Triptych: "El Corazon De Sufrimiento"

My triptych mixed media painting "El Corazon de Sufrimiento" was finished in time for the previously mentioned Vox Sacramento art show. It received some good notices from attendees and the press, all of which is a good thing. It did not sell which initially disappointed me. However, after it was returned I was actually pleased to have it for my own to display at home.






The two small canvases "La Dama Sirena" and "El Catrin Muerte" utilized a few image transfer techniques, collage and encaustic wax applications. The center canvas was similarly finished, but as mentioned in an earlier post included an acrylic painting.

The work certainly conveyed what I hoped it could. Love can be incredibly joyous but can bring unbelievable pain. Sometimes simultaneously.


Archetypal imagery was used throughout, although those archetypes have been altered and played around with just a bit as well. The inherent narrative was left somewhat accessible, I try not to be too enigmatic.


In addition to it all, I got to play around with Mexican pop culture imagery, which I appreciate and am drawn to much.


The other aspect of this exercise that was appreciated is that the deadline for a show can truly motivate me to "get the damned thing done" and live with the resultant work. Plan, execute and release.

El Corazon De Sufrimiento: WIP

I'm on the downhill side of a mixed-media piece that will be comprised of three (maybe more) canvases. Not really a triptych in the traditional sense as each canvas could be displayed alone, but when grouped together create a more cohesive, interesting work.

I'm making it for the Vox Sacramento February Show, "Love: Let Me Count The Ways." Vox Sacramento is a non-profit artist http://www.voxsac.com/ that regularly host unique art-centric events all year. I will post more on Vox later, but I invite you to check them out, as they are a good group of dedicated, art minded folks.

I'm sending a few things in for this show and this work focuses on the incredible joy and devastating pain that love can bring. As you can see, it is still a work in progress.

The foundation is based on card #27, El Corazon of the Lorteria game. It was painted with acrylics.

Collage elements have been added to the foundation image. These elements consist of a vintage photo, a love poem fragment and an EKG of someone whose heart has stopped and then started again.

A carved wooden arrow has been added to the canvas as well as a few small words near the bottom of the heart image. A few more words will be added to complete the sentence before the entire canvas is coated with encaustic wax.

I will post additional photos as I progress on this canvas and begin the other two.

I guess better get busy, boys and girls.

Loteria Box - "Altered Art"

This March will mark the fourth year of teaching a short workshop on the Arts de Mer cruise. Mary Jo McGraw, Tim Holtz and Robin Knutson will also be presenting their cool stuff as well.

The theme this year is "The Game of Art" so in keeping with the theme, my workshop participants will be creating a box that can be used to hold game pieces, playing cards, ATC's or whatever else strikes their creative fancy.

The initial project was a paper-based box project, but given the time constraints involved and the complexity of proper box making, I changed course last month and began to look at various objects trying to determine if it could be altered into a box-like structure.

While in IKEA recently, I spied a pile of smallish picture frames and the project came together immediately.

The frames are stripped of everything except the actual wooden frame to serve as the box's top and bottom. The sides are made of wood lath, carefully cut to fit within the frame.

Chipboard, thin luan ply or mat board is fitted into the frame to serve as the box's lid and bottom. The lid should be collaged or enhanced before the rest of the box is painted.

Once dry, the box may be painted, finished or otherwise embellished as desired.

In keeping with the cruise's theme, I've used images from the Mexican game of "Loteria."

I love Loteria images and could almost see them used as a kind of Tarot, as each image seems to have a story to tell well beyond the label each one is assigned.

The legs of the box are made of chess pawns.

I'll probably touch up the finish as I got a little carried away with the "distressing" and I may place wee handles on each side of the lid. We'll see.

I've got to make a couple more samples in differing heights, but it is late and my muse is already snoring loudly in my ears.