Fun in the Sun

This past weekend was full of friends, laughter, love, live music, art, and nature. I am going through more changes in my life, who knew being 25 is such a ride! I have been working with pure color in my acrylics which I believe stems from my encaustic color palette. These two paintings were inspired by the Monterey Bay, ocean life, and my seaside oozing candles.



I have also been doing some demo work and creating new encaustic paintings out of it. It feels great. So from this...to that.



So each morning this weekend I woke up and turned on the wok, heating up the hot plate for a morning painting session feels so amazing, and is a great way to start every morning. After the painting, I went out to Carmel to The Sunshine Freestyle Surfabout. I had an amazing time, just hanging out, watching some of the best surfers do their thing and enjoying my friends company while soaking up the sun. There are just a few shots from the beachie days. I also caught my friend Nic Coury (whose blog you can reach by the tabs on the right side of my blog, photographicNIC) taking some GREAT shots with his amazing lenses.
















And with that beautiful sunset away I went.

On Sunday my encaustic friend Allyson Malek had an opening at the Haute Enchilada in Moss Landing. This Art Gallery space is run by this group of artists. I went to go check her work and her new space out. It is always so nice to see Allyson, she is so lovely. She has been working so hard since she has been back from Nebraska. I love her new work. Allyson and I are gearing up to teach encaustic workshops together in the Carmel Valley area. Dates soon to follow.










From Moss landing to Carmel Beach. This day was a little chiller and the fog came in fast and we weren't able to watch the sunset, but we watched the fog roll in.





On my way back home I ran into some roses which was a nice way to end the weekend.

Multi Medium Margo

I have been keeping my momentum in and out of the studio, as I am sure you are not so surprised. I have been asked to be a led muralist for a Monterey community project. I am working with an amazing group of people. This project is to create a small bike and garden space. The space has some buildings that will be a future space for murals painted by our community. Amanda and I are working together to create a theme and find painters and community members who would like to join in. I am very excited about the future murals. Monterey is craving for some youthful organic bike inspired art to grace the naked buildings. Giddy-up!







I have been working in acrylics recently. My appetite of mixing paint has been very high. So, lets not starve the artist. There is a difference in working with wax and working in acrylics. I receive such an array of feelings when working in different mediums. Working small, working large are also different feelings. The following paintings are a selected mix of work that I have been creating in between the wax art. Some are not yet completed but I just want to show you the process that I go through with my acrylic work.






The Octopi Collective had a meeting last Thursday regarding our exhibition we are prepping for at the National Steinbeck Center. Here are a few shots of the night.






Tracy Parker had an opening at Sand City, City Hall. I went to the opening and here is some of her work below. The work will be up for about a month if you want to see her work in person, go to the City Hall and check it!






O this is just a side note. I have some plants outside on my porch and I noticed that my little native Monterey grass has been flatten and so I would try to fluff it up but it never really worked. Finally one day as im gearing up to paint, I open my front door to feel the sun kiss my skin and what do i find!



ha. well hurray for the kittie! Now back to the studio.

studiomargo Historical Monterey Map Series

I have created a map series. The images are courtesy of the California History Room of the Monterey Public Library. These maps let you explore Monterey in the 1800's with the oldest form of painting, encaustic. Although this is the oldest form of painting I am bringing a youthful and 21st century vision to the medium.

Each piece has a different historical map of Monterey. This technique of photo transfer and burnishing kept me on my toes as I researched and discussed the process with several encaustic painters how to obtain a clear transfer.

email if interested in seeing the work in person or purchasing.

Enjoy.

Bedford Galley 'Working in Wax'

The Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek had an amazing opening about two days ago with all things wax. There were 400 entries and 85 artist were juried in and there are about 100 pieces in the exhibition.
I have been painting since I was five and most of the time I painted in acrylics, water color, i did pen and ink did some sculpture work, and glass work too. In college I really learned what it meant to paint large. I received my degree from California State University, Monterey Bay in Visual and Public Art which equals Large Scale and Mural painting and a minor in Graphic design. My love for painting large and making a difference in my community will never leave me. Since my graduation I was still hungry for more. I am a sponge. I took a course with Cari Hernandez and Daniella Woolf. After that, game over. I fell in love with the medium. I painted in a way I always wanted to but never allowed myself in acrylic paintings. I feel so free when Im doing encaustic painting. I have found myself in a place with no rules and as a matter of fact it seems that in the encaustic world rules are meant to be broken. From working with canvas, painting over acrylic, using oils, incorporating plexi, bronze, cheese cloth, and so much more. Encaustic is the medium of exploration. It is competitions like 'Working in Wax' at Bedford and 'Metamorphsis' in Lincoln, Nebraska that are bringing a scene of healthy competition to the medium. Every time I go to a purely wax event all I do is discuss the medium, who the artist is and how they did their work. There is nothing more exciting then discussing with your fellow artists the possible process that went behind a particular piece. I am a member of the International Encaustic Artists. I love this group of waxy artist. I have been able to really discuss on a deep level the medium and process and learn from othr artist.

Here are a few shots from the event at the Bedford. Most all the work is for sale in the show and is a great chance to give back to the community and support artist around the United States.

productivemargo

Productivity is everything. Well, Balance is everything and then productivity, which should always be at the top of the list. Production is key. That is just my opinion. My knee and hip feels so much better and I am able to hop and skip around like the little rambunctious painter I am. The last few days have taken me on a fun ride all the while keeping it studiomargo.

This painting is of me as a little girl planting with my Grandma. My Grandma was many things during her life. I remember her the most as a farmer. My siblings and I would plant in her front and back yards. I remember planting lots of garlic. O how Grandma loved her garlic and butter.


Fine Art Base had a lecture series that I and three other members of the Octopi Collective attended. Michele Muennig was the artist who spoke. It was great to talk with her and get to discuss her work.



And away we go! It was time for my opening reception at the Kathleen McMahon Fine Art Gallery in the Mission. All artist showing sold work that night. It was a great night for the gallery. The building that the gallery is in had an open studio night so I went to check out the work and say hi to some of the artists. Katja Leibenath and Mark Powers are great artists with studios in the building. I always like to drop by and say hello when Im in the City.






So like I said in the beginning of this post, production is key. To the studio! I spent some time at the local beaches soaking up inspiration and thinking of the grid. The work below is for sale at KMFA. This was the first time I created a diptych in my Asilomar series.





O and here is a photo of my assistants they are dancin' to the studio music. My assistants keep me in line and clean my brushes. With that said, after a few days in the studio making sweet artistic love, we packed up the art and went back to the city.



There is nothing quite like a wind whirlin' roof-top lunch in the city. It is amazing what happens in life, when you just let it. I found myself at a cool art event. The music was awesome the food was great and the conversation was inspiring. Kellen Sullivan was showing and here are a few images of her work that spaned over 15 years of creating.












Now off for a walk around to check out the Coit Tower.





It was all fun and very educational. :) Now it is back to the magical Monterey for me. It is time for the opening of Christel Dillbohner opening at the Winfield Gallery in Carmel. It is a great show and if you have a chance to check it out, You and your friends really should.









I am gearing up for my group opening at the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek. That is this Wednesday from 5 to 7. I am going to be showing two pieces for the exhibiton, 'Working in Wax.' I am so jazzed about it. First showing in Walnut Creek. I will be in some amazing company and I cant wait to show you all the pictures from the event. Have a great week and happy creations to you!