Remnants of Another Life (detail) www.claremurrayadams.com www.claremurrayadams.etsy.com https://instagram.com/claremurrayadams |
Writings devoted to the ways in which materials and techniques affect my art process.
Sun Series #1
Monday, December 26, 2016
Finished...I think
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Encaustic Vessels
Encaustic on Paper Vessel approximately 6x4x4" I am making a grouping of these that will display together. The images are from drawings of faces I did a while ago. The original drawings are on old calendar and map pages so they have some underlying information on them. I transferred them to thin paper so I could make the boxes /vessels semi-transparent. This one has a sheer fabric with a floral design over top of the portrait on the box. That is where the color comes from in this piece. They would probably look cool with a light inside of them but that is not where I am going. But they will each have an object inside that references the character of the person. More on that later. www.claremurrayadams.com https://instagram.com/claremurrayadams www.claremurrayadams.etsy.com |
Thursday, December 15, 2016
3D Encaustic on Paper
Paper Vessel: "Adam and Eve" collage on paper As I get ready for my workshop at The Morgan Paper Conservatory in Cleveland, I have been making both 2D and now some 3D pieces. The papers I am using have a great deal of transparency which create really nice effects in these vessels/boxes. www.claremurrayadams.com www.claremurrayadams.etsy.com |
Thursday, December 8, 2016
The Seduction of Rust
Rust, Bleach, Burn, Stain 8x9" I had fun yesterday making some samples for an upcoming 2017 workshop. In August, I will be teaching a class at The Morgan Paper Conservatory in Cleveland titled "Rust, Bleach, Burn and Stain". Just as the title implies we will be using all of these techniques to distress and enhance paper that can be used for collage, printmaking, etc. I did some samples for each individual technique and then wanted to make one example that included all of them. You can join me for this fun workshop next summer by checking out the Morgan's website: morganconservatory.org If you can't wait until summer for a workshop I will be teaching Encaustic on Paper in January and February, also at The Morgan. www.claremurrayadams.com |
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Presentation Issues
"Vine" mixed media encaustic and collage on paper 6 x 12" unframed I've been working on presentation of these small encaustic on paper pieces. They can't be simply matted under glass if there is a possibility of the glass touching the artwork. Also mounting them can be problematic because adhesives don't want to stick to the wax. I did a little research and hinge mounting them with linen adhesive backed tape seemed the best route to go. I fold the hinge tape in half length wise and attach that to the back of the artwork. Then I imbed the tape with wax to the back of the piece, being careful not to disturb wax that might affect the artwork. Once that is cool and solid I can attach the top half of the hinge tape to the mounting board. This method seems to be working on light weight pieces but would not be good for heavier works as the weight of the collage elements and the wax would not be supported by a band of wax. The image of the framed work shows it in a shadow box type frame so the artwork which floats on its mounting board is also recessed a good 1/4" from the glass. www.claremurrayadams.com www.claremurrayadams.etsy.com |
"Vine" framed |
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Squares and Circles: It's Elementary!
detail |
detail |
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Redemption!
"Balancing Act" mixed media collage on paper 11 x 14" What do you do when you have an artwork that is just hideous and with no hope at redemption? I was going to throw the work away but left is laying around on my work table. Weeks later I started a new piece and spied the ruined work and saw potential in some of the sections. So I began cutting it up with the end result being this work. I also just got a new camera and am very happy with the quality of the pictures so far. But I am still struggling with getting the pictures on my blog to appear where I want them to. Oh well... www.claremurrayadams.com www.claremurrayadams.etsy.com |
detail |
Monday, November 28, 2016
"Codex 64", encaustic on paper
"Codex 64" |
More Encaustic on Paper.
Title: "Codex 64"
6 x 12"
Layers of primarily transparent and semi-transparent materials.
The detail on the left shows the layering of different texts and the detail on the right shows the holes and some of the burnt areas. Initially the scorched areas were an accident, but I liked them so other burned and scorched areas were intentional.
I am also experimenting with ways to display or present
these pieces and have settled on, for now, attaching them with
linen hinge tape. I secure half of the hinge tape to the artwork using wax and then the top half to the mounting board. So far that is working because these pieces are pretty light weight.
These pieces aren't on my website or in my Etsy shop yet but will be soon.
Get 15% off anything in my Etsy shop until Dec. 31.
www.claremurrayadams.com www.claremurrayadams.etsy.com
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Experimenting with Encaustic on Paper
"Stoic" mixed media collage; encaustic on paper 9x12" Working on Stonehenge Paper. Getting ready for some workshops in the New Year! The center is a collage made of photocopied images that I have often used in my work. The black band across the bottom is from a recycled print that I did a while back. Also incorporated in the collage is some textured fabric and some acrylic paint. I wanted to see how the collage would react to mounting on the stonehenge paper with the encaustic medium as the adhesive. Also added white encaustic paint around the the perimeter. Now to find a way to mount these encaustic works to mat board for presentation. Art making is always experimental! www.claremurrayadams.com www.claremurrayadams.etsy.com |
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Happy Thanksgiving!
For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving wherever you are and how ever you celebrate.
-Clare
Monday, November 21, 2016
Are You Still Out There?
Recent Mixed Media Collage Encaustic on Paper 11 x 14" My last post was on November 2, so if you are no longer out there checking my blog, I get it. And if you are still checking I feel very fortunate and thank you for your perseverance. My blog is not the only thing that has been neglected. The inventory in my Etsy shop was nonexistent whenI checked this past week end. So I am trying to get back on track. I do the blogging as much for myself as I do for others. It is a good way for me to document work and my thoughts about my process and art practice. The Etsy shop allows me to reach out to others who don't necessarily follow my blog. So this past weekend I spent some time adding work to my shop with a promise to stay current. So if you can give me another chance on both counts, the blog and the Etsy shop, I will not let such long lapses occur. Here are the links for my Etsy shop and my website. www.claremurrayadams.etsy.com www.claremurrayadams.com |
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Rocks!
Rock Series mixed media acrylic on canvas 9x9" Just finished these 3 pieces. They are all signed, wired and ready to take to the Cleveland by Hand Art Show at the IX Center next week. Can't go wrong with black and white, right? I'll be in booth 732...all day Nov. 11-13. Look me up if you come to the show. 200 art vendors plus food vendors. What could be better?! www.claremurrayadams.com |
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Cleveland By Hand at the IX Center
I will be selling my work at the IX Center's Cleveland By Hand event Nov. 11-13.
This is a big Fine Craft Show with 200 vendors and an accompanying Food Event.
Art and Food...What more could you ask for?!
Come visit me in booth 732.
It is my first time at this venue and I am looking forward to it.
Hours are Friday 11:00-8:00
Saturday 10:00-8:00
Sunday 10:00-6:00
Hope to see you there!
Here are some examples of my work that will be available.
You can see more of my work at www.claremurrayadams.com.
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Street Series: no. 2
"On the Street Where I Live, no. 2" mixed media acrylic and collage on canvas 10x13" I did post this directly to Facebook, but wanted to include it here on my blog. These "Street" pieces are kind of a geometric counterpart to my organic stone pieces. I guess you've noticed the addition of some color and machine stitching. I love black and white but after awhile, my soul calls out for color. Keeping it subtle for now. Or until my soul speaks again. www.claremurrayadams.com |
Monday, October 24, 2016
"On the Street Where I Live"
"On the Street Where I Live" mixed media acrylic painting and collage on canvas 10x13" I thought I would create 6 paintings that are more geometric in nature to contrast with the organic "rock" paintings I did a few weeks (months?) ago. Still working primarily with black and white here, but adding in some color. How much color there will be overall in the six pieces is up to the work, which often has a mind of its own even though I go in with an idea, like mostly black and white. Some stitching is incorporated. www.claremurrayadams.com |
Saturday, October 22, 2016
"Wall Flower"
"Wall Flower" mixed media on paper 10 x 13" Combining fabric and fiber on paper with acrylic paint, pencil, and crayon. www.claremurrayadams.com |
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
When In Doubt...
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
I Needed a Little Color
All My Eggs, One Basket mixed media 5x13" I am not done working with the black and white pieces but I needed a little bit of color. That led me to this piece. I liked to the long narrow format. This was pure play. I need to play more. www.claremurrayadams.com |
Monday, September 19, 2016
The Damaged Corner of My Heart acrylic paint, oil crayon and ink on canvas 9x12" This is the first piece in this series where a name for the piece developed as I worked. I most often work from a concept or theme which drives the work. In these black and white abstracts my intention was to just play with the black and white and the forms to create compositions and work on my painting skills. That is why they have been untitled thus far. Also something I hardly ever do. But some discussions at my art group about titling work and how each of us begin a piece (working from a concept or working playfully with the materials) caused me to go back to working from a concept which is what I prefer to do. There is nothing that says I can't experiment and play within a concept. So that is where this series is going to go. I struggled for a few days with a theme for all of the pieces I had created thus far and have settled on "The Weight of Memory" as the overriding concept for the work. The organic forms seem to be heavy and stone-like so that is where the idea of weight comes in. Memory has been a big part of my work for 10+ years. I like the idea that memory is an intangible, fleeting, shape-shifting, nebulous kind of thing which is in stark contrast to something solid, heavy and weighty. I think the contrasts will enhance the development of each piece and drive the work making it more personal and hopefully richer and more layered. I will repost the previous pieces soon with the titles I have settled upon each individual work. In the meantime you can check out the black and white series so far on my website. www.claremurrayadams.com |
Saturday, September 10, 2016
To Stitch or Not To Stitch
Before |
Currently 9x12" acrylic on canvas with stitching So...I didn't feel like it was done, so I painted some more and did a lot of work with the oil crayons. I think it is more interesting now, but don't really know that the stitching adds anything. I really just wanted to see if I could stitch on the painted canvas and if I would like its affect. I think there are some possibilities with the stitching although I think the way I stitched here is in opposition to the more organic nature of the rest of the piece. Open to critiques and suggestions. www.claremurrayadams.com |
Friday, September 9, 2016
The Black and White Continues
Untitled black and white acrylic on canvas with oil crayon and ink 9x12" Having fun with these. I have always loved black and white. As I look back at my work I see that I did a lot of black and white work. But exploring it in depth like this, making lots of work on a theme is different than creating an individual piece that just happens to be primarily black and white. I plan to continue with the small works while also doing some larger pieces. Sewing on the canvas because it is not on stretchers is calling to me. www.claremurrayadams.com |
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Accepted!!
Remnant no. 1 mixed media with hydrocal and wire on board 10x11" This piece just got accepted to the National Collage Society's Juried Show. There were 383 entries and they accepted 56! Really glad to be included in this exhibit. The show will be at the Downtown Gallery in Kent Ohio from September 29 through October 29. www.claremurrayadams.com |
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Another Black and White
Untitled 9x12" acrylic and mixed media on canvas While I like this, I feel I lost some of the energy I had in the previous 2 pieces. But the development of the thin paper or string-like elements is a plus. Along with the acrylic paint there is some oil crayon and colored pencil. www.claremurrayadams.com |
Thursday, August 25, 2016
A Dark One
Untitled 9x12" acrylic and collage on canvas Still experimenting with paint and trying to keep it loose. This is the companion piece to my last post. I painted them at the same time, side by side, deliberately trying to create a light piece and a dark piece with the same elements. www.claremurrayadams.com |
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Black and White
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Making Another Appearance
Thursday, August 11, 2016
A Good Day's Work
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Staying Rooted to Somewhere
Monday, July 11, 2016
A Do-Over!
This is my excuse for not being in my studio. Lots to do in the garden and we
just added four new raised beds to fill next year. What am I thinking?!
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