handmade encaustic paint by TheBeesKnees1234

Announcements:

1. Team Meeting:
We’ll be holding an all-team meeting in March! Keep your eye out for the date, and look forward to chatting it up with your fellow BEEs!

2. Contribute to our site:
Have an article or link you’d like to share? Send an email to info@beeswaxteam.com to contribute your resources to our site and benefit the rest of the team.

Hello Bees! Here are the results of the art exchange we participated in this December! Enjoy:

In Beth’s words: Here is the amazing 6×6 encaustic piece I received as part of the Bee Team holiday exchange. “Sheep Patterns” was created by the amazingly talented Kari J. Young. I love the color and texture in her work but most of all I love the subject of this piece (you know how I feel about wool…). So a big warm thank you Kari, I love it!

In Judy’s words: Pam McDonnell, a native Georgian and self described country girl, sent me this little gem. Looking at it I can sense the rural environment of her childhood. It has a feeling of quiet and mystery.

In Kari’s words: Here is the painting I received… Thank you Tirzah, I love my new little painting. Its hanging on the wall in my hallway.

In Tirzah’s words: My name is Tirzah and I received a beautiful painting from Shannon. It is an image transfer that shows some highlights of the map of Pittsburgh. There are bold black lines that represent the bridges of the city and small streets that cover the international market district part of town. I was very happy to see such an artful representation of my new home… a special surprise because I used my temporary Nashville address for the mail exchange! It is proudly hanging in my Pittsburgh apartment – Thank you Shannon!

In Shannon’s words: I participated in the holiday exchange last year and absolutely loved it! So I was anxious to participate again this time around. To my surprise, a package came the week before Christmas and had several little goodies from Melissa Hronkin. Melissa is a beekeeper and harvests her own wax, so I was super delighted to find home-made lip gloss along with two paintings! It was such a fun package to open and kept giggling with excitement over my new artwork! The smaller one – a butterfly – is sitting at my desk, and helps me study and do my homework. The larger one is a fascinating diagram of a head. Thank you Melissa for all the goodies! And thanks Kathryn for making the exchange happen. Long live art swaps!

In Veronique’s words: I love my painting from Laura Van Horne (lvhdesigns). I’ve had my share of the winter blues (I really do not like the cold or snow!) and this painting is such a nice reminder of the warm days ahead. I love the idea of something being in bloom- whether literally in the spring time or as an artist- there are always something in bloom, in process in the studio. Thank you Laura! The painting is hanging up in my studio- a nice reminder of warmer days and endless artistic inspiration.

In Caterina’s words: Here I am with Cloud Study #3 by Beth Billups of Tangled Sky Studio in Mill Valley, Ca. She is a neighbor geographically, because I live in Santa Rosa about 48 miles north on 101. I was delighted to receive her encaustic as my secret bee exchange. My immediate thought was how different she works from me. I love this piece, its subtle earthy colors, opaque yet alluringly transparent, as well as the way the clouds are collaged text, with small scratched in dots defining them. They almost look like a face in a dreamy sky. I was delighted to receive a moo card with another one of her encaustic images on it in the package. It made me want to explore her website and blog and look at more of her work. I then went an ordered some moo cards of my own to send off with my art. I am always struck with how there are so many ways to communicate uniquely and expressively in encaustic. I continue to refall in love with this medium.

In Laura’s words: I love this beautiful piece painted by Kathryn Dart. It is done on glass and looks amazing sitting on the window sill. It glows when there is light behind it. I am excited to try this technique. This was a really fun experience and I am glad I took part in it.

In Melissa’s words: Greetings! I received this wonderful piece from Deanna Wood. Her work is inspired by recurring tornado dreams: power, excitement, raw energy! The house is layered on top of a topographical map and some text…red, green, and orange are the colors used. All of this is on a beautifully constructed cradled panel. Thanks so much for the art and for arranging the exchange. cheers!

In Linda’s words: Here is the beautiful painting that I got from my Secret Bee, Caterina Martinico. So glad that I am a part of the Bees Wax Team!

In Kathryn’s words: I was so happy to see my secret bee was Linda Cordner, as I love her work! It meant even more having seen her artwork in person and met her at the Encaustic Conference last June. I love the vibrant green color and the oh-so-appropriate buzzing bee. Thanks so much, Linda!

Thanks to everyone who participated in this fun event! Look forward to next year’s exchange.

Onenes, by Cari Hernandez, a juror for the Luminous Layers show

Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts in Lake Oswego, Oregon is hosting Luminous Layers, a juried exhibit of encaustic work. Artists can submit 2-D or 3-D artwork, and all entries must be received by February 10, 2010. Click here for the prospectus and to submit.

Sail Boat on a Wavy Sea by Willav

Announcements:

Holiday Art Exchange!

Last year our team exchanged artwork “secret santa” style, and it was a hit! As the holidays approach, it’s time for us to get started on this year’s event. Each participating member will send and receive one encaustic piece as a surprise gift. Here are the guidelines:

• Email info@beeswaxteam.com with name and address by November 30.
• Create a 6″ x 6″ finished encaustic piece by December 10.
• In early December, you will receive the name/address of your “secret” artwork recipient.
• Mail artwork by December 10.
• Receive beautiful art.
• Take photo of yourself with beautiful art. Email photo and short writeup to info@beeswaxteam.com by January 10.

Once all submissions are received, we will post them to the website for everyone to enjoy. If you want to participate, email info@beeswaxteam.com by November 30!

View, 12×12 encaustic by Deanna Wood

Announcements:

Guest Blogging:

1. We are still looking for a member to guest blog for November! Leave a comment or email info@beeswaxteam.com if you are interested. We’d love to have your voice be a stronger part of our site.

Treasures and Team Promotion:

2. This month, let’s make a team effort to get treasuries to feature the fantastic encaustic work of our teammates and find other ways to promote each other.

Busy bees and waxaholics,

Kathryn and Melissa

This summer at one of the workshops at the Encaustic Conference, there was a big debate over encaustic ventilation safety. It’s a hot topic because people have different opinions about the damage that working with encaustic can cause. I’d like to get an idea of what our team members think about this, and hopefully we can all learn a little more about the process. To get started, check out R&F’s helpful fact sheet on ventilation here.

How do you ventilate when working with encaustic?

Do you wear a mask?

Have you noticed any symptoms of encaustic irritants over time?

In my home studio, I ventilate with a fan and open window, but as the winter gets closer and the temperature drops, I am unsure if I will be able to continue to paint with encaustic through the winter months. For those of you who have years of experience with encaustic, how do you deal with the cold during the winter?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!

Kathryn

Tranquility by Sue Simpson of Earthtonestudios

Announcements:

1. October’s Team Meeting:

As we’ve mentioned recently, we will be starting a monthly team leadership meeting to discuss ideas and direction for our team. This month, the meeting will take place in a group chat October 18 at 4 EST. All are welcome! We’d love your input. Let me know you’d like to join us, and I will send you the info when available!

2. Guest Bloggers Needed!

I’m sure you have noticed Beth’s first blog post as guest blogger on beeswaxteam.com. We’re on the lookout for other members to fill this role in the coming months! It only requires four posts, on each Monday, for a month. Let me know ASAP if you are interested in guest blogging.

Busy bees and waxaholics,

Kathryn and Melissa

The Conrad Wilde Gallery in Tuscon, Arizona is now accepting submissions for its Fifth Annual Encaustic Exhibition. Any 2D or 3D work is eligible, and the applications are accepted by “snail mail” only. The exhibition will take place in March 2010, but the deadline is fast approaching: October 25, 2009. Click here for full details on how to submit.

Have you submitted? Are you planning on it? I think it’d be great if a couple of our members were selected for this show!