Egos Galore or Is it just me?

Recently I've collided some egos in the art world. How do I recognize this? because I am an admitted egotist with an inferiority complex.

Here are some examples; while at an artist meeting a lady introduced herself to me like this, "I'm Michelle and speak with a British accent." OK? it's not like my ears can't pick up uour charming British accent. I pass around my mushroom encaustic painting to the group and got a critique. The lady with the British accent said, "does the painting stand out as a painting? why was it painted in encaustic? Is it because I was just seduced by the medium?" What? Was I just insulted?

The other day another fellow artist and former friend (I broke up with her because she is high maintenance) called me to say that she had something to say that has been vexing her. She said my Virgin Mary with Jesus in her belly is very similar to something she painted over 10 years ago and she accused me of plagiarizing her work. OMG does that mean that all icons are plagiarized? Instead of calling her a crazy itch and hanging up the phone. I sought to reason with her but to no avail her mind was set.

Are there any new ideas really or has everything been done before? Years ago when I did my first assemblage I thought.WOW! I invented a new type of art. After researching a little further I soon discovered Assemblage art is definitely not a new idea.

When I picked up encaustic painting 6 or 7 years ago it was unique and new. Alas it is getting more and more popular, main stream and trendy.

I work hard at being a professional painter and artist; improving my skills and techniques, keeping my eyes and spirit open for inspiration and ideas, always striving to learn new things as they apply to my artistic vision.
I am secure with my artwork and I do not need to copy yours.

BTW most of the hits I get on this blog are people grabbing images of my artwork and photographs.

So I implore you readers, is there anything new under the sun or has it all been done before?
Let me know what you think about the questions of intellectual property, plagiarism and egotistical people, I promise not to take it too personally.

Young At Art or Listen To My Rant

It's still August and it's still all about moa. Are you sick of it yet? I found this nice article about me and my show in the Anchorage Press.

Judy Vars is really an artist who is young at heart. “I have been an artist my whole life, because art to me is like playing and I love to play. Art, like playing, is taking risks, letting my imagination run free, getting outside my comfort zone, learning new things and having fun,” she says in her bio.Vars works in several mediums including oils, acrylics, mixed-media and found-object sculpture. Her current exhibit showcases her work in encaustic art. In order to create encaustic art the artist heats beeswax (sometimes pigment has already been added, other times the artist adds their own pigments) and uses the liquid wax in much the same manner as one uses paint, with brushes and other tools used to manipulate the wax.
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Vars uses the wax to create multi-dimensional works of art, often adding found objects to her pieces. “I love encaustic wax for reasons not entirely definable. To me the medium is mysterious. Layers can be built upon layers and the transparency of some pigments let us look through to what lies partially hidden beneath. It can be molded, carved, heated, pushed, scraped, layered, and collaged into. I manipulate the wax and colors with specific results in mind, but ultimately the encaustic takes its own course and the results are always surprising.”The subject matter of Vars’ works is varied. She creates encaustic wax portraits portraying anyone from ancient Greeks to the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. She also has several pieces portraying ghostly images, spirits, and skeletons.“Wizened and Natal” encaustic wax creations by Judy Vars. Madd Matters Gallery (105 E. Arctic Ave) in Palmer

But today I have been literally on the verge of a nervous breakdown!! Why? because I have been working on my art and doing other fun things with my life lately and I have not had the time to do any housework much office work either! Now all I can see is everything that needs doin; the walls need washing, the cobwebs, the carpets that need cleaned. Because of my packrat tendencies everything has to be sorted through and given away or thrown away. I cleaned my closet the other day and took out two large trash bags of clothes that I will never miss, like my old pin striped (tryin to be like one of the fellas) business suit worn when I sold cars another lifetime ago. .

To add insult to injury we live on a dirt road in Alaska I have never had to contend with so much dust. Plus my doggies, husband, grown kid, grand kids, the squirrels in the attic all do their part to mess up everything and do very little to keep it clean. YIKES ! DON'T JUDGE ME!

Why is it some lady's have it so together? I want a PA, trainer, agent, coach , secretary, web master, butler and a housekeeper.

Any takers? will trade for art. Where's my fluffer!!

Magic Mushrooms

Magic Mushrooms

These three sweet magic mushrooms were growing in my yard this morning, they were the perfect subject for my encaustic painting today.

Yep it's Monday and I'm back painting on schedule, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, I paint, paint, paint.

Thursday I network, Friday I could do office work, Saturday clean and run around and Sunday I play, hang out with family and friends and relax.....Sounds like a plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It's August and Still All About Me!

August is my month! my Anniversary is in August, my birthday is August 20th, and my art show is up all month long at the Madd Matters in Palmer.

Here is a video of the reception last Saturday night, my friends, family and some patrons showed up; Thank God I did not have to stand around awkwardly while nobody showed up: Here are some things people wrote about my art;

Enjoyed seeing your work_ very ethereal and thought provoking Gale

WoW Judy! I love your work Very delicious Dawn

I Love your work and keep coming back for another look Molly

I loved your show you are Great! 10+ Guess what I love the fish

Your surfaces are so very rich! Like chocolate cake, I love it...

You are awesome I always like seeing a little piece of how your mind works I liked your Prayer thingy, Enigmas, the trees were were awesome, the scary stuff was pretty scary, the girl alone, Delphic and your Romans pics..you are the bomb!!! Jeannie

Judy, Your work has evolved - still evolving- as you are!! If I can with permission am proud of you_ Beautiful Artist Great Success Love Fran

Fantastic! Follow your style - Maintain 1 interest at a time. You will sell! Wonderful to meet you Susan

Wizened and Natal

What does that mean anyway?
I'm a wise woman a nice crone wizened by life. What a life it's been rich with love, friends, travel, excitement and interesting experiences. My talents are honed and sharpened after much use and experience. Oh Baby! Now I understand the cliché "youth is wasted on the young." Still in spite of my gray hair I remain young at heart anticipating each new day and the chance we’re given to do it over again. Perhaps that’s what Natal means every day is new like a new baby a clean slate, natal, another chance to live this enigma we call life. Or is Natal a place like a state of mind? hummmmmmm

Encaustic Wax Creations
Wizened and Natal
From 6-8
By
Judy Vars

Alaska Gallery @
Madd Matters
105 E. Arctic Avenue
Palmer, Alaska
99645

Meet the Artist Reception
(Second Saturday)
August 8th 2009

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

Van Gogh Tree

Van Gogh Tree

Encaustic Painting

Judy Vars

Tonights Image Tuscan Trees

Tuscan Trees

Encaustic Wax Painting

by

Judy Vars

I've been so busy lately painting it's like a job! only it's a job that I love, love, love. Here is another one of my encaustic paintings. I'm really on a roll and almost don't want to stop and have some fun at the Girdwood Forest Fair this weekend. I will be at the GCVA booth on Friday night and at the gallery Saturday and Sunday. It's the 4th of July and I plan to party Satruday night.

My schedule is getting full this summer with the Garden and Art show at the fairgrounds on the 11th, a mini show in Girdwood from the 15th to 31st, my show at Madd Matters; August 8th Wizened and Natal, (the name is kinda wierd) so lets hope that I make some $$$$$ this summer. btw I have lost 21 pounds.

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

Enigmas for my 500th post.

Enigmas
I walked around as you do, investigating the endless star and in my net during the night I woke up naked, the only thing caught, a fish trapped inside the wind. Pablo Neruda
by
Judy Vars
Encaustic Wax
12 X 12

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT

My blogger friend Patti from Woodstock tagged me to answer personal questions
Well OK I'll play.

The rules:1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own.2. Tag eight other people.

1. What is your current obsession? My encaustic wax pieces. I have created 9 12 x 12" pieces and am going to make at least 18 to 20 more in 6 weeks.
2. What is your weirdest obsession? The first thing that comes to mind in my thing about pillows, I need feather pillows but they must be tripple cased and during the night I trade off for the cooler one that I keep against the cold wall. I think its menopause.
3. What are you wearing today? Black valor pants, black tee shirt, and a black zippered hoodie with red skeletons. Its kind of nippily in Alaska today.
4. What’s for dinner? Cassaba comes from Costa Rica its fried plantain, pasta dish, meat, rice and beans, salad.
5. What would you eat for your last meal? Whatever is for dinner.
6. What’s the last thing you bought? A 19" flat screed LCD Emmerson TV $228.00 yesterday for Fathers Day at Wall Mart.
7. What are you listening to right now? The U.S. Open Golf it's just background noise, I used to not be able to stand the boring sound of golf on tv but its gotten more interesting since Tiger came along
8. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? I would love to be transported to the high mountain top with a view of forever and just sit for an hour with God
9. Which language do you want to learn? Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic.
10. What do you love most about where you currently live? My home is too close to a lake but has been grandfathered in so I can keep it, sometimes it feels like I live in a houseboat there is an abundance of wildlife in my backyard. Sometimes I ask myself how I ever got so fortunate.
11. What style is your current home decorated in? I'll call it Alaskan Eclectic.
12. If you were a time traveler what era would you live in? The Golden Age.
13. What is your favorite color? Black because its all the colors.
14. What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe? It's my Harley Davidson tattoo shirt i bought off my sister Patty.
15. What were you doing ten years ago? This is an all time first for me because I have been married to the same man for 10 years in August! Ten years ago I was going hot and heavy with my fiance and planning my wedding.
16. Describe your personal style? I choose to ignore this question.
17. If you had $300 now, what would you spend it on? Getting my carpets cleaned!!!!
18. What are you going to do after this? Check out the progress on my encaustic painting boards.
19. What are your favorite films?Owl and Pussycat, Leaving Normal, Twin Peaks, My Familia, Dune, Batman, Jonny Depp films, I like most things.
20. What inspires you? Passionate people
21. What doesn't? Rush Limbaugh
22. Your favourite books? I don't read alot but I loved The Fountain Head, I read it over to understand it better when I was a teen.
23. Do you collect anything? and everything.
24. What makes me follow a blog? Its people I like and would like to know better we have things in common and learn from each other.
25. What was the most enjoyable thing you did today? Let me give you a hint it's something we should do more of.
26. And my question? When is the last time you wrote a letter to a loved one?

tagged: Annie, Nicole, Charmaine, Angela, Rose, Yoby,

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..

Girdwood is my second home

Yesterday I got up early and drove 2 hours to Girdwood http://www.girdwoodchamber.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi and guess what? I was not scheduled to work! So I drove around looking for a place to pitch my tent instead. Girdwood now has No Camping signs all over town because of the partyiers from the last Forest Fair. Rumor is they found a lady floating in the river 2 days after the festival.
I drove to Hope, Alaska which was a 45 minute drive. Buddy and I went for a 5 mile hike on a beautiful trail in Hope on the other side of the Cook inlet. There was a sweet little campground for $14.00 a night, but I hate to pay to pitch a tent. It seemed safe with a camp manager but that was a long drive back so after searching I decided to sleep at the gallery in the mini gallery room off to the side. With an air mattress, sleeping bag and a pillow I'm right at home. Problem is there was a big controversey about my sleeping at the gallery last year. Some said; whats the big deal, and others said; it's inappropriate and not covered under their insurance. So I snuck in after 10:00p.m. and got up at 6:00a.m. packed up my gear and went for a walk until opening time. Still I will probably hear about it. While on my walk to the coffee shop I spied a big black bear about 150 yards from me in a residentual neighborhood. Finally after all my walks I finally saw a bear.
I am at the laundormat this computer and internet access is costing me .15 per minute and some register sign keeps popping up and robbing me of time because I cannot type when it is on and guess what there is no one to complain to, gurrrr.

In the gallery there are people from everywhere, Buddy the schnauzer is my greeter, he puts everyone in a good mood. I wanted to talk a little about selling art. In the past I sold cars and I was good at it always the number 1 or 2 salesman, I made a good living for many years. I came to Alaska to live my dream and become the artist I always wanted to be. I am fortunate to have realized that dream. Problem is when it comes to selling my own art, I am not that aggressive sales person that I used to be. It's perhaps so much of my self is tied up in what I create, which is just silly, yes I created it but it isn't me.

There are 4 steps to the sale; the greeting, the permission phase, the objection phase, this is where it gets dicey, they say things like; it costs too much, I don't have anymore room for stuff, there is no room in my luggage are common objections. This is where I fall down I assume they are just lookey lews and do not really want to buy. My job tomorrow is to get to the bottom of their objections try to answer their concerns. The final step is to ask for the sale! Hey whats the worst that can happen? If I have done the first three steps the ABCs then asking how would you like to pay for this, or so would you like to take this home today, or it would make a wonderful gift for your mother-in-law, do you need a box, or how would you like this shipped? It should be a no brainer.
Oh look .47 cents or 3 minutes left and I'm all done.

Loon Today Saint Tomorrow

Loon Magic

Original Oil Painting

16" x 20"

by

Judy Vars

It is finished and signed, this one turned out nice. I won't show you the failed attempts to paint animals just the ones that good ones.

Lately I have given myself a strict schedule and am driving myself to get er done. In the morning I take a five mile walk to work. When I get back to my studio I set my stopwatch and do nothing else but paint for at least 4 hours. It's very interesting how much painting gets done, the last three days I've done a painting a day. Encaustics go rather quickly and I get some amazing paintings. I have two shows coming up, a mini show at The Girdwood Center for The Visual Arts in July 16th to 31st and the show at the Madd Matters in Palmer in August. It would be great if I had all new work. I do not have a name for this show yet. I am creating encaustic paintings, some assemblage, oils and icons all the things I love to do. I hope from that eclectic soup will come a theme or idea.

Tomorrow I will post St Jude, patron saint of hopeless cases.

In order to win, we pay with energy and effort and discipline. If we lose, we pay in disappointment, discontent, and lack of fulfillment. Maya Angelo

Art Therapy and G-O-D

The Universe or G-O-D has an uncanny way of answering my prayers; let me explain over the years I have had an dilettante like interest in Art Therapy. I have read articles and books on the subject and practiced it in my own creations.
The Wikipedia dictionary definition is: Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses art materials, such as paints, chalk and markers. Art therapy combines traditional psychotherapeutic theories and techniques with an understanding of the psychological aspects of the creative process, especially the affective properties of the different art materials. Boring.

I am not a professional art therapist (yet) with a Masters Degree in psychology, yet because of the assemblage class I did for the Two Spirits Gallery the universe has provided me an opportunity to work with the Mental Health Consumer Web doing art workshops. I don't know everything about the psyochotherapeutic theories and techniques but I do have patient compassionate nature combined with a desire to help my fellow man. I do know how to make and facilitate the make ing of art that is individual and helps the creator understand themselves a little better.

Monday I will talk to Hossanna and more will be revealed...........Thank you once again for prayers answered.
Love
Judy

The Joys of Garage Sales

Daughter and I went to G-Kids school for a tea party and entertainment.


On the way home we were bitten by the Garage Sale bug. Years ago I released my inner pack rat and started to comb second hand stores, yard sales, junk yards etc. Once, I lost my old boots to a shoe repair shop, they had been all over Europe with me. I found them at a flea market, it was like finding an old friend. I actually shook with excitement at seeing them.

My mother, grandmother, sister are junk collectors they seriously save everything. My Grandmother had a box car filled with magazines, clothes, newspapers, records, can labels, diaries simply everything. My mother also horded and saved she shopped second hand stores compulsively collecting purses. Patty my sister is a master collector with the most amazing ephemera, bottles, trunks, trinkets, jewelery, boxes, old glass chaskies. It is packed in boxes in the attic for her grandkids to discover. She knows the secret pleasure of snooping just like me. I have an excuse for collecting junque, it's for art.

Quote out of the Art of Assemblage

Junk culture is city art, Its source is obsolesce, the throwaway material of cities, as it collects in drawers, cupboards, attics, gutters, waste lots dumps.
Objects have a history: first they are brand new goods, then they are possessions accessible to few, subjected, often to intimate and repeated use; then as waste, they are scarred by use but available again… Assemblages of such material come at the spectator as bits of life, bits of the environment. The urban environment is present, then as the source of object whether transformed or left alone. Lawrence Alloway


Here is what I bought:

• Doll heads and body parts. .50


• No hands magninfing mirror .75


• Old mason jar for Folgers coffee 2.00


• leather toolers letters (some missing) .50


• Blue pottery bowl med 4.00


• New Lancome brush set, eye makeup remover and cosmetic bag 3.00


• Big Lace crochet doilie FREE


• Bottom Line 10.75
  

Yesterday I took my $75.00 winnings and bought myself a new comfortable pair of Burkenstocks for $71.00 and treated myself to a black tea chai smoothie, yummy.

Whos The First Place Winner of the Raven Show? Me Thats Who

First Place- Judy Vars "How the Raven Steals the Light"...Second Place- Amber Johnson "Abstract Raven" and Third Place and also People's Choice - Dena Tanquay "Kutqli, A Raven Reborn"
How the Raven Steals the Light
by
Judy Vars

In the beginning the world was in darkness. The raven who had existed from the beginning was tired of groping about and bumping into things.
The raven knew of an old man who lived with his granddaughter. He had a great treasure, a box that concealed all the light in the universe. The raven vowed to steal the light. Raven changed himself into a pine needle and dropped himself into the river just as the girl was dipping water from the river. The raven slithered down her warm belly and grew into an odd looking human baby.

Despite his odd appearance grandfather loved him anyway But the old man promised dire punishment if raven baby ever touched the precious treasure box. Nonetheless the raven child begged and begged to be allowed to hold the light just a moment. In time the old man yielded, and lifted from the box a warm golden sphere, which he threw to his grandson.

As the light was moving toward him the human child transformed himself back into his raven self with his beak open in anticipation. As the beautiful ball of light reached him raven captured it in his beak. Moving powerful wings, raven burst through the smoke hole in the roof of the house, and escaped into the darkness with his stolen treasure

And that is how light came into the universe

Assemblage Class @ Two Sprits Gallery