Encaustic Woman Musher Tryptich by Judy Vars

I work well under pressure.......

Earlier this morning I'm still feeling sick nursing my sore throat and cold when Carmen calls. I had agreed weeks ago to paint something with an

Iditarod

interest for the Wasilla Museum. At the time I just wasn't "feelin it "no inspiration or ideas. So today when I get the call that the art is due on Wednesday I say OH NOOOOOOOO. I did not want to let anyone down epically at the Museum. I forgot all about feeling sick and found a photo that I took several years ago and painted it with wax. This photo was taken a second before the dog team got all tangled up,tumbled and fell it was quite funny looking. This painting is actually one of three I am doing a triptych. It will need further refining but it's not too bad so far. I love how encaustic wax lends itself to impressionist style paintings and helps me keep it loose.
Gentle feedback is always encouraged.

Geometric Squares

For your viewing pleasure, these are 4"X4"X1" little canvases made into encaustic wax tiles. I created this yesterday and today keeping in mind my box obsession mixed with my interest in symbols and icons. I made for one for my show and got some good positive feedback so I made another. It seems that I love to make the same things over and over each time improving upon the last one, learning the way, each one is the same yet different. Now I am painting another girl alone in her room this time with encaustic wax. Peter went to get me some wood 20” X 16” so I can finish.

Nonbinding Resolutions 2007

Please explain, what does that mean? Here are some nonbiding resolutions of my own.

1. Go on a health,diet and exercize regime
2. Make 1,350,000 in 2007
3. I will not smoke or swear.
4. Say my prayers every day and every night
5. Read 100 books
6. Watch less television
7. Support my son and attend every game
8. Get out of debt
9. Finish my garage
10. Paint the kitchen no whole house
11. Keep a positive and cheerful outlook no matter what

If they are non-binding then I need not feel any guilt when I flub up. Pretty Cool eh. (thats Canadian)

Does it get any better than this?

I usually take my camera everywhere I go just to get that quintessential Alaska photograph. Here is last nights sunset, I must use the word AWESOME to describe this one.
I have an idea for another work of art inspired by the scenery in the movie Marie Antoinette I loved the hedges and trees pruned to be perfect rectangles, triangles and circles it doesn’t seem real yet it is. The movie was like eye candy so over the top and flamboyant my husband would call it a “chick flick.”

So this morning I woke up inspired and ready to paint, but when the phone rang and someone needed me to teach because her kid was sick, I dropped my plans - everything I’d started and ran out the door. This did not add to my serenity at all! Instead I grumbled at myself.

I have been thinking about my schedule. I fly in all directions at once, I waste time piddling around with office work when I really hate it! I procrastinate the things that would most benefit me and my career. I plan to make a schedule where I include my priorities such as exercise, paint, walk the dogs, paint, meditate, paint, take a soak, paint, eat a leisurely lunch, paint, promote my artwork and paint. If the phone rings and someone needs me for something and I really don’t want to do it. I give myself permission to just say no. This might sound strange to some people but I am the original co-dependant it’s a dis-ease and I’m working on it.

Today I will do something that is good for me even if it feels uncomfortable.
“Self discipline is self caring” M. Scott Peck

And if that doesn’t work I can always run away from home.
SERENITY NOW!

Cummon if you can't laugh at yourself......or lowbrow art from Meadowlakes, AK

******This is old stuff to see my current blog entry on Sarah go to August 28th 2008 #####


When I tell people how to find my house, I say "turn right at the Dead Dog Saloon." This funny picture taking thing is out front of the Dead Dog and strictly for tourists and me when I'm in a silly mood. My hubby took this when we'd finished our errands today. He said,the funny thing is your boobs are really as big as that!
Ha Ha Thanks honey.

This does not apply to all Alaskans. Gov Murkowski is out and
Sarah Palin in! She is our newest Governor of Alaska, young, pretty, smart and shes playing with the good ole boys. You go girl.


She's so hot we got "Hot Governor" tee shirts. Pelosi is hot too! Did you notice all the color the ladies contributed to Bushes last "State of The State" address? Bye Bye blue suits - RED IS IN!

I Finally watched "An Inconvienent Truth"

Yes Mr. Gore I did vote for you in the last election and I did stand by in horror as George W. Bush was crowned king. I watched in disbelief as he convinced everyone it was a good idea to invade Iraq. I watched while he refused to take a moral stand and become involved in the Kyoto pact.
Yet Mr. Gore I have to say that as I watched your slide show. I went directly to despair the numbers are unbelievable yet there they are undisputable scientific facts.
Yet it is possible to reduce global temperatures in an individual, community, state and national level An Inconvenient Truth this is a place to start.

If you believe in prayer, then please pray that everyone including our government wake up and reverse global warming.



This was my birthday present last year from Peter. A plane ride in a small Cub over the Mat-Su Valley over my sweet humble home and to the Matanuska Glacier.
I even took the controls of the plane for about a minute. It was just like my dreams of flying. It felt so awesome to be up there soaring right through this crevasse looking at a millennium of ice.

Bye see ya on the flip side.
Judy

Alone in My Room and Dreaming

I painted this young lady several years ago. The boundaries between outside and inside are blurred and painted with a dream like quality. I was/am very proud of it and kept this painting in my "private reserve" for awhile. After displaying the painting in the Girdwood Center for the Visual Arts for just 1 week she found another home.
Now the Girl All Alone In Her Room Dreaming has found a place of her own.
When I was ready to let this painting go the buyer appeared.
Sometimes I feel naked when I tell all my secrets so with this one I’ll leave it to your translation.

“Each man should frame life so that at some future hour fact and his dreaming meet.”
Victor Hugo

Until tomorrow dream well.
Judy

Heart Felt Valentines

Hearts on Valentines are more than an icon our hearts have a special energy and intelligence all their own. It is not too suprising to know that the human heart has an electromagnetic field 5,000 times greater than the brain! This field permeates every cell in our bodies and radiates into the world. WOW the heart has its own intelligence. We can rely on our hearts to make good decisions not based on what our brains are telling us. For Valentines Day lets honor our hearts and look just a little deeper into the gift our hearts have to offer that goes deeper than sentimentality. If you have become disheartened or if your heart is glad, my prayer is that we open our hearts to find the gifts of inner strength, gratitude, wisdom and joy.

While I am honoring our reliable friend the heart. I promise not to smoke or drink. I will exercise, keep my blood pressure and cholesterol low. I vow to decrease the size of my waist and lose weight.

Heart felt love and good heart health to everyone.

xoxo
Judy

Mocha

This pretty little miniature boxer puppy came to stay for awhile and its pandamonium with the dogs. Benson our big choclate lab is totally smitten and she encourages him they are like a couple of horney teenagers in the Spring.

Don't Box Me In

I create box/assemblage art but please don’t put me in a box. Boxes fascinate me.
I love a book called Mister God this is Anna by Flynn. In the book they purchased a stack of dime store mirrors, arranged them inside a box, put a tiny hole in the box, a light and peeked in.
What was reflected was their eye to infinity.
I like look into the boxes people live in. Once while staying in a high-rise condo in Vancouver I looked into the other peoples boxes with binoculars. Am I weird?
On my one of my favorite episodes of Star Trek Professor Moriardy was created in a halo-deck (holographic images appearing real but reflected in a box) to out think “Data”. Moriardy got out of control. The crew of the Enterprise finally trapped him in a black halo-box that contained a universe. The idea is fascinating.

My computer is the ultimate box the whole wide world of art is at my fingertips. How did I ever do without it?
Under my bed you will find a God box stuffed with prayers.
I am obsessing about boxes and ignoring my guests.

Now its time to be social I have my friends grown kid Spencer here for a few days while he gets ready to fly to Southern Utah then to Austin Texas. He quit his job and plans to ride his bike again in races and play his music. He is not feeling boxed in anymore, now he is free to enjoy the world.

A phone call just now.....It's someone I barely know saying I touched her heart. How wonderful. It's humbling to know we/I don't live alone inside a box but am a part of a big wonderful world touching others in good ways.

Peace and Blessings to All

Wolfgangs Vault

If I stay home another day I am going to go crazy and that is just a short putt for me. My car is being repaired the starter is broken. I think no problem; I will stay home and work on my art. I am going to a Valentine make and take art/craft gig Sunday so I sort and organize to get ready. I clean up my encaustic wax mess so I can start another painting. I cut open the vacuum cleaner bag looking for my lost diamond earring. It was there shinning is the dust and dog hair my small 1/2 carat diamond it was broken from its post but it was there! Whew I was praying that I'd find it. They may have found the killer on "All My Children", Zack and Kendall are making babies, J.R. is being a dink again and Zarf the she-male rock superstar and Bianca are becoming friends. On Judge Judy a lady sold a picture of 2 cell phones for $400.00. Judy says "YOU'RE AN IDIOT" I talked on the phone to Dawn and Elizabeth they could not come and rescue me. Oh God am I that boring? YeS aPpaReNtLy CaBiN fEvEr iN AlAsKa iNdEed.

Oh and I listened to this great site, if you like Hendrix, Doors, Cream, Janis, Blondie etc. check it out the music is free! Remember those great posters from the 60s they got em.
Wolfgangs Vault

When I was 16 I lied to my grandparents and created an alibi to go to the Fillmore West in San Francisco,CA to see Janis Joplin and the Holding Company. To make my escape I wore my conservative pink Lady Manhattan blouse and a blue skirt. Lanie my cousin and I got into her boyfriends black van and she proceeded to take down her thick red hair that went to her waist, strip and put on a tiny mini crochet dress. I was stuck wearing my school girl clothes. I should have planned better.
I will never forget the light show, the music, the far out people all tripping and dancing the whole hippy scene.

It turns out I was part of rock history and a generation of optimists and peace lovers. I hope this current war in Iraq doesn’t divide us like before. The Army recruiters come right into my son’s school giving them propaganda and making all sorts of promises they won't keep. What is the matter with Bush anyway did daddy drop him on his head when he was a baby? You may be thinking too much orange sunshine......

Joy E. Loy

These pictures of Joy are for anonymous friend who left a message on Benson Gets Laid or How Hillbillys spend a Sunday Afternoon .

My son and I picked up Joy at the Big Lake Humane Society in 1994 when we arrived in Alaska. She was part of a litter and my son Porter choose her.

These days she is getting a little old I call her Mrs. Oldenheimer.She has cataracts,arthritis and gets around much slower than she used to. She is under my desk sleeping as I write this blog. She is such an awesome sweet little bundle of Joy Full Ness and I still love her the most.

This is Benson, Peter and Joy taken before.

The Zooper Bowl and Purple Rain

Why isn't Zooper Bowl Sunday a National Holiday? We sure treat it like one. The game of football confuses me although I devotedly watch my son playing on his high school team. The real reason I watch it is to see the clever commercials and of course Prince at half-time.
The artist known as Prince is so sexy in an androgynous sort of way. And will someone tell me why he hasn't aged since he made the movie Purple Rain? Prince is actually 48 or 49. But baby can he spank that guitar and sing OH YEAH! Singing Purple Rain in the Purple Rain, just poetic.

I never meant 2 cause u any sorrow
I never meant 2 cause u any pain
I only wanted 2 one time see u laughing
I only wanted 2 see u laughing in the purple rain

So I ask myself, what is purple rain? The Urban Dictionary
n. A restless feeling. A non-descript feeling of boredom, restlessness and confinement. A feeling one has when wanting to escape from responsibility (chiefly emotional) by traveling. Sometimes synonymous with 'wanderlust.' The desire to travel in order to escape an emotional commitment.

Or a cocktail another name for sizurp or: One part strawberry soda (8oz), one part cough syrup, one teaspoon crushed codeine.

Oh yes, I understand Purple Rain I love to dance in purple rain.

Black Box Project # 4 A Fish Trapped Inside the Wind

What did I do today? laundry, movie, walk and painting.

Title: Autumn Trees
Medium: Encaustic Wax
Size: 12" x 9"

Apologizing for the photograph encaustic wax is hard to photograph, it's so shiny and the flash washes out the center. But I was so excited to post it I said what the Hell. But if I want to put it on e-Bay then I'll have to get better pictures.

We are all artists..

I have many phone conversations with my crazy friend Yoby and I say crazy in the most affectionate way. If she wasn't crazy to some degree then I just wouldn't be interested. She is a writer with an incredible mind, a lovely Southern drawl and she loves art and artists but just dosen't feel like she quite fits in (boy can I relate to that).

Too often art and the creative process is, by society standards and "Artists Definitions", a narrow view point of accepted or tangible constructs. The reality is we all have an artist’s side. Whether it’s painting, drawing, music, singing, dancing,cooking, interior designing, writing, appreciating the way the fireweed defines the neatness of the grass, and the ability to communicate with others.
When we appreciate the diversity of our creativity then we can expand our creativity in ways that we don’t understand.

Ten years ago when I took an intensive communication course. One of the exercises we were asked to do was write our lifes story we were given one hour, and then we were given 30 minutes to refine it, then 15 minutes then 10 then 5 then 1 minute. After distilling everything I had written, I came up with.

“Through my passion, power, and beauty I create a world where others recognize their unique spirits and all live in joy and a celebration of life”

Judy Vars

An overcast sky adds to the otherworldly effect of this snow sculpture at the 1999 Fur Rendezvous. Alas it melted in the Spring leaving just an impression.