Category: Plants

Encaustic paintings that incorporate organic material.

Pressed Update

The hot weather here is over, and it’s time to revisit the encaustic studio.

First of all, let’s check in on these two pieces that used ironed flowers. Remember them? The hibiscus is almost six months old, and the yellow bell is seven months. This is how they look today.

Not bad!

Both have retained their color better than a non-ironed piece. After six months, any other organic encaustic I’ve made has faded to white. The leaves in the bottom right of the hibiscus show this. I didn’t press them, only picked and added them at the end. All the green from them is gone.

I feel vindicated and on the right track with this process! After months away from the studio, the start up is hard, but let’s get in there.

One other note to the experiment: Flowers with deep color seem to fare better than pale flowers. Winter in the desert is our blooming season. I hope to post many more pieces as I ramp up. Stay tuned.

Black Irish

3″ x 3″ organic material on wallboard

This is another cutting from the shamrock hydrangea I posted for St. Patrick’s Day. I had a background I wanted to repurpose — of a Marian portrait that wasn’t successful — and the extra flowers.

Here’s one lesson I’m gleaning from using plant material: No matter what you do with pressing and ironing, the flower will fade. Perhaps just using encaustic paint to mimic the original color is the best way to go. In this case, make it green!

Also, a store-bought cutting may already be deficient. The more successful pieces use plants cut fresh in my own yard.

For some reason I’m determined to succeed at this! Lol. Thanks for coming along on the journey.

Get Lucky

When you’re not handsome
and your youth is spent,
you’re not wealthy
and you’re too smart to be content,

get lucky

When he’s so irksome,
keeps talking of Kent,
been rejected,
but he’s safe and independent,

get lucky

Here he comes on fire
and you meet him in the lane,
not by accident
it’s not a romantic moment,
but just the same,
it’s better than alone.
You get your own home.

When she’s troubl’some
and doubts your judgment,
feels above you
but she still lives with her parents,

get lucky

New song available for Ardent at bandcamp. From Elizabeth’s perspective, Charlotte is foolish for accepting Mr. Collins’ proposal. For Charlotte, though, it’s a lucky opportunity.

Oops! I originally called this song “The Scheme” because that’s how Charlotte thinks of her encouragement of Mr. Collins. The song itself suggested another title, though, and “Get Lucky” is the official and proper name.