Through the heat of Summer these blues have kept me cool in the studio. Working larger and experimenting with ways to simply get paint onto the surface, moving it from here to there, this series grows. If you are local to Southern California you can see the first two pieces at OC Contemporary Gallery in San Clemente 🙂
With Me 30×40
Along the Way 24×18
Journey 24×18
Finding a voice. The ever changing challenge an artist is faced with. It’s such fun to play and experiment and be free when creating the work, but a cohesive body of work is necessary to take things to the “next” level so to speak. I’ve struggled for quite some time with this, but came across a quote from artists Jerry Mcloughlin and Rebecca Crowell’s new Cold Wax Medium Book (AMAZING BTW) that has become my mantra when in the studio… “Does it Feel like Me”? Â I may like what I’ve created and even find it beautiful but for it to be honest it has to feel like me. Was the process in getting there one that felt natural to my creative process? Was I being honest with what feelings and emotions I wanted the work to reflect? For better or for worse does the piece sitting on the easel feel like a reflection of myself? Ask yourself these questions and you will find the work coming together in ways you’ve never dreamed.
Many goals were set at the start of the year and in reaching for the stars my practice has attained new heights of which I had yet only dreamed. With no fear of failure (yet experiencing it very often!) I put my work out into the world and have seen the return with acceptance into 2 juried encaustic shows (Thank you Conrad Wilde Gallery & IEA!), inclusion in 3 group shows, sales and commissions all the way from Dubai, London and France to locally here in Los Angeles. Â These small wins make the countless losses all worth while. For any who have a dream, cast your net wide and high and you WILL catch something good. Let’s see what the rest of 2017 has to offer!
Had to stay away from the hot wax last week as it was just toooooo hot. Worked in cold wax to try and cool off 😉 Still sweat quite a bit but the fun was worth it!
Titles in order : Â From Here to There 20×20 Cold wax and Oil
Passage 20×20 Cold wax and OIl
Fly With Me 16x16x2 Cold wax and oil on
Still in love with all that beeswax and heat can do…
Swalla Studio Art 