Adventures in Art

Contemplative Encaustic on Panel

2008-10-08T09:10:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this abstract encaustic painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Meadow Encaustic on Panel

2008-10-07T10:07:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this abstract encaustic painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Calm and Collected Encaustic on Panel

2008-10-06T09:04:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this beautiful painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Rolling Waves Encaustic on Panel

2008-10-02T10:46:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this wonderful painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

High Wind Encaustic on Panel

2008-10-01T10:37:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Round and Round Encaustic on Panel

2008-09-30T09:30:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Buildling Blocks 5 Encaustic on Canvas

2008-09-29T10:21:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
24"x60"
(3) 20"x24"
$350

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Tempest Encaustic on Panel

2008-09-27T10:16:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this piece, please visit my Etsy Store.

Sorry for the lack of posts this month. It isn't that I have been remiss in posting, rather, this big, bad hurricane named Ike decided to make its way through Houston. We're 70 miles inland, and we lost power on the 13th. Today is the first day that we have actually had it back. So, I apologize for not being more current and up-to-date. Also, because of the lack of power, I haven't been able to produce any work. Encaustic requires power for your hot plate or heat gun. So I will be doing a lot, and will be posting lots of new work! Hope you all are doing well, and I'm definitely glad to be back.

Red Wave I Encaustic on Canvas

2008-09-12T07:54:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
24"x54"
(3) 24"x18"x1.5"
$385

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Tropical Reef Encaustic on Panel

2008-09-11T11:51:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Fall Festival Encaustic on Canvas

2008-09-10T18:31:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
24"x40"
(2) 24"x20"
$295

To purchase this colorful abstract painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Turquoise Dream Encaustic on Panel

2008-09-09T15:28:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Building Blocks 4 Encaustic on Canvas

2008-09-08T08:02:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Canvas
20"x40"
(2) 20"x20"
$250

To purchase this fun and funky painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Elegant Motion Encaustic on Canvas

2008-09-05T07:44:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
23"x34"
$300

To purchase this abstract seascape, please visit my Etsy Store.

Crashing Encaustic on Canvas

2008-09-04T07:41:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
24"x36"
$275

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Caracao Clear Encaustic on Panel

2008-09-03T15:01:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"X12" framed
$125

To purchase this colorful painting, please visit my Etsy Store, BS Art Studio.

Seaspray II Encaustic on Panel

2008-09-02T14:56:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Kokomo Encaustic on Panel

2008-08-28T12:52:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x 24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Have a great weekend! The hubby and I are off to a wedding in NYC for one of our best friends. See you on Tuesday!

Subtlety Encaustic on Canvas

2008-08-27T07:26:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Canvas
24"x36"x1.5"
$300

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Cali Dreaming Encaustic on Canvas

2008-08-25T03:02:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
24"x36"x1.5"
$300

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Envy Encaustic on Panel

2008-08-22T09:33:00.001-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this beatiful painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Building Blocks 3 Encaustic on Canvas

2008-08-21T07:48:00.001-05:00

Encastic on Canvas
24"x40"
(2) 20"x24"
$325

To purchase this huge painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Dots Encaustic on Panel

2008-08-20T09:59:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Rings on the Table

2008-08-19T08:40:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

This fun piece of art can be purchased through my Etsy Store.

I love this painting. When I was making it, I had the brown down on the panels, and (in case you hadn't noticed) I very much enjoy working with brown/turquoise combinations. Well, I was kind of experimenting with making circles in encaustic (not the easiest thing to do). I put the first one down and was reminded of being a little girl, and my mother saying "Use a coaster! You'll put rings on the table and ruin it!" Just gave me a little chuckle.

Building Blocks 2 Encaustic on Canvas

2008-08-18T09:54:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
24"x30"x1.5"
$250

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Building Blocks Encaustic on Canvas

2008-08-16T09:59:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
20"x40"
(2) 20"x20"
$275

To purchase this beautiful painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Pulp Art Encaustic on Panel

2008-08-14T10:17:00.004-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
12"x48"
(4) 12"x12", (4) 14"x14" framed
$260

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Beginning with "Wild West" I have really focused on trying to push my encaustic work in a little bit of a new direction. Don't get me wrong, I am still doing my swirly, organic type paintings that look like some kind of areal view of the Earth. But as I am doing larger and larger pieces, I have run into some limitations as to being able to get the ethereal and organic shapes that look so lovely on smaller pieces.

I really focusing on building lots and lots of layers to achieve a depth and minute detail that is very interesting to the eye. I'm also working very much on making my color palettes more subtle. Personally, the vivid colors I have been using are my favorites. Don't worry, I'm not giving those up either, it is more that I am trying to push myself artistically to try new things.

One thing I am SO excited about - I just discovered the magnetic lasso tool in Photoshop. AMAZING! Because of that one amazing little tool, and with some layering stuff, I was able to FINALLY get an indoor view that I am now happy with for my Etsy listings. So excited! I just really feel that this new picture looks so much more professional than the one I had been using. Time to edit more photos, and keep on checking the Etsy store - I probably have about five more things I will be listing in there this weekend!

Harvest Encaustic on Panel

2008-08-13T09:17:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12"
$125

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Ack! My face hurts. I woke up yesterday morning and apparently it is that season again. I jumped straight into some kind of sinus infection, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Usually I have a little bit of a warning, some kind of buildup. Maybe because it rained yesterday it just made my allergies that much worse. I got some canvases gessoed yesterday, but I don't know how much painting I will be able to get done today. Paint fumes probably aren't going to help me out a whole lot. Sigh.

I had a discussion with Beth yesterday about how no paint is actually good for you. She was a chemistry major for much of college before she changed her major to art (kind of like me who graduated with a finance degree... and am now a full time artist???). So Beth actually has studied a fair amount about paint's chemical composition. I did not know that acrylic paints are actually almost as bad for you, or worse, if ingested. Part of their flow agent is formaldehyde. Scary, eh? She told me stories about her many pet fish that lost their lives after she painted rooms with laytex acrylic (indoor house) paint and didn't move their tank from the room beforehand. This also explains why I was starting to get lightheaded after gessoing canvases for several hours.

Honestly, it never really occurred to me that gesso and acrylic paint give off fumes of any kind. They are so touted by the industry as being "healthier" for you. I don't sand the gesso on my canvas, so I've never worried about it. But I must say, I never get lightheaded when I use oils as long as I use Linquin and keep the top on my Turpenoid.

In any case, I have more or less determined that by the time I reach 35 I will most likely be senile or just have totally cooked my brain Ozzy Osbourne style from all the painting I am doing. (Although that man is totally the poster boy for not doing drugs. Kind of sad how anti-establishment he used to be and generally hardcore... now he can barely speak. And I digress...)

Revelry Encaustic on Panel Framed

2008-08-12T10:17:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Wild West Encaustic on Canvas

2008-08-11T09:26:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
20"x48"
(3) 20"x16"
$ 340

To purchase this beautiful abstract painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

The Great Wave Encaustic on Canvas

2008-08-08T10:43:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
24"x60" <--- HUGE
(3) 24"x20" Canvases
$450

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

All that Jazz Encaustic on Panel

2008-08-06T09:41:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
12"x48"
(4) 12"x12", (4) 14"x14" framed
$260

To purchase these four beautiful paintings, please visit my Etsy Store.

My First Etsy Treasury

2008-08-05T14:44:00.002-05:00

I got my first Treasury! It was quite the adrenaline rush waiting for the clock to wind down to grab one in time. Well now I know that I can do it - but I also know that getting a Treasury is a 2 hour process too. Phew! Lots of fun, hope it helps visual artists get some much needed exposure on Etsy. Help me out and click!

Lily Pond Encaustic on Panel

2008-08-05T07:44:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10"x24"
(3) 8"x10", (3)10"x12" framed
$100

To purchase this beautiful abstract art, please visit my Etsy Store.

If you're in Texas, make sure to stay dry! I'm not worried about TS Edouard simply because we are so far inland, but there could be some wind and tornado issues. Nothing worth evacuating for since we are in the 500 year flood plain. Thankfully we will be getting some rain, it has been so dry here. Seems like the only time we get rain is when one of these tropical storms or hurricanes come through.

BS Art Studio website is FINALLY finished. I am so excited about how it turned out. Of course there are some small things to tweak, but all in all it looks pretty awesome. I think I still want to have a page of links, and another page about encaustic, but for right now, it looks pretty good, so I am excited! Take a gander at that site here: www.bsartstudios.com

I've very much been enjoying doing this blog, but I've also been wanting to explore other aspects of being an artist and being a part of the Etsy community. So, I've started a second blog, on my BS Art Studio website, and it's called Sail Away. I'm using this blog to focus on promoting fellow Etsy members, and to also educate both sellers and buyers about handmade items. Many people believe that because something is handmade, you shouldn't have to pay much for the item. I would like to show buyers the thought process behind pricing and why it is better to buy handmade items rather than something mass produced in a sweatshop in a third-world country. In any case, this is going to be fun!

Lazy River Encaustic on Panel

2008-08-04T08:49:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10"x12" framed
$125

To purchase this colorful painting, please visit my Etsy Store, BS Art Studio.

Jade Dreams Encaustic on Panel

2008-08-03T12:24:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10" x 12" framed
$125

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Whew, I am exhausted. Even my hair hurts. No seriously. It does. White Linen Night was fun, but it was HOT. I believe the heat index when I was setting up was around 110 degrees, and I'm not joking. We've had one day of rain since we got back from the wedding, so I do not believe that I have sweat that much in a very long time. Joe got worried because I started getting a little distant, so he kept handing me water. I think the heat was getting to me. That and not eating. But regardless, I learned a TON about doing festivals and such. It was a great dress rehearsal. Now I know what to look for in a show, and especially how to better prepare. I thought I was organized, only to figure out that I was actually very disorganized. Funny, eh? Lots of life lessons, now I have to sell some more so that I can do more festivals!

Seaspray Encaustic on Panel

2008-08-01T21:15:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 24"
(3) 8" x 10", (3) 10" x 12" framed
$125

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Golden Dragon Encaustic on Canvas

2008-07-31T16:43:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Canvas, Ready to Hang
16" x 42" x 1.5"
$250

This piece is going to be available first at White Linen Night in the Heights. If you would like to purchase this before it goes on sale at WLN or my Etsy Store, please Email Me. This piece is a colorful painting done as a triptych (3 canvases) on gallery-wrapped canvas. I have finished the edges in black, so there is a lovely, clean, contemporary look to it, but because the painting itself has such an organic feeling, the two styles keep the piece warm and lovely for your home.

Cape Encaustic on Panel

2008-07-30T10:15:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Ready to Hang
24" x 30" x 1.5"
$300

This piece will be available in my Etsy Store on Aug. 2nd. To pre-order this, please email me.

Man, getting ready for White Linen Night has been so much harder than I anticipated. I'm using lattice panels because this is my first festival, and spending $1000 just on panels alone is a little out of my budget at the moment. So, I've been painting lattice for the past week. If anyone tries to Tom Sawyer you into painting lattice, decline. You don't even really have to do it politely.

On Monday and Tuesday I woke up with an awful awful case of the flu. I've never had my joints ache so badly. I'm used to dealing with sinus stuff that you can eventually work through, but this just knocked me out totally. I slept for the better part of two days. It has put me into a bit of a panic, since WLN is in just a couple of days, but I should hopefully be ready in time. I don't really have an option, now do I? In any case, I'm back up on my feet and just getting as much done as possible between now and Saturday morning. I can't wait, but at the same time I'm so nervous. This is my first festival!

Gentle Current Encaustic on Panel

2008-07-25T14:51:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 48"
(4) 8" x 10", (4) 10" x 12" framed
$135

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store. It will be available on Aug 1st. If you would like to pre-purchase this work, please Email Me.

BS Art Studio was just featured in an interview by Three Muses. Make sure to read it and give her awesome props on her wonderful blog!

Whirlwind Encaustic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

2008-07-24T09:40:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
24" x 18" x 1.5"
$150

The sides of this piece are painted a dark espresso brown so there is no need to frame, and it will be ready to hang, right out of the box! To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Note: My blog readers are being given first look at this beautiful work of art. Because of the drying time of the varnish, this piece will be available in my Etsy Store on Aug. 2nd. To pre-purchase this work, please Email Me.

Ahhhh... looks like I picked the wrong day to work on the computer all day. It wound up being pretty nice all day long yesterday, until about 6 or 7pm, when the skies finally opened up. Today is just pretty miserable. So dark outside that I have to turn most of the lights on inside to see anything. But hey, at least I can stretch some canvases, do some of the not so fun grunt work, and maybe finish the laundry. (I'm still trying to catch up on housework from being away on our honeymoon!) The lawn definitely needs it. This summer has been so much more dry than last summer, our grapefruit and lemon trees are just screaming for more water. Stay dry!

Clown Fish Encaustic on Panel

2008-07-23T16:28:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
12" x 48"
(4) 12" x 12", (4) 14" x 14" framed
$260

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Note: My blog readers are being given first look at this beautiful work of art. Because of the drying time of the varnish, this piece will be available in my Etsy Store on Aug. 2nd. To pre-purchase this work, please Email Me.

Hurricane Party

2008-07-23T08:26:00.005-05:00

"Hurricane party,
Getting out of control,
Lying in a gutter eating tootsie rolls"
-Cowboy Mouth

So yes, Hurricane Dolly is currently bearing down on the gulf, and specifically the southern tip of Texas. To be honest, I have never seen people so worked up about a Category 1 hurricane. Up here in Houston (literally hundreds of miles away), people are not panicking, but still talking about doomsday scenarios for flooding and wind. It is a little disturbing. Granted, I have now lived in three very hurricane prone areas (and island off of South Carolina, New Orleans, and now Houston) so I may be a little jaded. I was always seriously disturbed at the apparent nonchalance towards hurricanes in New Orleans, and they wound up paying for the laissez faire attitude. But at the same time, we didn't evacuate from Hilton Head (which is an island with one road off of it) for a Category 1. Forget it. There were some years rainstorms brought more rain and wind than a Cat 1. And I digress.

I've been pretty frustrated recently with my encaustic work. I love doing it, I love the translucency and the beauty of color. (These two pictures are shots of my table this week. I got so excited at all the beautiful colors I got to mix!) However, I do not love the amount of dry time that comes with varnishing these works. It has very much put me into a jam. I can wait for the encaustic part itself to dry (between 1-2 weeks depending on the thickness of the paint), but the varnish is takign 2-3 weeks, which eats up any available drying space I have. Not only that, but with a 3-5 week lead time from start to finish, I'm having some difficulties getting enough inventory made for my Etsy store. I would really like to have about 80-100 pieces in the store at any given time. I can then replace items as needed and focus some more larger pieces (like The Great Reef).

So here is what I have done to solve the problem:

1) Built a drying rack. This is a beast. 8 feet tall, made out of studs and dowels, mostly. It can hold between 15-30 pieces depending on if they are my 12x12 quads or my 10x24 trips. I started the shelves 3' off the floor to help avoid some dust.

2) I'm working on my varnish mixture. Hopefully adding some OMS will help speed up the dry time but still protect the pieces. Because they stay so tacky for so long, I've had lots of problems with lint and dust getting into the varnish and I've been having to pick it out. Not so much fun.

Other than that, I am going to be working online for most of the day today. It's looking like a yucky day, so the lighting will be awful in my studio. Might as well make the most of a rainy day and spend it on some much needed business development. Stay dry and think of happy colors!

The Great Reef Encaustic on Birch Panel

2008-07-22T15:09:00.004-05:00

Encaustic on Birch Panel
24" x 30"
$300

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Note: My blog readers are being given first look at this beautiful work of art. Because of the drying time of the varnish, this piece will be available in my Etsy Store on Aug. 2nd. To pre-purchase this work, please Email Me.

Summer Dreams Encaustic Painting on Panel

2008-07-21T09:55:00.001-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 24"
(3) 8" x 10", (3) 10" x 12" framed
$100

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Into the Void HUGE Original Abstract Encaustic Painting

2008-07-18T12:19:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
12" x 48"
(4) 12" x 12", (4) 14" x 14" framed
$260

To purchase this abstract painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Lady in Red Encaustic on Panel Painting Framed

2008-07-17T12:16:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 24"
(3) 8"x10", (3) 10" x 12" framed
$100

To purchase this piece of work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Breaking Through HUGE Original 12x48 Abstract Encaustic Painting Quadtych FRAMED READY TO HANG

2008-07-15T07:40:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
12" x 48"
(4) 12" x 12", (4) 14" x 14" framed
$260

To purchase this beautiful artwork, please visit my Etsy Store.

Herding Fish HUGE Encaustic on Panel Painting Framed

2008-07-14T07:39:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
12" x 48"
(4) 12" x 12", (4) 14" x 14" framed
$260

To purchase this colorful painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Spring Bouquet HUGE Encaustic on Panel Painting Framed

2008-07-11T08:21:00.002-05:00

Encaustic Painting on Panel, Framed
24" x 24"
(4) 12" x 12", (4) 14" x 14" framed
$260

To purchase this piece beautiful abstract painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

I had so much fun with this piece! The inspiration for it came from a single study that I did a while ago, also called Spring Bouquet. I just loved the color combinations of that one piece. Unfortunately, I didn't have more of that specific type of panel with me (it is a 1/4" deep box, so no framing needed!) when I wanted to create a large version of it, so I started from scratch! I love the colors, and they can really bring vibrancy to any home or office.

Catch the Wave Abstract Encaustic on Panel Painting

2008-07-10T15:09:00.001-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 24"
(3) 8" x 10", (3) 10" x 12" framed
$100

To purchase this painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Looking In Encaustic Painting on Panel

2008-07-09T16:47:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 24"
(3) 8" x 10", (3) 10" x 12" framed
$100

To purchase this piece, please visit my Etsy Store.

Summer Thunder Encaustic on Panel

2008-07-07T14:31:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 24"
(3) 8" x 10", (3) 10" x 12" Framed
$100

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

I'm back from the Honeymoon, literally. After a week of total insanity, and another week of literally not moving from a beach chair, I have just had the best two weeks of my life. No joke about that. All of the people who mean the most to me and Joe made sure to come and enjoy the wedding. I have never seen such a happy, low-drama group of people that truly enjoy one another. I've been to other weddings and I was just so impressed at how wonderful and selfless everyone was. On top of that, everyone just loves to have FUN. My mother did an absolutely spectacular job with the reception and the ceremony. I cannot believe how beautiful it all was.

But now, it is back to reality. I will be posting a lot of new work in the next few weeks, so please keep watching. I'm gearing up for my first festival, White Linen Nights, on August 2nd. Time to pull my head off of the beach, roll up the sleeves, and get back to work. No problem there, I love what I do.

Catch the Wave Original Encaustic on Panel

2008-06-19T14:15:00.004-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 24", Framed 12" x 30"
(3) 10" x 8"
$100

To purchase this Encaustic Painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

Alright! This is going to be my last post until after the 4th of July. Time for me to go get married :)

Above and Beyond HUGE Abstract Encaustic on Panel, Framed

2008-06-17T08:40:00.004-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, FRAMED
12" x 48"
(4) 12" x 12" (14" x 14" framed)
$260

To purchase this piece of colorful artwork, please visit my Etsy Store.

What an appropriate title to the post today, when I think about it. Last week, I found out from the Daily Painter website that I had not been accepted this go around. After much deliberation and after I did some self-reflection, I decided that it was for the best right at the moment. I leave on Friday to go out of town for two weeks to get MARRIED. If I had just been accepted to the website, I would be stressed out about trying to post things when I should be focusing on the next two weeks of my life.

But. Just because I was not accepted does not mean that I have given up by any means. The more I thought about their response and rejection email, the more I realized that I definitely need to apply again. I think the thing that hurt me the most was my two month hiatus from posting while I was out of the country and worried about wedding details. So, I am going to be almost religious in my fervor to post regularly and to paint ALL the time. This is especially helped because I have to produce a LOT of work in the next few months to begin applying to festivals and to get ready for White Linen Nights on Aug. 2nd.

Daily Painters, you have not seen the last of Shelby Crutchley, and when she applies again in August, you are going to be BLOWN AWAY by the amount of quality, beautiful work she has done, and how faithful she is being to posting on her blog.

Okay, that's it for today, Ciao!

Shockwave Original Encaustic on Panel

2008-06-16T07:22:00.002-05:00

Original Encaustic on Panel Triptych, Framed
10" x 24"
(3) 10" x 8"
$100

If you would like to purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

These works are so much fun to do. And this one especially with the little "shock" of coral in there with the blues. Just think of how much spunk and color you can add to your home or office with a painting like this. Forget the throw pillows, add some art!

Brilliant Blues Original Encaustic on Panel

2008-06-15T09:32:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, FRAMED
10" x 24", framed 12" x 30"
(3) 10" x 8"
$100

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Crashing Waves Encaustic on Panel

2008-06-14T14:41:00.004-05:00

Crashing Waves
Encaustic on Panel Triptych, FRAMED
10" x 24"
(3) 10" x 8"
$100

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Floating Acrylic on Canvas

2008-06-13T13:38:00.000-05:00

Floating
Acrylic on Canvas
24" x 36"
$260

To purchase this piece, please visit my Etsy Store.

Rolling Waves Acrylic on Canvas

2008-06-12T07:29:00.002-05:00

Acrylic on Canvas
18" x 24"
$130

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

Return to Me Abstract Expressionist Painting

2008-06-09T10:37:00.006-05:00

Happy Monday!
Return to Me
Original Acrylic on Canvas with Texture
24" x 36"
$260

To purchase this painting, please visit my Etsy Store.

I love this huge painting. Plus, because it is such amazing shades of yellow, it would look absolutely gorgeous on a blue wall (like in the picture) The picture above really does not do the painting justice as every time you look at the painting up close, there are so many layers of color. Love it! Here is a picture of the detail:

I had so much fun with this painting. I am finally figuring out how to translate the techniques I have been using in my oils to acrylics. As much as I love oil, there are just so many advantages to using acrylics. Still, nothing can beat the luminosity and beauty of oil colors. I felt like I was finally hitting my groove. Today and tomorrow I am just trying to get as many pieces done as possible in order to get more inventory in the store before I leave for the wedding.

Clearing Fog

2008-06-07T11:24:00.002-05:00

Clearing Fog
36" x 36"

To purchase this work, please visit my Etsy Store.

I finished this piece yesterday afternoon, and just got it up on Etsy. I had a lot of fun really trying to work in some different colors, like the coral hues, and the neutral greens. I really think this piece has some beautiful colors in it.

First Saturday was a lot of fun. I talked to the manager, and I will be able to have a booth for White Linen Nights on August 2nd. Come look for me there!

First Saturday Tomorrow

2008-06-06T07:29:00.003-05:00

Diva
Oil on Canvas
18" x 22"To purchase, please see my Etsy store.

This Saturday is First Saturday in the Heights! So if you are looking for something to do in Houston, go and walk around and enjoy all of the wonderful artwork in the galleries. The Yale Street Arts Market is always a lot of fun. I will have a booth there starting in September, and my work is being shown in M2 Gallery on W19th St. I'll also be volunteering in the morning at the Heights Fun Run, so I hope to see you all out and about!

Waxed

2008-06-05T08:20:00.003-05:00

I am... exhausted... working a double yesterday totally killed me, and now I'm getting ready for another one today...

Would much rather be home, but unfortunately I can't just not show up. So close to being able to paint full-time :) I can't wait!

I just sold OCEAN DREAMS (below) one of my favorite ones that I've done recently. What can I say, they're my colors!
Ocean Dreams
24" x 60"
Acrylic on Canvas
SOLD

I'm working on two paintings right now that I think are going to just be amazing. Can't wait to get back into the studio to work on them!

Ack! Time Flies when you're having Fun

2008-06-04T08:03:00.003-05:00

Whew! It has been almost two months since my last post - Bad Shelby.

The review board from www.dailypainters.com contacted me, and gave me a good slap on the wrist regarding not posting in two months. Very much my oops.

I have been focusing so much on building my business on Etsy and networking there, as well as my gallery work that I have no paid as much attention to this blog. I have viewed it as a pleasure to write rather than its very important second aspect: another tool as an artist to build my business and a following. Now that I have been reminded that a blog is part of the business aspect of all of this, I will definitely be more disciplined in updating. And I truly feel that if I were to be a part of the community on dailypainters, this blog would very much become a business, and I would be as disciplined as I have been on Etsy. I do paint for the pure joy of it all, but we have to make a living somehow!

But, on the good side, only two months out of the gate at Etsy, and I have sold 12 paintings! So much more incredible than I could have ever imagined.

Also to come this fall: I'm starting to work festivals and art markets!

So to recap, here is what I have been doing the past two months:

As of April 7th, started a fun company on Etsy: BS Art Studio
May 5th-25th: Two weeks in Spain and Italy - pictures to come!
Now: Catching up from two weeks away, getting ready for the wedding on June 27th!

I have no excuses, as I have been posting my Etsy listings every day, I should definitely be also posting here. Well, needless to say, here is one of my newest works, and I hope to join the daily painters community despite my short respite from this all:

Ripples
20" x 40"
Acrylic on Canvas
$ 200

Available here on Etsy.

Tempest I

2008-04-16T09:19:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 10"
$135 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this work, please Email Me.

Urban Dreams II

2008-04-15T20:00:00.004-05:00

Acrylic on Canvas
54" x 24" (HUGE)
This piece can be purchased at my Etsy store

Whew! Life just keeps slipping away!

I'm back in town now, so back to creating, gotta love it!

Fiery Passion III

2008-04-08T07:42:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 10"
$135 + 9.95 S&H

If you are interested in purchasing this work, please Email Me.

Urban Dreams

2008-04-07T23:30:00.000-05:00

Acrylic on Canvas
(3) 18" x 24"
SOLD

Um... WOW. I posted this piece at my site on Esty at 4:15pm today. By 4:45 it had SOLD. Ridiculous, but completely exciting. I am trying some different things as far as pricing and materials. Really trying to figure out how to sell work and capture a profit. I think this is going to be a wild ride, but I'll like it

Fiery Passion II

2008-04-04T07:02:00.002-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 10"
$135 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this piece, please Email Me.

Ahhhh, it is another wonderful Friday. The next few weekends will leave little time for relaxing painting, unfortunately. Instead, I have a TON of stuff going on, so that will all be fun. This weekend we are having a garage sale to (literally) clean out the garage. We had been going to auctions and selling antiques for a while, but found we didn't truly have enough time to invest in it - so it is time to get rid of all the extra furniture! Anyone interested in a table? We have about six of them, haha. Anyways, have a wonderful weekend and I will see you again on Monday!

Fiery Passion

2008-04-03T09:05:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 10"$135 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this piece, please Email Me.

Tropical Heat III

2008-04-02T06:56:00.001-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 10"
$135 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this work, please Email Me.

Tropical Head II

2008-04-01T08:11:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 10"
$135 + 9.95 S&H

If you would like to purchase this work, please click the button below, or Email Me.
Whew! I am completely and totally dead and sore today. It took all of the effort I had just to drag myself out of bed this morning. Well firstly, I went for a looong run, which I haven't done in a looong time. Then, to top it off, my fiancee and I went and had our very first dance lessons together. We are taking swing, and it is ridiculously fun. In any case, enjoy this fun, light piece!

Tropical Heat I

2008-03-31T08:04:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
10" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H
To purchase this work, please click the button below, or Email Me.The next couple of weeks are going to have wonderful reds showing, mostly because those were the colors that I mixed (hehe). That is one of the few drawbacks to encaustic. Unlike painting with oil or acrylics, you have to more or less mix the colors (first), then mix the color with wax. At least you can reuse the paint if you cover it with saran wrap and freeze it. I usually mix my colors in either dixie cups or old cat food/tuna containers so that I can heat the color on a hot plate. I also hate to waste any of the paint, so I try to use as much of the colors mixed as possible, which is why you usually see similar color schemes for a couple of days in a row.

In other news, I finally got my camera fixed! That was quite the boon to doing a painting a day. I was still doing them, but unfortunately, had no way of visually recording it. I love how I have actually picked up the intensity of the painting-a-day and am actually doing it every day (well, every working day). In any case, its rainy outside, so I won't be tempted to procrastinate by spending my day outside! Have a wonderful Monday!

Reflections

2008-03-25T09:05:00.004-05:00

Oil on Panel
18" x 30"

To purchase this piece, please Email Me.

Subtleties

2008-03-24T08:37:00.003-05:00

Oil on Panel
30" x 30"

If you would like to purchase this work, please Email Me.

Vintage III

2008-03-20T17:43:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this work, please Email Me, or click the button below:

Daily Painters

2008-03-19T08:39:00.004-05:00

I took a huge gamble yesterday. I have been enjoying this daily painting process so much that I really think I'm going to continue doing it. I have been able to explore color relationships that I normally would not try on a larger piece, simply because I would have invested too much time and paint should it not work. But these smaller, simpler studies in encaustic have allowed me to be adventurous and push some of my color relationships.

So what was my huge gamble? I submitted this blog to Daily Painters. I actually discovered the site sometime in February, after I had started doing a painting a day. Most of the artists on the site are actually realists, but there are a few abstract artists as well. I am hoping that since most of my pieces are encaustic and there is virtually no artists on there in that medium, I might be able to round out that niche. And, let's face it, I would love to sell some art. But we'll see, their message back said it can take weeks to hear a decision. In any case, I'm just going to keep painting away!

Vintage II

2008-03-19T08:34:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this work, please Email Me or click the button below:

Vintage I

2008-03-18T13:07:00.003-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this piece, please email me, or click the button below:I had SOOO much fun with this. Shouldn't be legal. The inspiration came from a vintage print that had a peachy-orange background and aqua, lime green, and brown paisley print. So amazing. If I had tried to do anything with these colors in oil, I would have probably made a mess out of it, but I think they turned out beautifully. The next two days of posting are going to be awesome!

Otherworldy III

2008-03-17T13:04:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this work, please click the button below, or Email Me:
HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!

Otherworldly II

2008-03-14T08:28:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this work, please Email Me, or click the button below:

Otherworldly I

2008-03-13T12:53:00.001-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this piece, please click the button below or Email Me:Wow. I love this piece. I am quickly learning how amazing encaustic is as a medium. When I initially put these colors on the panel, I was worried they would turn out muddy and yucky. Before when I have worked in oil impasto, and have put such a vivid purple and green next to one another, they have combined into a muddy mess. But with encaustic, they retained their colors and moved together beautifully. The next two days are going to be yummy yummy posts.

Green Envy III

2008-03-12T12:51:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this piece, please Email Me or click the button below:

Green Envy II

2008-03-11T08:48:00.000-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this piece, please Email Me, or click the button below:

Wisteria

2008-03-10T20:09:00.000-05:00

Oil on Panel
Triptych 12" x 24" each

Green Envy I

2008-03-10T12:39:00.001-05:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this work, please Email Me, or click the button below:I'm not going to lie, greens are so difficult to work with. This piece turned out much more Kelly Green than I intended, but I still had fun with it. As with the red pieces I did (pure passion), I think I need to have a few different colors in my palette to get the greens that I truly want. The color that I am most lacking (or rather, missing the most at the moment), is Cadmium Yellow Light. The Cadmium Yellow Medium made the greens much higher chroma than I intended, then white just made them more pastel. Nevertheless, the next two days postings will be green. Much fun was had by myself, regardless. Cheers, and Happy St. Patty's Day (if a bit early!)

Ariel View III

2008-03-07T12:36:00.001-06:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this piece, please Email Me or click the button below:

Ariel View II

2008-03-06T12:34:00.000-06:00

Encastic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this work, please click the button below or Email Me:

Ariel View I

2008-03-05T11:25:00.000-06:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this work, please Email Me, or click the button below:

Pure Passion III

2008-03-04T12:26:00.000-06:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this piece, please click the button below, or Email Me:

Pure Passion II

2008-03-03T11:26:00.001-06:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this work, please click the button below, or Email Me.Wow, it is already March. Time is passing so quickly to me. I do look forward to March. To me it means spring is finally here in Texas. I can only stand the gray days for so long. Thank goodness I do not live up North. As beautiful as snow can be, I do not know how in the world I would ever endure four months + of gray weather. About all that I can stand is the two weeks we have here usually. I think after I finish this last red piece, I will probably wind up using many more jewel toned colors. Spring is in the air!

Rocky Coast

2008-03-01T19:07:00.000-06:00

Oil on Panel
24" x 36"

Pure Passion I

2008-02-29T12:17:00.001-06:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100

To purchase this piece, please click the button below, or Email Me:I had a lot of fun with this piece. I don't usually work in red, partly because I am naturally drawn to blues. I am a jewel tone junkie. Most people love warmer colors, but for some reason I tend to shy away from them when painting. I'm working on a couple more like this one, and I am very much enjoying them. I need to get some better shades of red (paint) so that I can mix the colors I really want.

Crystal Blue III

2008-02-28T12:14:00.000-06:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100

To purchase this work, please Email Me, or click the button below:

Internal Window

2008-02-27T19:02:00.000-06:00

Oil on Panel
24" x 18"
SOLD

This piece sold at M2 Gallery. Many thanks to Max Boyd Harrison for all your help. If you are interested in something similar, please email me for more information.

Crystal Blue II

2008-02-27T10:26:00.000-06:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To provide a home for this wonderful piece, please Email Me or click the button below:

Crystal Blue I

2008-02-26T09:07:00.000-06:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
8" x 10"
$100 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this work, please click the button below, or Email Me:

Spring Bouquet I

2008-02-25T14:11:00.000-06:00

Encaustic on Panel, Framed
12" x 12"
$175 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this work, please click the button below, or Email Me:

Coastal III

2008-02-22T09:36:00.000-06:00

Encaustic on Canvas Panel, Framed
10" x 10"
$145 + 9.95 S&H

To purchase this work, please click the button below, or Email Me: