Various versions of a theme...

I am currently working on an assemblage piece with the theme of "By Definition", dealing with thoughts and issues surrounding womanhood, life, death, aging...It's been a joy to be working on this piece over the last three weeks, after coming through a very hectic time at my new job, coordinating classes for the Schack Art Center in Everett, Washington.

I am using encaustic with paper mache torsos and dried rose buds, a "found" vintage trunk shelf, wire, quail eggs and other found objects. It has been a fascinating journey, and the piece "shape-shifts" every day. The mechanics of putting this piece together have been a real challenge! At one point, I was hanging shellac-dipped quail eggs from tree branches in my back yard, tending to the their "drying" process like any good mother hen might do.

I am hoping to finish this in time to enter into the National Collage Society's online juried show. What's next? Attaching the other two remaining torsos, and arranging the "veil"...it will be a two-person job for this task!

365: day 62 ArtFest!!, originally uploaded by jomoma58.

The excitement is mounting! ArtFest is happening NEXT WEEK at Fort Worden in the beatiful Washington seaside town of Port Townsend. How can I possibly describe this event in words?? Let's see...one big pajama-art-love-slumber-party, memories made for life, art friends new and old coming together.

Thank you for "following" this blog!

I have notice that in recent weeks I have attained a few more fellow blog "followers"! I just wanted to thank you for that, and will try to keeps things interesting and up-to-date here at "La Vida Artistica". And thank you for your comments, without them I would not know if anyone is visiting! There are SO many new happenings on the horizon for me in the coming months, here's a quick outline:

•  NEW art classes at the NEW Schack Art Center in beautiful Everett, Washington. Please visit www.schack.org for updates on my encaustic and mixed media classes starting there in May, opening exhibitions and the center's GRAND OPENING happening at the end of April!

• My original encaustic and mixed media art will continue to be on display at the fabulous Fraker/Scott Gallery in downtown Seattle, near Pioneer Square. Please visit www.frakerscottgallery.com for lots of information on new exhibits, art walks and art openings.
• Yes, it's BACK! The famous one and only Artists Garage Sale, happening on Saturday, June 18 from 9-3. This year, it will take place in the NEW Schack Art Center in downtown Everett, Washington. Get there early, with lots of cash...visit www.schack.org for updates.

I do hope to see you at some of these events! Now, if I could only find some time to actually MAKE ART...

Juxtaposition: March 3-April 2 at Fraker/Scott Gallery

A new series by Tracy Kay Fraker contrasts ideas dealing with fate and destiny versus free will. Visually rich in painterly brushwork, subtle color and texture. Tracy will be doing a presentation of her work and process for the March reception, Saturday March 19th 6-8 pm. Also new work by Lisa JonesMoore and Chris Cantu.

Seattle's First Thursday Art Walk is this Thursday, March 3,  from 5-8 p.m. Come and join us!  121 Prefontaine Place So., near Pioneer Square in downtown Seattle. For more information, please visit http://www.frakerscottgallery.com

Work from my Beeswax Valentines class!

Amazing student work from last Saturday's Beeswax Valentines class...

Come out and play!

 

Spend the afternoon literally “waxing poetic”! In this class, we will be making beautiful handmade valentines out of collage materials and melted beeswax. I will show you the basics of collage, and how to use warm beeswax with various items such as lace, rice paper, oil pastels, found text, and photographs. Your friends and family will truly appreciate your small works of art for Valentine’s Day! Saturday, February 12, noon-4 p.m. 40. + supply fee. Class will be located in downtown Everett, Washington. Register: call Michelle at 425- 257-8380. NEW! Online registration is now available! Just visit: http://www.schack.org/classes/beeswax-valentines/

(Yes! we will be working with lots of color!)

Mini Valentine Books Workshop!

Join me for an artful afternoon painting and collaging mini Valentine books! We will explore themes of love and special people in our lives–using images, fabric, paper, words and paint. This process-oriented class will open your eyes to many creative possibilities with mixed media. Most materials are supplied, beginners are welcome. These small books make wonderful gifts!

Course #10.0332, The Painted Page: Mini Valentine Books

Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 5, 12-4 p.m.

Location: University of Washington, Seattle campus

Register: call 206-68 LEARN, or visit http://exco.org

There is still space left in this wonderful mixed media journaling class!

Altered Book Journals: Document Your Life, Travels and More!

Do you have a passion for old books? The desire to journal in more creative and unique ways? In this class you will learn how to transform an old, discarded book into a very personal, expressive journal. You will learn how to prepare your book for journaling—including mixed media techniques with acrylic paints, ink, rubber stamps, collage, photographs and niches. Creative journal writing prompts will also be discussed. Beginners are welcome!

Treat yourself and a friend to an EARLY holiday gift you will never forget! Course #10.0244, class will be held on the Seattle campus of University of Washington.

REGISTRATION WILL BE OPEN THROUGH THIS THURSDAY, DEC. 2! Call 206-68-Learn to register with ASUW Experimental College, or visit http://exco.org/ and find this class under "Arts &  Crafts", Course #10.0244.

It's not too late to sign up for my upcoming art workshops!

Top: Altered Book Journals,  Bottom: "Miracles in Wax"

Altered Book Journals: Document Your life, Travel and More! Do you have a passion for old books? The desire to journal in more creative and unique ways? In this class you will learn how to transform an old, discarded book into a very personal, expressive journal. You will learn how to prepare your book for journaling—including mixed media techniques with acrylic paints, ink, rubber stamps, collage, photographs and niches. Creative journal writing prompts will also be discussed. Beginners welcome! December 4, 12-5 p.m. $ 86. UW campus, Seattle, Wa.To register, call UW Experimental College at 206-68-LEARN, or visit http://exco.org


Miracles in Wax
Learn the basics of working with the exciting medium of encaustics while carving your own little “miracles” into warm beeswax. In Latin America, the milagro (“miracle”) is a small trinket that depicts a part of the body that is ailing a loved one. This can include images such as heads, hands, hearts, eyes and more. You will work on a milagro design of your own, then transfer the image to your encaustic surface. After carving the design, you will be able to experiment with color and texture using various mixed media, such as ink and powdered pigment. Nov. 18 & 20, class fee $85., $12. materials fee payable to instructor. Arts Council of Snohomish County, Everett, Wa. To register, call 425-257-8380.

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NSCC Encaustics Art Show

It was an AMAZING show opening for the Encaustics Art Show at North Seattle Community College Art Gallery last Tuesday. This truly is a show you do NOT want to miss! A huge "thank you" to Brenda and Wendy (pictured above) for the fabulous job they did with hanging the show, not an easy undertaking with SO many artists and art involved. It looks gorgeous! (see my sidebar for show information).

Also pictured, some of my artwork, as well as art by Binky Bergsman and many others!

Visit my newly updated web gallery!

Come and see some juicy new work!
www.artid.com/jonesmoore

The Edmonds show is up and running!

All images copyright 2009, 2010 JonesMoore

Well, the show is up and the space is beautiful! Matthew Robert Salon is a serene, light-filled space, fantastic for showcasing artwork or treating yourself to a haircut or style. Come and see thought-provoking artwork by Lisa JonesMoore and Sue Robertson! No appointment is necessary to see the art! The show will be up through November 27. (See sidebar for address, phone and more information).

Pictured above: "Sacred Door", Corazon del Girasol", "Double Venus", by Lisa JonesMoore.

Masters: Collage–a MUST see!

You will be BLOWN off the face of the planet when you open this book, "Masters: Collage", just put out by Lark Books. Well worth the $16.-25. price tag (check Amazon.com). I can only view a few pages at a time, in order to savor each piece of "gorgeousness". My cyber aquaintance, Donna Watson (her beautiful blog is called "layers"), is featured among the many uber-talented artists. Make sure you have some quiet time, away from everything, before you open this book...

This is a "must attend" event!!

 

This fabulous event is happening at the new Schack Art Center in Everett, Washington on June 5. I will be selling pastel and oil landscapes, mixed media collage, art prints, photographic prints and more! Over 90 artists will be participating, and here's a little secret: the "early bird" gets the worm. Stuff sells 'uber' fast, and prices are jaw-droppingly (is that a word?) amazing!! Cold hard CASH is best, checks or O.K., a small number of artists will accept plastic. 9 to 3 p.m. For more information, you can call the Arts Council of Snohomish County at 425-257-8380. See you there!

Poster art copyright Arts Council.

Collage Book Arts Workshop coming soon to Seattle!!

Pictured: fabulous student work!

THE PAINTED PAGE: CELEBRATE MAY!
 Join me for an artful afternoon of painting and collaging free–form folded books. We will explore themes of the month of May, Spring, mothers, angels and saints–using images, fabric, paper, words and paint. This process–oriented class will open your eyes to many creative possibilities! Most class materials are supplied, and all levels of experience welcome. These small books make wonderful gifts!

Saturday 4/24, 1:30-5:30, University of Washington campus
$57. (discount for UW students)
Course #10.0332, Register: call 206-68-LEARN, or visit:  http://exco.org

Register early to ensure the that class runs!! You won't regret it...

In the studio this week...

What's happening in the studio this week? I just finished another 5x5" encaustic milagro (miracle), soon to be offered in my etsy shop. I have used encaustic wax, india ink, oil pastel and a small tin heart milagro on this piece. Tin milagros are very popular in Mexico, and are used to pray for a loved one who is ill, or needs help with business, family, livestock, etc. I LOVE these!

I scored "The Owl's Nest" sign at Goodwill for $1.99! Now that's a miracle in itself! It will hang in my 2nd floor loft studio. I have recently become very 'hooked' on the show, "American Pickers". These guys finds some absolutely amazing stuff and meet the most eccentric, yet heartfelt people!!

They've come a long way, baby...

You gotta love these girls (no pun intended, hee-hee). As you can see, this piece has completely changed (see previous post). Yes, I love big, voluptuous, "real" female forms. I am really starting to have some fun with texture and negative space here! I have used sand from Maui, clear 'micro' glass beads and metallic rubs with encaustic wax. More progress to come! (It's still 'cooking').

Art in the works, great uses for old books...

I have been working on these two pieces (off and on) for the last two years. The top one is based on some photos I took of a maker of "barro negro" (black pottery) near Oaxaca, Mexico. Her name is Sofia, and at age 92, I do believe she is still at it! The center image is of a piece I am doing based on Venus fertility images. These unfinshed pieces haunt me. Just when they start to "progress", they come to a screeching HALT! I think I am just too concerned about the outcome. I should know better by now, NEVER be concerned about the outcome...art is all about the journey.

I just LOVE my collection of old and soon-to-be-discarded books. I have found another great use for them (other than altering them for journals and using parts of them in my assemblage pieces)–I use them to weigh down artwork I am gluing to backing boards, as I prepare them for framing. The wide array of uses for old books never ceases to amaze me...

New in my Etsy shop!

Corazon de mi Amor",  encaustic, Copyright 2010 JonesMoore

I have just finished this piece and posted it on Etsy. I recently sold two of these encaustic pieces, also using heart 'milagro' images. I 'm having a lot of fun creating these, and will soon be doing eyes, hands, mouths, and more! "Milagro" means "miracle" in Spanish, and you see many of these litttle tin 'body parts' throught Mexico and Latin America. The families use them to aid in their prayers for loved ones who are ill. I love the idea of creating these 'little miracles' in wax...

NEW Spring art workshops!

I have just posted all of my new Spring art workshops in the sidebar, with links for more information and registration. In April and May, I will be teaching BEESWAX COLLAGE: CELEBRATE SPRING (collage with warm beeswax), THE PAINTED PAGE: CELEBRATE MAY (free-form collage books), and CABINET OF CURIOSITIES (artistic assemblage).

These workshops all take place in the greater Seattle area. Get a friend to sign up with you, and make a weekend out of it! If you are coming from out of town, I can direct you to some wonderful places to visit in the Seattle area! April and May are GORGEOUS months to be here, and everything will be in bloom...