It has been challenging to say the least to make art with all the construction goings on. The parts of my studio that are temperature-sensitive are all in a heap in the middle of the living room. Everything else is in boxes in the garage, in no particular order.

I managed to find my way over to the library to teach the last two weeks anyway, and the children made beautiful birds from tinfoil and plaster-infused gauze bandages. (The idea was in this month's Cloth Paper Scissors magazine, which I love.)  The children each made two birds, one for the library and one to take home, and they had so much fun!  Here is a picture of a few of the library birds perched next to the spring baskets we made in March.

What an eventful New Year!  Heart surgery for my husband, 10 days in ICU, and recovery from all that.  Then achilles tendon repair for me, with 6 weeks in a cast, and now a boot!  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Oh, yes, we had a "little" water incident in our home that has resulted in much unplanned-for reconstruction, the second time in two years this has happened.  We are almost through that, but it resulted in a "little studio pack-out.  I'm hoping to put it back together within a couple of weeks, when all the work on the house is done.

So, sporting a cast, I entered a few local art thingies, and that was fun!  To get ready, I needed to take some pictures of my latest work. I had some visitors to my photo booth:

Ahh! I look good in white.

Wait! Move over! Hiss! Growl! 

I may be little, but I won. And I look good in white, too.

Hey! I like it in here!

Without further ado, I here are some of my new pieces. I have only made it to 40 so far this year, but considering all that has gone on, I think I still have a good chance of making it to 200 by the end of the year.

"Hummingbird"

12 x 12 inches, encaustic and oil.

"Jellyfish"

12 x 12 inches, encaustic and oil.

8 x 9 inches, encaustic and oil.

8 x 9 inches, encaustic and oil.

2.5 x 3.5 inches, framed artists' trading card, encaustic and oil.

5 x 5 inches, encaustic and oil.

"Leaf # 2", 2012, 5 x 5 inches, encaustic and oil.

"Dream Sequence"

24 x 24 inches, encaustic and oil.

"Global Warming"

5 x 5 inches, encaustic and oil.

Even more paintings!

Tentacles

Encaustic on Cradled Board, 12 x 12 inches

Cosmic Clouds

Encaustic on Cradled Board, 12 x 12 inches

Detail, Cosmic Clouds No. 1, 6 x 6 inches

Detail, Cosmic Clouds No. 2, 6 x 6 inches

Detail, Cosmic Clouds No. 3, 6 x 6 inches

Detail, Cosmic Clouds No. 4, 6 x 6 inches

Encaustic on Cradled board, 6.5 x 7.5 inches

I'm trying to work on larger pieces!

More paintings!

Storm

Encaustic on Cradled Panel

6 x 6 inches

Encaustic on Cradled Panel

6 x 6 inches

Chameleon

Encaustic on Cradled Panel

6 x 6 inches

Under the Sea No. 1

Encaustic on Cradled Panel

6 x 6 inches

Under the Sea No. 2

Encaustic on Cradled Panel

6 x 6 inches

Under the Sea No. 3

Encaustic on Cradled Panel

6 x 6 inches

I have a few more things to show you today, and I re-named yesterday's offerings. I hope you like them!

On track, quietly!

Snorkel, No. 1

Snorkel, No. 2

Snorkel, No. 3

Snorkel, No 4.

No. 4, framed

Snorkel, No. 5

It has been a busy month, tending to a favorite heart surgery patient. I have gotten some painting in, however, and think I am on track for my goal of 200 paintings this year. I have signed 27 so far and have several unsigned, and several more in progress.  I will give you a few new ones today, and try to post a few more every day! These are all ACEO artist trading cards, in a series I call "Snorkel." All are encaustic and oil paint on encausticbord.

I've been having fun with color and my pledge to make 200 paintings this year. I'm on track so far! I don't love them all equally, but I have learned from each one.

Peacock #1

6 x 6 x 7/8 inches 

Encaustic on panel

Peacock #2

6 x 6 x 7/8 inches 

Encaustic on panel

Peacock #3

6 x 6 x 7/8 inches 

Encaustic on panel

Peacock #4

6 x 6 x 7/8 inches 

Encaustic on panel

 Fairy Dust

8 x8 x 1.5 inches

Encaustic on panel

Untitled

8 x 9 inches

Encaustic on plywood

Untitled

8 x 9 inches

Encaustic on Plywood

Wormhole #1

5 x 5 x 1/8 inches

Encaustic on panel

Wormhole # 2

5 x 5 x 1/8 inches

Encaustic on panel

Lightning

8 x 8 x 1.5 inches

Encaustic on Panel

It is the new year! There's so much to consider as the year turns. The accomplishments and failures of the past, the birth and death of opportunity, choices not made and paths not taken.  Life and death and rebirth, one following the other in close succession.

I don't generally preach from my blog, but this verse has been on my mind all week:

2 Corinthians 5:17

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

This year I have seen a special loved one find renewal and redemption. There are others who still flounder. I hold them close to my heart for the new year.

At the beginning of 2012, I chose to explore new media and soon delved deeply into encaustic. I made a lot of messes, but have also learned a lot and think I've settled into this as "my" medium for a while.

I also deepened my involvement with The ARTree Community Arts Center, and now serve as the board Treasurer. In the new year a fellow board member and I will begin teaching children's art classes at our lovely new community library.  We are so excited for the possibilities!

This year, I want to continue to explore my artistic universe.

I think for me that means I need to make a lot of paintings, and spend much more time working in my studio. Too many days I stall and delay, and flitter and flutter, when if I would just settle down and work I'd see some breakthroughs.  Is 200 paintings too many to try for? I don't think so; I am working on 5 to 10 at any given time. So that's it. 200 paintings in 2013.  And at least one workshop....more if I can swing it. 

So that's my new year meditation, artistic friends. I wish the best for you in all you in all your journeys for 2013.