Charmaine

Charmaine in the Mist

Oil

17" x 21"

NFS

Making a Self Portrait

Let me make this clear this painting is not finished! It is very definitely a work in progress. The painting you see took just a few hours but the completed portrait may take awhile. All great artists have painted themselves Van Gough, Rembrandt, Frida Kahlo, etc. In my case I wanted to paint a beautiful witch for Halloween. I did not have a georgeous, sexy, real live model to work with. So I decided to use myself, the idea was to light my face from underneath which is not a very flattering light, although it is dramatic and witchy,

I wanted my face to look like it was bathed in candle light. The original idea was to have her wearing a witches hat and costume and standing in a graveyard, haunted mansion, or with runes on the wall, something spooky and intriguing. Since I was using myself as the model I was less willing to depict me as to witchy, weird or wicked. This marks the first time I have ever painted myself. What stopped me was telling myself things like I’m not beautiful enough, too old, or it's self centered and narcissistic. Of course at my age I could use a mini facelift but painting me and accepting me  and the way I am today; wrinkles, eye bags, grey hair, lumps etc. is a great way to practice compassion, acceptance and love for the person I am most critical of (me). Painting a self portrait is also a great meditation for really looking at oneself  objectively. Noticing all my flaws and assets and acknowledging exactly where I am in time. It all fits together like a puzzle, gray hair, frown lines, happy lines, green eyes, bags and bumps, separate and alone under my scrutiny my flaws are obvious, but as part of the whole my portrait is complete and perfect and still a work in progress. Here is my favorite affirmation...

I am at peace with my age for me it is always now.
I came to this planet to experience every age.
I am at peace with where I am at in time.
My future is Glorious.

Sweet Tico Woman

Title: Anita Polanca
Medium: Oil
Size: 16" X 20"
Artist: Judy Vars
Price: unframed 320.00
On our holiday to Costa Rica we went to the copy store in Puerto Imenez and this old woman was out sunning herself in the afternoon. I asked Peter to take a picture of this beautiful old woman. He started a conversation with her and found out that she is 97 her parents came from Spain, after charming her and kissing her little hand she graciously posed for a photograph with a little twinkle in her eyes and a girlish smile. Costa Rica is a “Blue Zone” meaning people are healthier and live longer. This is a painting I wanted to do since our last trip to Costa Rica.
Tico is what the Costa Ricans call themselves translated it means little. I put my friend:
Cappy Will Kitsos on the job to find her name out
Will-Do Services Unltd.
What they won't do Will-do will do...
Will came through her name is Anita Polanca.

Happy Halloween!

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.
Oil Painting
16X20
320.00
Song of the Witches
by William Shakespeare

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and howlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.
Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.

Busy Yakking, Painting and Getting Inspired

Yesterday I drove to Anchorage to attend the Alaskan chapter meeting of International Encaustic Artists http://www.international-encaustic-artists.org/, Jannan Kitchen gave her experiences at the last conference. I want to go to the next one in Carmel, CA this October 1 - 4th but I did not meet my goal to sell enough art in a month to pay for the trip. Art is an expensive endeavor; the supplies, the marketing, the time spent, the commissions, the fees, the postage and handling. It's no wonder by the time the client buys their masterpiece they pay for it! I listened and took notes if I only remember 10% I am doing pretty good.

Then I stopped by the Firefly http://fireflyartco-op.com/content/ to move my art into the first room it's better real estate in the gallery.
I was invited to a YAKKING circle with some younger artists. I was inspired to paint a beautiful witch with a partial nipple showing. One of the younger women volunteered to let me take some pictures of her, perhaps I can get her to model for me, a real live model would make a much better painting.

Today, put the finishing touches on my wolf for the juried wolf show at the Madd Matters Gallery October 10th. http://www.alaska-gallery.com/ Last night I left the easel with the painting on it outside the sliding door and later walked past and thought a real wolf was staring in, it was scary just like a dream I had, the wolf was at the door and I tried to light a fire in the living room then run and hide but the wolf kept coming and found me hiding in the closet.

My wolf is very realistic.

I am getting ready for my Encaustic Wax Demonstration and mini class at Make a Scene http://web.me.com/joshfryfogle/MaS!_Music_Fest_09/Performance_Hall.html:

Duh they did not put the date and time of the class in the paper.
October 16th from 4 - 7 p.m.

Wizened and Natal a Sneek Peek

See an expanded version of this body of work at my upcoming show Wizened and Natal @
The Alaska Gallery 105 E. Artic Avenue, Palmer, Alaska Saturday August 8th
It's only 20 days away.

Yapita

Ypatia

Fayum Mummy Portrait

Encaustic Painting

by

Judy Vars

Diogenes the Flute Player

My interperation of the mysterous Fayum portraits: The Fayum Portraits: Greek and Roman painting style, encaustic on wood, part of the Egyptian culture (funeral portraits).They show the faces of the inhabitants of ancient Egypt at a period influenced by Greeks and Romans. The Fayum portraits are the best preserved paintings of Antiquity. Some of these produced by Greeks who worked in Egypt, part of the Greek population that settled in cities like Alexandria, when Egypt was ruled by Greek kings after the peaceful conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great.
The first one I painted was so gorgeous that I gave him a kiss when on one was looking. Saturday at Art on Fire a teacher from Japan fell in love and took him home.
So I made Diogenes #2. Peter came home and said he looks like a gay guy at a Greek party. Wow, that's soooooo funny I forgot to laugh.
So I ask you dear readers become a critic and tell me which one do you prefer and why, dead Greek guy #1 or dead Greek guy #2? Please respond in my comments and let me know. Diogenes the Flute Player #1 or #2?

Diogenes the Flute Player #1

Diogenes the Flute Player #2

St Jude Thaddeus - Hope for the Hopeless

Jude Thaddeus

Saint Jude, Hope of the Hopeless, Pray for me

Oil

20" X 16"

Judy Vars

$500.00
 

This is St Jude the patron saint of lost causes and also of artists. Saint Jude reminds us to stay optimistic in difficult times.

 

NOVENA TO ST. JUDE

 

O Holy St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return, I will make your name known and cause you to be invoked. Say three Our Fathers, three Hail Mary's and Glories. Publication must be promised. St. Jude, pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen. This Novena has never been known to fail. This Novena must be said for 9 consecutive days..