Introducing Brock Villagebrook (here with Faythe Levine)

Faythe Levine, Brock & I

Meet new Travel Kitty (attached to my orange scarf) -- Brock Villagebrook! I purchased/adopted him from the lovely Lisa Dalton at the screening of Faythe Levine's Handmade Nation last week.

If you can't see Brock clearly here (and really, who can?), don't worry. Christophe & I are going on a small road trip to New Hampshire until Thursday, and Brock will be certainly be peeking in for some photo ops. We are going to the Nahcotta Gallery to drop off my painting for the Verbatim show this January. And we are very excited to see some more fall foliage and to sample the great shops & restaurants of Portsmouth.

Glow

"Glow" 5.5x5.5 inch original encaustic painting on wood. For sale here.

I've been so overwhelmingly inspired by the gorgeous fall colors here on Long Island. There is a certain tree that I pass by every day, and it just burns the brightest, most spectacular red. I feel like it must be shining with all of its might to stave off the inevitable loss of its leaves and onslaught of winter. This painting is dedicated to that pretty tree (and to all of us who warm the cold days with out brightness).

PS -- right now the original of "Glow" is for sale at my Etsy shop, but I can create a print for you if you would like. Just email me!

Happy Halloween!

My little attempt at a 5-min Photoshop collage this morning!! Hope you and your family are having a great Halloween celebration. Candy is great.

You Will Return to Me

10x10 inch original encaustic painting on 2" cradled wood panel. For sale here.

This is a new encaustic piece that I completed this afternoon. I have been thinking of this one for a few days now. I must say it was quite a challenge painting his beach scene using encaustics. It made me long for my sweetly obedient acrylics. But I do like the ethereal, somewhat mysterious effect of the wax. And I like the girl's flowery dress set against the dark background. I think it seems quite symbolic of her feelings of hope for her beloved's return.

Love Lives Here

"Love Lives Here" original encaustic painting 4.5x5 inches. Available here for purchase.

I've been so busy this weekend with the 20% off sale & lots of painting. Visit my Etsy shop to take advantage of this sale for 1 more day. Just type "Weekend Deals" in your message to seller & I will refund 20% of your entire order through Paypal.

Today I'm off to the "Micro Craft Fair" in Huntington at the Cinema Arts Center for a special screening of Handmade Nation. Stop by if you are in the neighborhood! :)

Two new encaustic pieces & etsy highlight tomorrow...

"The Place Where my Heart is Quiet' -- 8x8 inch original encaustic painting on 3/4 inch wood panel. Available to purchase here.

"A Song For You." 5.5x6 inch original encaustic and mised media on wood panel. Original has been SOLD.

Oh how I wish there were more hours in the day. These are my latest encaustic works. They were both labors of love, but "The Place Where My Heart is Still" is very special to me because it seemed to have a mind of its own. My initial idea was a bit different than this one, and halfway through I stopped for lunch and told my family that I had 'hurt' the new painting. Axelle responded VERY sagely for a 7-year-old. "That just means it's real. " How smart is she?! Anyway, I went back to work and let the 'realness' take over. The result is a piece that looks different than planned but feels exactly right.

Now, onto business. I've just received a delightful email from "MaryMary" over at Etsy, and she says that my painting "then there was you" will be highlighted in their "special deals" email tomorrow. So if you have your eye on this one, act quickly! :)

20% Off this Weekend to Celebrate Handmade Nation Screening & Craft Fair in Town

Hi friends, just wanted to give my kind readers a heads-up for my sale this weekend. Etsy is having a weekend deals promotion from 10/23-10/25, and I am participating by offering 20% off of an entire purchase from my Etsy Shop! Just type in "WEEKEND DEALS" in the message to seller after your order, and the 20% discount will be refunded by Paypal. I decided to participate in the sale in tandem with my table at this weekend's special screening of Handmade Nation at the Huntington Cinema Art Center. Etsy will be providing gift bags, and filmmaker Faythe Levine will be in attendence. It should be a lot of fun if I figure out how to mount my work on a slab of wood for display. Hmmm...

Speaking of Handmade Nation, or well, handmade things... my stepdaughter, Axelle, and I created mini origami books today. Look at these cuties. You would be amazed at how long a 7-year-old can be enthralled by a flower punch, old magazines, glue & her imagination!