Encaustic Painting Workshop by Jaime Lyerly at Escondido Municipal Gallery - July 25, 2009

Making encaustic medium, July 2009

So the last three days, I have been making encaustic medium in preparation for my upcoming "Basic Encaustic Workshop by Jaime Lyerly" which is at the Escondido Municipal Gallery in Escondido, California. The workshop is on Saturday, July 25, 2009 from 12 pm - 3 pm. The price is $75 ($65 for members of EAP). This price includes all supplies, which is a steal! I paid twice that amount for my basic encaustic workshop. See this post for more examples of my more traditional encaustic paintings.

Here is my description of what you will learn and do:
Encaustic painting is an ancient technique of molten beeswax, damar resin, and pigment applied to a surface and fused using heat. Learn the basic techniques of encaustic painting in this workshop. We will cover history, materials, substrates, tools and safety. We will explore layering, collage, incising and transfers. Plenty of time for hands-on experimentation. Bring your own collage elements and get ready to try this "hot" way of painting.

If you are anywhere near Escondido, please come to my workshop! The space is limited to 10 people and you must preregister by Saturday, July 18. Check out the Escondido Municipal Gallery Workshop page for more details and to register. I have plenty of knowledge to share and love to introduce people to the magic of encaustic painting.

Why don't you come join me and bring some friends? Let's spend that Saturday flinging hot wax around and making art!

Happy Art-making! ~Jaime Lyerly

Making Encaustic Medium

I finally figured out how to put YouTube videos on my blog! Oh happy day! I have so many to share.

Here is a wonderful video which explains the process of making encaustic medium. I have been making encaustic medium for three days now in preparation for my "Basic Encaustic Workshop by Jaime Lyerly" which will be held at the Escondido Municipal Gallery on July 25, 2009 from 12 pm - 3 pm. Preregister by July 18, 2009 for this great event! See my post about the Basic Encaustic Workshop here.

This video is wonderfully done and takes the mystery out of making your own encaustic medium. Enjoy!



Happy Art Making! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Artist Lisa Bebi at booksigning launch today

pimp my spleen: join me for "launch"...

Join San Diego Women's Caucus for Art member Lisa Bebi today at 2 pm at the Orange County Town and Country Barnes and Noble for a booksigning for the new publication "Art Quilting Studio." See the link above for more information.

Hope you can come support this great artist.

Happy Art Making ~Jaime Lyerly

Wordless Wednesday - Encaustic Sculpture - Waxed Branch Detail

~ Jaime Lyerly

Try Twitter - for Artists

For those of you who haven't figured it out yet, I love Twitter.

Sometimes it makes me angry (like when it suspended my account for suspicious activity yesterday - all fixed now); sometimes sucks away all my time; and sometimes I wonder why I am still on it. But most of the time I find it to be a effective tool to promoting my art, blog, workshops and other art related activities. You can too!

Check out this article Try Twitter by Art Biz Coach Alyson Stanfield. While you are there you can subscribe to her weekly Art Biz Coach newsletters which come every Monday.

I know you are saying to yourself "but I already have a Facebook account, why do I need Twitter?" Facebook is wonderful, but it can be overwhelming with pictures, applications, "friends" from high school and many more things. Twitter strips it down to the bare bones. Read a "tweet" (post) or make a tweet yourself.

Sure, you can get fancy and post pictures on Twitter. But in general, it is a simple way to make connections with people who have similar interests and may be interested in your art. I have found some of the best artists and connections through Twitter - and then I found them on Facebook!

Try Twitter. It is a tool for your art. Use it.

When you get on Twitter, come follow me! Send me a tweet or question by typing @jaimelyerly I will help you make sense of it all!

Happy Art Making! Jaime Lyerly

The Pink Declaration of Independence

Independence day is not exactly my favorite holiday. You will not see me wearing red, white and blue or waving a flag. I say my thanks to the US in my own way.

But this "Pink Declaration of Independence" is something I can get behind. I am ready to wave my pink flag and create an Independence day parade for myself. Free from fears! Not bound to laws that the government puts on my body! Liberated from a world where others' opinions matter more than my own! Check it out:

The Pink Declaration of Independence | OwningPink

So on this Independence day, instead of having hot dogs and watching fireworks on TV, I am going to the San Diego Women's Drum Circle to bang on a drum with 50 or so other women who want to do the same thing. And I am grabbing my friend, Starry, to join in the festivities. It will be my Independence day. Want to come! Please do! Circle goes from 7 pm - 9 pm and there is a wonderful drum class from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm. Check out the link for more details. This is the most energetic event that you will be buzzing on for days. I know you will love it.

Your Turn:
What are you freeing yourself from this year? How have you declared your Independence day?

Happy Independence from your fears day! ~Jaime Lyerly

San Diego Women's Art Caucus Member Show at 8Teen Art Center - July 5 - July 18

My son, Xen, relaxing with a soda and a book with
my "Forbidden Fruit Series" behind him at 8Teen

Our last minute blog post to San Diego Women's Caucus for Art Members worked! We have a show and we want you to come see it!

Thanks to all the San Diego WCA members who came today to drop off and hang your work. You made my job easy and the show looks great. See, I told you we could do it!

Here is a sneak preview of the Women's Caucus for Art Member Show held at 8Teen Art and Culture Center from July 5 - July 18, 2009. The photographs do not do these works justice, so you must stop by to see them in person.

Opening reception is from 3 - 6 pm on July 5, 2009. The show will be up until July 18, 2009 and there will be a closing reception on that date (times unknown).

Paintings by Ellen Benfatti and (bottom) Laura Jean Thompson

Paintings/Collage left to right by Jaime Lyerly, Midge Hyde, and Laura Jean Thompson

Paintings by Ellen Benfatti

Paintings left to right by Jen Bottoms and Midge Hyde

Encaustic collage/Paintings "Forbidden Fruit Series" by Jaime Lyerly
(click link to learn more about the "Forbidden Fruit Series")

Encaustic collage/Painting - detail "Forbidden Fruit Series" by Jaime Lyerly

I hope this has whet your appetite and you will come have a look!

Your Turn:
Like what you see and you are a women artist in San Diego? Why don't you join us! The San Diego Women's Caucus for Art accepts membership applications all year round. With my help, the WCA is getting connected on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Please check us out on any of these sites to see what we are up to. WCA members are active in their communities and want to share with you. You can even sign up at an event. There are member shows, opportunities to network and an annual retreat to Julian in November where you can learn art techniques and get away from it all.

This year's WCA retreat is going to be super fun! I am teaching a workshop on Encaustic Painting; and there are two other workshops by local artists. I believe that Cynthia Gott's Inner Archetype Workshop has been replaced by Ellen Benfatti who will be giving a Reiki workshop. Judith Burnett will be giving a workshop on Portrait Painting in Oil. Space is limited and the deadline is rapidly approaching (August 15, 2009 for full payment) - so if you want to get in on the fun, email to Retreat Coordinator Jen Bottoms today!

Hope you can make it to one of our events.

Happy Art Making! ~ Jaime Lyerly

The "Neno" Award

Starlight Blog: The "Neno" Award

Thanks to Mary for my "Neno" Blog award! I need to gather my thoughts and choose who to give the next awards too. Until then, check it out!

~Jaime Lyerly

Women's Caucus for Art Member Show at 8Teen Art Center - July 5-18

For the Women's Caucus for Art MEMBERS:

The Women's Caucus for Art is having a Member Show at 8Teen Art and Cultural Center this weekend. What? You didn't know? Well you are not alone.

Here is a message from Jen Bottoms, WCA Exhibition Coordinator:
Hi ladies,
I have to apologize for a lack of communication about the art show opening on July 5-18 at the 8teen Center. There is no theme for this show as not to limit any artist as to what can be entered. We have extended the drop off for entries. The drop off will be Friday the 3rd of July from 10-11 or contact me to make special arrangements. Cost is $25.00 for up to three entries.

We would like to have participants vote on the best work and the winner will receive $100.00 certificate to attend the Retreat in November. This is not a cash award and can only be used to attend the Retreat.

So come bring your work down to 8Teen on Friday, July 3rd at 10 am. Jen and I will be there with smiling faces to help hang the work and showcase your talent.

I have three of my newest encaustic works (including my "Forbidden Fruit Series") to ready to be hung, and I am very excited to see what you all have to show off.

Look forward to seeing you and your artwork soon!

For EVERYONE ELSE: We would love you to come check out this show. 8Teen Art Center is a lively venue for music, coffee and art viewing. The Women's Caucus for Art Members will put on a show that you won't forget (even if we have to scramble at the last minute to do it!).

I will post pictures from 8Teen by this weekend at the latest.

Until then, Happy Art-making! Jaime Lyerly
~ Jaime Lyerly

Wordless Wednesday - Shinto Torii Gate and "Shrine Virgins"

~Jaime Lyerly

Musings and My Obsession with Japan

I have been brooding over where to start with the blog posts of my study tour to China and Japan. My partner, Chris Miner, has been doing a great job writing about the trip from his point of view.

He has been diligently resizing photos, photographing and scanning mementos and taking text from his journals. He has been blogging about each day and you can see in his blog, the Raw Materials of Music Making, that he has been trying to capture the long and complicated days with pictures and words.

What have I been doing? Not a whole lot!

I definitely feel like I'm having a harder time adjusting back to my normal life. It just seems so boring compared to two weeks of exploring new places. My mind has been processing all that I experienced and how it is going to change my life. I am feeling restless in my normal routine and am ready to shake it up again. But how?

Our sensei planted a seed in my head while we were in Hangzhou, China. She said something along the line of "You should do the exchange program for a semester or year. Take the whole family." She then pointed out the China Academy of Art which nestled into green trees, just down the street from the beautiful West Lake. She said something about how both the schools that SDSU had an exchange program with for art majors in China and Japan were excellent and that I would learn a lot. It would definitely be an experience.

I fell in love Hangzhou, China and could see myself studying there: riding my bike around the West Lake, and learning how to sculpt in traditional ways that my university has forgotten how to teach. The language would be a barrier, but it is so inexpensive there, I could afford to live. The idea of study abroad in China buzzed in my head as we left Shanghai. And then I went to Japan.

Japan is much more Americanized and super modern compared to China. Since we didn't have Miranda (our tour guide), sensei was to be our guide. This led to a whole different experience of Japan than in China. Sensei did not gather the group by yelling out "S.D.S.U!" like Miranda did. She would just take off and we had to follow her. Most of the trip was spent making sure that sensei was close by, and counting people. She had a tendency to want to leave people instead of waiting for them. It would be comical if most of the group spoke Japanese. But since most of us knew no or little Japanese, we would be very lost without sensei.

Sensei at Meiji Shrine (Shinto)

Long story short, this lack of a tour guide telling us information and a comfy tour bus to ride in led to us having to integrate with the culture more. I had to pay attention while I rode the bus or train to make sure I got off in time. I listened and recognized names, especially in Tokyo - Shinjuku, Harajuku, Ueno, Yoyogi, Ginza and Shibuya. I not only knew where they were on a map, but also how to get to them by train and what was there when you got there. I yearned to be able to read the signs that were around me, and to say more than just "Arigato" to others.

Add to this my absolute fascination with the native religion of Japan - Shinto. The first night in Kyoto we came across a Shinto shrine at night and it was luminous and mysterious. I won't go to far into Shinto now because I am going to devote an entire post to it soon. It is more than love with Japan now. It is almost an obsession to find out more about this magical place.

Sensei's talks with me about studying in Japan became more real as I imagined myself studying the traditional arts and their relationship to the native religion of Shinto. There are many more details that I would need to work out and to consider before a decision is made.

So the next blog posts about my trip will be focused specifically on the parts of Japan and China that moved me. Just the images that are blazed into my brain and the art ideas that have sprung from that. I may add some pictures of experiences that were just fun and unique, such as "Geisha Hunting." Hopefully you will understand why I am now obsessed with Japan.

Until then, Happy Art-Making! ~ Jaime Lyerly

David Fobe's "C-Scapes" at Cannon Art Gallery in Carlsbad

"C-scape #2 (C-men)"
color duct tape on panel, 32"h x 48"w x 3/4" d
2009 Copyright David Fobes

Another show opening on this Saturday, June 27, from 6-9 pm!

Artist and designer David Fobes and three other artists, assemblage artist Joseph Bennett, painter Tara Smith and painter Duke Windsor, are showing at the 2009 Cannon Invitational at Cannon Art Gallery in Carlsbad, California. Mr. Fobes is a design professor at SDSU and is my mentor for launching a career as a visual artist. He is also an amazing artist, craftsman and designer. His website, Mister Fobes.com showcases his talent to mix form and function and his utilize his spectacular color theory!

Here is an excerpt from the 2009 Cannon Invitational Press Release:
"A well-established designer and craftsman, San Diego artist David Fobes creates his brilliantly-hued images of modern buildings, furnished rooms, “C-Scapes,” and satellites with an unlikely medium. Upon first glance, his artworks look like paintings – but the hard-edged planes of color that criss-cross the flat surfaces with formal simplicity are precisely cut and painstakingly applied layers of duct tape. With a wry sensibility, Fobes describes his duct-taped pieces as color-saturated objects – not two-dimensional, not three-dimensional, but both."
read more

Just like I said in May-Ling's blog post, I HAVE to get out of my house sometimes and see how contemporary artists are hanging and showing their work. I have promised Mr. Fobes that I will attend this show, even though I probably won't make this opening this Saturday. The show runs from June 28 to August 18, 2009.

Hope you can come check it out!

Happy Art-Making! ~ Jaime Lyerly

May-Ling Martinez's "Measured Resistance" art show at Seminal Projects

All this talk about my trip and myself and I almost forgot what my blog is about - Artists supporting Artists. Enjoy a deviation from the talk about me with today's blog post!

"Friction, 2009" (Mixed Media on paper)
copyright May-Ling Martinez

Want to see the most compelling art work being produced in San Diego? How about new art works that will challenge your perceptions of the world around you? Come to Seminal Projects!

Luis De Jesus - Seminal Projects is a contemporary art gallery in the Little Italy section of San Diego. Many of San Diego's emerging, up and coming artists, and established show in this gallery. I have heard so many good things about this place, yet I never had a "good reason" recently to step outside of 10 mile radius around my house (I am, sadly, really an introvert). I hear all the raves about the work in this gallery, and I do view it online, yet I never go. Well here is my chance.

A previous instructor of mine (and spectacular contemporary artist), May-Ling Martinez, is having a solo art show at Seminal Projects for her new body of work "Measured Resistance." The opening is this Friday, June 26 from 6 - 9 pm. Now I finally have a good reason to go to Seminal Projects! Yay!

The show runs from the opening night of June 26 until August 1, 2009. To whet your appetite here is an excerpt from the Seminal Projects' "Measured Resistance" Press Release describes the work:

"MAY-LING MARTINEZ’s new sculpture and works on paper serve as a metaphor for an innate desire to understand and control our surroundings under difficult circumstances. The works in Measured Resistance engage in the larger domain of relations—among ideas, objects, and the human heart—in order to gain a deeper insight into existential issues, such as the need for security and balance." read more

Sounds interesting, right? I think so too.

Please come by Seminal Projects to check out May-Ling's show. It will be an experience you won't want to miss.

Your turn: Have a show, art event or opening that you are so excited to attend? What about it draws you out of your house and studio? Are you showing your work somewhere that is a hidden treasure trove of contemporary art (especially in San Diego county area)? I would love to hear about it. Post a comment and link for us all to check out!

Happy art-making and Show-attending! ~ Jaime Lyerly

China and Japan - Chris Style

Chris in Tienanmen Square, May 2009
photo by Jaime Lyerly

For anyone who is not aware, my partner, experimental musician Chris Miner, has his own blog where he writes about the process of his music and other experiences. We have a different niche of blog readers, but it is wonderful when they can cross-pollinate.

Chris has been so great as to start sharing his experience on our study tour to China and Japan. Since I have been holding out on you and not sharing my experiences, I now offer you China and Japan - Chris Style!

Promise to share some of my own experiences soon.

Update 6/22/09: Chris is doing a great job on his blog of showing a visual summary of our experiences. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, it is worth it!

Until then, happy art-making! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Back from China and Japan! Now what?

Dragon Well Green Spring Tea from the Tea Plantation in Hangzhou, China
photo by Jaime Lyerly, May 2009

Back home from our long, exhausting and exhilarating study tour to China and Japan. It was a wonderful experience to say the least. It was the first time in over a year that I was completely taking in visual and auditory information instead of producing art work and ideas. Only during the last few days of the trip did I start to get ideas of ways to incorporate what I was seeing and experiencing into visual art. More about these ideas to come in later blog posts.

I had no access to a computer or even a phone most of the time while we were way. For someone who is on the computer hours and hours a day - this was a huge change! I learned I can live without the computer, Facebook, Twitter and all that jazz. But coming back....yikes! Lots to catch up on. I also feel like I neglected all my duties as an artist and blogger, so I will try to get connected again.

Coming back from such a huge, life-altering trip I am having a hard time dealing with the reality of my normal work and mom schedule (luckily no college classes for a month). Two of our four cats hissed and growled at us when we came home. I missed my kitties so bad when I was on the trip because they are such a part of daily life. Coming home to have them mad at me was hard. Also, two days after I got off a plane after 24 hours with very little sleep, I had to go to work at my clerical job and later that night a middle school band concert to watch/listen to my 12-year-old son Xenneth play the baritone. This does not sound like much, but add it to a pile of bills, correspondence and a messy house and you have quite a lot to deal with. How does my body deal with this stress? It gets sick - which is where I am at now.

So please bear with me as connect back to the real world again. The only thing from our trip that has easily integrated with my normal routine is the drinking of green tea. The picture above is from the Tea Plantation in Hangzhou, China where they teach you about the qualities, customs and benefits of green tea. This is spring tea, which is picked the first week in April when it is most fresh. The tea is mild but invigorating, and I love it. The only big purchase I made in China was the tea. Therefore, I have been enjoying pots of green tea each day since I returned home.

Sorry to give you such little information, but I am still figuring out how best to blog about my experiences. I did keep a travel journal for each country and wrote about my experiences daily. I did not do any art while I was there. This is mainly because we were in a group setting and running non-stop all day. The time it takes to sketch never seemed to fit into the agenda. While I am disappointed about that part, I do feel that my travel journals and photographs will provide me lots of inspiration for years to come.

Thanks to everyone for the well-wishing on my trip. It was great! Looking forward to sharing my stories and pictures as soon as I recuperate.

To your health and fantastic journey! ~ Jaime Lyerly