the concept of excellence is vital to
understand. Ours is more a path of process than an accomplishment of
completion and our attitude and state of mind determines the quality of
that experience. Certainly the act of making art results in art objects
that can be admired, shown, (hopefully) sold, and possessed. But
these objects that remain as a result of our actions are not the primary
motivation of our behavior. Rather, it is the experience, the
moments of our lives spent in the making of art that truly
matters. There is no amount of finished art that would ever
satisfy the undeniable desire to plunge back in and
make more. The art itself can be satisfying, occasionally
thrilling, yet often somehow disappointing, not quite living up to the vague wonders conjured by our
imagination.But the time spent creating is where the potential for excellence always resides.

 

http://www.international-encaustic-artists.org/

 

Trees Atlanta Revisited

Just recieved one of those mass emails from Anne Irwin Gallery in Atlanta about their 1st Thursday’s opening this week.   Anne (pictured in the middle) was the Judge for the Trees Atlanta exhibit this summer and selected my piece 3rd Place out of over 800 entries.  I still look periodically at her website and decided to check out her blog for the first time.  I’m really happy I did.  I discovered a picture of her along with the organizers of the exhibit, Donna Thomas (on right) and Pat Fiorello (on left).  I wasn’t able to attend the opening that night but was there the following night.  Unfortunately Anne wasn’t there that night.  My luck right?! 

Thanks again Anne for giving me the encouragement to continue on my art career path! 

http://www.anneirwinfineart.com/aifa-blog/

 

Southeastern Encaustic Group has Website!!!

 

Jack Art Gallery extends hours!

Opening night

My work in the exhibit

Due to the overwelling response to the Encaustic13 reception Jack Art Gallery has extended their hours.  The new hours are Thursday, Friday, Saturday 2pm to 6pm.  Stop in if your in the area or view all exhibited artwork at their website, www.jackartgallery.com.  You must see the work in person however to get the full experience!   

Still looking for holiday place to exhibit an all encaustic show so please let me know if you have a place in mind!!

 

Encaustic13 Exhibit

Getting excited about the all encaustic show at Jack Art Gallery in Atlanta opening this week!  This is the first ever all encaustic show in Atlanta and features 13 artists. I’m so happy to be one of them!  The reception is tomorrow night (Aug. 12th) from 6pm to 8:30pm so if your in town please stop in to meet the artists. Also this is our first exhibit as a newly formed encaustic group here in Atlanta. We call ourselves Atlanta Wax Experience and will have a website in the next couple of months.

You can visit Jacks website for directions and more info.

http://www.jackartgallery.com