In the last couple of months, I have been exploring working both larger and smaller, and it has been refreshing to go into the tiny. Ever since I can remember, I was fascinated with all things small, and would make miniature goods for the creatures I imagined would need them... acorn lid bowls, rugs out of leaves, toothpaste caps for cups, berries for pretend apples. I loved "The Littles" on Captain Kangaroo, and waited with bated breath for the times they would be revealed from behind the books on Captain Kangaroo's shelf.
I realize that I am still fascinated by tiny things, often channeled and expressed through my love of macro photography, where whole worlds are opened up through pattern, color, shape, and symbolism. So it is not surprising that I would explore diving into a smaller realm with encaustic. This time, no photo is the foundation, just the wax that is molded with my fingers and perhaps adorned with droplets of melted wax. I am enjoying the sense of light that is transmitted through the wax, and think they appear as a bit ghostly in their luminescence.
"Spring Forth", 2016, (5 x 6 x 4.5 inches)
"Out of the Blue", 2016, (3 x 6 x 2.5 inches)
I still wonder if some small being might appreciate them in their dwelling, and can imagine a forest abode made up of these tiny installations. Sometimes I wish I could be small enough to have them in my world. I think it is nice that we can escape to different landscapes when the outer world feels too much and we need some reprieve. Somehow it seems more manageable, and more protected. Certainly, being in the process of creating and going into the sculptures brings positive energy, and that makes me smile. It is in a spirit of playfulness and light-heartedness that I share them here with you. I hope they bring a sense of joy to you, as well…
"Arise", 2016, (4 x 7 x 1.5 inches)