Night Dreams an Alaskan painting with a nude girl

It's been awhile since I've blogged and I'm feeling guilty. Guilt sucks. I cannot dissapoint my many, many readers. I linked my blog to
Stat Counter .
I get an average of 10 people a day (with those numbers I remain mostly anynmous). Still I feel a cyber-kinship with the connections that I've make in this bloggershpere. The things people search for are fascinating, like Diary of a Bad Housewife this was one of my funnier blogs or a favorite “nude Alaska women" so not to disappoint my many blog voyeurs here is a picture of a nude girl painted in Alaska:



TITLE: Night Dreams
Artist: Judy Vars
MEDIUM: Oil
DIMENSIONS: H 20" X W. 20" X Deep 2"
SOLD
Or for you more purient interest a closer view of the girl.








People Google for remote cabin in Alaska, or Cabin Fever, or Alaska Encaustic Artists, or Witches Flying Ointment recipies, Eskimo Legends, the names of anyone that I've ever mentioned (nice or nasty). HEY! I love a good rumor as well as the next person and I love observing human nature.

If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me. ~Alice Roosevelt Longworth

Jacksons Gingerbread House

Jackson won Third Place in his age category (7 and under) at the Dorthy Page Museums Christmas Gingerbread contest. The first place was a turtle very cool except that I took excepetion, the prospectus said it needed to be a structure. Somethings smelley in Demnark or is it just rotten eggs? We had so much fun making it together he is so good with his hands and has a marvelous mechanical mind.
Tis the season
Grandma

Contemporary Alaskan Art "Raven and Salmon"

Title: Raven and Salmon
Artist: Judy Vars
Medium: Encaustic Wax
Dimensions: L 30.5 x W 16
Date of Creation: 3/2007

I'm submiting this to the local Palmer Museum Art Accusition grant from the Rasumson Foundation they want current contemporary art. The definition according to Google an interesting thread is thread is;
Contenmporary means current, as in up to date with the times. Not meaning made today, but utilizing current/new/advanced ideas. Not only ideas pertaining to art itself: specific mediums or techiniques (although those certainly apply), but the poitical, social, philisophical, world at large, climate.

This is what the Rasmuson Foundation find "contemporary" look at the art on display on their home page, the selections are very, very, very very good.

I think mine is very good also and worthy of consideration.

Since Thanksgiving I have been on the run I worked two long days at the Girdwood Center for the visual arts they had their annual fund raiser silent art auction. The turn out was poor not as planned but the Girdwoodites always come out for support regardless on weather conditions. The rain all weekend was like a monsoon just unbelievable. Alyeska's ski slopes did not open for their first big snow weekend the rain melted the snow, there were avalanches, and even the back of the gallery flooded. The Anchorage Folks just didn't take the drive. Who can blame them? You'd have to be nuts to go out on the Turnigan Arm in such weather conditions (don't believe me read http://fiveacrehouse.blogspot.com/

My "Salmon in the Shadows" went for just 85.00 to a couple visiting from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, they even bid on the telephone before the bidding closed. Connie sounded so happy to get it and told me they loved it! That made it worthwhile for me. OMG I' forgot to pick up my son from basket ball! SHIT I'M OUTTA HERE.........

Cabin Fever in the Bear Cave

It's winter time in Alaska sort of, only today the Chinook winds have been blowing melting all the snow the high temperature is in the 40s. I moved here from SLC in 1995. Never before had I experienced air so cold that my nose hairs froze burrrrr. Not that I'm complaining but in the past few years our winter temps seem to be warmer than some places in the lower 48 (that's what we call the states below). And with Sunrise: 9:21am and Sunset: 4:09pm it was dark when I went to work and dark when I came home. I rush around doing shopping and chores while there is daylight. I have 100 things to d0 so instead I put on my pJs and took a nap it's so dark and damp. Pushing Daises is on TV and Perfect Strangers is in the DVD player. Tomorrow and the day after is soon enough. Like a bear it's a good time to hibernate tomorrow is the great American turkey day when we will all be drugged with triytophane. I'm feeling lazy today and tomorrow I'll be feeling crazy with a house full of family and friends. Yes, I'm grateful to be here it's just cabin fever and bears get a little grumpy if the can't sleep all day and night.

The message of Christmas is that the visible material world is bound to the invisible spiritual world. ~Author Unknown

St Nicholas

9 1/2 x 6 1/2

Mary

9 1/2 x 6 1/2

Crying Angel

6 1/2 x 5 1/4

Gabriel

6 1/2 x 5 1/4

These cards are almost ready for Girdwood Center for the Visual Arts, I will be staying in Girdwood this weekend and helping with their fundraiser and working the gallery.

I will be selling these for 5.00 each or a pack of 4 for 20.00. If you are interested in purchasing these cards please contact me through my e-mail on this blog and I'll get them to you.

I plan to put them for sale on e-bay also.

WIRE HANGARS, I HATE WIRE HANGARS

I'm a being of the Violet Fire, I'm the purity God Desires

Ok, sooo yea today I was at an Alaninnie meeting and I asked a lady who's bi-polar if she still had the shrine "Violet Fire" that she bought from me at one of my art shows. She said "I'm embarrassed to say that I broke it in a rage". What! I can't believe my ears she broke one of my babies.

I told her my little trick to control my tantrums. I break Christmas tree bulbs. This is what I do: I'll get a box of ornaments and take them out to the garage or somewhere with a concrete floor and throw them at the ground. They make a very satisfying pop and shatter sound. Whenever I am in the Salvation Army I'll get a box for cheap. It better than throwing a glass or a plate onto my tile kitchen floor, scaring the husband, kids and grand kids and someone cutting their feet on the glass or picking it out of their food.

I am embarrassed to say I used to have an evil temper sometimes acting like Joan Crawford in Mommie Darest screaming WIRE HANGARS, I HATE WIRE HANGARS. Once my daughter got me a Mothers Day card it was a picture of a girl sitting in a chair with a gag in her mouth and a birthday cake on the table. A mother resembling Joan Crawford is saying "now darling blow out the candles." How subtle is that.

In my defence I come by my temper righteously my mom could out swear any sailor she was famous far and wide for her foul mouth, like: "he's ringier than a sack of assholes" or "I'll shove that fridge up your ass sideways" or "You are so stupid you couldn't tell shit from Shinola or you dumb stupid bastard." No one was just a son of a bitch, they were more: a stupid son of a bitch, a dumb son of a bitch, a fat son of a bitch, a lazy son of a bitch. The neighbor kids were so scared of my mom they would cross to the other side of the street rather than risk being yelled at. You have no idea the embarrassment and shame she caused me growing up. Once she thought my tom cat Sam was coming home from a night cattin around and she yelled, "where have you been you little ass hole? Out all night whoring around, I'll bet you want some breakfast don't you, you little bastard" it was some young innocent man just coming to read the gas meter. He looked so frightened it was quite comical. My friends and boyfriends were either scared to death of her or thought she was halarious.

But please don't worry about me I'm much better now. My mom taught me that the folks who shout the loudest are the ones who are the softest inside or their there just plain assholes.

If I Were an Angel I Could Fly

Life was getting overwhelming and I needed to give myself a mini vacation. I wanted to be alone in the desert. I come from Utah and wanted to go home. Moab, UT was crowded with bikers for some marathon race. I tried to get a room but they were all booked, one guy said he could get me a cot and I could sleep in the laundry room, No Thank You! I was resigned to stay in my SUV then I decided to try one more place. There was no room there either, so the clerk called a bed and breakfast for me. Moments later an angel disguised as an older woman bid me to follow her white Cadillac. Her home was a big cozy home packed with nick knacks and photographs, loving mementos from a lifetime with family and friends.
My bedroom was a haven of pink, pink carpet, pink bedspread, pink pillows, It felt like a cloud, the bathroom was even pinker! I couldn't resist a soak in the tub with pink Dove Soap. I drifted on my pink cloud into a heavenly sleep. In the morning Mrs "Angel" and I talked awhile, I told her some of my woes, she suggested I bend my knees, and we said farewell.

I wanted to get an early start the frost was still on the grass making my steps crunch; first stop the Delicate Arch. On the way up the trail I began talkin to God, asking to be a better woman, a more loving mom and wife, I asked him take some of my bad habits and give me some graces.
I thought to myself that when I reached the Delicate Arch I would pass through as a symbolic gesture of changing my life.

When to what to my wondering eyes should appear the gigantic monolith in the shape of an arch. I approached this massive structure it perched majestically on the edge of a canyon so deep it looked like the abyss. It occurred to me if I was an angel I could fly through that arch. Instead I fell onto my belly and crawled on my elbows and peered over the edge scared to death.

Thank you creator for showing me your wonders and teaching me some humility.
Amen and Amen
Judy

The Fine Art of Photographing Your Artwork

I just got home from a meeting of the Valley Fine Arts Association, I went because there was a demonstration on how to take good pictures of your artwork. What I found out was that my camera Olympus 7.1 Mega pixels is not a wonderful camera. I cannot manually adjust the aperture, I cannot add big lenses, I cannot take a picture in a raw format. My camera makes all these decisions for me. If I want to take a photograph at night I just dial it to scene and select night time scene and the camera does all the thinking for all other photos I just set it on automatic, it's is a camera for dummies and very good camera for me.

Usually I take my art outside when it's cloudy or overcast (like most days in Alaska) or early morning, hang it on the nail against my house set up the tripod, get everything as straight as I can, set the timer for 10 seconds and stand back. Then in Photo Shop I add pixels and then re size and crop the photo. I know enough photoshop to do some adjustments if needed, It works for me. But I have a major problem with photographing my encaustic art; because the depth and texture are difficult to adequately show, there is usually a shine on the photograph because of the luminosity of the medium (notice this painting). LaMar tells me there is a polarizing filter for this situation and it can be adapted to my camera.
Well that is about all I wish to learn about the subject of photographing my art. I've been doing a pretty good job in spite of my camera.

Some come to the fountain of knowledge to drink, I prefer to just sip.

St Nicholas Kicks Off the Holiday Season

It's just a start, I've been thinking about painting St Nicholas for a long time. After a trip to the Library to research the real Santa Clause, there I discover Saint Nicholas born in Turkey around 280 AD. Nicholas parents died of the plague and he inherited great wealth, so he vowed to help people in need. St Nick is a fascinating saint and is venerated still; his legend has morphed into the modern day Santa Claus. This icon is becoming a cross between the olden day saint with the big head and fastidious beard and our modern day Santa with the white beard and the twinkling eyes. He is standing in a niche surrounded with holly representing Christ’s thorny crown and the holly berries symbolizing his blood, with ivy twining around the holly representing female divinity. Christmas time and our holiday traditions are also entwined with the pagans and early Christianity the birth of Christ and the coming of winter. Our beliefs, traditions symbolic of who we are and how we define ourselves, they help us connect with our history and each other. So we have our tinsel, mistletoe, wassail, trees, exchange gifts and even if we don't know why we do these things it still makes sense somewhere in our collective psyches.

While writing this some religious fanatical Christian sect is on my television; picketing funerals, and other disasters with HATE signs saying “God Hates You” and singing “God Hates America” telling us we are sinners; we caused 911 and the detestation in New Orleans, because we are unrepentant sinners we are going to burn in Hell. Oh MY GOD! Will someone please tell me how this is different from a Muslim terrorist who blows himself up for his go at paradise with 19 virgins??? OK, the terrorists are murders, but you get my point. My God loves me in spite of my imperfections and I believe God loves the world and the people in the world. Does that make me a blasphemer? I hope.

Please dear earth family let’s enter this holiday season with love and acceptance of our brothers and sisters a prayer for peace, a generous heart and a belief that miracles are still possible this insane world.

St Nicholas loved the Beatitudes so I will read them before bed tonight and try to get those nasty hateful people out of my thoughts.
Goodnight cruel er dear world
Let it be so and amen

AWAKENING

Two boys make a discovery that unleashes evil. Once it has been awakened, it cannot be undone. The question is...Who is hunted?
A film by award winning director, Mike Barker
Starring: Max Barker (Kindergarden Rock and Monkey bar Mayhem)
Nick Barker (Then There Was Two and The Fifty Dollar Envelope)
and indroducing Jackson Cole Barker as himself.
Copyright 2004
Arctic Assins Productions

The Beast Within

"There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it."

Oscar Wilde
1854-1900

Art and the Oldest Profession

Saturday I went to the cattle call and presented my artwork to the Snow City Cafe. This is the 4th time I have gone out for coveted privilege of showing my art there. But the rejection is killing me and I am not a stranger to rejection; I know it is just a numbers game and it takes so many nos to get a yes and if one door closes another one opens. Blah, blah, blah, yatta, yatta anyway...

In a past life I was a car salesperson. I know I've heard all the derogatory things we say about car salesmen: shysters, phonies, slick, liars the third most hated profession. Real NICE people! Hey! It's a hard job; you compete with other hungry salesmen for a client, sometimes waiting for hours in the cold and rain, at other times there are so many clients that it's hard service them all at once, you prospect all the time and even make cold calls, if you're real good then you'll get repeat customers and they will refer you to friends and family. You learn the fine art of games-mans-ship. You sell the sizzle not the steak. You develop a thick skin and get a little jaded. It's allot like the oldest profession. I digress...

My artworks are like my children each one a special one-of-a-kind jewel. I pour my love energy into my artwork; they are pieces of me my dreams, my art is my joy, my pain and my point of view. I love to share it. . So I peddle it and hope people will love it enough to buy it. Somehow the rejection is not the same it's personal. I've become so thin skinned and overly sensitive.

In the car biz I was good and tenacious; If I got rejected, I would shake it off and move on.
So I guess its just the same game only the stakes are higher.
Note to self:get gallery representation.

Pics-O-The-Day Some Amazing Photographs

A Friend shared these with me her brother took them on a trip to Canada..

Mary a Byzantine Icon

Title: Mary a Byzantine Icon
MEDIUM: Oil
Size: H 30" X W 15"
Date: October 2007

The paint is still wet on thid one! "Mary a Byzantine Icon" was donated to the St Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School in Anchorage for their annual formal dinner and art auction, November 4th at the Hilton Hotel.

Please bid generously. Mary needs a good home and a beautiful frame.
Amen

I Always Fantasized About Being A Torch Singer

I want to be alone
but you're always here
even when you're away
I wake up thinking you'll be gone
but you're here to stay
just another day wanting to be alone
wating by the phone

Happy Birthday Peter!

Rhaya's Witch and a Flying Ointment Recipe

The little witch is making her annual flying ointment recipe before the other witches arrive on All Hallows Eve. All the witches from far and wide want to know what is the secret ingredient that makes Rhayas flying potent the best. It's a secret.
1
3 grams annamthol
30 grams betel
50 grams extract of opium
5 grams cinquefoil
15 grams henbane
15 grams belladonna
15 grams hemlock
250 grams Cannabis Indica
5 grams canthreindin
blend with your choice vaseline, safflower oil or butter.

Caution!!!! Don't try this recipe at home.




#1 Jong, Erica "Witches" page number 154, 1981, New York and Scarborough, Ontario

The Virgin Mary - A Byzantine Icon from the 15 Century

Mary was copied from a tiny picture of a Byzantine icon from Turkey. So far the painting has 5 coats of paint. I adore this indirect way of painting, layers of translucent paint make the painting look like a jewel and work wonderfully for icon paintings. I have some 24 carat gold leaf that I will use for the embellishments. I imagine this framed in a heavy gold baroque frame.







The milk mustache will have to go though. When she is complete I will post her again.

My public apology and explanation: I'M SORRY FOR STEPPING ON YOUR BIG FAT TOES!

A couple of weeks ago I got an e-mail from a local art group my desire to be helpful and get the word out to more artists backfired. I will change the names as I write this as it is just a tantrum and my venting about some art group drama, e-mail being miss used, egos being stepped on and things being blown way out of proportion. This is the e-mail......

Dear (artists organization) members: The Boys and Girls club of ALLISAW is making an artist call.If you would like to contribute your knowledge to a small group of enthusiastic young kids, this is your opportunity.The Boys and Girls Club is working to bring unique skills to it's kids and art is one of them. They are looking for artists in any medium, willing to donate any amount of time to broaden the horizons of their kids. You could offer a one time demonstration to teenagers, or set-up a 3 week session for elementary students, or even offer one-on-one classes in your specialty. The time, dates and age of students would be up to you.This could be good exposure for those of you who like to have students for private lessons. And for the rest of you artists this is a great way to 'spread the art' and give back to the community. Your efforts could inspire some young artist to follow their imagination.Please give this opportunity some thought and call Jeth Melley at the Boys and Girls club @ 123-4567 or e-mail him at www.skelley@bgcalaska.org for more information.PS. In exchange for volunteering, the Boys and Girls Club can offer meeting space. They often find it's large meeting space empty and would like to see it used for functions, classes, meetings, workshops, etc. Thank you for giving this consideration. (Name of Person who wrote this message, position, the web site e-mail etc)

So I called (Jeth) to discuss the possibility of giving a wax demonstration to the boys and girls and teaching a class. In the course of the conversation, he asked me if I knew other artists or venues he could use to get the word out? I said sure a Yahoo group that posts events and happenings in Alaska. I could post the message there. So unconsciously and without thinking copied and pasted the body of the message (IN RED) to the yahoo group. To be fair there is some bad blood between (artists organization) and the person who started that Yahoo group. Not my problem.

I got a call a week or so later from (insert name) apologizing to me for the strongly worded e-mail she sent to me that she should have never mailed it. (The e-mail I never recieved) We had a nice chat and everything was fine.
I sincerely said I am sorry for stepping on any toes, explained the conversation I had with Seth etc. and admitted it was inconsiderate of me to not at least call before I foreward any e-mails. Then I followed it up with an e-mail just to make sure she got my apology. Following is the e-pology.

Dear (insert name),

Whatever you said in your e-mail did not come across into my box. Strange. But if you were harsh I understand why.
Like I said I am challenged in certain areas where common sense and diplomacy should prevail.
Again; my apologies for not paying you a phone call, using your words and not saying where the info came from.
You’re doing an excellent job as president of the (ARTISTS ORGANIZATION)
I will watch your art career with interest.
I appreciate your deference towards me.

Very Sincerely
Judy Vars

Was that ass kissy and contrite enough? Then I forgot about it.
she writes back.....

Thanks Judy, I appreciate your friendship and was afraid I might have jeopardized it. I glad I could explain myself and we could work it out.
Talk to you later.
(author of the call for artists e- mail)

Now a few weeks later and over the weekend I get e-mails from a local business woman and artist, saying "I emailed Ms (author of the call for artists) and told her that her response was unprofessional and inappropriate and to please take me off of her list. She was over the top. This is silliness I just don't have interest or time for something that small minded. Who really cares? Nobody I've seen is a master artist here in the valley. Even the most popular are just that. The egos need a reality check."

Up until them I thought it was better if I didn't see the e-mail but (business lady) got me curious just what was in the e-mail and why did she see it??? I thought it was sent only to me and I somehow missed it. So I had MsBusiness Lady to foreward me a copy of the e-mail she had recieved.
The following e-mail was sent to everyone in the artists organization a large group of other people on the mailing list!

Dear Judy and whomever else sent this message:

I have a problem with this. The writing below is taken directly from an e-mail that I composed and sent to the membership of the (artists organization) a week or so ago. Yet, my name and the name of our group has been removed from the original text. This is plagiarism. The opportunity with the Boys and Girls club was offered directly to the (artists organization)by (director of Boys and Girls club) when he attended one of our meetings after contacting me. I understand that some of our members are also members of other groups, but opportunities from our (artists organization) cannot simply be copied and pasted and offered to the other art groups without the permission of the (artists organization). Neither should anyone simply omit the name of the original author and sender. This is misleading. I do not have a problem working with other art groups to support a good cause like the Boys and Girls Club, but information must be shared properly. The rights of each group, and the possible special nature of these opportunities must be respected. I would appreciate that this matter be rectified, either by an explanation being sent to the members of vfaa@yahoogroups.com or by this e-mail I have sent you being forwarded to the members of (Rival Yahoo Group) though the yahoo group site and any other place it was sent. Again, with this particular opportunity the (artists organization) does not mind, it even encourages artists from all groups to participate with the Boys and Girls Club. However, credit for where these opportunities come from must be made clear and permission should be sought before forwarding to other art groups. I hope the same is done from any other groups to us. Respectfully, (insert name of person and artists association here)

Well I'm aghast! and quite embarrassed! So before everyone throws me into stocks and pelts me with rotten tomatoes, may I publicly offer my apologies for presuming that other artists in the valley might be able to pitch in and offer their talents for young people.
MY BAD!

I learned my lesson:

• Never cut and paste someone elses words.
• I will always give the author and source their credit.
• Always have the courtesy to call someone on the telephone and ask first.

The older I get the less things like this seem to matter. I just can't please all of the people all of the time (although I try) and I can forgive myself for not being perfect and other people for there inperfectuns and sillyness also. WoW I've given this waaaaaay too much of my time.....

The Latest "Drama Queen"

Title: Drama Queen
Medium: Encaustic Wax
Size: H 16" X W 13 1/2
Artist: Judy Vars
Price: 175.00

Today I stayed home because I was a sicky, sore throat, coughing. What an opportunity to paint. I started an icon of Mary, worked on an encaustic painting of Peter, played with the Drama Queen, started to make myself an altar, rearranged my bedroom and watched "I Madman."

Storied Alaska

First Fridays art walk has come and gone. The best exhibits were "Rarefied Light" the juried photographic collection at the Gallery for Contemporary Art. This is one of my favorite images. People sure scowl when I take pictures, but I always ask permission and give credit to the artist.
For every woman whos ever loved a man.
There are sacrifices she can't understand.
Michael Conti

At the MTS Gallery "Storied Alaska" Michael Conti created photographic essay about Alaska with the stories from Jack London. Michael Walsh took a palette knife and painted note able Alaskan caricatures on found objects. This show was funded partly from an individual artist grant from the Rasmusson Foundation, which confirms my suspicions that they are biased towards Alaskan themes.




This is Don Young the sole representative from Alaska for the last 100 years or so. Currently under federal investigation for allegedly taking bribes, illegal gratuities, and unreported gifts.

This is Senator Ted Stevens also in a whole buttload of trouble with IRS and FBI. He is currently under investigation for his relationship with an executive at VECO an oil service company who pled guilty for bribing Alaska Legislators. Stevens also served as president pro tempore.

But where was the pretty Governor Sarah Palin? He could have painted her portrait on a cheer leader's outfit or a vanity mirror. Mirror ,mirror on the wall who's the cutest, smartest and the most popular one of all?

Purging, Alchemy, and Purfume

Lately I've had this idea to give away and destroy all my art. I've told others about this feeling and they have mixed reactions, like "are you nuts?" or "give it to me!" or "are you depressed or something"?
I have mixed emotions about this and don't really know where this urge to purge is coming from. I just want to give it away. There are pieces that I will leave to my children in a "ethical will" when I am dead. Perhaps my identity/ego is too wrapped up in my art. I explore dreams, emotions and questions of life and death. Then put myself and my artwork on front street for everyone to love or hate.

Like most things serendipitously I find my answers. I read an interview in the Alaska Wellness Magazine an interview with Jerry Wennstrom in 1979 he destroyed all his art and gave everything away. I looked at his pre 1979 art and some of it was disturbing and ugly (in my opinion). Then he took the leap to consciously empty himself of his identity. He went on to face his fears and seek GOD transform himself and create new phenomenal art. He speaks of surrender and tending to the requirements of the moment paying attention and working reverently.

Alchemy, the power to turn baser metals into gold and finding the universal solvent the elixir of life. Speaking about alchemy and elixirs...........
I rented "Purfume" a surrealistic film about making purfume in 1800 France. Obsession, serial murder, visually stunning, artistically challenging. all the good stuff! See it! I told my husband it was a chick flick (my kind of chick flick).

Here is to transformation....
Judy

I just Love this Boy

Porter Whitear
Senior Picture
Taken by: Paula Pettijohn
Northern Exposure Photography
Sunrise: 7:59
Sunset: 7:41

Matanuska Glacier (the way it was)

Title: Matanuska Glacier (the way it was)
Artist: Ann Wilson
Size: H 46" X W 78"
Created: 1985-1986
Carmen Summerfield and I took a beautiful fall drive up the Glenn Highway to Chickaloon to see a painting by a woman named Ann Wilson, 83 years. Ann called me out of the blue and asked for some help to help her give this work of art to the State of Alaska. A call for service! I'm on the case. I called Carmen and we went to see the painting not knowing what to expect. The painting exceeded all expectations it was grand.

Ann has been a prolific painter creating portraits, animals, horses and landscapes for friends and family. Her cozy home is remote but she is not alone her granddaughter Dorthy stays close to help her and daughter Donna lives close by.
It was fun to see her scrapbook, paint box, sketch book. I told her that the painting reminded me of the romantic style of
Sydney Lawrence and Ann told me she knew Sydney and talked to him frequently. When she would call him and ask "how his painting was going?" he said "never mind me, how is your painting going" always full of encouragement. Ann also knew Fred Machetanz another iconic Alaskan Artist.

It makes me wonder why a talented woman who painted prolifically with as much beauty and passion as these men is relatively unknown? I can't think of a woman artist that has attained the same fame in Alaska. If anyone knows of a renowned woman painter in Alaska please let me know.

I respect her desire to donate her painting in the hopes that many people will see and admire this wonderful work of art and a glimpse of the Matanuska Glacier (the way it was). The glacier was at least 200 feet thicker vertically in Ann's painting, it melts at an alarming rate and recedes every year.
This so so photograph of the glacier was taken from the turnout yesterday you can see the difference in the ice.

Sunrise: 7:49am
Sunset: 7:53pm

A Good Place To Start

Today is the Fall Equinox and a good place to start counting down to the shortest day of the year December 21st. The moon is full and the day light hours are at an even 12 hours.
To celebrate this date I baked some bread. My Grandmother Blanche taught me how. I love to make bread on a rainy day it helps me warm the house and my heart it's perfect comfort food.
There is something about the live yeast making the dough raise, the kneading and forming the loaves and the smell of baking bread that is so satisfying.

Bread represents Christs body in the sacrament, a loaf fed the crowd in the Beatitudes, the manna from heaven God gave the Israelites when they whined and complained, so many references to bread in the Bible and literature. Tomorrow I am going to share a loaf with my neighbor.

Sunrise: 7:50am
Sunset: 7:49pm 11 hours and 59 minutes of daylight
Moonrise: 7:22pm
Moonset: 7:52am
Full Moon: 10:46am

This winter will be different. I will try not to get the flu if I can help it and I have decided not to take any antidepressants this winter for SAD or Cabin Fever. Last year I went to the doc and said; I've got migraines and I'm hormonal and I get Prozak! WTF? They dispense them like candy around here. I know whats best for me and antidepressants don't do a damn thing to improve things when I'm down. So this winter I will stay positive and keep SAD (seasonal affect disorder) from laying me low. If anyone has any tricks or suggestions to keep my spirits up please let me know. I'm willing to try anything!!!

I Create A World

This is a photo of a corner of my studio messy yes but from chaos and uncertainty comes creation.

The piece in the background I painted over 15 years ago. The angel is standing on a pedestal and is carved from ivory the little carved bear on the tundra is looking up at the angel who sits in the firmament of heaven. The box frame says "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" this is my personal mission statement.

This painting was I think the seed for my Great Alaskan Adventure. While living in Salt Lake City, I became claustrophobic even though the majestic Wasatch Mountains surround the valley there was no place to in nature to be alone and refresh my spirits even the closest canyon was closed off unless you paid $5.00 to get in. I would drive for hours just to find some place to be at peace in nature but my restless spirit could not be appeased.

It was crazy, to leave family and friends at my age and start over. Still I was compelled by forces that I didn't understand to come to Alaska and nurture my spirit with the best Mother Nature has to offer.

This I need to remind myself that here in Alaska "I created a world where others can live in Joy and a Celebration of Life" my days are full with people I love and that love me, I have a son that makes me proud, friends tell me that I am inspirational and fun to be around. I have time to paint and create with nature in my back yard. My life is as I pictured it could be filled with my passion, power and beauty. My attitude makes me as happy as I dare to be.

The universe gave me my hearts desire now God give me the courage to trust my self and accept your gifts graciously.
Joy to the World, joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea, Joy to You and Me.

Beautiful Crisp Fall Day In the Mat-Su Valley

Today I took myself for a little ride to enjoy the beautiful Fall day before Winter sets in. This is a stand of old cottonwood trees in Palmer. I tried to ask permission to go inside and photograph the trees. It was a farm with several houses and was loaded with children, playing in tree houses, jumping on the trampoline, helping mom it was an idyllic scene. Grandma said sure but the cows graze in there and the fence is hot!
Well I'm glad I asked! The picture was taken from my car window away from the hot fence.
The snow on the mountains is fondly called termination dust; summer is officially terminated.

The small hill is called the Butte it was formed by two glaciers pushing the earth to form a big hill.

This last image is just a few moment ago on the deck a moon rise. Benson ran outside and won't come to me when I call and I want to go to bed.

Today I am so grateful to have beauty all around me and that I'm alive to appreciate it all.
thank you My Lord for another day.

Spooky Old House

I am painting each one of my grandchildren a Halloween painting. This is the first one, it looks like my Grandmother Genevas old house in Idaho the house is still there. It was built around 1890 and hasn't been inhabited since 1967. The place was haunted when I was a little girl, I wonder if it still is.
When Mom, Patty my sister and I went to see it about 10 years ago it was still standing.
I picked up some glass bottles, rusty keys, thread bobbins, and old magazines, great stuff for my art. Grandma was a saver (a nice word for pack rat) and there are still hidden treasures.

It's very scary place at night, once I literally scared the pee out of my brother and sister. Years ago we went to visit the old place as a family and decided to spend the night.
My husband and I snuck away after my sister and brother were safely tucked in their sleeping bags and snoring away peacefully. Then we came running up yelling like a couple of axe murders. It was so hilarious to see them try to run in terror zipped in their mummy bags.
The joke worked so good I felt a little bad, no wonder they call me a mean -itch. I was notorious for playing mean jokes on my little siblings. The retelling still gives me a certain evil glee as I cackle like a witch.

Down By The River or another reason not to live in Alaska

So I took Benson my lab for a nice run down by the river. There was a big gate and this sign. Would you go to Deliverence Holler? WTF? say it like a dumb redneck. YOU WELL BE SHOT
There was a nasty rotting moose head by the river Godfather style! Good God! The hungry bears are the very least of yer problems. I was just afraid Benson would run in there and get some lead in his head.

Here's the real kicker it's a public road!!!!!!

A Self Portrait and Shakespeare Tonight

To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, Hamlet

Two Spirit Houses and the Impassive Moon

impassive(im pas'iv), adj 1. without emotion" apatetic: unmoved. 2. calm serene. 3. unconcious, insensible 4. not subject to suffering

My brother is still in a coma the brain is gone and his heart beats on,
leaving ours broken, suffering and praying for answers.

That's just not fair! Hey, sometimes life is not fair.

The Soap Opera Queen and other Lamentations

TITLE: The Soap Opera Queen
Artist: Judy Vars
Meduim: Encaustic Wax
Size: H 15" X W 13"
Price: $150.00
Go to Boundless Gallery and search for Vars, Judy
The Soap Opera Queen was not finished after all.

Its strange how different our own perceptions can be from other people, like recently when I was a substitute art teacher. I thought it went really well. I waited two days for the teacher to call me and say how it went, finally I called her. Not Good! When I let a kid try to sign on to her computer, just to prove that he really did need a password it messed up her settings and other things (I don't know how) she is understandably very aggravated, the principle had a negative impression because I was late one minute late (it's very, very bad to be late to school) and I showed them a movie (I was told to show them a movie). Almost a direct quote "this school runs a tight ship and we use a core group of subs that are degreed substitute teachers." YEA, UH HUH, They will call me again when they need me guaranteed.

On the up side the teacher said the kids did not need to be peeled off the walls indicating that I kept them under control. What ev, I asked myself, did I do my best? And the answer is YES.

Well I've lamented over this enough and it's time to shake it off and move on with my day. The sun is out and it's beautiful.

Ode to the Universe

Title: Ode to the Universe
Artist: Judy Vars
Medium:Encaustic beeswax,moss,ceramic lamb,glitter,paint and leaves
Not For Sale
And so from hour to hour we ripe and ripe,
And then from hour to hour we rot and rot;
And thereby hangs a tale.
--William Shakespeare, As You Like It

The Teachers Pet NOT!

I've been sub-teaching for two weeks for an art teacher.
Today I taught 6,7th and 8th graders to draw a face in perspective and I talked about creating a self portrait. I tried to draw out their feelings about themselves, how they wear their hair, how they are going to reinvent themselves, whether or not they had a good summer. I secretly want to be an art therapist.

Just when I was starting to feel like an art teacher my sub-job is over. Trying to teach 6th, 7th and 8th graders is crazy making. They are at that insane age when the hormones are in overdrive pouring into the body all kinds of feelings, impulses, urges. Last year I said I hate those junior high kids they are so naughty. But it was because I hated being that age. Then I remembered little Judy. When I was 13 I dyed my hair black and wore my bangs in my eyes. I wore so much eye makeup that I had black holes for eyes. My favorite outfit was a black mini skirt, orange and black top and socks that match with go-go boots. With my ratted hair out to there I was quite a fox.

My home life was so overwhelming it was hard to concentrate in class. I was never any teachers pet and didn'nt trust authority. Remembering and accepting myself when I was a teen turned my attitude around. Now I say those crazy junior high kids are so much fun, I just love them all to pieces.

Patti, if you read this thanks for the cool lesson plan you saved me.

The Queen of the Soap Opera

TITLE: The Queen of The Soap Opera
MEDIUM: Encaustic Wax Collage
Artist: Judy Vars
Size: 15 1/2 H X 12 1/2 W
Price: $75.00
Yes. somewhere in the midst of this weeks drama I did manage to create a peice of art. Behold the ultimate drama queen; The Queen of the Soap Opera

Too Cute for Words

I can't help it I'm having a proud Grandma moment. These fingerprint characters are by my gra,ndson Jackson are just the cuttest little things I've seen all day. He is soooooo talented. Lately I've been looking at artwork done by children and I'm getting blown away by their simple straight foreward honesty. Later we all forget how to be innocent and how to communicate as a child. I wish that kind of inspiration could be canned.

Wet Dreams

I am on a ocean liner like the Titanic and it's sinking. Just like the movie I am making my way through the ship. I see people in life boats I see people on jet skis I people freezing in the water. One room has an elegant lady who is tidying her quarters, one room has a couple of women trying on different outfits and preening in the mirror. There are hallways and passages. My objective to to reach the bow of the ship. I reach the bow of the ship and it is horozontal and sinking into the ocean, I jump into the water to my suprise the ocean is warm just like a bathtub and I do the back stroke away from the sinking ship.

Are there any dreamologists that can interperet this one?

Brother's Fine Red Wool Hat

If I could have knit you a fine red wool hat I would have.
It would be made from the world’s finest wool, it would be a very handsome hat, care-fully knitted to protect your hard round noggin and keep your big ears warm.

Your Fine Red Hat would bring tons of compliments people would say things like;
I sure do love your awesome hat! And that hat makes you look so smart and confident. I wish I had a hat as cool as that. Where ever did you get it?

You'd proudly say; my big sister knitted this hat for me.
It took her a lifetime; she used the finest wool and knitted every stitch with love.
She made it red because blood is thicker than water and it's my favorite color.
She made it to protect my hard round noggin and to keep my big ears from freezing in the wind.