Jill Dodd Art

encaustics and felt

April 29, 2012
by jill
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Wish list

Spent the last few mornings perusing 2 new books I’ve recently acquired. What a great way to enjoy that first cup of coffee in the morning!  Daniella Woolf‘s  The Encaustic Studio: a wax workshop in mixed media art is full of great techniques and inspiration. I have been excited about this book coming out and was not disappointed! It even comes with a DVD which I have yet to watch . I am waiting to savour it as a special treat.  I also picked up encaustic mixed media : Innovative Techniques and Surfaces For Working with Wax  by Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch.  I have another of her books so thought maybe it would be too much repetition of what I already have. I was pleasantly surprised to find a lot of new projects, ideas and innovative materials. I will soon take a trip down the aisles of the nearest hardware store!

Whenever I get a new art book I end up making a wish list of supplies (pan pastels have been on this list for a long time now but I cannot find anyplace in Ottawa that sells them…I will make this my “souvenir” on our upcoming trip to New York City)

Here is my wish list inspired by these 2 great books …

wish list

April 22, 2012
by jill
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a visit to Cube Gallery

Every once in a while I venture over to the other side of town to visit some of my favorite shops…Wabi Sabi, Flock Boutique, Cube Gallery. I love to wander around the West Village area when the sun is shining…usually finishing off my visit with a coffee and something sweet at Thyme and Again.

Yesterday was not one of those sunny days but, despite the rain and the chill in the air,  I couldn’t miss visiting Cube Gallery to see the amazing art of Sue Ukkola. Her solo show None of your Beeswax ends today so if you’re in the Ottawa area this is your last chance to catch it! My husband, daughters and I hopped into the vrtucar and spent the afternoon dipping in and out of these favorite spots ( with a couple of record shops thrown in to recognize Record Store Day…picked up The Be Good Tanyas Blue Horse on vinyl…complete with book of sheet music!  )

By chance I happened to arrive at Cube Gallery at the  tail end of a talk by the artist. I wish I would have been there for the whole thing.  I loved hearing Sue talk about the spontaneity of her work and how she often doesn’t have a plan when she begins a painting. She seems to take great joy in creating her beautiful art and  would be happy if she could paint all the time.  Sounds good to me!

Sue offers workshops and I can’t wait to take one! Sue’s studio is located in rural Ottawa in what sounds like a beautiful country setting. Her full day workshops even include lunch! It sounds like a perfect day to me. Who wants to come?

In the meantime..when the sun is shining..you’ll find me in the back yard with the beeswax melting and the Be Good Tanyas spinning on the turn table. Life is good.

April 1, 2012
by jill
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Shellac Burn with Encaustics

Lately I have been experimenting and playing with the technique of a shellac burn with encaustics. It’s a way to add amazing texture and organic shapes to a painting . There a couple of ways to use this method. A wet shellac burn involves laying down the shellac on top of your encaustic and then lighting the shellac with a match or torch while it is still wet. You can let it burn out or blow it out when you have achieved the desired effect. I have yet to try this particular method (and will wait until a nice and “not too windy day” to get outside and give this a try. I will also be  sure to tie my hair back,  read the instruction on my fire extinguisher first and stand back! – I’ll admit …I am a bit nervous of the flame )

What I did try is a dry shellac burn which was tons on fun! After laying down some shellac on top of my layers of wax I waited for it to dry before taking a torch to it. I was practically giddy as the torch burned through the layer of shellac…melting a bit of the wax and spreading out to  reveal colors underneath in wonderful organic shapes. I guess our dinner guests won’t be having creme brule at our place anytime soon as I have appropriated Geoff’s kitchen torch and he’s not getting it back!

I used an amber shellac and I love the warm golden colour it gives. I also picked up some clear shellac and will try it out with pigment mixed in to get different colours. I am anxious to try letting the shellac dry to tacky (rather that completely dry as I did below) as I hear it will create these wonderfully spidery patterns.

Much to the dismay of my children and their friends ( Why is your mom always looking at the ground?) I have also taken to picking up bits of rusted metal and other interesting  treasures on the ground while out and about. The lower painting  has a great piece of rusted metal that I found which was fused together in a couple of layers. It made me think of rocks on the shore and  was a great jumping off point for the afternoon of painting that ensued.

fish

girl fishing


March 16, 2012
by jill
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finally able to get that wax melting!

This week I have been home with the kids for March break. Have eked out a bit of time for myself to get outside with the beeswax and start some new projects.  Had one whole afternoon to paint outside !  The last few days have been cold and rainy so haven’t been able to get much finished but it felt good to get something done. I had hopes to do some more painting today but alas it is raining again. The weekend is supposed to be warm and sunny so there is still hope.

I have made a couple of small pieces and the beginnings of a few others…

March 3, 2012
by jill
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A Good Mail Day

It so rare to get actual mail these days…not bills and flyers but a card or a letter for no reason whatsoever. I was thrilled to arrive home from work on Friday afternoon to find a small package waiting for me.  Inside were two gorgeous skeins of wool roving sent by my good friend Suzanne.  Just because.  The card by Storme Arden features found “hearts”  (rocks and sea glass)  from St Martins Beach on the Bay of Fundy. I love the colours and textures

I suspect Suzanne picked up the wool at Cricket Cove in Saint John. They are made by Hand Maiden fine yarn

They are 50% mulberry silk and50 % extra fine merino. I can’t wait to use them. It was a good mail day!

 

 

February 26, 2012
by jill
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waiting for warmer weather

Here are some of my favorite tools to use. I really do make a big mess though. I am looking forward to when the warmer weather arrives and I can get outside and make a big mess again. Picked up lots of wood this weekend and am hoping to get a chance to get the beeswax out over the March break.

February 21, 2012
by jill
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Off to NB

Encaustic paintings

gone to New Brunswick....

Sent all these home to NB with my parents after their visit to Ottawa. My walls are bare but I have lots of pieces in NB awaiting the upcoming King’s County Studio Tour on June 9th and 10th!

May 22, 2011
by jill
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Experimenting With Encaustics

Have been experimenting with Encaustics. Way too much fun! Like any new crafty project I always end up spending too much money in the begining. Gotta buy the griddle and the heat gun. The encaustic paints can be pretty pricey. I have to admit I have been eyeing an encaustic painting iron and that stylus is looking pretty cool too. Yikes! But then someone buys a painting ( Thanks Nat and JP) and phew … got those earlier expenses covered. Guilt gone…time to look at an iron and stylus.

I am loving the warmer weather and yesterdays sushine was a perfect day for getting outside. I have tried using the encaustics inside with the patio door open and a fan going but it is still pretty smelly. Outside is much better and I don’t even really notice the smell.

I have the most beautiful tree in my back yard. I really love it and can spend too much time just drinking coffee and looking at it. Some of the blossoms were falling off so I decided to try using some of them embedded in the encaustic medium.

The blossoms turned from pink to brown (from the heat I guess.) Also used some tiny yellow flowers /buds that are all over the ground in front of my house and pieces of burlap and dried leaves from cattail. I love just picking things up and thinking…”I wonder if I could put this in wax?”

I have been taking a class at the Ottawa School of Art. It has taking me a couple of classes to start enjoying it. I haven’t taken an art class before so it was a bit overwhelming at first…but then I remembered that I was there to have fun and now am enjoying it and looking forward to next Tuesday. We will be doing image transfers into the encaustics so I am browsing through my photos looking for something interesting.

I also love the couple of hours I get to myself in between work and class to wander around in the Byward Market. Last week stopped by the Black Tomato and had the onion ale soup which was delicious. Looking forward to finding someplace to sit and enjoy a bite to eat next time too.

May 8, 2011
by jill
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Felt Sushi

Spent yesterday afternoon making felt sushi with the kids and neighbours.  The kids did pretty good and only needed a bit of help with the rolling.  Picked up some memory wire last night to make bracelets and necklaces for the kids. It was a colourful day!