Among The Missing

The UNBELIEVABLE display of Joanna S. Rose's marvelous red-and-white quilts at New York's Park Avenue Armory. Note how they spiral around, amazing.
Today I am digressing to show you the story of the The Lion on Gripsholms Slott, seen above. Go to the link to read a charming translation from Swedish of the full story of this furry critter.

And next, here we meet a guy trying to put 3000 toothpicks in his beard. I don't know why.

For the last two days I have been in a great encaustic and painting workshop at the Armory Art Center down in West Palm. I've been taking a Masters Workshop with Chris Valle, who combines images using a whole arsenal of techniques, encaustics only being one portion of them. Today we went through a presentation of his work and he spoke about each piece and his motiations which pretty much fired us all up. I've got three paintings and at least as many encaustics in progress now, with a huge portrait I start on tomorrow with only one day to get it under control. Chris is the kind of teacher I like best- the kind who throws out fourteen different ideas, gives a few demonstrations and explains techniques clearly, then lets you have at it. He mixes materials with abandon and tries out new combinations all the time depending on who has most recently influenced him. He borrows ideas and influences and lets them all grow into his very personal expressions. In short, I am impressed and feel lucky to have signed on. I'll post some of the projects as I complete them- it may be awhile (!) because I have my quiltish deadlines still looming the next two weeks.

I left class early today because it was the BiAnnual Dog Show here in Fla-fla land, where they were auctioning off Lacey for the benefit of the Busch Wildlife Center. (A favorite charity because it's directly across the street from my studio anad I end up there often!) Well, hallelujah and huzzah- she fetched $1000 and that was one of the lower prices bid on all the dogs! One went for $5000 (which I nearly fainted at), with several hovering around $2000. I was thrilled. Molly was costumed in her new plaid collar but had an early run-in with her nemisis Pearl, a Westie, and that threw her off her stride. She was sadly eliminated in her first round of Musicsl Sit. Oh well, she was still getting a lot of attention for being so beautiful all groomed up. Afterwards we had a sold out dinner by the pool which added a bit more to the coffers so the Refuge will benefit a lot. Actually I heard they are going to appear on the Today Show and David Letterman on Monday and we were wondering which animals might make the trip to NY. Tune in and see! If you're lucky you'll meet my albino raccoon.

Tomorrow I have my last class day and have to tackle a gigantic portrait (30" x 40"), sadly not my forte, but we'll see what happens.