Encaustic versus cold wax

I forgot to mention last night that the two paintings posted are in cold wax and oil.  Another couple of views right here.  I also work in encaustic, which is hot wax, and seriously not to be confused with cold wax.  Cold wax (I use Gamblin) should never, ever be heated.  Some folks do, but I would seriously caution against it.  In another post I will go into more detail on the cold wax.  Encaustic, of course, is used molten.  It can be heated in a number of ways:  hot plate, griddle, iron, crock pot, deep fryer.  One has to work quickly to get the wax to the substrate, but, oh, the beauty of it.  Several ideas are percolating in my small mind and I'll post 'em if they turn out to be worthy of a post........

Art Versus Everything Else

Art is a calling.  The artist has something to say and struggles to get it "said."  Sometimes it comes easy and sometimes, it's, well, a struggle.  Almost a wrestle with the proverbial angel.  Who will win.  For me lots of times inertia and just plain laziness trumps, but then there are days that it all comes together.  Then, it's art versus everything else in your life.  And art wins.....every time.  Or, at least it's on your mind most of the time......This could be a function of getting older and knowing one has limited time to "do art."  I kind of get tired of hearing about the angst of artists.....even my own!!!  But, truth be told, there is some involved.  I certainly don't think you have to be a drug addled lunatic to produce good art.  Many of my favorite artists have been fairly normal people......"normal" being just slightly off track....