Life is good. Life is SO good I can’t stand it!!! Yesterday I discovered Judy Wise is teaching cold wax online!!
Handsprings! Backflips! Dance break. Shake it out, just SHAKE IT OUT!
Ahhhh…much better now. I really need to cut back on the sugar.
Why all the enthusiasm? Well, let me explain. I love oil and cold wax. Love it love it LOVE IT! I did some pieces with it last year.
This one is Dunes. If I remember right it’s 2×3 feet. I sold it last October during the studio tour. You can see more of my cold wax pieces here.
Everything I did with cold wax came from being self taught, from piecing bits and more bits of internet information together. Flying by the seat of my pants. But I’ve taken a couple of classes from Judy in the past, Plaster Workshop and Hot Wax. I adore her. So when I heard she was offering this class, my all time wish list of if I could take ANY painting class this would be IT class, I signed up, just like that. And then, because the class is beginning RIGHT NOW, I ran to the lumberyard and had them cut a sheet of quarter inch birch plywood into eight 2×2 feet panels. And I bought some sticks of pine to support them.
Then I came home, batted my eyes just right and asked Mr. Spouse to lug out the chop saw. I certainly know how to use the chop saw but Mr. Spouse, in a fit of manliness, decided he would chop the pine.
So I let him.
And then I put on my Arty Life construction hat and began building cradled panels.
First I laid everything out one panel at a time. Then I squirted wood glue on the sticks, one at a time. Set the panel on top, lined everything up and shot ’em with the nail gun.
That’s when I realized men take everything about their tools seriously. Check out the name on that sucker. RIGID. I dunno, it just seems so in your face, so yo, babe check me out.
And that’s all I’m gonna say about that.
Change of subject.
Arty Life is getting a makeover soon. How much of one I’m not sure, I’ve just got these Bigger! Better! ideas roiling around in my head. Now all I have to do is figure out how to implement them. Photography! App reviews! Stuff!!! I think I’ll be rolling them out in early February. Stay tuned.
And if you haven’t seen it yet, I’ve begun photographing my horses every morning. A daily photo journal of the ponies and moi. You can check it out here.
Until next week, my sweetums. And, as always, LOVE to hear your comments. Because you are my best beloveds EV-AH!!!
You are rockin’ Susan. Can’t wait for you to be sharing your lovely new creations from this new class you signed up. And your Arty Life makeover, love it can’t wait to see what’s brewing for you. 🙂
Suzanne McRae recently posted..Let the Painting Begin
Ch-ch-ch-changes….going forward. It’s a good thing, Suzanne 🙂
Oh Susan – I really wanted to take Judy’s cold wax class. I’ve just got too much going on right now. I am going to live vicariously through you — please post often about the class!
I’ve been enjoying your mornings with the horses!
Judy Shreve recently posted..On My Easel
I’ll post progress pics, Judy. Today I’ll be sanding and gessoing a couple of the big panels. Maybe make a batch of cold wax. I probably won’t get too into it before the weekend. Life, y’know…
But I’m SO excited!!!
Glad you’re enjoying the morning pony pics. I’m enjoying taking them!
Oh Susan – how I love breathing in your enthusiasm and all the delicious stuff going on! Yay to makeovers, new artistic playgrounds, and horse honoring – all delightful!
I look forward to seeing what the cold wax class inspires for you.
So happy to see you here, Deborah! More good things to come 🙂
Susan recently posted..Happy Daze
Dunes is beautiful Susan, I can’t wait to hear more about the class.
Oh and thanks for the quick tut about making your own substrate! one thing, does the pine make the birch stand off the wall or is it like a frame and the birch is laying flat against the wall? Oh and one more thing, what kind of hanger do you find works well with that weight?
Jaime Haney recently posted..Foggy Morning
Hey, Jaime! The pine makes the birch stand off from the wall, this will be about 1.75 inches. I would’ve gone for something deeper but the price was quite a bit higher, especially multiplied by the 64 feet I needed for all 8 panels.
With bigger pieces, like Dunes, I add an extra piece of pine in the center back as an extra brace.
Nothing special for hangers, the weight isn’t that bad. Decent screw eyes and wire, that’s all. I’m sure something more substantial would be necessary for larger panels but for 2×2, or 2×3 that’s how I do it. My sister swears by these hangers that have a flat base that you screw into the wood. The eye part is hinged. I haven’t felt the need to use them so far.
Susan recently posted..Happy Daze
your enthusiasm is a tonic
and I love it:)
very excited to see what comes
of these panels you’re building,
Jennifer
Jennifer Richardson recently posted..January rising…
I’m excited too, Jennifer. Probably no studio time before the weekend, tho. Something to look forward to.
I’m sure there will be some show ‘n tell next Monday 🙂
Yes, Judy Wise is a national treasure…as are you! Have fun!
Well, Judy certainly is Pam. I’m still working on my status 🙂
That sounds like fun. The piece you put at the beginning is beautiful. Looking forward to seeing what else you’ve got coming out!
Amy Putkonen recently posted..Tao Blends Our Brilliance with Our Dust
There’ll be something to show next week, Amy. 🙂
Love your art work and looking forward to seeing what you create next…. I love your excitement, I think it is contiguous. Thank you for sharing!
Julie McCullough recently posted..Grateful Year
Thank you for coming by, Julie. Be sure to check out Monday’s post, there should be a painting or two to inspire. 🙂
Oh my gosh! That cold wax class sounds like so much fun! Enjoy! Love the example you showed at the top, it’s gorgeous!
Carin recently posted..Into the unknown
Judy’s classes are always fun, Carin 🙂
The energy that shines through your posts always make me smile 🙂 I can’t wait to see where you go with your blog. I love hearing about the different techniques you use.
Michele Bergh recently posted..Killing Me Softly with CRAP
The blog ideas are ambitious, Michele. I’m still sorting through them. Always been an idea person, now I just have to add the follow through 🙂
That looks amazing. I have utterly no art experience (other than my Zentangle obsession) but love to look at it. 😀 Now I’m off to see the ponies….
Arwen recently posted..How Do You Walk Your Path?
Zentangles are an art unto themselves, Arwen. I’ve discovered they’re a fabulous addition to my teaching toolkit. Some of my students’ work just blossomed when I showed them what doodling can be.
Hope you enjoyed the ponies!