"To Ride An Old Paint" 18 x 24, oil and cold wax on deep canvas

I did this from a photo I took while visiting Larisa Aukon in Phoenix this past January. She took me to many very cool places, some to take photos and draw, and other places to paint en plein air. This was one I knew I would tackle, but in the studio. I fiddled, and fiddled…but I am almost sure it is finished now!

"High Density III", 12 x 12, acrylic, plaster, cold wax, on cradled wood panel

The third of the series. The process involves many layers of plaster, paint, sanding, more plaster, stencils, more paint, and a cold wax finish, is definitely conducive to working in a series - all simultaneously. What is not apparent in the photos is that these pieces have a lot of texture, which, in combination with the buffed cold wax finish, makes them very 'touchable'…good thing the finish can be re-buffed.

"High Density II" 12 x 12 acrylic, plaster, cold wax, on cradled wood panel

The second in a series of three reflecting high density living, particularly in Vancouver, where the price of a tear-down house very often runs over a million dollars. With a constantly growing population, the only way to grow is up. Perhaps this is an aerial view of the roofs of high-rise boxes...

"Rouge" 8 x 8 acrylic, plaster and cold wax

Another piece after the workshop with Pat Wheeler, this is on an cradled wood panel and it is highly textured with carving, many layers of paint intermixed with layers of plaster and sanding, and finished with coats of cold wax buffed to a nice sheen.

"High Density I", 12 x 12, Mixed Media

The first of a series of three pieces reflecting "High Density", which is a huge issue in Vancouver where the only place for the city to grow is UP. They are constantly squeezing more people in an area that was planned for half as many. Affordability, livability…it all makes for challenges and change. This is 12 x 12 x 1.5 deep cradled wood panel, acrylic and plaster, finished with a cold wax polish.

"The Burning" 12 x 12 Mixed media on cradled wood panel

I recently attended a five day workshop with Pat Wheeler, hosted by Vancouver Island Art Workshops. It was hard physical work with much plastering, sanding, painting, sanding, plastering, transferring, sanding, waxing…well, you get the picture. I worked on 1 1/2" cradled wood panels, all of which  (from 12 x 12 to 24 x 24) were hand made, saving huge amounts of money. Okay, my husband shared the wood cutting for the sides. I had the surfaces cut at the lumber yard. (If you think you cannot 'do' this, I would add that it was all done by hand - no power tools. I've made pochade boxes the same way. Lumber yard cuts, and then hand work.) Anyway, back to the art…this piece evolved to represent the dreaded forest fires this spring, particularly in Alberta. It is very textured, with deep carving. It has multiple layers of paint and plaster, and is finished with coats of cold wax, polished to a soft sheen. It's always inspiring to step outside my own box.