Gods and Goddesses, Icons and Idols Series

jI am currently working on a new series of artwork including acrylics, encaustics, oils and watercolors on wood, canvas and paper. After reading more by Carl Jung and on Jung, I decided to return to this series which I started over ten years ago. Ever since junior high I've had a fascination for mythology which has been strengthened by my 20 plus year study of Jung, Joseph Campbell and more. I'm including Icons because they serve the role of mythology in conciousness and leaps in awareness due to their archetypal power. Psychologists, artists, poets, authors, comic writers and film directors have long mined the powers of archetypal images and how their immediacy can enrich a story as people identify with and acknowledge their inherent qualities. In Jung's Red Book and his concepts, he encourages us to explore our own personal archetypes with both their positive and negative qualities. Even though I've been painting this way for years, I am shocked when I discover a new archetype. In my new series I explore these themes as a guide to personal discovery but as with all archetypes, they invite universal speculation. I ran the gamut from Greek and Egyptian mythology to relatively contemporary icons such as characters from the T.V. series, "Fringe," and James O'Barr's comic, "The Crow." I only realized weeks after completing these latter two, that they related to the theme of a figure who continued after death. First is the character,Eric Draven, who came back from the dead as the character, the Crow. And secondly, the scientist, William Bell, from Fringe who avoided death by going to an alternate universe. I realized that I was choosing these subjects as I tried to comprehend aspects of my life and my changing psychology after surviving cancer. It only dawned on me a few weeks later that I was trying to make sense of my mood swings from euphoria at being alive a feeling good to fear and trepidation every three months before the neccessary CT scans to see if the cancer has returned. I am typing this post from my phone so can't upload photos but will as soon as I can.

A View of Tibet

In my painting on cradled wood with oils, I've come to love how rich the colors are - like jewel tones. I'm

enjoying painting figures this go round which seems to be pretty prolific so far, six paintings started three finished in l3ess than two weeks and I'm living in two places at once, my house and my daughter's.  I can draw at my daughters but my painting and encaustic style is way too messy (especially since I do the encaustics in my kitchen on  my stove) for my daughter's taste so I have to wait until I get home to paint.
I finished this Tibetan woman a few days ago and just now have painted the sides. She's done in oils with a small bit of Golden interference acrylic paint.  I know, I know, you can't mix oils and acrylics because the acrylic dries way before the oils - a few hours versus up to ten days or two weeks, so the acrylics will crack.  I want the acrylics to crack.  I want to give it an antique look so we'll see how this little experiment works out.  I haven't done the r4esearch but I don't know if there are any oil paints with interference qualities.  I've fallen in love with Golden's line of them but only have a few because I rarely paint in acrylic.  It dries to quickly for me.  I paint with oils mostly wet on wet because I love the blending capability.  But I'm an immediate gratification kind of gal so I don't spend weeks of even months like some oil painters do.  I often finish a piece in one day and then touch it up for a day or two. I'm not sure what the title will be so that will have to come to me.  I also met with my women's group today and that was great after seven months to those who attended.  We had a great time and I ran into a new/old friend who goes to the Greenville Jungian group events with me so he and I will get together soon.  It's unfortunate they just started on their second book club series and I couldn't register in time but I'm looking forward to their program on The Red Book in March as both an artist and a huge fan of Jung.
Well I just noticed I got green paint all over a brand new pair of slacks.  I'm too inpatient to change into painting clothes.  I lost a lot of wait while I was going through chemo so have to buy a whole new wardrobe. Silly me, I'll have to dig out the old larger clothes just to wear to paint.   

Back To It with oils, charcoal and encaustic

It's been a while since I've blogged and almost a year since I've created artwork or written. In June of 2014

I was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer which led to a very unusual and unproductive year.  The story is long so I'll save it for later because I'm in remission now and painting up a storm.  I have four pieces in the works and am playing with oils, gouache, watercolor, charcoal and encaustic.  I'm working on cradled wood panels because I'm not sure which ones will turn out to need encaustic work.
I've attended two First Fridays as well as Open Studios down in the Village at the West End, the local area which is a beehive of art galleries and studios and have been inspired by so many of the artists there, both artists who've been in the area for years and new artists who've recently moved to Greenville, SC.  It felt so great to go back and see all the talent after being away for so long and it geared me up to try new techniques and subjects.  It was a rainy night so we had a chance to really talk to some of the artists - Patricia Kilburg, an incredible encaustic artist, and Pam Larson, whose studio, Fluer de Sol is in Les Beaux Arts, who does the most amazing detailed drawings - all with Bic pens.
One of my new pieces is gouache and oil on cradled wood. Entitled "Starting to Dance Again."It's a female figure in a somewhat awkward pose with a serious look on her face.  It took me a while before I knew what she was doing or what the piece meant, and then it dawned on me that it related to my need to become social again. Since I lived with my daughter and spent a lot of time at doctor's offices and hospitals while going through chemo, I didn't have any materials or even the energy or inclination to paint or to socialize.  Now I'm discovering I have to learn my social skills all over again.  Driving and

painting actually came back to me easier than starting and maintaining a conversation. .
Another piece I am working on is a charcoal drawing transferred to a beeswax covered piece of wood. I'm not sure if I'll leave it as it is or work with it some more.
It's been fun working with a variety of mediums and not following any particular rules. I've been using R&F white beeswax and Damar Resin along with Grumbacher and Winton oils.  I've been listening to IAMX while working so that helps a lot too. 
I'm hoping to get down to the Village this week since a new coffee shop opened up called The Village Grind and Art & Light Gallery has opened at their new location and I can't wait to go and see all the new art Teresa has found.  They're open on
Wed. - Sat. I think. Check out their Facebook page too.