Patricia Gerkin: Weekend Inspiration

"Greek Chorus" 8x8" encaustic/mixed media on wood

"Secret Woods" 8x8" mixed media on wood

"Spring is in The Air" 12 x12" encaustic on wood

Hubby was searching for himself one day.  (See...I told you I wasn't the only one.)  And he came across Patricia Gerkin. (Gerkin is my married name.)  How surprising that she is a fellow encaustic artist that seems to perhaps be distantly related to my husband!  And to top it off I rather adore her work! I am so glad that Hubby stumbled across her.  Check out more of her work here.  I particularly like the Currents and Consistency series.  Thank you for sharing Patricia.

Amazing Techincal Talent

Close to You
(Angus calf)
8”x10”
Pyrography on maple

I am speechless.  The first work is by artist Julie Bender and is wood burned or Pyrography.  It is so amazingly delicate.  
The second is quilled (I've been trying this, and been put to shame here) and is by artist Lisa Nilson.  Check out this lovely article about her Tissue Series here.
I just had to share!

Christine Sajecki: Weekend Inspiration

The Works
48"x24" encaustic and oil on board
2005 

Backyards of Baltimore
34"x30" encaustic and photocopy transfer on birch
2009 

 

I first saw Christine's work during an open studio tour in 2006 (I think?) I remember seeing "The Works" and thinking that is the surface I've been trying to create since college!  I wanted to touch it, and ask a thousand questions!  I didn't.  (I wasn't as pushy as I am now.) I can't believe I waited until 2009 to take a class on encaustic at The Creative Alliance in Baltimore, and Christine was teaching. (She was a resident artist there art the time.)

Her work is even more beautiful and complex in person.  Her mastery of the medium is stellar.  There is such a great balance of color, depth and imagery. You've gotta check out her website to see the full breath of Christine's work.  I love her sculptural work as well, since encaustic is such a tactile medium, she gives the viewer an opportunity to carry some pieces around. I can't wait to see what is coming up for her.  Thank you Christine for sharing!! (And for creating another encaustic painter.)

Ernesto Neto at Faena Arts Center

I just couldn't wait to do this for a Weekend Inspiration post.  How amazing!!  All crocheted.  AND you can crawl through it.  I wanna see this.  Check out the article here.

Anselm Kiefer: Weekend Inspiration

Lot's Wife, 1989
Oil paint, ash, stucco, chalk, linseed oil, polymer emulsion, salt and applied elements (e.g., copper heating coil), on canvas, attached to lead foil, on plywood panels, 11 _ x 14 feet 

 

"Merkaba", 2002
Oil, emulsion, acrylic and lead objects on canvas
110 x 149-1/2 inches (280 x 380 cm)

The first time I saw Anselm Kiefer's work in person I was utterly dumb struck.  I wish I could remember the title of the piece.  It was in the late '90's at the Smithsonian.  It took up the entire room, it felt like, as it covered an expansive wall.  I couldn't get close enough, it begged to be touched.  The structure of it was daunting, and I imagined it hardly being contained by the ground it was painted on. I had seen the grit and grim of ash and strange mixed media elements in Rauschenberg, and Pollack's work, but here it was really used as a medium the intent was clear. I don't know about you, but I am always amazed that this artist that I have been in awe of is still out there today painting in his studio.  Maybe even this weekend. I hope you're creating too!