The Frustrated Housewife

The Frustrated Housewife, 30"x48", encaustic on panel.

This is one of my newest works, The Frustrated Housewife.  It's a playful view of the modern 1950's homemaker.  She happily bobs along dressed in her salmon pink suit, barely noticing the chains that bind her, thinly veiled as a belt.

I can really identify with her.  Not out of my own frustration but rather as a daughter and granddaughter who watched the evolution of women in the workplace. 

Because I watched my grandmother's independence in entering the workplace after her children were grown, I assumed all women could do that. 

Because I watched my mother work full time at a profession that was her passion while being an amazing wife and mother, I never felt the shackels of stereotypical women's roles of the mid 1950's. 

My mind has always felt free to be anything I choose to be.  I'm sure it's obvious by my profession that I have also chosen to follow my passion of art.  I'm so grateful to the long line of strong, independent women that paved the way for me personally. 

The women of the 1950's, most of them housewives (some frustrated, some not) paved the way for all of us to CHOOSE to be a homemaker or anything else we'd like to be.

I have fun in all my art.  Even a piece to release pain brings delight to my eyes and a smile to my face.  I'm sure there were unpleasant things about being that 50's lady.  In my view, I choose to focus on the joy whenever possible and she's a joyful, happy-go-lucky piece.  She's quite the conversation starter, to be sure!  I hope The Frustrated Housewife toys with your imagination as it does mine.  And don't worry about her, she's happily frustrated.

In love with wax

I'm in love with wax.  I love watching tiny grains of pigment suspend themselves in molten wax. I love the silky, sultry texture of wax when it's cool.  I pet my paintings every time I walk by them.  I've feverishly studied encaustics with the greats. I strive for the highest impact in every inch of wax.  I'm truly in love.

However, I am not a photographer.  I am thankful that there are people who do such things very well.  Often I find myself frustrated, trying to relay the beauty of these translucent layers of color in a picture.  Today is one of those days.  This is my pic of a new work, Dancing Ladies.  One of the reasons that she's so exciting is that she almost glows.  She also has several different bubbles with new techniques.  I could go on and on but I digress.  Instead, I've attempted to take closer pics of some of her details. 

 

Dancing Ladies, 48"x30", encaustic on panel.

The swirls of color you see are suspended in different layers of wax.

I'm becoming very fond of translucent bubbles which showcase the veins of color undernath.

This is my current favorite technique.  I'm calling them chrysanthemums.

Okay one more.  See the white bubbles on the right in the river of dark blue?

Luckily, all the pieces are being photographed in high resolution for a book.  I'll change out the images on my website as soon as the new ones become available.  You really must see them in person to get the full effect but I'm so happy with the wax I couldn't wait to show some previews!  Enjoy!

If you're interested in playing with wax, enroll in my next workshop at Oil and Cotton Creative Exchange in Oak Cliff.  It's January 28th at 10am.  It's a great way to spend a Saturday!  All skill levels are welcome.  Here's the direct link on their website:

 http://oilandcotton.bigcartel.com/product/jan-28-encaustic

See you there!
Ann-Marie

"Work"

Being an artist is a tough job.  Really.  In most cases, artists have to do many arty things to make a living doing what they love.  Sometimes, I find my head spinning, wondering what to do first.  Should I work in my studio? take care of my galleries? Work on my website? my blog? my entries?  So much to do!

But who can complain when you get to torch things for a living?

Shellac

Ink

Oh and this is the view from my studio.  Tough to beat!

The good thing about having a studio outside is that it's outside.  In the summer, I'm in a bikini and my apron to stay cool and in the winter, I'm bundeled up in a thousand layers but I get to be OUTSIDE every day!

Then there's break time.  Lucy Lou loves break time.  She can fetch in the lake all afternoon!

Aaahhh...

Lily appreciates a break as well.  Her sort of fun is sunning on the dock.

And at the end of the day, sometimes I even torch my dinner :)

Four Paintings in One!

I'm so excited about these new paintings!  The best thing about them is that they can be hung all four ways.  It's a different painting every direction you turn it.

Like this!  Do I hang them in my own home in different directions?  Yes!  Being a collector and an artist, I'm sure I move around more art than the average household but you should try it sometime!  I turn paintings to fit a space or just to change my view. 

The Burn Collection is also fun because the medium is a special mix of wax and resin and I paint using my special blowtorch as a brush.  Power tools are sooo much fun! 

Speaking of power tools, the Burn collection is also special because I get to use a power buffer to make the surface as smooth and clear as glass.  The dozens of layers of pigment trapped in the wax are illuminated after polishing.  It's an effect that a camera just can't capture.  They're quite intricate in person!

Often people ask how to care for an encaustic piece.  In the past, I have made some more fragile pieces that had to be handled gingerly.  These pieces have been durability tested by grandchildren in a myriad of ways and they can be cleaned just by wiping with a dry or damp cloth.

The Burn Collection will be touring the southwest for sale this year. The first opportunity to see it will be at Casa Manana in Fort Worth in March and April.  Follow my Ann-Marie Barker, Contemporary Art page on Facebook for dates and locations where you can see it.  View the entire collection that's growing day by day at http://www.annmariebarker.com/. It's worth the look!

Birthday Torch!

Often times, my family will ask what I want for my birthday and my answer will be something related to art.  This year, I'm not sure they knew what I had in mind when I asked for a Home Depot gift card.  I bought this super-cool new blow torch!

It has its own holster!  You can wear it on you while you use the 5 foot hose to torch anything that comes around!

Torching Shellac- Thanks PB Seggebruch for showing me this!



Torching Alcohol Inks

Torching caramel colored alcohol ink

Working with power tools like this is so fun!  Want to learn to play with fire?  Take my "Light My Fire" workshop!  http://www.ambartstudio.com/



Thanks Mom & Dad!  Love you!

Remembering 9/11

Many times I work out thoughts and feelings through my art.  Twin Towers is one of those pieces.

The two large squares represent the footprint of the twin towers.  Smoke is billowing all around the buildings.  I remember how much smoke and ash surrounded everything.

The red square is engulfed in flames, representing 9/11.  The grey square depicts all the souls of those lost, now resting peacefully.  The grey of the square is also the color of the stone on the 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero.

Where there was so much loss at each of the sites of 9/11, there is now renewal and hope.  "Faith, hope and love" is imprinted in Chinese and English three times on the piece.  Each of the sets of symbols represent each of the three locations greatest affected by 9/11.

I will always remember where I was on that day.  I will remember the sacrifices of so many and hope for a brighter future ahead, here 10 years after 9/11.

Summer Studio

I've been living indoors all winter but now it's SPRING!  I moved back to my indoor and outdoor studio on the dock of beautiful Lake Granbury.  Time to spread out and get moving on some of the encaustic  projects that needed a little bit warmer weather.  Here's a peek into my summer studio.  Enjoy the journey!

Making giant encaustic ants

Documenting the Great Fish Kill of 2011 by casting fish bones with silicone.

A gar carcass waiting to be cast.

Inside the lake studio.

Sometimes you have to share space with the fishing tackle. 

It helps to have it at hand so fishing and art can be done at the same time.

More wonderful outdoor space. 

The possibilities are endless!