My first attempt at painting with wax. This was the backing board from an upholstry fabric sampler, and you can see the chequered pattern and brand name in the centre of the image. I placed a paper towel with images of flax plants over the board, then used recycled paraffin candle wax, just sort of blobbing it on, then fusing it. The wax is very brittle, and the paper is already lifting.

As an experiment, and considering I hadn't really done any research, I regard it as satisfactory. Since then, I've read 4 or 5 books, looked at countless Encaustic artists' sites, and know a lot more than I did.

I'd prepared 10 12x12cm 10mm MDF blocks for encaustic, and coated them with a white acrylic housepaint. I now have to sand this off, as the wax will not adhere properly to the acrylic (coz it's plastic!) I'm not ready to go out and buy special encaustic 'gesso' yet.

In the pile of unburied treasure are some oil paints (Reeves, but they'll do) and Markel Oil Paint stiks, so I have at least some coloured pigment. I've decided to stay well away from powered pigment because of the dangers of breathing it in.

top on the experiment list is wet shellac burns. Dry shellac flakes in a carrying medium (such as pigment), and wet shellac 'paint' will both burn when you set fire to them!!! Pretty pretty shiny shiny. Hardware store here I come. Also in the buried loot is a piece of mica, which I will flake and crush up some of it.

Studio reorganising - the huge pile of stuff has been removed from the centre of the room, and is slowly being spread around the edges, as it finds new homes. My big table has gone into the corner, with the bookshelf on top, the little 'computer desk' has moved in beside it. Stacker in the corner where the scotch chest and tv used to be - I don't need a TV! I'll be too busy to watch it. And if I need entertainment, I have a radio, and will bring in my laptop, which has both music and inspirational pictures.

The view of the opposite wall shows the new table/shelf David made me last night. My harp has a safer place to hide, till I can tidy it up and put it on Trademe. One day I will finish the mermaid and her dolphin - it's only been up there about 3 years. There are various other fabric pieces on the wall in varying stages of completion.

It's so fantastic to have light in here again - I've got a lot done on Sunday, and over the last two evenings. Taking a break tomorrow evening for JaM, back to it Thursday evening.

serious reorganisation has occurred

maybe I can call my craftroom a studio soon. David helped me turn two pallets and a wardrobe door into a large shelf/work surface. Desks have been shifted around, as have book and stacking shelves. The piles of 'stuff' have changed shape as I've taken things out and given them new homes. There's a huge pile of paper and folders and magazines on my big table that needs to be sorted through.

All sorts of treasures have turned up - my harp strings (behind a bookshelf); oil paints and oil paint sticks; pictures, papers, images that make me go oooohhh; the rubbish basket has been filled to overflowing twice; I need to find a bigger box to put the castoffs into - then get organised to put it all on Trademe.

Sell old, unwanted stuff to finance new, wanted stuff.

Well, that's the plan, anyway.

I went beserk ...

and tidied my craftroom - after not sleeping last night with a huge download of buzzy-brain art ideas (thank you Yahweh), I finished writing 4 essays and studying.

So, I reorganised my craftroom - swapped tables and other stuff around. I need to grab a couple of pallets from work to act as supports for my new horizontal surface - in its previous life it was a wardrobe door.

I haz buzzy brain!!!

Just finished the other book I got from the library on Friday night. "Encaustic Art: the complete guide to creating fine art with wax. Lots more cool information, some amazing pictures.

I melted, strained and combined my three lots of beeswax tonight on the stove - 2 lots that came from *my* grandfather's workshop, 1 black-brown, the other dark brown, plus the lovely yellow wax (that's smells all honey-ish) from Paihia when we had our holiday there at the beginning of the year.

I've made a list of photo's I have that I'd like to turn into encaustic pieces, and pages from this second book I want to copy, coz the ideas are great.

Hopefully this will be our last night under candlelight; tomorrow, our friend comes round, and we will have lights again - please please please ...

The week went sick ... (and quick)

I am over headcolds. Snoik, cough, hack. Haven't got nearly enough studying done, and I had a night off tonight, because Becca kept taking my computer.

Picked "Encaustic Workshop" by Patrica Baldwin Seggebruch up from the library at 1700. Just finished it (2100) Read it cover to cover, and I SO want to play. Got another one to read, but maybe not tonight.

I think it's time to pollute my mind with Air Crash Investigation or something similar.

Yay, it's Friday

Yesterday's messy canvas will be sprayed with white satin paint tomorrow - start again. Too busy to study today, or do much of anything. Spent a wee bit of time looking at encaustic techniques. I have lots of what is probably parrafin wax - going to have a play with that tomorrow. I just need to DO STUFF, not worry about what I'm making - easier said than done.

Too tired tonight to do much, and it's pitch black in the studio/craft room. It's persisting down with rain, so I figure tomorrow is study and create day.

But is it art?

Darned if I know, but I had fun with moulding paste and paint and ink. There's too much blue ink - we haz the technology - we can fix it!

Spent the day at home, after dropping Becca at school I went back to bed and slept for at least 2 hours. Did some study, put Mr Piggy leg in the crockpot, and generally pottered round. Went back to bed and dozed for an hour, before getting back up and slapping moulding paste on canvas. Did a shunt, put the rubbish out, more study, and then went and picked up Becca from near the train station.

We took the dogs for a gallop in the park, and of course they went paddling - ugh. Bathed them when we got home, helped Becca edit her short story down to 600 words, threw paint and ink at not quite dry canvas. Nearly time for dinner.