Trying to find beauty in cold, dark days...

All photos were taken within a couple of blocks of my home. The cactus shot was taken at Molbak's in Woodinville, Washington. Copyright 2011, 2012 Lisa JonesMoore

Cold, windy, dreary...too chilly to open the studio windows and use encaustic paints. I guess it's time for organizing the studio. Interesting times arranging all of my power and hand tools into "vintage" tool boxes I've been collecting for years. This is creative, right??

Goodbye January (good riddance!)...

Due to major snow storms, ice storms, wind storms, power outages, refrigerator and furnace failures, and a car accident ("totaled" my poor Prius) I have not been able to sit down and write a good blog post. But, I am STILL STANDING! I will make up for lack of posts soon! I took time this weekend to be thankful for my life, family and friends. I walked in the sunshine, sifted sand through my fingers, felt warmth on my cheeks, slid on two "slats" in the snow, and called every one of my dear friends and family members. This is what life truly is...little "wake-up calls" that kinda add up to one big "yell" from the Universe.

Thanks for your infinite patience! I do have so much to share for the coming year...

Studio time today!

Just climbed "down" from my loft studio after six hours of standing and creating. Feeling a bit out of "shape" creating for this long of a span. Sitting does not appeal to my creative juices. I'm working with this photo today, one I took with a Holga camera. I love the larger, square format of the Holga, with it's funky fuzzy edges. It's going to look interesting with encaustic wax...

What are YOUR favorite three art supplies? (mine: my photos, clear encaustic wax and oil pastels, with cheescloth as a close fourth).

A NEW piece! I managed to create this one during the "madness" of the Holidays. Sometimes, things just pop out from "nowhere". It's the first in my "Fort Worden Series", called "Bunker Wall, #1" featuring, of course, two of my most favorite mediums: rust and wax!!

You can see this and a few more new pieces at Fraker/Scott Gallery in downtown Seattle as part of their "Earth + Water" show, featuring the art of David Owen Hastings. The gallery is open TONIGHT for first Thursday art walk from 5-8 pm! The gallery is located at 121 Prefontaine Place So. in Pioneer Square. Here is the link for more information:
www.frakerscottgallery.com

OMG! Over 10,000 views to this blog! End of year musings...

I NEVER imagined this would happen. Over 10,000 visits to this humble blog since I started it in early 2009. What a wonderful way to end 2011. I promise new and exciting content for 2012. This "adventure" called Life and Art will never end! Thank you for stopping by over the years...

Today, I had the opportunity to catch up with a dear "art" friend. We shared food, travel stories, "tech" stories and angst (we both acquired new, exciting, frustrating tech toys this year). We shopped "half off" Christmas sales, photographed and sketched at a favorite plant nursery.

Cherish your friendships! Simplify! Those are my mottos for 2012.

Oh the wonders of wax, rust and crackle paste...and well, you!

Ex-per-i-ment-ing...oh so fun!

I am wishing all of you very peaceful, thoughtful and fulfilling Holidays. It's been such a pleasure to meet you all, and I look forward to continued online "art adventures".

The art blogging world is RICH with talented, giving people who truly give a "damn" about keeping art in the world as a viable profession. Thank you for ALL of your inspiration.

Another wonderful class with brave students!

Beeswax Holiday Gift Cards & Tags, Schack Art Center, December 3, 2011.

And this is why I teach...

Awesome students, courageous and creative...need I say more?

(Pictured above: Contemporary Encaustic Basics class at Schack Art Center, 11/11/11)

Warming up for tomorrow! 11/11/11

I am SO excited about my upcoming encaustic basics class due to start tomorrow on 11/11/11! I will be teaching it at the gorgeous NEW
Schack Art Center, located in downtown Everett, Washington. My class is full, and so is the amount of material we will cover. I think we will gear some encaustic collages toward this special date that will never take place again in our lifetimes! Here's to prime numbers and one's. (11/11/11 is also a "triple prime" equaling 33---is it not?!). 3 has always been my lucky number...I think great things are going to take place in this class!

11/11/11 Post "note": Sorry! 11/11/11 is NOT a triple prime...but it is a numerical palindrome AND  a "repunit"... (love how that word just rolls off the tongue).

Happy Halloweeeeeeen!!!!!

Squash creations by (left to right): Mitch, Jen, myself, Thomas...