Running away screaming

We had some good friends spend the weekend with us, little 3 1/2 year old Phoenix, Angelena and Peter from Regina.  Its always nice to have visitors, we seem to get a lot since we moved to this part of the country.  Had a great time visiting and catching up.  I showed them my studio and they didn't run away screaming so I took that as a good sign that I'm doing something right.  Peter commented that I seem to have a lot of interests and styles, which I can't argue with.  I explained that I have many interests and a relatively short time to inhabit this earth.  The painting above is an example of a "style" that I have been interested in for some time now and the inspiration for it came from the neighbours back lane fence.  Go figure.   I have a number of these paintings under various stages of finish.  I have used encaustic waxes and oil paint along with various inks to get it to this point.

Full of Beeswax

My Dad used to say I was full of beeswax, as well as other people I won't mention here.  If only he knew how right he was!  I went for a long walk this morning, starting down my back lane, and that is where I discovered a tree with maple seeds hanging on it.  After taking a few photos of them in a back lighting situation, I had the bright idea of taking a few of them back to my studio and seeing if I could create something new with them.  The encaustic painting above is the result of that idea, tell me what you think.  I signed my name with twigs, a first for me and I like the look of it.  Many years ago my brother Richard took a great photo of a similar scene, I still have it.

Aunty Marilyn's Passing

Notes from the Violin

carried away on the prairie wind

Auntie Marilyn has died.

Marilyns Roses  (Encaustic)

I received word that my Aunt Marilyn passed away from this world yesterday evening.  She was a favourite aunt of mine, I spent a lot of my youth at her farm enjoying her animals, garden, and cooking.  I always believed she had a special connection with her farm animals, some people do.  She lost her husband John just recently, they can be together again in a better place. I wrote the poem above while I was waiting for Crystal at the local grocery store.  There was an amazingly beautiful Rachmaninoff piece  playing on CBC Radio while I was contemplating my memories of Marilyn and I felt like writing something down that somehow expressed my feelings at that moment. I guess I lost another piece of myself.  Thanks for everything Marilyn.  Adieu.