Who was it that said "heal thyself"?

When I went to the doctor last week I got pissed because he left me sitting in the room for a half hour he didn't weigh me or take my blood pressure. I asked him for some skin medicine, anti depressants, migrane medicine and something to help me lose weight, he asked me if I eat more than twice a day, when I said yes of course I do, and he said (maybe that is your problem) How rude! He gave me a prescription for Zenecal $158.00 for a 30 day supply and he said I'll get a belly ache if I cheat, oh joy! I choose not to get them or the anti-depressants. I took my own blood pressure at the pharmacy and it was high. It seems like he should have checked it as a matter of course. I went to the doctor to get some help maybe a lecture or a pep talk not indifference and insults. It's true most doctors don't work for wellness and good health they just dispense expensive prescriptions and attitude.

I know instinctively and intellectually that pills are not the answer to what ails me but pulling myself up by my bootstraps and taking responsibility for my own health and well being is. So I decided to "heal thyself". Today is Sunday and it's the 9th day of my colon cleanse. OK I know it’s rude to talk about #2 so don't get me started. This process will take about 30 day’s total and costs about 50 bucks. If you believe that all disease begin in the colon and it really makes sense to me that clean pipes will make all the systems of the body work At peak efficiency. After a rough start I started feeling better. I exercised three times this week. Today I walked the dogs on the frozen lake and remembered to feel grateful for what I have. I watched The Secret http://thesecret.tv/ on dvd great information and great motivation for "the first day of the rest of my life."

Raven and Salmon

Aurora Raven

Salmon in the Shadows

This is what I have been working on for the last week and half. They were created using the indirect method of painting. First a sketch, then I painted values with burnt sienna and turpentine. It was left to dry and then sanded with steel wool. The next level was oil paint thinned with oil and turpentine and left to dry and then sanded again. I mixed my colors using the mixture to thin the paint and glazed color over the grisaille, using soft brushes and making sure you can see the under painting through each layer and being careful to keep the paint even. Each layer (10) was left to dry thoroughly. This method takes some patience but for a glassy surface and an aquatic effect there is nothing like it. I am very pleased with the depth and the jewel effect that I have achieved.

Beverly Lake - Sunday morning

Art Feeds The Human Soul

and yet speaks from the soul. It connects people to each other in new and unexpected ways .

Rene Magritte (Belgium) 1898-1967

The Big Family
Medium: Oil on canvas

I am beginning a raven painting much like this one. The sky will be starry and the aurora will be across the sky and the Raven will be there in all its glory

Monday, Monday Crazy Monday

Ok So I've started making lists it is hugely helpful for me to get things done.
I have a show January 5th not to mention Thanksgiving and Christmas is coming up fast so there are 100 things that I need to do! I started to obsess and get overwhelmed running aroung in circles bumping into stuff and crying I'm going nuts!!!! So my co-dependant helper pulled me back from the edge and said "why don't you start a list?"
Well Duuhhhh what a good idea I wonder why I didn't think of that
Here is my latest creation I call it:

Vogue, Bratz,Bling ala Klimt Collage

Click here to go to e-bay

Vogue, Bratz, Bling ala Klimt

One Door Closes and Another One Opens

Sunday my friend Dawn and I went to the

Snow City Cafe

to show our portfolios and get into a First Friday show 2007. I've been there twice before but I figure three is the charm and what is the worst that can happen they can reject me again. They did. They wanted art that was big and "read" across the room. I believe in being persistent but 3 nos are enough for me.

Then my friend Carmen called me to say that the Expresso Cafe is looking for artists to have a show. Well when I showed her my work she loved it! She has seen my work at the Bagel Deli the famous Raven and Salmon. So I will be the featured artist at the Expresso Cafe in January. Wow! It's between Wall Mart and Chevrolet of Wasilla.

A new friend Jessica visited my web-site the other day and said "it is magnificent!!" she said my bio reminds her or "rigorous honesty" I wonder what she meant since this is my bio photograph...ha ha ha LOL - its my head and some other hotties body. Its the body I had when I was a young hottie. Aren't I cute......... actually my titts are bigger otherwise its my body...if I worked out 4 hours everyday ate about 1700 calories everyday.....oh and maby turned the clock back about 20 years. But it's still my body in my dreams. I'm not kidding...really.


Hey Michelle! my best friend in the whole wide world are you out there....you know I love you more.........

Hello, hello hello - Is There Anybody Out There?

All that you touch
All that you see
All that you taste
All you feel
All that you love
All that you hate
All you distrust
All you save
All that you give
All that you deal
All that you buy beg, borrow or steal
All you create
All you destroy
All that you do
All that you say
All that you eat
Everyone you meet
All that you slight
Everyone you fight
All that is now
All that is gone
All that's to come
And everything under the sun is in tune
But the sun is eclipsed by the moon.
THERE IS NO DARK SIDE ON THE MOON REALLY!

The Bennyness of Benson

Benson is so cool in his doggles and he loves to wear them when he goes walking or riding because he adores the attention that he gets, what a big ham!
Yesterday when the bagger was loading the groceries into the truck she said "what a great dog, I have a yellow lab and a chocolate lab" and so Benson gave her a polite kiss on the nose. What a lover!

On a sadder note in the animinal kingdom I have been watching through the binoculars a loon on my lake that must have been left behind for some reason when mom pop and sister went South. The lake is gradually freezing. The thin ice is covering the lake from the outside to the center and the loon is being encroached upon and does not fly away. There is not a damn thing I can do for the loon or for that matter should do. Life in Alaska can be harsh.

October 26,th 10:00 a.m.

Gothic me for Halloween

Yes, I'm going to be GOTH for Halloween how exquisitely sublime.

• A goth unashamedly celebrates the dark places of the human psyche, dark sensuality sweeping saddness, morbid fascination, forbidden love, the beauty of enduring pain.

1. Age: None. Goths are timeless. ;-)
2. Behaviour: broody, dramatic, sensual, given to excessive romanticism
3. Climate: cool, damp, and dark.
4. Diet: hors d'oeuvres, cigarettes
5. Intelligence: strangely above average
6. Favourite Colour: black
7. Literature: 19th century romance and horror, Anne Rice, Neil Gaiman
8. Major: Humanities: art, literature, psychology, etc.
9. Music: gothic I LOVE the Transiberian Orchestra (does that count?)
10. Natural Habitat: cemetaries, cafés, bookstores, libraries, laboratories, the internet, and the incredibly dark and evil gothic nightclub (spooky spooky) Tourists beware!
11. Natural Range: Northern Europe and English-speaking countries. England and Germany are the two cultural focii.
12. Occupation: artist, computer-related, literature-related, student, clerk
    Race: any (but being pale is a big plus)
13. Religion: none, any
14. Sexual Orientation: none, any, all

I have my insta Goth kit and I'm ready to go. I hope the temporary black dye washes out of my hair!

The Halloween Spirit wooooooooooooooooooooooo

I'm going about a painting of a graveyard for All Hallows Eve. OK let me tell you a secret I love to visit graveyards. A graveyard is a quiet place. Graveyards are the silent cities of the dead. They are homes where we continue to visit our loved ones in death, just as we once visited their homes. Some cemeteries are so grand they truly deserve to be called a city of the dead - a necropolis. Wherever I go, I try to capture the voices suspended in marble, the dead remembered by roses. I am attracted to cemeteries always have been. When I was a girl made a picnic lunch and visited the Weston, Idaho Cemetary. My Grandmother taught me to be respectful and not to walk on the graves. She also taught taught me that graves always face East to greet the rising sun. Although I have found that is not always the case.

Another time when I was a teenager my girlfriend Kim and I went to the City Cemetery to drink wine and horse around we were getting loud and disrespectful then something popped the big gulp cup from my hand and drenched me with wine and ice. We both screamed and laughed and got the hell outa there its rude and disrepctful to wake the dead. But I'm sure they will be expecting visitors on All Hallows Eve when the veil is the thinnest.
WooooOOOO00000ARE YOU SCARED YET?!

It's Just Like I A Celebrity or Something WOO-HOO

These were questions from a UAA student doing an article for Alaska Magazine.....

1) List your full name, age, professions, and location.

Judith Abagail Vars, 54 years young, consignee for a self service gas station, Ogden, Utah – Black Jack Dealer, Carson City, Virginia City, Nevada – Assistant to the State Fire Marshal, Carson City, NV – Bar Tender – S.L.C., UT – Car Salesman – Rock Springs, WY, SLC, Alaska – Owner The Cleaning Company, Wasilla, AK – Nurses Assistant – Wasilla, AK

2) What mediums are used in your work?

I use oil paint, and for my mixed media work I use encaustic wax, found objects, ephemera just about anything I can think of. Yesterday I found a flat fork in the road it has possibilities.

3) How often do you show your work in a given year? Where at?

I show my work year round at the Girdwood Center for the Visual Arts G.C.V.A., Palmer Museum once this year, Bagels Alaska in Wasilla, 3 times, The Anchorage Museum of History and Art at the Art Potpourri in the summer and in the gift shop. The Alaska State Fair, the Girdwood Forest Fair, every summer. Killer Designs annual Barbie Show.

4) How many pieces, on average, do you sell a year? Are most of your customers in Alaska? Do you sell any work online? If so, what websites?

On the average I sell about 35 – 50 pieces of art yearly. It seems that half of my customers are from Alaska the rest are tourists and visitors. I sell on e-bay all over the lower 48 states; I have also sold art to people in England, Denmark and Canada. My web site is www.cabinfeverinalaska my e-bay store is Cabin Fever In Alaska.

5) Is it harder to market your artwork in Alaska than if you lived in the Lower 48? Why?

I did not become a professional artist until I moved to Alaska so I have no basis for comparison. My Ravens, Salmon, Loons, Wolves, Birch Trees all sell really well here to locals and tourists. Many times people have bought something and said it will always remind them of their trip to Alaska. On the other hand my assemblages, collages, angels and dark art sell better on-line.

6) Are the summers/tourist seasons used to market your work and the winters used to create? What kind of system do you have to get your art seen the most?

Yes it works out that way Alaska’s winters are the best time to create and in the summer everything happens things get busy.
I took two online course from Alyson Stanfield Art Biz Coach www.artbizcoach.com Setting Up Your Art Business and Shameless Self Promotion. I use that information for getting my art seen and I use it for motivation.

7) Do you have a second profession to counteract slow periods or do you rely solely on your artwork to survive financially? If so, where and what do you do at your second profession?

I wish I didn’t, believe me, but until my art becomes self supporting I must supplement my income. I get very creative I substitute teach, teach art, sell second hand stuff and currently work as a nurses assistant for Hospice.


8) What do you think about the art scene in Alaska? What do you like and dislike? Are First Fridays important to you? Have you participated in any recently, where at?

There is always something artsy fartsy happening plays, lectures, poetry slams, concerts, jazz you name it. I love the art scene in Alaska it’s just a part of our nature that we need to feed. I go to First Friday about 6 times a year. I love to see what others are doing and say HI and talk about art. I had a show at INDIGO and A Novel View for First Friday.

9) From what I have gathered, Alaska is a very creative art community across the entire state. Do you feel the same? Why or why not? Has living in Alaska helped or hurt your career, artwork, creativity?

Yes that seems to be true; Alaska inspires artists all over the state it’s just so awesomely beautiful and wild. I didn’t have an art career until I moved to Alaska, and I have never in my life been so creative is it my age? Or Alaska?

10) How long have you lived in Alaska? Why have you chosen to stay? Would living in a bigger city be better for your art career? Or does being in such a creative community counteract that?

I came to Alaska because I watched too much Northern Exposure now I have lived here almost 11 years (a record for me). I stay because I have found my bliss; I have a family, dogs, warm home on a pristine lake and all the love and support that a person could want.
One of my favorite fantasies is living in a big city New York, Vancouver or Paris and having a huge studio/loft. I’d have patrons in and out spending millions of dollars. Answer, no, I don’t feel living in a big city would be better for my art career.
So Yes a creative community and the friends and connections I have made through art counteract the relative isolation and loneliness that comes with the territory of being an artist epically in Alaska.

Thanks again for helping me out! Your answers will be such a great tool for my article! Also, feel free to add anything else concerning how the art scene in Alaska has influenced your career. Thanks – Natalie Shelton

Today I Found a Fork in the Road

Hummm there was this flat fork in the road. I noticed it laying there and I picked it up. What could it mean, what could it mean? I think I'll use it in an encaustic wax painting titled The Fork in the Road what else.

Sunday October 8th 8:00 a.m.

Saturday Morning at 8:00 a.m. getting off my graveyard vigil.
A Murder of Ravens" 48"X60" by Judy Vars

Why I Love Ravens or Ode To The Raven

These magnificent ebony birds of your who have been known to croak nevermore. Mr Edgar Allen Poe wrote the famous poem "The Raven" (I paraphrase)
This lonely sad guy was sitting up late pineing for his lost Lenore when the Raven comes rapping, tap, tapping at his chamber door. He opens the door and the Raven dances in and sits on his bust of the Greek God Phallas (the Greek God of wisdom). He askes the Raven did you bring me a message from Lenore and the Raven quoth nevermore. He askes are you a prophet or devil? The Raven just quoths nevermore. Well this just totally freaked the guy out. Ravens like doing things like that.

Some old legends say the Raven created the world. The Hiatta natives have a legend that goes like this: In my words -
Raven was like this high strung ADHD kid always getting into mischief. The Raven got the idea that he would like to create a world. So with his bird feet he tried to make a ball out of mud and other stuff, it kept coming apart. Finally it sort of stayed together and Raven said AW to hell with it and that's the way it stayed. Later the Raven decided to steal tlhe light away from the sky people for his world. So he flew to the sky temple and spied on the sky chiefs daughter while she was bathing. The clever Raven turned himself into a tiny seed and dropped into her drinking water. She grew a big belly and 9 months later gave birth to a peculiar looking child. Nonetheless grandpa the Sky Chief loved and spoiled his grandson he gave into his every whim. One day the child threw a real doozy of a fit nothing grandpa gave him would shut him up. He only wanted to play with the magnificent box where the light was kept. Grandpa finally gave in and gave him the box to play with but as soon as the child had the light he turned back into a Raven and flew away with the ball of light laughing and cawing. The Sky Chief was yelling hey you shitting bird bring back our light! Raven sat the light in the sky and said "Hey this makes the world look pretty good".

I was mounting my new metal raven art I bought from

Cindy Shake Design Girdwood Alaska

on my sign post for decoration when I felt this fearful feeling on the back of my neck. Then I noticed several Ravens circling me I really don't think they liked the fake Raven.
Another time I watched a couple of Ravens playing on the wind, they flew straight up and then just fell then went into a barrel roll having a real blast. I shouted "hey crazy Ravens don't you know its freezing out here?". They don't seem to care Ravens and people like me stay and brave the long dark, cold Alaska winters. Thank you Raven for helping me keep my winter vigil and my sanity.

I like these great black lordy birds strutting about with some strange comical dignity. Once I was at McDonalds parking lot trying to get good picture. Every time I point my camera they scatter and fly away. So I offered some fries and they haughtily refused. They seemed to say we don't accept human charity we'd rather find it or steal it ourselves. You gotta respect that.

Last spring I saw a whole murder of Ravens at least 100 gathered together talking up a storm and I knew they were preparing to leave for the summer going to higher ground and even more wild places. But I expect their return any day now its always good to see them again.

I'm staying up all night and reading..........

Out of curosity I read the latest work of Anne Rice, Christ the Lord Out of Egypt. First I must confess I loved it the cover was a Fayum portrait. I heard of Anne Rices conversion from Catholicism to agnostic back again to being a Catholic. I found her conversion fascinating since her other books the vampire chronicles scared the hell out of me literally. As usual for Anne Rice her book is historically flawlwss, We are taken to Christs young life with his Mother Mary, Joseph and a pack of other realitives just a big extended Jewish family working trades men and carpenters. Jesus is a young boy 6 to 8 years old and he is both Man and God and understandably a little confused at what mom and dad are not telling him. Read the book if you like Anne Rice and love Jesus. It's a fiction but she brillantly fills in the holes and gives you another perspective of Christ.
Check it out this site is her official web site and you get to here Avi Maira opera singer.
www.annerice.com

The Artrain arrives in Palmer, Alaska

The Artrain arrived yesterday in Palmer, Alaska. I went to the opening reception it was a lovely affair with baroque music, good food and champagne, artists and art lovers all schmoozing together a very classy affair. I loved the native art one of my favorites was the Virgin of Guadalupe it was an icon, guilded with gold leaf and had tiny lights around the frame. All the things that I love. Sorry no pictures allowed and they don't want the images downloaded. Here is the link to Artrain http://www.artran.org
I met a fellow artist that I had talked to at the Forest Fair "Raven" is her name and here is her site http://www.ravenscreations.net. I think that I will give her a call and strike up a freindship she seems so nice, she is a graphic artist, writes childrens books and goes to the schools to read for the kids and she loves ravens just like me.

The Seasons Turn, Turn, Turn

Yesterday was the equinox the official end of summer but we 've been watching the season turn for weeks the autumn is short but beautiful. My sweet husband woke me up at 5:30 pm to see the baby swans. He calls to them in just like Dr. Doolittle they come for the special kale treat yummy. In one short summer season the parents mated, swans hatched and mom and dad raised 4 gorgeous children now their big family is getting ready to fly South. Here they are. The kids are almost as big as mom and dad only a beautiful gray color and the beaks aren't totally black. MoM is in the middle on the first pic.

Here is some interesting fungus also..........

"She who must be obeyed"

While I am working the graveyard shift I'm reading an old classic "SHE" Do you know what it means to be hot potted? Or to be so beautiful that men go temproarly blind when they see you?
SHE is an old victorian novel written by Rider Haggard.
Anyway I have been staying up all night Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights caring for a dying man. So I sit up snack, read, sketch and the hours slip past. Its funny how the time is different when most people are sleeping. The work is very challengeing and I'm sure good for my soul. My body clock is all confused.... Today I slept from 10:00 am to 5:00pm I all f#%&*d up..............
I was excited to go and see the Artrain a Collection of Contemporary Native Art coming to Palmer, Ak. I have an invitation to the opening reception so I got ready and went, but when I arrived there were no cars! only to find out that its on the 27th not the 21st????
Have any of you done that? Would you admit it if you did?

Connecting With My Dreams

Well ..Lately I have had some frustration and criticisms with what I call my "eclectic Style."
The Rasmuson Foundation who has been giving grants to artists all over Alaska said this:
"Her style is eclectic! Her work samples demonstrate that she is experminting with encaustic wax, but her work is all over the place in terms of style. Blah, blah, blah, yatta, yatta, yatta.
In my defense I am primarily a self taught artist so I take my inspiration from all types of art and also it is part of my learning process.
The frustrating part is I got an application and prospectus for solo exhibition at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art for years 2007-2010. I missed the deadline (August 18th) because I just could not come up with an idea or theme or a cohesive body of work to show the judges.

There is an Idea simmering just below the surface of connecting with my dreams to create my my artistic expression. But how to connect with the concept of dreaming and a visual representation? The encaustic wax medium and collage will be perfect for dream imagery. Something I have always wanted to do is to keep dream log and religously record my dreams. After all we spend at least 1/3 of our lives dreaming..........like my childhood dream of my family just floating away in the sky unaware of me crying below...... or the dream of the levis attacking with butcher knives..... or the Martians taking Mars candy bars out of my dads head or the dreams of flying....or being lost in a maze...or being naked at school...
Bye for now - I'm going to bed with a new purpose "dreaming with intention" with the benefit of giving me an insight into who I am and my artistic style of expression.

This is my latest wax creation a triptich I shall call "Praying for Inspiration."

The Alaska State Fair and Me

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I stood on my feet for 8, 10, and 12 hours demonstrating encaustic wax, and I loved it. I am furthering the "cult of wax" in my own way and educating hundreds of folks about the encaustic wax phenomenon. Carmen Sommerfield was the coordinator of the Palmer Arts Council show at the Craftsman home. She has so much energy and passion for art its so great to know her. She is one of those people that seem to be everywhere at once (scary). It was lovely we had art demonstrations, all types of original art, live music; harp, bluegrass by Deb Wessler what a talented and entertaining lady.

In the oil painting division of the Alaska State Fair the beautiful sepia portrait of the girl I painted did not get anything not honorable mention, 3rd, 2nd, or 1st? Whats up? I got skunked! I thought it was lovely. I should have given them my naked angel and not tried to second guess what they preferred to see but I was concerned about the little children and the family sensitivity to nude or salacious subject matter. Should have listened to my heart and not my head. Here is what it looked like among all the other ribbons. Now I ask you..........



I am going to lay down I have another one of my migraines, or is it just an excuse to check out?
I don't think so they come at the most inconvienent times.

Encaustic Workshop in Girdwood

This last weekend I attended an other encaustic workshop in Girdwood, Ak. It was taught by Danielle B. Correia from R&F Paints check it out for some varied encaustic art and workshop info. The class was small so we had a good time swapping each others photo copies, equipment and ideas
There was Sylvia Benson from Mantomedi, Minnesota, she made one fantastic piece after another, I was jealous of her talent and how fast she could make art. Sheary Clough Suiter from Anchorage, AK she has an upcoming show the First Friday in September check out her images incredible!
Phillis Lasche from Livermore, CA (my old stomping grounds) she was California Cool, Linda C. Vollertsen from Anchorage runs a coffee shop "Organic Oasis" and makes the most beautiful jewelry, busy lady and tons of energy good artist.



Kenneth Hatch and Jennifer Esterl who is the acting president of G.C.V.A. since Jewels Wolfe resigned after two years of dedicated service. Dot Tideman was my working partner what a nut! I won't repeat the funny story about how she flushed her cell phone down Mary's toilet or helped me start my art on fire. We all thought it was quite haralious!
I'll post some photos soon. My big computer crashed and my little lap top just can't handle the job.

Rain, rain go away come again some other day.

This is the latest and improved RAVEN AND SALMON it's at the Alaska State Fair.

It rained everyday for over two weeks and when it hailed the lake looked like it was boiling.
The Little Sue River over ran its banks and took some homes and cabins with it, there is some flooding people are reporting salmon swimming in their yard. Everything is so soggy, my son played football in the torrential rains regardless. He is so athletic and I'm so proud.
My birthday was on August 20th, school started August 22, my beautiful granddaughter Rhaya's birthday is today August 23rd, Rhayas mom my beautiful daughter Charmaine is being transferred to London, England, so there is a trip to England in my future.

I have been working a graveyard shift 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. I stay up all night and sleep half the day (I love it) nighttime is when I feel most creative, so not much time or energy to blog.

On the artistic front my encaustic wax class is starting Friday in Girdwood and next week is the State Fair where I will be demonstrating. I've got to get my supplies and ideas organized and together. Five of my pieces are already at the Fair. I hope I get a blue ribbon. Here are a couple of salmon from the Salmon on Parade which I will be sharing space with during my demonstration.

Nuts and Bolts Salmon

Sweater Salmon

The days are getting shorter and I've started taking my Prozac to keep Cabin Fever at bay.
Ok maybe that's a little too personal but as far as I can tell my blog is quite anonymous. It's a good exercise in journaling none the less.

Life Keeps ON Life-ing

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Rational Artist Bryan Larsen

My visiting teacher Ginger P. told me the other day about an artist that her married kids know Bryan Larsen someone from my hometown Salt Lake City he is a well known painter. So I googled (ohh that tickles) him. I simply love the hyper realism and the excellent craftmanship of his work. His site is filled with valuable information so I've decided to add him to my blog and check in with him often, his blog fills a need to take a sentemintal journey home occasionally and remember why I ran away.

When it's time to stop !

Well here I was working on my latest Raven and Salmon painted with encaustic wax.
This painting has always been my bread and butter so I've done it before but always in oil paints using the indirect method on the salmon and acrylic gel medium on the raven.

I was not satisfied with the top part so I gave the raven more dimension and texture, carved the swirls, added gold leaf it was going well the art looked much more refined and finished and I'm feeling satisfied with the work.

Its getting late after midnight and I get the bright idea to melt some pharmaceutical grade bees wax about 1 pound and I add some damar resin for hardness and heat it up to abouut 280 degrees. Then I made a trough out of duct tape around the salmon and when the wax was hot enough I just poured it all over my hours and hours of work. WoW. The idea was the wax will dry clear and it would be as if you are looking through the water at a salmon swimming by giving it a more aquatic effect. Oh my God! what a mistake its all white and dosen't look like it's going to dry clear, so I go to bed fretting about the mess I made out of my work.Yes when I get up it was covered in white wax and not transparent like I'd planned. No it was all murky and cloudy. Now I've been scrapping with a razor tool for hours trying to reveal the salmon and the beautiul water effects I had created. Before the salmon had some wonderful interesting texture now its smooth as glass.

What a bother, the problem is I was attempting to create a masterpiece to enter in the Anchorage Museum annual show ......

EARTH FIRE AND FIBER XXVI

Anchorage Museum

This is what it looks like after hours of scrapping somewhat of a watery effect but not all that cool either. The feelings that I want to portray with the Raven and Salmon is as above so below, yin and yang, conscious,subconscious, chaos and calm the dualisizm in nature those kind of thoughts.

I am in the process of making a nice box frame out of oak.

The deadline for the entry's are August 31st they will first judge the digital entries so I must finish in time and then take a professional photograph for the judging. My camera is getting old and needs duct tape, I will need a better camera. An overcast day etc. These photographs are too dark and do not show the depth and texture of this encaustic wax painting. I will post my best pictures as soon as I take them. I've got alot of work to do on Raven and Salmon before it's ready to enter in the exhibition. There is not a catergory for encaustic wax but I'm hoping they will overlook that since encaustic embodies the theme. Earth fire and Fibre

The catergories are:

• Bone/Ivory Fibre.
• Glass
• Stone
• Metal
• Skin/Gut
• Wood
• Metal
• Plasitc

Is being a recluse a bad thing?

I have the swans, dogs, muskrats, loons, squirrels, ducks, eagles even bats to keep me company.

Its a rainey day in Alaska the temperature is 56 degrees. I need to do some errands but am feeling ambivalent about leaving the house again. That is why I didn't leave yesterday because I felt so undecided, maybe I am becoming a hermit or a recluse ( a person who lives a secluded solitary life apart from the world, seclusion from society). Sometimes I get so unwilling to go out in public, grocery stores are the worst for me I have actually waited until late at night to go shopping to avoid the people. The truth is I moved to Alaska because of my desire for solitude and just to get in touch with myself. I don't feel that I am socially retarded or anything I have run a gas station, sold cars and talked to thousands of people so I just don't get it. Why this desire to be alone (I've got my dogs and husband who is a workaholic and my son who is living his own life) so not totally alone all the time but lately I really prefer it.

So right now I'll roll up in my blanket get a book relax for a few hours. Maby I have social anxiety disorder SAD has the same letters as seasonal affect disorder SAD. Well I'm not SAD, I'm MAD! that everything gets a label and a pill to make it all better, maby it's just life, maby it's just the way things are today. Its just a feeling and this too will pass so I will hang with myself just a little longer and perhaps more will be revealed .

Today, I'll enjoy an argument with myself. I'll write it without one eye on the outside world. I'll see what I discover.

The Yin and Yang of Housecleaning

Yesterday, I started a cleaning frenzy which usually means sorting and shoving and stowing away. The day before I visited my packrat friend Cheryl"s yard sale she has several sheds just to store the overflow of her collecting next to her and my sister Patty, my packratism is tame.
This is my friends shed NOT MY LIVING ROOM honest
I collected some booty of my own from her yard sale including a neet little Feng Shui kit. My husband is having a golf tournament on Saturday and is having some of his freinds over later so I must make a good impression .... well my shabby chic decoratiang makes me very happy and I know that I should'nt care what others think but I do! I will indroduce a little Feng Shui - ie balance into our lives. Opps this corner is a little too YIN dead things and such

I need to create a little more YANG energy perhaps a vase of freshly cut wild flowers.

OH NO! my bookcase is bad feng shui they act like blades cutting at residents YIKES! the solution to hang a wind chime to soften the shar chi emimating from the shelves (but that would look stupid).

I put a big mirror toward the window and the lake. I don't know if its good or bad but it opens the room and makes seem even bigger. It should draw in prosperity and good luck Now I've avoided housework long enough so I will open the doors and windows, vacumme the corners, find the cobwebs sweep the air, get a bucket of warm sudsy water and begin scrubbing everything down. Then when everything is clean I will start collecting and getting canvasas made for my encaustic workshop a little birthday present to myself. Oh the satisfaction of a clean orderly home at least for a little while.

Pioneer Peak In Late July

This is only the second painting I've done Plenn Air and I don't usually paint landscapes or paint outside. Being a self taught artist, I told myself its a good idea to try everything so my skills as an artist can increase. I'm taking it to a show at the Bagel Deli that is featuring plenn air and florals. This is also my first frame, it's just a simple box frame but does wonders for the painting.

My Sanctuary

It's an incredible day in South Central Alaska today sunny, warm and I'm going to yard sale it as soon as the clothes dry. But first here are some pictures of my sanctuary by the lake, as you can see I'm really not much of a gardner and tend to just let things grow wild. This is were I sit and meditate and occasionally read.


The swans are back visiting can you see then through the trees?

Dog Days in Houston, Alaska

It’s just another beautiful day in paradise.

But yesterday my daughters dog Mila got attacked by two dogs from one street over. Nikki is in the kitchen getting her kids some breakfast when she hears a blood curdling yelp, she looks out and sees two dogs sniffing around looking nonchalant like nothing has happened, when she opened the front door her dog just fell into the house mortally wounded.
They took her to the vet for stitches but it was much worse than that they had thought the dogs had ripped into her gut she needed an operation to stitch everything up, she stayed overnight. We are going to pick her up in a few minutes.

There is an upside to this story Nick (my son-in-law) and Brother Mike went over to talk to the owner of these dogs and he was a stand up guy and gave them a check for $300.00 to help with the vet bills. Mila is 11 years old and still thinks she is tough but she will definitely be laid up for awhile.



Here is her belly she is doing pretty good considering some dogs tried to gut her just like an antelope. The Vet said that that is the way most injuries look when two or more dogs attack they go for the belly. Other peoples Dogs, what a pain in the ass and it begs the question what would happen if the got it into their doggy brains to attack a child. Cancel, cancel, cancel. Thats what I say whenever I want to retract anything that the universe might overhear. Oh, and that guys check is not good.

A Lost Weekend

Saturday morning I had a nice day planned with my sweetee we were getting up early and leaving by 5:00am to stand in line and audition for Howie Mandells "Deal or no Deal" but I woke up with one of my migrane headaches, he went by himself.:( They set up 6 cameras and asked him to say his name, what he does for a living and what he would do with the million dollars! he said I would give it all away to chairty WHAT!. He must have been under pressure - he meant to say give half of it to charity. After we planned to go to the annual Dog Jog in Anchorage and show off our chocolate lab Benson. But saddly Benson broke his tail the day before (I don't know how) so his tail was hanging limply down. We both stayed home licking our wounds.

The next day Sunday hubbie went off early to play golf and did not get home until 5:00 pm! I was really a golf widow. Finally I heated up my waxes and started my encaustic "Raven and Salmon" and spent hours lost in creating. So it turned out, I just didn't plan to be a reculse this weekend.

I've got lots of good things planned for August. I will show my art at the Bagel Deli, take the advanced Encaustic Wax course in Girdwood, demonstrate encaustic wax at the Alaska State Fair, and my best friend Michelle is coming for a visit.

The Fine Art of Buying Art

I just read an article in the Sunday Anchorage Daily News The Fine Art of Buying Art. The article contained some good informations and some quoteable quotes from some local artists, art connisoures and critics alike.

The poor buy clothes that wear out or art that lasts forever. -critic Neal Patterson"

"I think we all want to collect and possess beauty. Human beings long to create a nest that says, "This is who I am." -Cammie Walker

"One should consider buying a piece of art only, When you cannn't get it out of your head." - Wyne

Only original works can give us the things we come to art for in the first place a glimpse "into the work itself,into the mind and perspective of the artist, into the soul of the viewer, into the world or a combination of all."_Wyne

A piece has to have the power to move, to disturb, to make you get up and do something -Bruce Farnsworth

"As one collects art, one embraces charisma of the unique." "The art you should collect has an energy, a search for meaning that transfers from the image, like a code or sheet music, through form and mark, to the viewer or collector-Asia Freeman, artist and director of Homers Bunnell Street Galley.

Now for my own quote: "I love exploring the great mystery,landscapes, dream imagery, icons, poetry, angels, whatever captures my curiosity.
I create for the joy it brings others and myself."

"My art is my dreams, my imagination, my skew on the world.
It's my attempt to communicate with you. I hope my art brings you joy." Judy Vars

What Kind of Mind are You?

Help I can't get off my arse get busy and paint. Yesterday I went to the Bear Paw Festival in Eagle River and forgot my camera.

I do a lot of forgetting. I bought myself a new pen and a new sketch pad to take notes, it usually starts out Things I Gotta Do, Things I Must Remember, shopping lists, journals, good ideas etc. My lists, notes, and journals are all over the house so where are the lists? Where did I write it? Where are all the phone numbers?,! business cards?,! and e-mails?,! and articles on how to get organized??! Yes I've read all about how to simplify your life cleaned out my closet and thrown away tons of stuff. Still sadly I battle with the family malady packratism. Where most people see junk I see JUNQUE all things could be potentially useful. The heart shaped rock, rusted piece of barbed wire, lens from grandpas bifocals, interesting broken parts from I can't tell where, well you get the idea.

But,I get to feel good about myself because I am a recycler and I can make my statement about saving the planet. You other wasters (you know who you are) should learn a lesson from me. Hey I just found my moral high ground. This blog can be very therapeutic.

Are there any creative geniuses out there that are just way too right brained to be able to organize anything?

Oh by the way while we're on the subject of recycling, it's time to start watching the progress of the Burning Man Festival. in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

The Art Theme for Burning Man 2006 will be "Hope and Fear: The Future", wherein we explore how we create futurity, manifested as an expression of the promise of our hopes, and the contractions of our fears.

Your Brain's Pattern

You have a dreamy mind, full of fancy and fantasy. You have the ability to stay forever entertained with your thoughts. People may say you're hard to read, but that's because you're so internally focused. But when you do share what you're thinking, people are impressed with your imagination.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

The Girdwood Forest Fair

I've just spent all weekend at the Forest Fair hanging out with the artist croud enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the 31st annual Girdwood Forest Fair. The weather was perfect the cottonwood trees were dropping their cottonwood so it looked like snow in July a fairy land effect.
Here are just a few pictures I took.
This is Jewels Wolfe the acting president of Girdwood Center for the Visual Arts and Eric Teeland bantering.
The belly dancers are always a big hit
Laura and Jeannie the two best glass artists I know
Here are a few of my favorite artists there those people who are not afraid to be different of corurse not every good artist has a website. Lance Lekander This guys got a real sense of humor. This guy is a real "raw artist" he just goes for it and paints on anything and everything good stuff! Allan R. Gough. Of course we all love Eric David Behnke a wonderful young man now who has down syndrom and has been creating his inspired works of art since he was a little boy Brown Bear Products do yourself a favor get inspired, vist his site and find out about him. Oh I love this girl shes just so cool
DANDY GELATINE ART

My Family Pedigree or My Blood is Blue

Last night my son and me went on a journey through our family history, it started with the question what am I? (meaning what blood runs through my veins) http://http://www.familysearch.org/it was a fascinating trip back through time. For example on my mothers side of the family there is great,great,great,great,grandpa William Griffith Born: abt 1445 of Pehryhn Castle, Caernavonshire, Wales Died: 1505-1506 This is Penryhn Castle

or John Phylips (Sir Knight) Born: 1502 of Picton Castle, Pembroke, Whales.

we have two family castles in Wales. I searched back as far as 0314 A.D. a person named TEGID in North Wales. Perhaps the most beautiful natural lake in Wales was named after him. http://www.fishing.visitwales.com/fe/default.asp?n1=135&n2=140&n3=155
I found out my name Judith Abagail is the name of my great, great grandmother and the name Judith was passed through the generations all the way to 1402 Middlesex, England. We learned that our ancestors have been in America since 1600s WOW. I learned that they were a part of early Mormon history. Living in Nauvoo, Illinois and they were stranded in Winter Quarters on their trip west to SLC. Imaging who your dead relations are and how they lived is so satisfying. I think my relatives were celts and druids and later Christians. We determined that at least on my mother’s side of the family we are English, Scottish, Welch, Prussian and German. As my grandmother told me when I was a little girl "Judy, you are the dukes blend" took on a whole new meaning. Help I'm lost in family history and can't get out.

Happy 4th of July !!!

We're goin to a 4th of July picnic how traditional.
GOD BLESS AMERICA and the whole wide world today and always.
Update I went golfing with the guys for the first time. I shot pretty good game. What they didn't know is I practiced hitting golf balls years ago and still remember how. They play golf all summer every summer and I came along and held my own, hee,hee,hee I love it.

Brian, Frank and Marcy

Les and Henry

Peter and Sheryl