During a recent art journal class it was suggested that we wrote a page about My Ikigai. The more I delved the more interesting it became. You might like to listen to this.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/longevity/1108/daily_vid.html

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Yesterday was the second meeting of our newly
formed Art & Soul art group.
We spent part of the morning trying out various mediums which a member brought along for us to
look at try and understand what the various mediums do and how they can be used to enhance
our artwork.
I made this test page below which I have now pinned on my wall.

After checking my email today I came across this pattern for pencil holders. I think they look most attractive. Not sure if I will get around to making them but looked like a great idea.

http://alisaburke.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/canvas-pencil-holders.html

During a recent art journal class it was suggested for one page to 
write about My Ikigai. The more I delved the more sense it made.
This clipping shows it so well.

 http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/longevity/1108/daily_vid.html

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

The family is still here they are coming and going to various friends
and relations. Went for a wonderful picnic dinner at a local beach last night then watched a beautiful sunset. The treasures of summer.I have just managed to get on the computer and send you my latest picture , a mixture of encaustic and photoshop. Sounds unusual but I find the two well married.

I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends
and here's wishing you

                                       

This picture was taken at the restaurant where we had our Christmas lunch.

The two friends above became a little tired of having their photos taken so

hid behind their napkins ! I thought it made a good New Year message.

It has been quite some time since I last wrote. No excuses.
I have recently been enjoying  a new short journey of may be a
month . That journey has taken me on a discovery with encaustics.
It all began after a short evening demonstration at my local art shop.
It was hosted by Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch a well known encaustic artist
with a passion for hot wax.
Somehow this passion was very infectious and I have well and truly
caught it.
Firstly I had to gather up my materials.

A hot plate from my local K Mart. Plus a few metal mugs for heating the wax.

A heat gun for fusing the layers of wax. Also some small boards which I primed
with

Encaustic Ground. Note the  new brush made from goats hair. The Ground gives the
board a smooth and even covering and allows the colours to be well received.

As I enjoy textures, layers and natural things to embed I foraged around for various
bits and pieces to embed.

 First piece. I will show you the second one soon.