Cabin Fever In Alaska

Gathering Flowers or My Happy Place

2012-02-26T15:06:00.002-08:00

Gathering Flowers

Original Oil

17 x 20

350.00

When Spring is coming to the lower 48 (thats what we Alaskans call everywhere else) it is still snowing in my neck of the woods. It gets real old after awhile. Cabin Fever is making way for Spring Fever, but where is Spring? Where are the promices of green and flowers sprouting from the ground? Burried under the biggest snowfall since 1984 thats where. We do not have a regular Spring it is called "break up" instead, that is a time when the snow melts leaving rocks, gravel, lots and lots of mud. .

So we Alaskans put up with "break up" because like clockwork by Memorial Day Alaskas Spring/Summer season is in full bloom everything turns to a glorious green and grows and grows under the constant ever growing sunshine. There is so much time for play that nobody can hang around the cabin.
Don't get used to it because old man winter will arrive by October, we have six months of Winter and six months of Summer

extremes for sure. I always say I could never leave Alaska in the Summer and in the Winter it's way too much bother.

This winter wonderland is slowly getting on my last nerve. Painting my happy place and is good therapy for Cabin Fever so take a walk through my painting "Gathering Flowers" pick some flowers, listen to the babbling brooke, have a picnic, smell the air and take a nap.

It reminds me of a childrens song; Give said the little stream, give o give, give o give, give said the little stream as it hurries down the hill.........

2012-02-22T15:08:00.000-08:00

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

My Announcements for my next show!!! If you could come that would be awesome!

2012-01-26T19:23:00.001-08:00

2012-01-24T14:26:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOQfHjGKTpg

Elizabeth You Are So Loved

2012-01-18T22:43:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth Burgess and Judy Vars

I was convinced you must have been my father’s illegitimate daughter from El Paso, TX because you felt like a sister to me from the start. You are my true friend in every sense of the word. When I needed you to cheer me you did (to a point), you made fun of me and kept me humble, when I needed you to be my Maid of Honor at my wedding you did it for me!, when I needed to confide in you my secrets you kept them! Besides my own dear Mother you were the most honest person that I have ever met.

You never let me go from you without holding me and letting me know that you loved me a lot.

Remember when we had our first date at the Museum in Anchorage on the way home there was the most glorious purple/pink sunsets that Alaska has to offer. We shared a moment of awe together and knew we would always be friends.

But why oh why couldn’t I help you with your demons? To borrow a favorite quote from a movie; A River Runs Through It. Rev. Maclean: Each one of here today will at one time in our lives look upon a loved one who is in need and ask the same question: We are willing help, Lord, but what, if anything, is needed? For it is true we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don't know what part of ourselves to give or, more often than not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them - we can love completely without complete understanding.

Guilt is nipping at my heals, like an uncomfortable reminder saying don’t forget to let the ones you love know that they are loved. Why didn’t I try harder to deliver you and Anna’s Christmas presents? Why didn’t I stop into the Arctic Bar to see you when I had the impulse? Why didn’t I call you every time it crossed my mind in the last couple of weeks? Now the time is gone and I cannot ever have it back.

I pray to God we can meet again in the spirit world
Until then.......... We will take good care of your girl Anna.

I know that you do not like mushy sentiment so I’ll just remind you what God said:

"Elizabeth you are so loved! "

all the leaves are brown and the sky is gray I've been for a walk on a winters day I'd be safe and warm if I was in LA California Dreamin on such a winters day

2012-01-12T19:31:00.000-08:00

We have been having the storm of the century up here in Alaska, Nome has run out of fuel and the fuel tanker from Russia is stuck on 4’ ice, in Cordova Alaska folks have been literally snowed into their houses and the National Guard are there helping them shovel out from under record snowfall.

All this snow and bad weather we’ve been having since New Year has given me the opportunity to focus inward and get things done. The first thing I accomplished was get myself a much needed new web site. The last one was built for me as a trade for art, not a bad deal except I could not upload my artwork just because it was way too complicated. So it stayed with the same old art for years and years. So in spite of appearances I was busy painting and creating all along. This contains newer images and some of my favorite works. Please go take a look and leave me a comment telling me if you love it, hate it or have any friendly suggestions. http://judyvars.com/

The second thing I accomplished was to get a show in West Hollywood at Candle Delirium, March 10th 2012. I am brimming with ideas for art work and 10,000 details involved with putting on a show. My awesome son Joel lives in San Diego and my other awesome son Porter is going with us! It will be a family reunion and the two brothers can see each other it’s been way to long. I would love for all of us to go to the famous San Diego Zoo.

The third thing is sticking to my strict protocol on the HCG diet. I ditched nearly 60 pounds in 2009 but gained back 25 of them. As of this morning I am 8 pounds lighter. Woo Hoo

I’ve learned that you have to be vigilant and not let those evil bad carbs back into my body and keep excercizing OH GOD. My beloved other Peter has been making him and Porter dinner, this helps me stick to the regime and gives me more time to blog, work in my office and paint! Having someone else do the cooking is the best.

So today all is well, I have no complaints, in fact I am serene yet motivated, grateful and happy.

It's going to be a three dog night or where is my knitting?

2011-12-28T19:11:00.000-08:00

As the sun slowly sets and the horizon turns to a lovely pink, it happens for the second day in a row, the power goes off! Me? I was in the zone painting with hot beeswax which requires electricity. Drat! Now what!

This means; we can't flush the toilets or run the water (because the well pump is electrical), can't surf the internet, can't watch T.V., can't cook dinner, the heater won't work because it's electrical controlled so the house is quickly cooling off. Not to worry we also have a wood burning stove and two dogs to keep us warm. Peter suggested we just go out to dinner and wait until the crews can restore power. The power outage was just on our road no where else.

It has been a particularly hard winter this year; in November it was minus -15 degrees farenheight for weeks, then the 100 mph Chinook winds came melting the snow and breaking trees and property leaving treacherous ice, and to put the frosting on the cake, it snows almost every night. The snow is so heavy on trees it is causing them to fall onto the power lines which interrupts our precious electricity.

Going without power if only for half a day and a night brings home the point of just how unprepared most of us are for disaster. If Alaska experienced another 9.2 earthquake like the one in Anchorage in 1964 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Alaska_earthquake (the largest quake in recorded history), we would all be depending each other and whatever supplies we have on hand. The stores would be empty in three days! and we would all be totally cut off from supplies coming into Alaska. We up here in the frozen North are dependant upon the goods and supplies shipped and trucked up here from everywhere else. Our biggest industry is oil and that is a tenuous relationship at best.

To drive home that point, early this morning a desperate looking man came knocking on my door carrying a gas can and asking me to give him some gas. He said he was a neighbor but I did not recognize him. I was a little nervous because I live on a remote dirt road and don't often get unannounced visitors. He lives in a cold trailer and my guess is he stayed in his car with the engine running to keep warm last night when the power was off.
NO FOOD, NO MONEY, NO GAS, NO POWER, THEN WHAT!
Please forgive my pessimism,

I am a little freaked out because of the Myan 2012 prediction of the end of the world and all the bad I see on the History Channel.

Still we need to face the facts: Disasters are on the rise worldwide and the planet has reached a tipping point where we can no longer do what we have always done and expecting different results.
We need to wake up!

Here is a nifty link to help us get prepared for the minimum of 72 hours.

http://72hours.org/

2011-12-23T20:57:00.001-08:00

Winter Solstice, Yule or Hump Day

2011-12-21T18:24:00.000-08:00

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/12/20/welcoming-the-winter-solstice-68662

The exact time of the Winter Solstice is 12:30 am EST on December 22.

People often ask me what winters are like in Alaska with darkness all day. First let me clarify that in my part of the state it is not dark all day, but the days are so short and the nights are sooooo long.

The sun rises around 11:00 am and looms low on the Southern horizon making a short low arc across the sky casting long twilight shadows and then in a blaze of glory it’s gone around 3:00 pm making way for the longest night of the year.

It dumped heavy wet snow last night and then the wind blew 100mph so naturally my power went out at around four in the morning, leaving the house cold and dark throughout the morning hours it was a little disconcerting. Over my lake was the biggest, brightest sickle moon hanging very low on the horizon. No lights or television and no Today Show with Ann and Matt giving me the bad news. My tradition in past years is to stay in my pajamas all day no matter what! Not this year! I went to Willow to see Rhonda to deliver her some Yule cheer and art. http://www.wytchwoodak.com/

This year has been especially difficult for me. SAD (Seasonal Affect Disorder) has gotten the best of me. I try very hard not to whine and not let depression get the best of me. It's just like that scary skeleton that lives in the closet if you don’t talk about or open the door it then it can’t hurt you, plus I feel a stigmatized for admitting depression. I was asking myself why? Why? didn’t I didn’t start the Prozac in September when I’m supposed to. Why? because I was feeling manic and S.A.D. was the furthest thing from my mind. If you are bi-polar, Alaska is not the best place for you (unless you enjoy your highs and lows) like me. With the setting sun I know that “hump day” is almost over and from this point on we will steadily gain daylight steadily until June 21st when the sun never really sets.

My tradition on the Summer Solstice is to stay up all night swim at midnight and howl like a wolf.

Today I wish the people of the world what Jesus said; "Love One Another." Practice - Peace, Compassion, and Acceptance of our differences for the next 365 Days.

2011-12-09T01:04:00.000-08:00

Word cloud made with WordItOut

Alaska Dreamin On Such a Winters Day

2011-11-29T19:59:00.000-08:00

It's been along time since I sold my 102 year old Victorian home in SLC packed up my paired down belongings, grabbed my boys Joel and Porter, took my Mercury Topaz and drove the Alcan Highway to my new home. People especially family and friends ask; why did you move so far away? Why? I often ask myself the same question and then I remember why, the decision was made because I began to feel this inexplicable pull to move to Alaska. I found myself longing for my Alaskan cabin, solitude, new beginnings, a chance to paint and create to my hearts content and I wanted a wonderful relationship (men in Alaska outnumber the women 10 to 1 or so they say).. Like my header said: As with all great notions it started with a daydream.Yet it was more like a pull in my soul, I couldn't explain it because it didn't make sense; sell everything, leave your job, leave your friends and family and move 3,000 miles north where you do not know anyone and start over at 40 + years old. Crazy! Yet the call of the wild was too strong to ignore, my pioneer spirit was excited unknown frontiers. So being true to myself I came to Alaska.

The reason for this story is a coincide-God, I noticed today while tidying up my studio. This is a painting/assemblage' that I created in 1994 in SLC. This work of art contains the seeds of my current artistic style. My artistic skills has improved quite a bit, still I love this piece. It contains my mission statement I made: Through my passion, power, and beauty. I create a world where others recognize their unique spirits and all live in joy and a celebration of life.

The interesting coincidence is this painting exactly duplicates this scenic outlook of the Matanuska River in Palmer. Sharen and went out late, late one summer evening to sketch this scene. Sheren is my crazy doppelganger artist/friend http://sakharris.blogspot.com/ she also moved to Alaska from Massachusetts with a similar story.

The first one came totally from my imagination and the other one is the chalk sketch I make that night. They are the same! Is that weird or what! My dream existed in my imagination and was brought to a painting before it was a reality literally. My minds eye saw it first, this is my coinci-God.

Purple, Purple, Purple I Love IT

2011-11-27T18:59:00.000-08:00

Intuitive Painter Dawn Diaz

2011-11-23T20:12:00.000-08:00

http://youtu.be/hlMJk2gDTdA

Candle Delerium in West Hollywood

2011-11-11T22:44:00.000-08:00

Candle Delerium
7980 W. Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
1-888-656-3903
http://www.candledelerium.com/

It makes a funny story one of those serendipitous coincidences that I love to share, so hang in there. Here is what happened. Anthony the owner of Candle Delirium he saw my Raven Skeleton Man piece on his friends smart phone screen saver. He likes skeletons, skulls and deviant art, so he asked where did that art come from? His friend said it came from the Internet. Anthony did some detective work and found my business “Cabin Fever In Alaska” so he called “Cabin Fever” http://cabinfeveralaska.com/ in Anchorage, that’s a nice gift store for tourists in downtown Anchorage, they did not know what he was talking about. Through some more cyber stalking he found me on Facebook and informed me my web-site was down and asked me about some of my dark art, I messaged him back on FB and told him they were at Wytchwood http://www.wytchwoodak.com/, and forgot about it, until Rhonda the witch called me and told me that Anthony had bought every one of them! We were both so excited we screamed in each others ears and jumped up and down! Rhonda earned her commission taking and sending pictures she did a great job. Anthony commissioned me to recreate Raven Skeleton Man for his friend. We have had several conversations and transactions since then. Through the power of the Internet, social media (FB), positive thinking and keeping my blog, I have a collector and friend from Hollywood, my art is in his private collection featured in his store Candle Delirium. I am planning a show there in the near future. It’s wonderful when the planets line up and everything goes my way. Like today 11.11.11

Charmaine

2011-11-05T21:35:00.001-07:00

Charmaine in the Mist

Oil

17" x 21"

NFS

Today Is All Souls Day

2011-11-02T12:19:00.000-07:00

Strange late last night I had a strong desire to light my jack-o-lantern even though Halloween is over!

Then I was motivated to gather pictures and momentos of my departed loved ones. Blanche and Geneva my grandmothers, Albert and Betty my mother and father, Marge and Ed my mother and father-in laws, Jim who was my neighbor, Douglas my younger brother, Bobbie his son, and last but not least Joy-E-Loy my loving dog who lived 15 years!

Today is All Souls Day on this day the Catholic Church prays for all the souls still is purgatory this is not to be confused with All Saints Day which commemorated the souls that are in Heaven. Now who am I to assume that my dear departed loved ones are spending some of their eternity in purgatory? Still a little prayer couldn't hurt, right?

O Lord, who art ever merciful and bounteous with Thy gifts, look down upon the suffering souls in purgatory. Remember not their offenses and negligences, but be mindful of Thy loving mercy, which is from all eternity. Cleanse them of their sins and fulfill their ardent desires that they may be made worthy to behold Thee face to face in Thy glory. May they soon be united with Thee and hear those blessed words which will call them to their heavenly home: "Come, blessed of My Father, take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

Amen

Cemetarys and Other Spooky Stuff

2011-10-28T14:45:00.000-07:00

Shhhhhhhhh let me tell you a secret I love to visit graveyards.

The graves are like homes where we continue to visit our loved ones in death, just as we once visited their homes in life. Some cemeteries are so grand they truly deserve to be called a city of the dead - a necropolis. Wherever I go, I try to capture the voices suspended in marble, the dead remembered by stone, roses and tears. When I was a melancholy girl, I would make myself a picnic lunch and walk to the Weston, Idaho Cemetery almost everyday, there I would enjoy the peaceful atmosphere while munching my potted meat sandwitch..

My Grandmother Geneva taught me to be respectful and not to walk on the graves. She also taught me that graves always face East to greet the rising sun and the Resurrection.

Another time when I was a teenager my girlfriend Kim and I went to the Salt Lake City Cemetery to drink wine and horse around we were getting loud and disrespectful then something popped my big gulp cup from my hand and drenched me with wine and ice. Someones dissapproving Grandmother or Gramdfather I imagine. We both screamed and laughed hysterically while running as fast as we could go. Its rude and disrespectful to wake the dead with wild parties.

But I'm sure they will be expecting visitors on All Hallows Eve when the veil is the thinnest.

WooooOOOO00000 ARE YOU SCARED YET?!

Making a Self Portrait

2011-10-16T17:37:00.000-07:00

Let me make this clear this painting is not finished! It is very definitely a work in progress. The painting you see took just a few hours but the completed portrait may take awhile. All great artists have painted themselves Van Gough, Rembrandt, Frida Kahlo, etc. In my case I wanted to paint a beautiful witch for Halloween. I did not have a georgeous, sexy, real live model to work with. So I decided to use myself, the idea was to light my face from underneath which is not a very flattering light, although it is dramatic and witchy,

I wanted my face to look like it was bathed in candle light. The original idea was to have her wearing a witches hat and costume and standing in a graveyard, haunted mansion, or with runes on the wall, something spooky and intriguing. Since I was using myself as the model I was less willing to depict me as to witchy, weird or wicked. This marks the first time I have ever painted myself. What stopped me was telling myself things like I’m not beautiful enough, too old, or it's self centered and narcissistic. Of course at my age I could use a mini facelift but painting me and accepting me and the way I am today; wrinkles, eye bags, grey hair, lumps etc. is a great way to practice compassion, acceptance and love for the person I am most critical of (me). Painting a self portrait is also a great meditation for really looking at oneself objectively. Noticing all my flaws and assets and acknowledging exactly where I am in time. It all fits together like a puzzle, gray hair, frown lines, happy lines, green eyes, bags and bumps, separate and alone under my scrutiny my flaws are obvious, but as part of the whole my portrait is complete and perfect and still a work in progress. Here is my favorite affirmation...

I am at peace with my age for me it is always now.
I came to this planet to experience every age.
I am at peace with where I am at in time.
My future is Glorious.

Call me a Diva, I Want A Staff

2011-10-04T22:32:00.000-07:00

I need a personal assistant like Picasso, or a whole gaggle of groupies like Andy Warhol ready to do anything I tell them to do.

I've got the "do it myself syndrome" but honestly, I can't do-it-all!! Even though I try, I really try. I've spent all day today organizing my art business and setting up a data base to track everything, getting togrther photos of my work, CRAZY. But I am so right brained that it's hard to focus on one thing at a time, besides I hate paperwork. I want all my ideas put into motion and
I WANT IT NOW..

If I had a staff of helpers my mansion would be impeccable no one would ever have just one sock, dinner would be delicious and healthy every night no frozen pizzas ever again, my personal trainer would keep me in perfect shape, my assistant would organize everything including my social life and remind me of important engagements, bring me some herbal tea, shelter me from the slings and arrows of my critics. I would retire to my studio every day requesting that I not be disturbed until lunch and paint priceless masterpieces while watching the ocean.

Really this is my favorite fantasy next to being a sexy torch singer or winning the biggest lottery ever.

So Just for today know that I can do only one thing at a time and bite by bite I can eat the whole elephant. I can't believe I ate the whole elephant. BCWYAF (be careful what you ask for)..........

2011-09-19T17:26:00.000-07:00

A Walk In The Woods

Judy Vars

Firefly Gallery

419 L. Street

Anchorage, Alaska

(907) 334-9979

First Friday, October 7th 2011 - Opening Reception 5:30 to 7:30

Its autumn the golden leaves are falling like rain. The end of Summer is bittersweet, it's so fresh and beautiful outside Mother Nature is putting on her Autumn attire, the perfect days are numbered and soon, all to soon it will be Winter again. Peter and I took a boat ride yesterday right our own back yard, we saw the baby loon, he is not so young anymore and his feathers a dark slate blue it was sooo pretty.
The winters here last from October till April or May so each nice sunshiney day is precious.
I have been busy gathering inspiration from Mother Nature all Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. Working on a series of woodland paintings for my October art show. My paintings are getting their finishing touches there are: lilly pads, magic mushrooms, birch trees, winter trees and more birch trees. I hope to see you there!

"American artists, performers and thinkers, representing our ideals, can inspire both at home and all over the world." Barack Obama

2011-09-15T12:48:00.000-07:00

Witches In Willow Wytchwood on Mile Marker 85.5 Parks Hwy. Alaska

2011-08-18T19:54:00.000-07:00

Here is the classy new Wytch Wood sign. I painted the sexy witch to resemble Rhonda.
It was sooo much fun to do I even had some interesting dreams about it.

Where is Wytch Wood? As the Raven flies North along the Parks Highway looking for tasty road kill, Wytchwood is at mile-marker 85.5. Just off the highway is a quaint historical cabin which houses Wytch Wood a unique Herbal Shoppe and Art Emporium. This is the real deal! This little Shoppe reminds me of Salem but it is here in Alaska. So if you are a fradiy cat or have strong black and white views, are closed minded, or have an irrational fear of witches then just drive on past. On the other hand if you are open minded, adventurous, curious and in need of some love potion then definitely stop in for a visit.

See art by local artisans, herbal remedies, incense, stock up on your altar items and much much more......... Get to know Rhonda the original Witch of Willow she is straight foreward and makes no excuses for her beliefs or her purple hair! Rhonda Gruber is an educated herbalist she carries the best quality herbs, tinctures, and remedies in the whole area and of course she now carries the art of Judy Vars. Here is the link to her web site for your adult needs opps I mean altar needs. http://www.wytchwoodak.com/

I ignored the urge to go to Wytchwood for quite awhile but finally quit procrastinating and got a job out of the deal. I took her some of my darker art pieces which goes in her Art Emporium/Herbal Shoppe perfectly. I brought her Ghosty Girl, Babba Yagga, Witchy Woman, Pandora's Box, Silver Moon and a jewel box I made from cut glass in Costa Rica.
I am feeling a little witchey myself and Halloween is still 2 months away! It's a good excuse to dress slutty. LOL

Judy Vars and Rhonda Gruber

20 Things You Don't Know About Bees by Liza Lentini

2011-07-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

Beehive Drawer

26" x 18"

Encaustic Painting/Mixed Media

395.00

See it at the Firefly Gallery

419 L. Street

Anchorage, Alaska

1.There are 16,000 species. Most are solitary insects; only about 5 percent are social bees, the most common being the honeybee. As many as 80,000 of them colonize a single hive.

2.Drones – the male honeybees – live only for mating with the queen. If there is a shortage of food in the hive, the workers kick their lazy, gigolo asses out.
3.To die for: When drones mate, they die afterwards from a ruptured abdomen. Sex detaches their endophallus, which gets stuck inside the queen.

4.She continues to mate – the drones aren’t terribly smart, apparently – until she collects more than 70 million sperm from multiple males.

5.The queen was known as the king until the late 1660s, when Dutch scientist Jan Swammerdam dissected the hive’s big bee and discovered ovaries.

6.Someone call Homeland Security! Australian researchers discovered that honeybees can distinguish human faces. The insects were shown black-and-white pictures and given treats for right answers.

7.Oh, someone did call Homeland Security. In the Stealthy Insect Sensor Project, Los Alamos scientists have trained bees to recognize explosives.

8.The term “honeymoon” is derived from an old northern European custom in which newlyweds would consume a daily cup of mead, made with fermented honey, for a month.

9.The term “bee’s knees” was coined by American cartoonist Tad Dorgan, who was also responsible for “the cat’s pajamas,” “the fleas eyebrows,” “the canary’s tusks,” and (apropos of nothing) “Yes, we have no bananas.”

10.During World War I, honey was used to treat the wounds of soldiers because it attracts and absorbs moisture, making it a valuable healing agent.

11.Honey never spoils. Ever.

12.Bumblebees can estimate time intervals. Researchers have found that the insects extend their tongues in tandem with the rhythm of a sweet reward. This aids in the hunt for nectar, whose availability waxes and wanes.

13.Melittosphex burmensis, recently found preserved in amber in a mine in northern Myanmar, is the oldest bee known. It lived 100 million years ago.

14.After he had pioneered the laws of genetics with pea plants, Austrian monk Gregor Mendel bred a strain of hybrid bees. Unfortunately, they were so vicious he had to kill them.

15.The buzz that you hear when a bee approaches is the sound of its four wings moving at 11,400 strokes per minute. Bees fly and average of 15 miles per hour.

16.A newly hatched queen immediately kills all other hatched and unhatched queens in the hive.

17.The Honeybee Boogie: In 1943 Austrian zoologist Karl von Frisch published his study on the dances bees perform to alert fellow workers. A round dance indicates that food is close by; a waggle dance means it is distant.

18.Worker bees have strictly regimented roles, including that of undertakers who drag their dead siblings from the hive.

19.On the April 1984 ChallengetI flight, 3,300 bees, housed in a special but confining box, adapted perfectly to zero gravity and built a nearly normal comb. But they didn’t go to the toilet. Since bees excrete only outside the hive, they held it in for seven days. A NASA spokesperson said the space hive was “just as clean as a pin”.

20.According to an old wives’ tale, a bee entering your house means a visitor is on his way, and if you kill the bee, the visitor won’t be a pleasant one. Suffice to say, invite that unexpected honeybee guest to sit down to tea.

"Be excellent to each other" - Bill & Ted

2011-07-23T22:30:00.000-07:00

Feng Shui Approved or Welcome to the Holies of Holies

2011-07-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf11lS7cZb0

Lately I have been getting my writing fix by doing "morning pages" that's three pages of longhand writing every morning. Consequently my blog is being neglected, Facebook distracts me also. Along with that I have also been reading and doing the tasks Julia Cameron suggests in the book, The Vein of Gold. One of the tasks is to create for myself a sacred space. I began to notice how much I hated my office and how I hated doing any of the menial office tasks that I needed to do like; reading my e-mails, paying my bills, making my phone calls, filing, (i hate filing) writing a shopping list, etc. I had a very bad attitude whenever I went into my horrible disorganized disaster of an office, I felt distracted, discouraged and bitchy. After speaking with my wise and honest friend Yoby who said, "why don't you fire that lazy clerk with the bad attitude and hire a new CEO?" Why not indeed! So that is the game I played with myself, the new CEO needed to have this sub-par office remodeled!

The base coat is buttercup yellow mixed 3to1 with wallpaper paste. I dry brushed this mixture on in different directions it dried rather quickly. Then mixed Aztec gold the same way and used the same brush technique the effect is very dramatic. Peter took off the old door and floor molding and painted the new flutted molding with Aztek gold.

I wanted my new space to be optimistic yellow because; yellow is mentally stimulating and guaranteed to spark creative thoughts it also encourages communication.
BTW this new office only cost me just $112.50! The paint and paste cost me $60.00 the sheers $12.20 and the new molding $40.00. My icons of Jesus and Mary, St Jude and Blue Madonna look beautiful on this wall and my artifacts have found a good spot.
Now I have a beautiful sacred office space Fen Shui approved. My piles of files are getting smaller and more manageable, I'm giving tons of stuff away. I gave my huge old dinosaur of computer and the ugly computer desk to my grandsons, they were super excited.

Oh isn't it marvelous what better attitude, organization, and COLOR can do for a persons mood!

Dexter's Roadhouse Golovin, Alaska

2011-06-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

Dexters Roadhouse Golovin, Alaska

acrylic painting

16 x 20 wrapped canvas

When destitute miners on the beach at Nome realized that the ruby colored sand at their feet was laced with gold, they must have thought that they had died and gone to heaven. Alaska gold in Nome was literally discovered on the beach. Poet Sam Dunham wrote in 1900, "For many miles along the beach, double ranks of men were rocking, almost shoulder to shoulder, while their partners stripped the pay streak and supplied the rockers with water and pay dirt”. If they would let you a person could still earn a days wages digging gold on the beach. I know I saw the gold flashing on the beach in the bright Northern sun.

Golovin, Alaska is about 60 miles South of Nome and Dexter”s Roadhouse was built in that time to accommodate the miners and villagers. Dexters according to locals operated until 1954 as a dance hall, general store, post office, hotel and saloon. Oxy a resident of Golovin and Jack Brown told me they remember their moms working there for twenty-five cents a week. Oxy told me when her mother saved up one dollar she would buy herself four yards of fabric and make herself a dress. They told me when it was closed and boarded up, the contents remained inside: furniture, store supplies, clothes, beds, dishes, stoves, shoes, everything. It was only opened once to let people have a look inside and then boarded up once again just like a coffin, protecting a rich and colorful history of the gold rush in Nome. A building this old is a rarity in AK. The early pioneers did not even come to settle Alaska until the 1940s or so. Most of the early structures are gone altogether, Dexter’s Roadhouse is a true relic of Alaskan history, it sits in a small village of only 150 Chinik Eskimo’s in such a remote place that almost no one will ever see it. It’s not clear to me if it is on the Historical Register (it should be).

I painted this in my free time while visiting Golovin.

Become as Little Children - Jesus

2011-06-08T21:24:00.000-07:00

Look at my fetish doll - it's mine all mine - not everything is for sale . Driftwood gathered from the beach at Golovin, Alaska, Raven feathers, Seagull feathers, bird beak, cracked seagull egg, old spoon of Grandmother's with Emilie one of the Dionne quintuplets born in the 30s before fertility drugs.

I remember all 5 quint spoons now only one is left and it has been purloined for my doll. The inspiration for "Emilie" was of course being in the real Alaska, with time to be with myself, on a peninsula, collecting beach things and reading Julia Cameron's book “The Vein of Gold a Journey to Your Creative Heart.” Along with faithfully doing my three pages of longhand writing everyday. I get a chance to clear my head first thing and plan my day and perhaps go a little deeper into my psyche and uncover some pure gold. To quote directly from her book...

“According to doll making legend, the original work for doll was “idol” We have just lopped off the “I.” When we make dolls we are invoking God like powers. Doll making is a very powerful form of magic. Because we are working directly with the human figure in a form that appeals to our child self, we are talking directly to our creative consciousness, which in turn speaks directly to our Higher Self.

“Doll making is a very potent form of turning it over to God. Therefore, dolls are extremely potent tools for manifestation. (It is no accident that dolls are used in Voodoo.)” But if dolls can be—and have been—used negatively, they can also be used positively, and that is what we are doing here.”

My job is to live with my creation and just see what my doll this reveals to me. I have some good ideas what this doll is saying, which I will save for my morning pages.

Why is it that dexterity, knowledge of art, and taste do not necessarily add up to what we seek in art?
Peter London

2011-06-03T00:07:00.000-07:00

Misty Morning

Jack Brown

A scene in Golovin

I had to show you just one of the kids

I wonder what this little boy wants to be when he grows up?

Just where in Golovin, Alaska

Northern Exposure

2011-05-31T21:53:00.000-07:00

Dear Diary

I have been in Golovin for 10 days now. My sleepover went pretty well considering 7 girls from 6 to 11. What are little girls make of of sugar and spice and piss and vinegar. To make art at the sleepover I purloined the classroom across the hall and set up art stations, I made a rule that each girl spend at least an hour in the art room making art, some of them stayed longer making some great childhood artwork. WOW
I made it through the whole long Memorial weekend mostly entertaining myself it's weird being locked up in the school sleeping with the books, vaccuming up glitter instead of grilling steaks on the barbecue and it's maddening the intense Northern Light coming through my window all night who can sleep?
I'm wondering how I would do in the winter here when there is no sun? Can you say "The Shining"? Not many people could do it. The town was very quiet yesterday I took some walks. This is one memorial day that I will remember for the rest of my days.

My impressions and stories about this tiny little village on the Bering Straights Golovin, Alaska is still happening and I'm too overwhelmed to try and tell then here. However I have been keeping an Artists Journal three pages every morning and three pages every night and writing about everything http://www.theartistsway.com/books. I pledged to continue it for the whole 12 weeks.

One of my sleepover girls was my tour guide today; Cameryon she took me from Baldy Mountain where the graveyard is all the way out to the point giving me the rundown on absolutely everything. Suffice to say this is a quirky little town in a forbidden land where Eskimo families have lived and died for generations in this vast unspoiled wilderness. It's flipping awesome.

I moved to Alaska to experience my own Northern Exposure http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Northern_Exposure_episodes I found it! and at times I had to say to myself "you asked for this."

In art class we have been working on self portraits the children are doing a great job! Tomorrow we are going to make a funky self portrait one.

Love You
Judy

p.s. I have found time to paint and have started another painting "Gods Painting" How I wish I had my oils acrylics suck. :(

Oxyies Grandmothers House

Yellow Arctic Flowers

A Raven

Cemetary

Almost the whole town of Golivin

Haunted House

The SOLID GOLD

God's Painting

My Walkabout in Golivin, AK and Girlz Just Wanna Have Fun!

2011-05-27T23:51:00.000-07:00

Sunrise 4:57 am

My Raven cousin

Sunset about 1:30 am

There is a humengeous bumblebee in this photo.

My favorite the trash burning monster

Suddenly It came to me in a shock awareness I have 4 days in Golivin to myself when I will not be teaching. So last night I started a painting of Dexters Roadhouse built in the late 1800's in the time of the gold rush. It should have historical landmark status. Since I love to paint old and decaying ruins this is a haven for me I am taking tons of pictures of everything. Espically the children, I cannot or should not publish them without their parents permission.

I have no television and am so glad I don't know who won the Apprentice or many personalities Tara has split into. My collection of music on my computer is flipping awesome so I've got tunes.

My days have been bliss, every morning and every night I walk, I write three pages in my journal and I found some time to paint. The most bestest part of this whole adventure is I have the priviledge to teach youngers art. The kick is they teach me so much, just when I thought it could not get any better I get to experience the joys of childhood again. They laugh and play kick the can till 12:00 am. We all play while the sun still shines in the land of the midnight sun. They call out "Hi Ms Judy" and visit with me for a while then off to play some more games. They leave their little bikes everywhere. The little dears, but because we are not having quite enough fun I am planning a ...
Girls Girls only Art Sleepover at the school library Sunday night.
Before you call me completly nuts it is for girls 6 to 11 only and 10 girls allowed (thats all in that age group) we ate going to have a BLAST!#$%
Wish me luck.

One Picture is Worth 10,000 Words or What Did I See On My Walk Today

2011-05-25T19:52:00.001-07:00

A Beautiful Baby Raven Died Maliciously Yesterday

2011-05-24T20:22:00.000-07:00

but the story is still unfolding and it is best not tell it until I get back. This song I will use in the ulogy.

This sad and beautiful Russian song seems to speak to my heartache. I choose this because where I am at you really can almost see Russia from where I am standing.

You bring the blooded cloth

to my beloved lady-love.

Tell her she is free

I have married another.

Hard arrow married us

in the fateful battle.

I see my dead is coming.

black raven, I am all yours.

2011-05-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Golivin today around 4:00 on a very small aircraft Maude the teacher and her two children met me at the runway. For the rest of my stay I am making my Raven nest in the library of the school. I'm wondering how I will sleep with all the book energy around me. Being the only person in a big school all alone it feels strange the building makes unfamiliar noises.
I made myself some sweet potato soup with carmelized onions in the school kitchen it was yummy. Then I took a tiny walk to the end of town which sits on a small peninsula and talked to Dave about his beautiful dogs. After a bit I regretted not wearing my sunglasses out, even though it was around 6:30 pm the Northern Light was so intense it gave me a headache. Golivin is peaceful and quiet and the people that I've met so far are warm and friendly. Tomorrow is my first day of teaching art to the children and I am very excited to get to know them and expore art with them. If possible I will take pictures of the kids but first must get a release from the parents to publish their images on the internet. Yes even though the sun will not set until 12:30 am I must try to sleep.

Dexter's Roadhouse

Golovin, Alaska

built in the late 1800s

Into the Wild of ALASKA or Look Where My Art is Taking Me!

2011-05-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

Sunday is the day I am flying to the Alaskan bush, not like Christopher Johnson McCandless (February 12, 1968 – August 1992) was an American itinerant who adopted the name Alexander Supertramp and hiked into the Alaskan wilderness with little food and equipment, hoping to live a period of solitude. Almost four months later, McCandless' remains were found, weighing only 67 pounds (30 kg; 4 st 11 lb); he died of starvation near Lake Wentitika Denali National Park and Preserve. wikipeda. He ate the wrong plant and died, it was very sad but any Alaskan knows you do not go into the wilderness being naive and unprepared.

I am taking lots of provisions a huge box of art supplies, groceries, books, computer, camera, sleeping bag, pillow, sketch book, and my journal. "I will boldly go where no man has gone before" (Star Trek reference) Well, yes a few intrepid souls have ventured into the Alaskan bush and now I can join the ranks of the few that have actually been to the remote parts and seen the real Alaska and meet the real Alaskan's.
Golivin is 90 miles east of Nome, Alaska. There are three ways to get there fly in a tiny plane, grab a sled dog team or take a barge. To step outside the city limits is to step into the wild of Alaska, the bears are waking up from their long winters nap hungry and grumpy.

It is probably obvious but I am nervously excited to be going to a place that has up to now only lived in my imagination. I will meet the 10 children that I will teach art to, the teacher Maude, live at the school and be a part of an the community for two weeks. I want to take lots of pictures (note to self: get release forms for posting pictures of people on the Internet) otherwise I will photograph and paint the unimaginable beauty of virgin Alaska.

Here is a link to a blog written by the students at Martin L. Olsen school in Golivin http://golovin.bssd.org/blog/ this is all very helpful in reliving some of my anxiety.

How Much Mess and Art Can Three Women Make?

2011-05-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the first half of my encaustic wax workshop and it was sooo much fun!
Ruth, Suzie and Me had a wonderful time making encaustic art and I did my part to spread the-cult-of-the- wax. Later on I went over to Turkey Reds for the last 30 minutes of my art show with Sharen AK Harris ok so only a few folks showed up it was sunny outside and in Alaska on the sunshiney days practically nobody comes inside, so for those other people who stopped by we are so grateful, Thank You for supporting the arts in the Valley.

At 6:00 in the evening it was the For the Love of Dogs show at Madd Matters AKA the Alaska Gallery in Palmer. It was so much fun we ate good poppin hot brat hot dogs, looked at the dog art, and petted the honored guests the doggies. The proceeds and donations went to the Humane Society.
Drat I have no pictures of this event cus I left my camera in the car.

So yesterday was an artful day and today Sunday I'm feeling a little tired and lazy.
I was taught it's not good to work on Sunday so it is a good excuse to laze about on the Lords day.
Next Saturday I am going to give the second part of my encaustic workshop. Next Sunday the 22nd I am flying to Golovin, Alaska to teach art to youngsters. Please send me your good wishe and please stay tuned, I will keep you updated with pictures and stories of life in the real Alaska.

2011-05-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

Ships and Icons

a joint show by

Judy Vars and Sharen AK Harris

presented by The Alaska Gallery @

TURKEY RED

550 S. Alaska Street, Palmer

**Ships and Icons** A joint art show by Judy Vars and Sharon AK Harris. 4-6pm.
See by appointment call: Gregg 745-6045

Sharen is my BFF and my best painting buddy we have so much in common it's like she is my doppleganger are artwork style could not be more different. That is what makes it interesting, don't you think? There was some (alot) of misscommunication about the times it is officially 4 to 6 pm.

Plan to come and then go to MADD MATTERS**For the Love of Dogs**. Original art by local artists, on display from May 14 through June 9. Artists’ reception from 6-8pm. Part of the proceeds of any sale will go to support a dog at a local shelter. Hot dogs will be served!

**Encaustic Beeswax Painting Workshop by Judy Vars**. 10:00am until 5:30pm. Course fee is $235, which includes substrates, materials and lunch. (This workshop will be repeated the next week, on June 21)

Saturday is a big day! We hope you can make it out to see us and the Art Scene all over the valley this Second Saturday.

Hot Off the Griddle and Just In Time for Spring!

2011-04-22T18:16:00.000-07:00

Spring Serenity 12" x 28" @ Firefly Gallery 419 L. Street, Anchorage, AK

Encaustic Painting Workshop

Judy Vars: Is offering a two day Encaustic Beeswax Painting Workshop
Encaustic: Ancient technique of painting with layers of melted beeswax and pigment.
Participants will be given a thorough introduction of the encaustic medium and method –
from traditional to experimental. Artists with backgrounds in almost any medium will
find this workshop an exciting opportunity to expand their visual vocabulary with wax.
The dynamic created by a diverse mix of artists contributes to the learning experience.
The classes will teach a variety of methods of working with wax and heat, slideshow and lunch.
Class size is limited to between 5-8 participants.

Date: Consecutive Saturdays May 14th and May 21st

Times: 10:00am– 5:30pm

Place: Madd Matters and the Alaska Gallery
105 E. Arctic Avenue, Palmer, AK 907.745.6045

Price: $235.00 includes materials fee, substrates and lunch

Pre-registration: by April 30th $100.00 and $120.00 due on the day of the class.

Contact: Judy @ 907.355.2219 cabinak@mtaonline.net

Blog: http://www.cabinfeverinalaska.blogspot.com/

Coincidences Coinci-Gods or Karma Costa Rica Style

2011-04-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

Adventure: An exciting and very unusual experience. I have always told myself, be careful what you ask for because the universe always provides. Now my definition might be a zip line or extreme bungee jumping, not the kind we got. However it all turned out.

Here is my story: We were going to the Hotel Aranjuez http://www.hotelaranjuez.com/ to shower and relax before we were to fly out at 6:00 a.m the next morning. I was planning to go visit Emilia Fung's Gallery: Galeria 11-12 Arte http://www.galeria11-12.com/ (she specializes in purely Costa Rican art past to present). That was not to be. After my shower I realized that I had left my backpack on the taxi, computer, cellphones, cameras, passports and money etc.! Fortunately, because my friend Martha Sanchez had called the cab for us, we had the name of the taxi company and the cab number. Panic and disbelief set in, the cab company began to give us the run-around so we went to the Organismo di Investigation Judicial (cop shop) that night and they said no crime had been committed. No Satisfaction.

Judy Vars and Martha E Sanchez

The next morning our friend Martha http://marthaesanchez.blogspot.com/ showed up to help us out, because we were scared and frustrated there was some loud arguments and bruised feelings. Thank you my dear friend and Sebastian for everything! your warm home for three nights, your good cooking, yogi, showing us San Jose, introducing us to your friends and having a party, showing us a Hopi ceremony and most important, keeping with us even when things got difficult and crazy! Friendship is stronger than fighting. I love you!

We all went to the police, it was like an old episode of Hill Street Blues, the cops made some calls and put some pressure on the taxi company, next we all got into the squad car and drove to the taxi company. The driver checked the taxi, no backpack. Then the police detectives took us to the American Embassy to get our new passports. They gave us VIP treatment according to Martha.

That night, the night of the second day something unbelievable happened: The woman who had gotten into the taxi next noticed my backpack and decided to keep it instead of telling the cab driver, she looked inside and found my name and got onto Facebook. From there she contacted my friends in Alaska, Kimberly Bustillos http://artdebustillos.com/ she contacted my other friend Sharen AK Harris http://sharenakharris.com/about.html who called my son Porter and he called my daughter Nicole who reached me that night at the hotel. She said; Someone found your backpack and gave me Edith's name and phone number.

Edith Campos also contacted Martha and Sebastian Sanchez http://marthaesanchez.blogspot.com/ in Costa Rica. Martha and I jumped in the taxi and went to an older barrio and got the pack back. Everything was still there, computer, cameras, cell phones, money, passports!!! Edith Campos is my Facebook Angel. Facebook should give her an award.

Edith Campos, Judy and her MoM

Later that night Martha and I went to an Internet Cafe to try and change our airline reservations but I got nowhere with the airlines or Price Line (Alaska Airlines are shits) they told me that we needed to pay an additional $4,366 just to get home. The next day after we walked all over downtown San Jose, CR trying to make international phone calls, in defeat we returned to the American Embassy. HELP we cried! The phones at the embassy worked no problemo, they spoke English, and renegotiated the airline ticket. In a couple of hours we had our tickets home thanks to another angel Charmaine my daughter.

That is not the end of my story: We had only been eating the complimentary breakfast at the Hotel Aranjuez to save money. After things were sorted out and we knew we were going to be leaving the next morning we went to a soda (restaurant) called Isabel’s to enjoy our last meal in Costa Rica.

The next day in the Houston Airport aka George Bush International, after the first leg of our journey home. I was sitting by the internet port charging my computer when an older woman asked me for help, she asked me to send an e-mail informing her party in Boston she had missed her flight. I e-mailed her party the time and flight number of her arrival. I noticed her name was Isabel, so I said funny, we ate at a place called Isabel’s last night in San Jose, Costa Rica. She said; so did I, in San Jose by the hospital? I said: Yes, we must have missed each other by just 30 minutes .We both said; What are the odds of that? I ask; Are you Costa Rican? She said; Yes. I ask; Where do you live? She said: Golfito. I ask; Do you know Reymundo, our friend who owns DolphinQuest http://www.dolphinquestcostarica.com/Dolphin_Quest_Costa_Rica/About.html She said; Yes! and has known him since Raymar his oldest son was born in the ocean about 19 years ago. Everyone we met in Golfito think the world of Reymundo who is originally from Detroit. We begin to have a conversation,she says she has started the process to open a bilingual school in Golfito to teach English to children and adults. Coincidentally, Peter's and I have this dream for retirement to do just that.

We are asking ourselves what kind of crazy coincidences in the universe made this happen? We were all feeling goosebumps and praising DIOS!

The story gets even stranger if you think about it. Had we not missed our flight like Isabel, we would not have met in Houston at all. Suddenly I said; You are going to Boston, Isabel! and we are flying to Seattle! We looked at the ticket and we should have been at gate C-18 not C-14 where we were sitting with Isabel. We hugged took a picture and ran to our gate to get on our flight in the nick of time.

Judy Vars and Isabel Arias

I do not know the significance of this meeting but something tells me that there are forces larger than we know at work for our good and our protection if we can just get out of the way and let it happen. Thank you to the people of Costa Rica you have strengthened my faith in Humanity! Thank you Great Spirit!

I LOVE COSTA RICA and I love the people of Costa Rica! Thank You Dios!

Art In Costa Rica

2011-03-06T07:01:00.000-08:00

This is the artwork on display at the Ramada Hurrada in San Jose, Costa Rica by a very talented artist Francisco Muado. How clever to take the famous masters and make them fun and definitely Costa Rican. Come back for more art updates.

2011 Wearable Art Show - Anything Goes

2011-02-21T15:29:00.000-08:00

This is my contribution to this years Wearable Art Show "Anything Goes" http://www.valleyartsalliance.com/index.html go there to see all the models and prior years. I modeled for the first time this year. Nicole (my eldest daughter) did all the interesting stuff like the goggles, hat, necklace which is sooo great. A fun time was had by all and to work with my daughter the inventor was priceless.

The Mistress of Time is packed and ready for adventure - any place and any time.

This Steampunk inspired creation is Victorian fashion meets technology, form meets function, machines meet magic. The look is inspired by a future vision of Jules Verne and modern technology powered by steam.

Materials: Cogs, gears, watch parts, springs, brass, old papers and maps, ephemera, Victorian lace, taffeta, and leather.

Artist: Nicole Barker

KAKM Art Showcase Auction

2011-01-30T23:08:00.000-08:00

Golden Eagle

16x24

Encaustic Beeswax and 24 Carat Gold

Judy Vars

February 5 & 6- Saturday & Sunday 1-5pm – Art Preview, Pre-Buy, Pre-Bid Open House

February 10, 11, & 12-Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7:00 to 10:30pm KAKM Art Showcase Live on Channel 7. View from home & bid by phone or make reservations to join us in the studio for catered dinner and live bidding action. http://artauction.kakm.org/

Iccarus Who Flew Too Close To the Sun

12x12

Encaustic, Beeswax and Feathers

Judy Vars

I donated two of my favorite pieces to KAKM Public Television's annual Art Showcase Auction. This is fantastic because I can give back to something that has given and gives so much to us. Sesame Street and was my babysitter, Mr Rogers was the only one that seemed to calm Charmaine, (I loved it to) Upstairs Downstairs, Masterpiece Theater, Mystery, Nova and Egg everything they do is outstanding. We all watch it and don't pay for it! You know who you are! T.V used to be a free commodity but not any more how much do some of us pay for cable or satellite TV? It ain't free thats fer sure.
Now is our chance to have fun, buy great pieces of original Alaskan Art, help with a little bit of their expenses, and get rid of a little guilt in the bargain.

I'll be interviewed by an iconic Alaskan Artist Byron Birdsall Saturday Feb 12 @ 9:30 pm
HOW GREAT IS THAT!

2011-01-18T17:55:00.001-08:00

Am I Nuts? Obsessive Counting Disorder (arithmomania)

2011-01-12T18:11:00.000-08:00

Shoes With Embellishments

For the Wearable Art Show

February 19th

Palmer Train Depot

Judy Vars

That's me, I count how many steps to the top of the driveway, how many steps to the mailbox. I'll count my calories, how many nuts I ate today, the measurements of my food, amount I lost, amount I weigh, the inches and centimeters on the tape measure. I measure the time it takes me to empty the dishwasher and how many dishes I put away. I'll set the timer for 15 minutes and get busy with housework and them stop! I must count and arrange things. How many days until my 60th birthday - 587, how many days to the wearable art show - 39, how many days until Costa Rica - 55, how many days left on the maintenance phase of my HCG protocol - 16, how many days to the KAKM art auction - 31 I'll be on television.
Yes I can control my obsessive counting it does not control my life, in fact it helps me feel in better control of my days (Says the little girl whistling in the dark).

As you can see I have allot of things happening everything is progressing in a non-linear way but on schedule.

To make matters worse my muse has already left for a holiday! I try to focus on creating a piece of artwork and them find myself multi-tasking, so to add to the mix I have Adult Attention Deficit Disorder.

SOMEBODY HELP ME! Please..............No Thank You I Am Fine

Sa RAH

2010-12-27T11:35:00.000-08:00

SARAH PALIN

Encaustic Beeswax Painting

(after Fayum Mummy Portraits)

12' X 16"

NFS

Judy Vars

The Fayum Mummy Portraits were found in the fertile Nile region known as Fayum, these ancient necropolises contained literally thousands of these ancient portraits. These paintings offer a rare glimpse into the personalities of people that lived in the time of Cleopatra and Marc Anthony. These effigies have remarkably withstood thousands of years of extreme heat and cold. The fertile Nile Delta known as Alexandria was a mix of Greek, Roman and Egyptian cultures. These Fayum Mummy Portraits are painted in the classical Greek style upon thin birch wood panels. The mummies are wrapped and preserved with Egyptian techniques and Roman in their social content.

I have painted Sarah according to the Greek school i.e. palette which contains only four colors; white, yellow ochre, red ochre and black and then painted with encaustic beeswax and embellished with gold leaf.

They were painted life size and probably painted while the person was still alive then added to the mummy casing after death. All my portraits all share one common element with their ancient cousins and that is their hypnotic gaze which seems to suspend them in the eternal present. The mystery of the Fayum portraits has captured my imagination; no one knows for sure their dating, origin or their true function.

For years I have been in love with icons, the spiritual aspect and the everyday aspect of icons. I ask myself questions like; what makes an “icon”? When somebody emerges into the social fabric of our society there image is everywhere and their personality is part of our shared experience (unless you live under a rock). We love to hate our icons. Is luck, fame and fortune as random as winning the lottery or getting hit by a truck or is it divine? Sure talent and hard are usually necessary but there are millions of talented people (myself for example) who will be as forgotten as if they never lived in a couple of generations.

I am making a gallery of modern icons "The Hall of the Famous the Infamous and the Obscure" if you have any ideas let me know. My previous icon was Angelina Jolie as Cleopatra and Martha Sanchez as Frida. See below, You get the idea.

Your critique, ideas and comments are always appreciated the painting can always be reworked and improved upon, that’s the beauty of encaustic wax.
http://cabinfeverinalaska.blogspot.com/2010/11/angelena-jolie-as-cleopatra.html
http://cabinfeverinalaska.blogspot.com/2010/09/martha-sanchez-as-frida-kalho.html
http://cabinfeverinalaska.blogspot.com/search?q=Oprah+and+Obama

As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

2010-12-17T20:19:00.000-08:00

Marianne Williamson

Golden Eagle

Encaustic Beeswax Painting

15" X 26" X 2"

By Judy VArs

Currently at KAKM Public Television Channel 7

I love that sentiment, currently I am reading "A Course in Weight Loss" 21 SPIRITUAL LESSONS FOR SURRENDERING YOUR WEIGHT FOREVER by Marianne Williamson http://www.marianne.com/

Yes! I released about 50 pounds of fat to the universe but to say forever, that's along time forever!

People say things like; you look hot! and my friends are getting jealous (that's a good sign), but now I am worried about keeping up a healthful eating and exercising regime for the long haul talk to me in a year or two. My intent is to still be at a normal weight healthy and taking care if my well being until I am an old lady (older lady).

I do not want to relapse again but my weight issues have been a life long pattern, perhaps I should do OA a 12 Step Program for compulsive over eaters.

Today I mailed my Christmas gifts and cards off, sent Mary's Raven to Massachusetts, bought some gifts and took Golden Eagle and Iccarus artwork to the KAKM http://kakm.org/ the local public television station for their annual art auction.Cindy S. the coordinator for this auction was so nice and gracious she showed Peter and me all the art they have taken in. The Byron Birdsall http://www.artiqueltd.com/artworks/list/artist/3was piece was beautiful to me it was obvious to me why he is an iconic artist in the Alaska Art World.

This donation will get me in the catalogue and onto television for an interview. What a good opportunity, I'll post more info when available.

This is one of Birdsalls icons outstanding! perhaps I will get to meet him at the auction!

Spirit Messengers and the Ghosts from Christmasses Past

2010-12-13T16:35:00.000-08:00

Messengers

Encaustic Beeswax

12" X 9"

Judy Vars

painted for Mary Barrett

This commission was just completed for Mary Barrett. This is a woman from my days of yore, we didn't know each other on a personal level but we had commonalities; we were married to the same man for a time, she took care of my son every other weekend for awhile about 20 years ago and we share a fellowship. OMG does that make us sister/wives that's the way Mark would have liked it all his X's under one roof and him the rooster. OK Judy get outa that place. Here is a part of Mary's communication that lead to this commission...............

Hi Judy,

Interesting experience tonight. I'm knocking around on Facebook, looking up people from my past and I looked for Mark Whitear, who I was once married to from 1992 to 2001. Didn't find him, but I found Ryan, Keri, Sarah and Porter. Then I saw you and out of curiosity did a search and found your website and blog. OMG! What an amazing woman and artist you are! Who knew??
What I found most interesting was that I went to Alaska in May, that I was born in Massachusetts (near Salem, in Danvers, which was where the witch trials actually took place anyway) and that while in Arizona a couple weeks ago I had some very unusual interaction with ravens and have been studying raven medicine since. I'm also an artist, but not nearly as accomplished and bold as you are. I still work in corporate America, because, truth be known, I like the money. But there's a part of me that is always the artist, the wild woman, the adventurer. Most recently I did a couple watercolors at Lake George, NY where Georgia O'Keeffe spent a few summers.
I moved back to New England in 2004 for a couple of different reasons: 1) it was a symbolic starting over 2) something inside told me to, and more and more I listen to that Something. Now I live on the other side of Massachusetts from Salem, in the Berkshires, near the New York border, in a 150 year old house across from a cemetery.
But I'm rarely home except on weekends because I do banking project management and I travel a lot. Right now I'm in a hotel in Rhode Island.
Anyway, I'm so blown away by your artwork and would absolutely love to buy a raven painting from you! Do you have anything for sale, not too large?
Also, if you could say hello to Porter for me. How is he doing? I haven't talked with Mark for at least 3 years now.
Thanks!
Mary Barrett

This is the next e-mail I got, she gave me permission to reprint in my blog. I was going to edit it but her writing style is too good. Parts of it are very personal and heartfelt. This is the painting I created to go with her raven experience.

Hi Judy,
I would like you to paint a raven for me based on your artistic interpretation of my encounters in Arizona, in November.
I’ll tell you the story...
Although I was born in Massachusetts, my parents moved us to Arizona when I was 4 years old, so that’s where I grew up and lived until 1981, when I moved to Wyoming, then Utah, then back to Wyoming (back in the days when I was with Mark).As background to this story, my upbringing was rather dicey because my father sexually abused me and my mother was completely unable/unwilling to deal with the situation, even though I told her about it more than once. She was so completely repressed and shut down emotionally that the only way she could deal with it was to ignore it. My voice wasn’t heard and she had never developed one so she couldn’t protect me. I’ve been working to regain my voice and power for many years.
My mother died in 2004, the year I moved back to Massachusetts to begin my life again (for the umpteenth time) but this time owning my power and experiences. I flew back to Arizona to be with her and spent the last days of her life with her. I was with her at the moment of her physical death. (That experience is a whole other story!)
I was upset for some time afterward because I couldn’t feel my mother’s presence after her death. Maybe because she hadn’t really been “present” in my life all along? After the deaths of other family members and close friends I have had visitations and interactions of all sorts, so this was disturbing to me. Where was my mother? I felt abandoned yet again.
I have been working with a therapist for some years now on processing my childhood, and healing from all the fallout of my early misadventures in addiction and running away. In fact, I met my therapist in NA in Nebraska when Mark and I moved there in 1999. (That is yet another story…I’m full of them...I'm in the process of writing a book called “Zsa Zsa Whitaker, the Early Years”.)
Mark went out of his mind in the next year or two after that. He didn’t want me to do therapy, get involved with “woo-woo” (occult, etc.), become a vegetarian or practice Yoga; all of which I was led to do by the power greater than me that somehow is IN me, and somehow IS me.

Enough about that. Back to the Arizona story…
In September I found out my father has inoperable, terminal lung cancer with only months to live. I have been working with him to resolve the bullshit from childhood. I have confronted him twice and said what I needed to say. Once in 2001 and again in 2007. We have a relationship, but it’s not comfortable and I’ve wanted to run from it. Instead I face it, and use it, to continue to take back my power.
I’m working on forgiveness and love, but that is a journey, not an event. Now comes the end of his life, so I need to do what I need to do while I still have the chance. I don’t know how that will play out from now until he dies. (I will return to Arizona in early February, if not before.)
I have a sponsee I’ve been working with for over 4 years. She has a lot of the same background as I do. She came on my trip to Arizona with me last month. She had never been to the Southwest and has become interested in Native American spirituality lately (by attending Navajo sweat lodge ceremonies in New England led by someone who comes up periodically from Chinle, AZ) so she begged me to take her to Arizona, a spiritual pilgrimage of sorts. She stayed the first 4 days of the trip with me, then flew home. I stayed in Arizona an additional week after she left to visit my father and other family members.
The first 4 days while she was there we explored Northern Arizona…the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Jerome and some other out-of-the-way places I’ve been drawn to over the years. It is a powerful area for me and for many people. We went to these spiritual places to pray and meditate. I was preparing for my visit with my father and she was letting go of a relationship. We both asked for strength and healing.
There is a new Buddhist Stupa in Sedona that blows my socks off when I go there. The energy is phenomenal. My son brought me there last time it was in Arizona and I couldn’t wait to go back. The experience did not disappoint.
The ravens first came when we were at the Grand Canyon, two of them. They were amazing! They were huge and black and came close to us, very close, and landed. Then they would fly out over the canyon and soar for a while and then fly close to us and land again. It was breathtaking! They were definitely bringing a message to us, we both recognized that they were communicating something, but neither of us was familiar with raven medicine and weren’t sure what it meant. We were mesmerized by them and talked about the encounter for days afterward, and still do!
The rest of the trip we continued to get raven messages. We saw Native American raven fetishes in Sedona. I bought one for me that I now keep by my bedside, and one for her. We went to a psychic fortune teller in Sedona who mentioned that we should pay attention to the signs we had seen. We found raven art in Jerome, an old ghost town that is now mostly an artist colony. I bought a beautiful card depicting a raven (a print of an original painting) at a gallery there.
When we went to Prescott to have dinner with my son and daughter-in-law, they took us to a restaurant called “The Raven”. We had not told them of our raven experiences. There were murals of ravens on the walls.
Ravens everywhere!!
Another significant thing that happened while we were there…my mother came to me twice, finally…6 years after her death. The first time was at the Stupa in Sedona. My sponsee and I were meditating there and I suddenly felt my mother’s presence, very strong. It was unmistakable, and I hadn’t been thinking of her, or trying to contact her. The message isn’t clear to me yet. She showed me the box from her favorite kind of perfume “Red”. That was all. Not the bottle, not the frangrance, just the box. She was clearly there and sending me a message. I’m sure of that, even though, just like with the ravens, I’m not sure what the message is. Yet.
Later that same day, in Jerome, in an art gallery called Angels Inn Gallery (a different gallery than where we had found the raven art) a woman in the corner was making an angel out of clay. There were many of these angels in the gallery, different sizes. She called to us to come see what she was doing. We went over to her and she said she wanted us to see this particular angel, because the angel has a name. She said she never names her angels but this one was named “Grace”. That was my mother’s name! Again, I felt her presence. And I have felt it since coming back to New England. Not constantly, but off and on. Once I was changing channels on the television in the hotel, which I rarely turn on, but was looking for the weather channel. Suddenly there on the screen was the word “GRACE” in large scrolled letters taking up most of the screen. It was one of those religious shows…but it freaked me out. Hi, Mom!
So then last night I found your website and saw the ravens and knew I should contact you. I’m sure you’re supposed to paint the raven for me, but I have a feeling there is more to it than that. We shall see!
By the way, I remember when your mother was dying and Porter came to stay with us. The morning we found out she died, Porter and I planted tulips for her. He picked out the bulbs himself. They came up beautifully in the spring and I still have the pictures of them and the memory of that morning. They were called “Queen of the Night”. They are almost black, as close to black as the hybridists have been able to produce.
So, I will let you paint the raven however you think it should be painted. You will know how to do it. I really like the Gold Raven, perhaps you could adapt it, but I will leave that up to you. Please make the size about 12 inches square, or something close to that. It doesn’t need to be square, it can be rectangular. You decide, but nothing bigger than that. (I want it for a particular space in the house.)
I will send a deposit, or pay in advance if you want. Just let me know how you want to proceed.
It was wonderful to hear from you! Thanks for responding so quickly. I hope to hear from you again soon.
Mary
This is the e-mail I received after she got the painting!

Hi Judy,

Happy Holidays! I got "Messengers" in the mail on Thursday. I absolutely love it...thank you SO much! My husband, Sam, likes it too. I've bought a dozen paintings and pieces of art in the last couple years and he said your piece is his favorite. High praise indeed. I've bought some pretty good stuff. :)

I'm attaching another selection of my writing that I thought you might enjoy, inspired by the same trip to Northern Arizona, and past memories. It was immensely helpful to write it.

Hi to Porter.

The light is returning! Yay!!

Thanks again,

Mary

Stop Whinning and Get Christmassing!!!

2010-12-11T22:40:00.000-08:00

Please tell me it is not just me! Is the Christmas time of year stressfull? But LoOk! I put up my tree and my Three wiseman. Listened to my favorite Christmas time music the Trans Siberian Orchestra and sipped stevia sweetened sleepy time tea. That is my big treat these days.
All I want to do is start a crockpot of moose meat stew, paint my commission, and take a long soak in the jacuzzi and nap under my electric blanket. But the days are passing and there much to do the necessary things, shop, christmas cards, lists, mail, ect.

Give Art This Christmas

2010-12-01T10:33:00.000-08:00

I am offering The Twilight Zone for sale on E-Bay. This 13"x13" piece has recieved the most hits of the Google search engine so I assume there are lots of Twilight Zone freaks out there. Here is the link to E-Bay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190473984957&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Angelena Jolie as Cleopatra

2010-11-25T14:51:00.000-08:00

Cleopatra

Encaustic Wax/Rinestones

12" X 16"

Judy Vars

NFS

Ok, so I'll admit it! I am fascinated by Angelina Jolie, her full voluptuous lips, her exotic beauty, her dark side, and her compassionate human side. She is an intriguing creature/woman. While I painted her I listened to books on tape; the Unauthorized Biography of Angelina Jolie by Andrew Morton This was the first paragraph… “The room was stark and bare: white carpet, white curtains, white walls, and no furniture except for a white crib. For more than a year, a baby girl lived there, cared for by a ragtag assortment of babysitters. The child rarely knew if the person putting her to bed was the one who would dress and feed her in the morning. There were days when her mother, who lived in an apartment three stories below, would not visit.

That baby girl was Angelina Jolie. She was sent to live in the white room after her father, Jon Voight, left her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, for another woman. Marcheline said, “Angie reminds me so much of Jon right now that I cannot be around her. It’s just too painful.”

The other book was Anthony and Cleopatra by Colleen McCullough. This is a long historical fiction that was quite accurate.

This painting is now part of my menagerie of "Modern Icons" that I am working upon for my "Hall of the Famous and the Infamous." These will all be painted with encaustic beeswax in the Greek style like the Fayum Mummy Portraits. All are painted with the traditional palette of colors, yellow ocre, mars red, black and white while using the same tools that the ancients used (except of course electricity). I know these are obscure and definitely not mainstream, however I must follow where my heart takes me. I am in love with the idea of icons, what makes an icon, who they are, who they were, and why do they catch our attention.
I am even planning to do Sarah Palin! I know! She could even pose for me in person! otherwise it would be the unauthorized icon of Sarah. Saint Sarah No, I am not being sarcastic.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

The Black Madonna

2010-11-20T23:10:00.000-08:00

The Black Madonna

Encaustic Painting

Judy Vars

I have been invited to be a major part of the 25th Annual Anchorage Museum Gala April 9th by donating a piece of my original Art!

2010-11-17T22:47:00.000-08:00

Wow!* I'm on my way to having a normal and healthy body. I look foreward to buying an evening gown that will look simply marvelous at the Gala. http://www.anchoragemuseum.org/

On September 7th I embarked on a HCG Protocol this is a very strict regime of eating only 500 calories and then only certain foods like brussel sprouts, spinach, kale, shrimp, steak and drinking a gallon of water a day. Some 73 odd days later I have released (that’s the term) 33 pounds of pure FAT. That’s right! Don’t judge me I did not get a lap band, or get my gut stapled. The fun thing is I won the first months worth of Dr. Visits, Blood tests, and HCG $1,000’s worth. It was a gift from the universe I did not throw it back. I have been so fed up with my weight and ashamed of me for letting it get so out of control. I am powerless over late night snacking and ice cream with Hershey’s Chocolate salty carb snacks and cookies - who cares. Try as I might I could not find the power of will to get back my normal weight healthy body. When I tried to count calories and walk my ass off after a week there was only a little weight loss my body just did not want to cooperate. We change as we get older and I needed something to jump start my metabolism. The results are astounding and it’s definitely worth the sacrifice. That's not the best thing folks! I quit smoking cigarettes on September 7th. My body is being overhauled.

Today I rearranged the furniture in the living room, ran the new ozone machine, and dusted, washed all the surfaces with a mild solution of vinegar and water and vacuumed. Paring down the things I now longer need and finding a new home for the other things. My shedding of pounds is also a process of letting go of the extra stuff I have pack ratted away or has outlived it’s usefulness deciding what to keep and what to shed, making room for new iinspiration and new clothes.

I also read some books today; Transformation by Bill Phillips http://www.transformation.com/ , Forever Young by Nicholas Perricone, MD and the Mayo Clinic Diet. OMG I sound obsessive compulsive? I've got allot of energy lately.

The temperature outside is below 20 degrees for three days, therefore I have not been encaustic painting. I hate to vent out the warm indoor air and heat outside. So I am cleaning instead, it is a good thing I enjoy cleaning.

WANTED: Personal Assistant. You will be the personal assistant to a highly creative artistic genius. Respondent must possess patience and supreme organizational skills. Qualities also must include a strong, patient and lighthearted attitude with a positive outlook. A strong ability to organize, prioritize time and think outside the box and work steady until the job in complete.
Schedule is flexible but generally 8:00 am to 5:00 pm - Monday to Friday and Saturday and Sunday on call as needed. Other duties would include catorgizing and inventorying bodies of work, creating a data base of collectors, clients, galleries, museums. Current computer skills including Adobe Photoshop, promoting, updating and branding web site, maintaining online stores. Utilize the current online technology for promoting and advertising. You will be responsible for scheduling events, deadlines, meetings, lunches etc.
Please respond to this blog for an interview.

I've Just Been Thinkin

2010-11-11T20:46:00.000-08:00

Winter Birch Trees

Encaustic Beeswax

24" x 12"

Judy Vars

200.00

Currently at the Alaska Gallery

104 Artic Avenue

Palmer, Alaska

How do I put a Pay Pal button on my blog there are so many things in the art and marketing world that I could, should, outta be doin that it makes me tired. I need a young assistant! any takers for the job.

The other day a young lady, artist, and mother with three small children made this snide comment: "Since I am young I have all the time I need to explore my art, take risks improve my talents" which seemed to imply to my friend and I both fifty somethings that we have less of that precious commodity time.

She raises her little bambinos with her oil paints and shit right in the middle of the living room floor. OMG! these children are normal bratty kids they must get into it. I do not know how she paints and takes care of a young family at the same time. I give her my admiration even though she makes insensitive comments about old ladies. My only satisfaction is that. #1 She will be where I am at (age wise) one day in the future and

#2 I have finally arrived at a place where, thankfully, I do not care as much what others think. The important thing is whether I am being true to myself and honoring my own unique creative process.

Question? Do you feel like it takes a certain solitary selfish commitment and that women inherently and usually have a caretaking role so there is and less time and passion to devote to being an artist?

Dia de los Muertos 2010 & Reminder to Keep Your Little Light Shining

2010-11-01T20:19:00.000-07:00

Halloween Carnival, Art, Burning Woman and Witches

2010-10-31T19:14:00.000-07:00

It's one more Halloween indulgence before I hang up my witches/gypsy costume for another year.

Yesterday was an exciting day I was the fortune teller at my grandsons Halloween Carnival the Midnight Sun there were kids lined up to hear their fortune told.

Afterward I went to Teresa Ascones Studio http://www.alaskaberryfairies.com/ for the 2nd Annual Burning Woman Festival. Teresa invited me to show some of my encaustic pieces and talk about encaustic wax. The Burning Woman was conceived last year as an answer to many of us who have always wanted to see the Burning Man http://www.burningman.com/ but may not be able to attend and also to honor women who have died from breast cancer or survived breast cancer. It was very flattering to be asked and talk about my art. I met new women and some I already knew. We had a celebration in which called out names of women we know who had died of breast cancer and lit a huge Japanese lantern that should have flown straight up but instead went sideways and alarmingly too close to the trees . We all laughed and made jokes; "No officer we do not know what that was" as the headlines in the Frontiersman reads Witches Coven uncovered in Meadow Lakes.

Into the Burning Woman effigy which was almost 12’ tall we added names, affirmations and sparklers to the lady and them lit her on fire. Sadly because of her heavy seaweed head she toppled over before it was totally engulfed in flames.

Later in the kitchen Teresa, Jana http://www.articrosegallery.com/ Beth and me talked, drank, ate and laughed, as I was among the last people to go to bed and then only because it was rude to keep the others up.
I wanted to add to the Salem Witch slide show I found on Facebook and again honor those souls who were hung as witches! Tomorrow I’ll lighten up, promise. Christmas is coming!!!!Then Costa Rica!!!!!

For Halloween Please Enjoy My Slideshow of the Salem Witch Memorial

2010-10-18T17:25:00.000-07:00

October my thoughts turn spookey; thoughts of witches, gholls, ghosts, and all things macabe and scary
While I was as the Encaustic Conference I played hooky from one of the presentations and took the train from Beverly, Mass to Salem, Mass. While I was sorry that I missed it., I could not miss going to Salem! I visited the Peabody Museum http://www.pem.org/, a great place to visit, I also visited the Witch Museum watched a play and saw the dungeon where they kept over 300 people accused of witchcraft some cells only large enough to stand in, the water table is high so these cells would become flooded so disease rats came, the cruelty and ignorance of the Puritans is quite astounding http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/. I woonder if we can compare it to anything that goes on in our time 2010? still it is a strange page in our shared American history: Wikeppedia: "The episode is one the most famous cases of mass hysteria, and has been used in political rhetoric and popular literature as a vivid cautionary tale about the dangers of isolationism, religious extremism, false accusations, lapses in due process, and governmental intrusion on individual liberties."
Salem, Mass. has a strong Witches community, some O the shops it a little Kitchey but fun! I did not have enough time to really get into the Salem scene but it looks like they have a ball (a witches ball).

This is my slide show of the Memorial next to the cemetary in Salem of the 19 Souls falsely accused of being witches and hung with the exception of Giles Cory who refused to give into pressure and say he was a witch was pressed to death. Giles Corey endured the torture for two days. On the third day, Corey cursed the Sheriff and Salem, then promptly died. But he never entered a plea. He was eighty years old. Corey Giles was buried in an unmarked grave in Salem on Gallows Hill as ordered by the Judge.

The dog they hung is also not in this memorial the poor creature was accused of turning from a witch into a dog.

"If it be possible no more innocent blood be shed...I am clear of this sin" Mary Easty, hanged Sept. 22, 1692

For the Love of Ravens @ Alaska Crafters

2010-10-10T17:08:00.000-07:00

I Love Myself The Way I Am

2010-10-02T01:23:00.001-07:00

This is the song I use to distract myself from negative nonproductive thinking. I have now been fasting (only eating 500 calories a day) for 25 days and heading toward 40. Tonight I had a little slip, I ate some Crispini crackers, just like an addict once I tasted one I wanted the whole box. After that debrachury I got down on myself and started to call myself mean names. Up to this point I was near perfect in following my protocol. When I get off center this one of the little tricks that I use to get back on I simply sing this song it distracts me long enough to forget what I was thinking about.

Today I swept the cobwebs away, mopped the floors, and organized my studio. As the fat melts away so will the clutter and chaos. It's time for a new start a new me! but right now it's time for bed. U-tube always keeps me up too late. Sweet Dreams

Martha Sanchez as Frida Kahlo

2010-09-15T23:56:00.000-07:00

Remember when Selma Hyack played Frida Kahlo? I've only watched that movie about a dozen times!
If you love Frida then get this movie! The imagery is fantabuloso.

One of my favorite female artists is Frida Kahlo and one of my favorite female artist friends is Martha Sanchez in Costa Rica. (See my sidebar for her web-site) I promised to paint Martha as Frida and true to my word here is the painting – Martha Sanchez as Frida Kalho.

The imagery that Kahlo developed such as the monkey which are ancient symbols of lust, the lush vegetation are symbols of fertility, her elaborately coiffed hair and exaggerated facial hair is part of her projection of female forwardness. I make use of archetypes and symbols from the cultural and mystical history that connects all humans and all life. Some of my work involves appropriation of the art of earlier artists; such as ,Frida Kahlo, Botticelli, Modigliani, Michelangelo, Van Gough, Other work involves imagery of Western and Eastern female traditions. My belief is if you are going to gain inspiration from other artists it should be from our masters.

This is the first painting in a series of modern icons painted in the Greek style of the Fayum portraits with encaustic beeswax. Just like the ancient Greeks I paint with a limited palette and specialized tools. My current obsession is with icon and Greek portraiture (see Fayum paintings). I have many modernized versions planned for the long winters night. I will post them as they are finished, please do check back with me occasionally for the newest paintings what’s happening in my life. I promise to do better in the future with my postings.

2010-09-08T16:04:00.001-07:00

Quoth the Raven Nevermore

2010-09-06T23:19:00.000-07:00

The Raven - Antique Book Cover

11" X 8"

Encaustic Wax Collage

To celebrate the Ravens return we are planning a "For The Love of Ravens" show at Alaskan Crafters Gifts and Souvenirs at the Creekside Plaza in Wasilla, in October. I, Judy Vars am the featured artist. Check back for more information. I will be posting my artwork as it is completed. I have many Raven creation in my cauldron waiting to be born. It is not too early to be thinking about Halloween my favorite holiday.

Today was the first day of not smoking tomorrow I am going to the diet doctor and getting started on HCG and a 500 calorie per day diet. This chemical is supposed to force my body to burn only the ugly fluffy white fat and leave the good brown fat and muscle alone. Personally I know several ladies who have had great success on this regimen. It's better than diet pills, and lap bands. I talked to a woman who was so excited to have lost 55 pounds in a very short time, her diabetes was improved and she was feeling great. When I found out how expensive it was I just said, oh well, that's disappointing but I do not have that kind of money now. Then at the Alaska State Fair I talked to the doctor in the clinic here in Wasilla and filled out a chance to win a 40 day program. Guess What, a gift from the universe they called me and said that I won $1,000.00 worth of treatments. So tomorrow it's 40 days of starvation (how symbolic.) I am on my way to a new "live-it" now doesen't that sound better than saying die-it.

I intend to 12 step the hell out of it, pray allot and stick to it until I have reached my healthy perfect weight.

VOTE Bad Obama Painting #1 or Bad Obama Painting #2

2010-08-29T12:38:00.000-07:00

Vote now for the Baddest Obama Painting #1 Obama and the Flag or #2 Oprah and Obama.

Have you seen the nut in Palmer and he stands on the intersection between the Glenn and Palmer-Wasilla Hwy with a picture of Obama with a Hitler moustache?
I support his right to free speech that's what our Constitution grants us, so use it!
Obama's popularity is down a little bit 41% and folks are getting more comfortable with a "Black President".
I personally love him and think he is the greatest thing since President Lincoln and President Kennedy.
Obama is my new Facebook Friend.

You Know You're Old When - AARP Won't Stop Hounding You

2010-08-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

These jokes do not apply to me, no way I am still young at heart! Haven’t you heard 60 is the new 40.

But I don't want to be that hot sexy grandmother the effort and upkeep it takes to cheat time is plain ridiculous. My friend takes a injection HRT everyday and restricts herself to a 500 cal a day diet. But the thought of eating 500 calories a day sends me into a panic attack. Yes, she did lose 75 pounds at a ridiculously fast rate and yes she looks good in her jeans and yes her hubby is hot for her box, I assume he takes Viagra to keep it up! Another friend just got BOTOX injections - now she has a placid emotionless face and no one can guess what she is thinking.

I have deep furrows between my eyes from decades of worrying and being too serious I also have laugh lines etched around my eyes. Who hasn’t secretly wished for a facelift? Have you seen Joan Rivers? Oh the humanity.

I covered the gray about 2 months ago with a semi-permanent red dye (I'm a redhead in my soul) now the gray is growing back and the red stuff won't come out. I refuse to color my hair every 6 weeks just for the illusion of youth. Is that wrong?

Next year I'll be sixty, sure why not tell everyone what is there to hide anyway. I am pushing the big 60 and loving my life more than ever. In the past I looked young for my age but time has caught up with me and now the compliments on my youthful appearance are fewer and farther between. Nowadays wherever I go I hear MAM and get deference and respect from the youngers.

Still I’m not giving up. No Way! I am reorganizing my priorities. I will…

• Walk daily and take pictures

• Drink more water

• Take my vitamins

• Do something kind and loving for myself

• Do something kind for someone else

• Slow down and be more deliberate and present

• I will do more of what I love

Slide Show-Fayum Portraits-Encaustic Painting Demonstration for Workshop

2010-08-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

http://rfpaints.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51853961@N03/sets/72157624321838255/show/
http://www.rfpaints.com/index.php?option=com_wordpress&Itemid=89&p=2076

Todays Muse FRIDA !

2010-08-10T00:28:00.000-07:00

The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration.
Frida Kahlo

This is me the first pictue I am approximately 29 and the second only about 16 or 17. This is part of a book I am doing of self portraits.

Quote of the Day - Van Gough

2010-08-04T21:54:00.000-07:00

+ The only time I feel alive is when I'm painting.

+ I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say 'he feels deeply, he feels tenderly.'

Your Stories are Safe With Me My Friend

2010-07-29T22:08:00.000-07:00

It's been hard on everyone learning our good friend and outstanding neighbor Jim was scheduled to depart this earth in two weeks time. The last weeks the trail along the lakeside between our homes got used alot. In the ten or more years previous to this my beloved and I listened to all his stories the good, the bad and the ugly. Jim was born in Louisiana from Irish orgins, raised a Catholic, a brilliant inventor, married a beautiful and lively Mexican woman, had 2 kids of his and raised two from scandalous origins, invented the water reclamation systems for the hydrogen power plants, raced motocross, lived in the Mohave Desert swore that Amilla Airhart lived there also, spent the last years right here on our beautiful Meadow Lake.
He made millions, spent millions and packed as much life into his 80 years as possible.
Jim could spin a yarn like no other and talk your ear off.

Thank you for the message on the tee-shirt of the guy buying Irish Whiskey that read
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO DIE!
I hope your are Space Truckin by now my friend thank you for letting us be of service to you in your last days.

Friends Forever
Judy and Peter

ENCAUSTIC BEESWAX PAINTING WORKSHOP

2010-07-26T10:43:00.000-07:00

Moon Over Mat-Su

Judy Vars

Encaustic Wax Painting

W 24" X H 18" 2"

$350.00

detail of the Woman in the Moon

Judy Vars: Is offering a 2 day Encaustic Wax Painting workshop.

Encaustic: Ancient technique of painting with layers of melted beeswax and pigment.

Participants will be given a thorough introduction of the encaustic medium and method - from the traditional to experimental. Artists with backgrounds in almost any medium will find this workshop an exciting opportunity to expand their visual vocabulary with wax. The dynamic created by a diverse mix of artists contributes to the learning experience.

Regularly scheduled demonstrations, slide show and lunch, leave plenty of time for hands-on-experience. The classes will teach a

variety of methods of working with the wax and heat. Class size is limited to between 8-10 participants.

Date: August Friday August 13th and Saturday August 14th 2010

Times: 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. each day

Place: Madd Matters and the Alaska Gallery

105 E. Arctic Avenue, Palmer, AK 907.745.6045

Price: $235.00 includes materials fee, two substrates and lunch.

Pre-registration: By July 31st and $95.00 material fee is required at that time; leaving the $140.00 balance due on the day of the class.

Contact: 907.355.2219 - cabinak@mtaonline.net

www.cabinfeverinalaska.com

On Pricing Artwork

2010-07-09T15:15:00.000-07:00

When I mentioned to Greg Gusse, photographer, poet, owner of the Alaska Gallery in Palmer http://alaska-gallery.com/ and collector of my artwork that I was lowering the prices on my art, he said to me, “how would you feel if you bought a piece of art from a particular artist and went somewhere else and found it for a lower price?”

That is a very dicey subject and always creates more questions than it answers. The price is based on many things; perceived value, location, providence of the artwork, artist recognition, whether the artist is alive or dead, time, materials, galleryist commissions (in some cases as much as 70% to them and a mere 30% to the artist) etc and so forth. You get the idea.

On the question of perceived value; that is if it does not cost as much as a small car it must not be worth owning. Gallery owners put a lot of money, time and energy into who they represent based on “whatever” “the Art World is fickle” “as they say” and nothing tickles the fickle as the need to possess something as rare and valuable as artwork.

If you bought the Self Portrait of Van Gogh (1853-1890) that sold for 71.5 million then you have a great treasure worth a fortune! The artist story is every bit as compelling as the art they create. This morning I listened to UPR and learned how valuable and collectable Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) is to people like George Lucas and Stephan Spielberg and their personal reasons why they love the artist and his work.

But what of the living artist? Do we create for the narcisstic need for recognition and fame while we are alive and immortality when we pass on? Do we create to express and communicate our talent and vision to the world? Do we create because NOT to create and express through our art is the same as cutting off an appendage? we would be lost. The answer is YES to all these statements. I would like to be one of Americas top 10 artists even one of Alaska's top artists like Jon Van Zyle or Sidney Lawrence 1865-1940. But honestly I have not reached that pinnacle in my career.

Yet each one of my art pieces are an original - special and unique in their own way and I think of them as my children and sometimes like our children they need to leave the nest. I am moving on with artwork I have simmering on the burner of my sub-conscious mind new ideas to explore for a great body of work. It's time to clear my space to let the new come in.

Sadly monetary gain is often the marker which we use to validate ourselves, the time, money, blood, sweat and tears we put into our work. I do not ascribe to that philosophy, while money is good, an affordable price does not devalue a good work of art, or the artist!

Because I am a member of an artists co-op:
Firefly Gallery
419 L. St.
Downtown Anchorage,
I have the freedom to reduce my prices and pass them on to collectors and future collectors of my art. For a limited time at my discression my prices have been reduced. Who knows, when I become famous you would have an original piece of Judy Vars worth a small fortune. Did I word that right?.

This week has gone to the birds and that's a good thing.

2010-06-30T23:58:00.000-07:00

The swans had their babies yesterday they came to see us and to show off their little brood.
Isn't this precious.

This is Dennis Lind the bird whisperer,
the little chickadee flew into the garage at Shearys BBQ and the just gently got the little thing to trust him and after some Kodak moments it flew off.

Here is a one eyed owl at the Art on Fire the bird rescue people brought him.

A beautiful hawk.

A motley Raven.

Un corazón en paz, da vida al cuerpo

2010-06-29T18:08:00.001-07:00

Weekend Update

2010-06-28T21:45:00.000-07:00

Girdwood Forest Fair
July 2nd, 3rd and 4th
Please come and see all the great artwork, talent, fun and me.
For directions:
http://girdwoodforestfair.com/ This is the first year I will be at the Girdwood Forest Fair with my own booth. I was a member of Girdwood Center for the Visual Arts http://gcvaonline.org/ for many years and sold quite a bit of my art through G.C.V.A. Now I'm getting my own booth Cabin Fever In Alaska not to be confused with Cabin Fever the gift shop on 4th avenue in downtown Anchorage.
My wonderful friend Mary McCoy was kind and gracious to let me stay at her house when I came to work at the gallery. We had great conversations and alot of fun together Mary is a small ball of energy with loads of enthusiasm and encouragement. Saddly she and George moved to Las Crusis Mew Mexico. NOTE: call Mary I have also camped out and slept in the gallery on occasion.
I gave up my membership at GCVA a little over a year ago for good reasons now I'm baaack.....

Yesterday I went to my encaustic group meeting AKIEA and barbecue at Sheary's http://www.backdoordesigns.com/ house there were bicyclists from San Francisco, Scotland, Maine and her beau Nard from Colorado Springs, they were doing Alaska on bikes they were really neat group of people. I also met Dennis Lind http://www.dennislind.com/ his paintings are at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art at the Marks Brothers Cafe, they are red and fulled with energy and passion.

I have so much to do to get ready for the weekend, it's going to be fun and we are going to make money selling my original one-of-a-kind art peices and Peter has carved feathers galore which will fly off the shelves. Make this; the biggest Art Fair in Alaska part of your 4th of July fun!
I hope to see you there.

The Lovely Bones Song

2010-06-25T00:49:00.000-07:00

Hot off the Griddle Yin and Yang Ravens

2010-06-21T19:10:00.001-07:00

Yin and Yang Ravens

Judy Vars

6" X 6"

encaustic wax

95.00 each or 180.00 for the pair

In many mythological stories all Ravens were once white When Noah sent the Raven forth it was the White Raven who didn't return so God punished him by turning then all black!

In Skokomish tribal legend, snow-white raven stole the sun, moon, stars, water and fire back from gray eagle at the request of the people. He hung the sun, moon and stars back up in the sky. He dropped the water, forming streams and lakes. He made fire available to the people, growing black from its smoke as he flew.

The black Raven is usually associated with the trickester and the creator, in North American native culture, able to pass between our world and the spirit world.

The raven either black or white brings the secrets of magic between our world and the spirit world.

Whether black or white the Raven is a powerful symbol and one I paint over and over.

Tonight is my night to stay up for the Summer Solstice, it's my personal tradition on the longest day of the year in the far North when the day is 19 hours 21 minutes long, I do not go to bed. On the longest night of the year December 21st I stay in my p.j. s unless someone insists I go out. Why? Just because it's my thing. This is the twilight right at sunset when the sun has sunk below the horizon and the blue spectrum is all the color I can see. It is worth staying up for.

Extra Extra Read All About It

2010-06-16T08:21:00.000-07:00

It's me, blogging at Logan airport in Boston with 2 hours to spare before my plane leaves, the 4th Annual Encaustic Conference was a whirlwind of waxy adventures. I stayed at the dorms at Monterserrat with 3 other roommates, Patti, Diana, Lyllia, and me, all nice people. Patti said; she is going home and emptying out her head on her desk, that's a great description of my brain currently, I must do that also and sort through all the information we were given and experiences I had.

Artists who work with encaustics are a great and giving group. Joanne Mattera http://joannemattera.blogspot.com/ was everywhere all at once she was very nice and approachable (for the Queen Bee of the Encaustic World).This message stressed again and again is "We are artists first, who happen to use the medium of encaustic wax"

I could not come all the way to Beverly, Mass and not visit Salem, so I ditched one of my lectures and took the train to Salem a beautiful quaint walking town. I went to the Salem dungeon and watched a little play with the actual transcripts of a trial. It was more about mass hysteria, religious fervor, children being manipulated by adults and greedy people taking others land than it was about anyone actually being in league with the devil (although the spirit of avarice and hate were surely at work).
Over 150 were arrested and imprisoned, 5 died in prison, 14 women, 5 men and two dogs were hanged. Giles Cory who refused to plead guilty was crushed to death with rocks, they were not able to take his land. After that I visited the Peabody Museum, The House of the Seven Gabels, I saw the mother of all cemeteries where those poor souls who were hanged were buried, and I had my fortune told by a witchey woman, really not much worth reiterating and frankly a little of a ripp off just like dumping $30.00 into a Las Vegas slot machine and hoping for a huge payoff and getting nothing but a little diversion. Oh well.
That witch put a curse on me also........let me explain.

The next day I was talking to Sheary by the front of the college and inadvertently grabbed her backpack by mistake. I took it up to my room and tossed it on the bed and left for the lecture. Sheary went to use her cell phone and noticed her nap sack was missing and naturally panicked so the women in her vicinity were of course brought into the drama. She remembered that I was the last person she talked to and came looking for me, of course I was gone so my roomie opened the room and there it was! Sheary and Lilia know it was a silly mistake and anyone of us could have done it but others seemed not to believe that it happened that way. What an airhead I can be sometimes, it was very frustrating that I could not remember doing it and unfortunate indeed that in these types of situations others will believe what they want to believe. I had to laugh it off (as best i could) and hold my head up and enjoy the rest of the conference.
Lylia said STOP SMOKING! I said why did you say that and she told me of you link something like that to a traumatic event you will remember the message. Thanks Lillia now I think I can quit these fags once and for all.

My Critical Feedback by Joseph Carroll http://www.carrollandsons.net/artists/index.php was quite interesting my critique came the last half hour of the day so I was not given the time and attention the people had earlier in the day and others wanted to ask him other questions like "Do you feel women are discriminated against in the industry?" excuse me?#! it was my floor time!
He said; my art belongs to a certain cultural spectrum and has a 70's feel example the Byzantine paintings of the era. I got some examples Rodarte http://www.rodarte.net/ Rick Owens http://www.styleite.com/media/rick-owens-bedroom-exhibit-photos/ both fashion designers and Dr Lakra http://contemporaryartlinks.blogspot.com/2010/04/dr-lakra-ica-boston-14-april-6.html a tattoo artist from Ocaxa, Mexico. My question of making my artwork more commercial so I can sell more he said, "artists hold for the culture a respite from the making of money and commercializm".

My post conference workshop Homage to Fayum given by Francisco Benitez http://www.franciscobenitez.com/ was by far the highlight of the conference for me, I learned the techniques that the Ancient Greeks and the Fayum mummy portraits painters used. It was just like painting portraits with oils only you use a variety of heated tools like sculpters use, wood burning tools etc. They used a limited pallete. We had a live model, Francisco gave me and all of us helpful suggestions and loads of information about Greek Art in the short time we had him. He was very complementary of my portrait saying it' has a vulnerable mysterious quality (or something like that).

There was a gathering on Tuedsay night a barbeque with tons of good food it was at Julie's house http://www.julieshawlutts.com/ in Salem WOW on the harbor next to a golf course lots of land handsome home and her studio was a so cool all kinds of antique chachkis, boxes and boxes of wonderful stuff. We all had studio envy.

So after taking the train from Beverly to Boston catching the subway orange line to the blue line, taking a shuttle to the airport, going through security, flying to Houston, Seattle, and Anchorage and driving to Beverly Lake I am home and blogging all about it.

The message I took home with me is: Be true to yourself and your vision. Write an artist statement about your artistic vision and/or process. Write it as if you have completed the body of work you dream of creating.

2010-06-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

Raven Steals the Light

12" X 12"

Copper Leaf, Ephemera, Beeswax

Feet Fetish

12" X 12"

Encaustic Beeswax

Beth

24" X 36"

oil

Raven Sleleton Man

36" X 48"

Encaustic Beeswax

A Sampling of My Art Work

2010-06-05T23:44:00.000-07:00

Wednesday I’m flying to Boston! for the Fourth Annual Encaustic Painting Conference at Montserrate College of Art. http://montserratencausticconference.blogspot.com/2009/11/ This is an example of my artwork for my post-conference workshop “Critical Feedback” with Joseph Carroll http://www.carrollandsons.net/about.php” . I am getting very excited and nervous. Joanne Mattera http://www.joannemattera.com/ the organizer of this event the author to the encaustic bible The Art of Encaustic Painting e-mailed me and said “You will not be disappointed with Joseph’s critical feedback. He offers thoughtful and focused comments about one’s work.”
Mr. Carroll e-mailed me and requested my goals, ie one thing that you want from your work career and one thing that you might want me to comment on.
YIKES,Am I Nuts! It is not easy to take or really trust criticism, critiques or even compliments and praise from people especially family and friends. Just like that poor girl who sings like a scroungey cat in heat, but still her friends and family let her go on America's Got Talent ant and let Pierce Morgan tear her to shreads and embarrass herself. They just didn’t want to hurt her little feelings. So here I am putting it all out there, brave indeed.

For the Best Foot Foreword Show I am taking my Fayum portrait Yapitta.
I am very proud of her.

My other post workshop is Homage to Fayum by Alexander Masino
http://www.alexandremasino.ca/ his work is exquisite the realistic wax images and iconic images are what I love. It takes talent, practice and a patient love of encaustic to paint this way. This is going to be fanatastico I am going to learn so much from these two big ring leaders in the encaustic art arena that I have choosen to perform in.
This can only be good.

How To Overcome Painters Block JUST DO IT!

2010-06-03T23:17:00.000-07:00

"I do not know myself how I paint it. I sit down with a white board before the spot that strikes me. I look at what is before my eyes, and say to myself, that white board must become something." (Vincent van Gogh)

Painting is a faith, and it imposes the duty to disregard public opinion. (Vincent van Gogh)

This is one of at least 12 self portraits of the master and according to Wikipedia one of the most expensive paintings of all time in 1998 it sold for 71.5 million

Ah yes, Vincent Van Gogh, How I admire his earnest talent. The compulsion to paint even though people didn't get him and he did not sell his work, it was just what he had to do. Even though he walked the razors edge his passion for painting kept him going.

Call me crazy but I'd like some of the madness that drove Vincent to paint, paint, paint.

Vignettes of My Yard

2010-05-31T21:47:00.001-07:00

The Midnight Sun

2010-05-23T01:38:00.000-07:00

All this light makes me manic and an insomniac, when it's dark and cold I want to hibernate like a bear but when the days reach 65 degrees and the sun does not set until 11:15 pm, I cannot just go to bed and go to sleep, I am wide awake like an owl reading, watching a movie, looking at the lake and listening to the night sounds of the swans, loons and other denizens of Beverly Lake.

I am becoming obsessed with the light at midnight. So I grabbed my artist friend Sharen AK Harris http://sharenakharris.com/about.html we took a late night drive to the Matanuska River to sketch the scene and study the light. Isn't it beautiful? The scene is defused with blues and the light reflects from within just like a precious gem. It is quite otherworldly like some in between world. I want to paint this scene but need to capture the drama and special light of Alaska's Midnight Sun.

by: Robert Service

There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.

The Beeswax Connection

2010-05-18T22:55:00.000-07:00

My encaustic medium beeswax is always an adventure to get. The health food store carried beeswax for making beauty products and such but it is very expensive 15.00 per pound. A pound equals about one encaustic painting. Each painting is one-of-a-kind and made even more special because of the beeswax.

My connection for wax, "Joe" in Eagle River, Alaska was not returning my repeated calls, I don't know what's up with that. So I got with my friend Bob the roadside philosopher and Carin builder his Russian friends make candles so I asked him for their number and called; Alex, he couldn't have been nicer and offered to sell me 40 pounds for $280.00. Any other time I would love to get 40 pounds but alas the price was too steep. I asked him for one hundred dollars worth. Getting to his house about 60 miles away was a beautiful scenic drive we found him way out on Lazy Mountain and what a charming place his wife, son and old Russian Grandmother were working on the garden. Their family business is Holy Archangel Candles
http://www.holyarchangelcandles.com/ click on the pictures section to see some wonderful pictures of the area in which we live and some lovely photos of their family and homestead.

Long story short I made a great deal on about 20 pounds of wax at about $5.00 per pound and he gave me a beeswax candle.

Beeswax is not as easy to get as you think quite a bit of it comes from Canada but the shipping is very,very expensive as well as the lower 48 (thats what Alaskans call everywhere else in the continental U.S.). Raising bees in Alaska is also very expensive the bee keeper must buy new bees every year because they cannot survive the winter unless they are housed in heated trailers. It seems so sad they have to die off every winter.

Please don't get me started on the colony collapse disorder that is killing bees by the trillions. They leave to pollinate the flowers and gather nectar and mysteriously do not return to their hives. I think it's pesticides causing the problems and perhaps some more complicated issues. Bees are like the canary in the mine when they die - we die the cycle of life is broken.

Now I have my wax and am brewing up a batch of encaustic medium, (beeswax and rare damar resin) it smells delicious.

Rain Forest Home - Costa Rica

2010-05-14T23:33:00.000-07:00

Rain Forest Home

Encaustic Wax

12" x 14"

NFS

(yet)

This is my impression of the rain forest. Pretty much my view from the Linda Vista by the Arenal Volcano. I booked the most remote location I could findon the Google map for the best view of the Volcano. But just like Denali in Alaska, it makes it's own clouds and we did not get to see any fire however we could hear and feel it rumbling, cool!

It's hard to get the perspective of the jungle there is just so much life in abundance and things going on everywhere. I could not focus on one thing, still I wanted to get the impression of thick lush jungle. I put one of their mysterious round ancient balls in the picture they are so perfectly round, they could only have been carved by people they are monolithic (my big work of the day) sculptures. They are dotted all over the country and if you ask a Tican where they came from they just do not know, or they simply say aliens.

This painting was started 2 years ago on my first trip to Costa Rica in colored pencil, I took it back this year and painted on top of the colored pencil with acrylics and the other day I decided to get experimental on the thing. Peter affixed it to a hard substrate so I could paint on it with encaustic wax.

Strictly speaking you are not supposed to mix wax and acrylics together but this is my experiment. I do however plan to send it to Jose at the Osa Gallery in Puerto Jimenez, they are going watch it and see how an encaustic painting acts in 80 to 90 degree heat with high humidity. It should be interesting.

BTW how do you like my new colors? Do you think I should go back to black?

Spring and Swans

2010-05-13T14:20:00.000-07:00

Our friends the Swans have been building a nest across the lake from us, I had no idea how big their nest is, they even built a roof on it. When we get the boat in the water I will pay them a visit and get pictures. They meandered over to our dock for a little visit this morning. They want swan snack but I don't have anything yet except bread and that's not good for them.

Mother - Madonna

2010-05-09T20:44:00.000-07:00

Blue Madonna

Oil Painting

Judy Vars

12 X 24 framed

priceless

When love is gone, when stars at night lose lustre, when the warm sun of spring fails to cheer the heart, when the kiss is cold and friends have gone forever, when youth has fled to follow nimbler feet, and old age points the way to life's darkening pathway, when strangers rushing by at breathless pace forget the courtesies they owe the world and push aside those frailer than the rest, when faith is waning and hope forlorn has seized thy heart, and charity shall pass the needy by, there wells a sweet and tender love within thy bosom, to tell thee that the world is good!

A voice shall softly whister within thy soul, "Mother."

Write Your MoM a letter today and tell you mom you love her.

FIRST FRIDAY AT VIRTU BEE THERE OR BEE SQUARE

2010-05-04T21:05:00.000-07:00

WAX SQUARED
MAY 7 - 31
AN EXHIBITION OF THE ALASKA CHAPTER OF
INTERNATIONAL ENCAUSTIC ARTISTS (AKIEA)
OPENING RECEPTION FIRST FRIDAY
MAY 7, 6-9PM
LIVE MUSIC - IN THE BELFRY
FEATURED ARTISTS:
NANCYP. BURNHAM, RUTH CARTER,
JOYCE E COOLEGE, SUSAN DELGALVIS,
ERIN ADAIR FALLDORF, KRISTA FLECKENSTEIN,
CINNAMON O'FIHELLY, LESLEY HARRISON,
JANET C HICKOK, ASHLEY DOYLE KELLEY,
JANAAN KITCHEN, KOKO MIKEL, DARLA MEYERS,
LAURI PACKENBUSH, KATHY SMITH, STAN STECK,
THERESE STOKES, SHEARY CLOUTH SUITER,
YULIYAHELGESEN-THOMPSON, DOT TIDEMAN
JUDY A VARS, B WILLIAMS

400 W. 4TH AVE.
PHONE: 907.25VIRTU
VIRTU@VIRTUGALLERY.BIZ
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT AKIEA CONTACT;
SHEARY CLOUGH SUITER - WWW.BACKDOOR DESIGNS.COM

WORKS OF FRONT "LOVE SCIENCE" BY YULIA HELGESEN-THOMPSON,"POINT OF NO RETURN" BU CINNAMON O'FIHELLY, "FORMULATED SURF" BY RUTH CARTER, "ELECTRIC KNIGHTS" BY SUSAN DELGALVIS, AND "HORSEHEAD NEBULA" BY KOKO MIKEL

Costa Rica 2010 / 99 Assorted Photos

2010-05-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

So If you want to see pictures of our holiday in Costa Rica pull up a chair get some coffee or tea and I'll throw down some assorted pictures (stay or go) if you go, I will understand, I know how boring other peoples photographs can be. I am taking it easy today and trying not to do too much too soon after being sick. .This slide show took me most the day to do.
As you can see we had a wonderful time, met so many cool and interesting people, did some sightseeing, and plenty of sitting around gossiping, solving the worlds problems and drinking coffee.
I learned that "Pura Vida" means "pure life" and "tranquillo" means "chill out."

The Lovely Bones

2010-04-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

This book The Lovely Bones and movie The Lovely "bones goes perfectly with my illness. Yesterday I read The Lovely Bones by Alice Seabold and today I watched it on Pay Per View. It was sad, haunting and beautiful story about the murder of a young girl. I had this book for years before I felt in the mood to read it. The screen play was naturally different timelines changed and there were not the layers and depth to the story but the acting was good and the visions of the inbetween world were well done, I recommend it.

It has been at least four weeks and I am still sick coughing myself silly and drinking my special concoction, Theraflu, lemon and honey tea, yummy! Today I finally went to see the doctor after coughing, chills, fever, and feeling generally horrible. The Doctor said I have bronchitis. Now I have the antibiotics and cough medicine I need I'm sure to feel better soon . Why am I so stubborn when it comes to visiting the Doctor? So after weeks of milking this thing getting sympathy and being waited on I'm getting sick of being sick.
Television is my companion and my guilty pleasure, from Dr. Who to Nurse Jackie, The United States of Tara, True Blood, The Office, Regis and Kelly, the Independent Film channel lots of movies and when Peter gets the remote its the History channel and how things are made. I have watched so much television it makes me embarrassed to admit it. I have an urge to throw it out the window. Well folks thanks for listening to me whine
I wish you all a long and happy life.

2010-04-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

Blue Landscape

Encaustic

8" x 10"

85.00

This is my little creation it shines like a jewel and is in a wooden frame with silver accents.

Charles M. Russell and Me

2010-04-19T17:01:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl I got plenty of artistic encouragement, when I drew a good picture they would say she gets her talent from Charley. That's Charles M. Russell Americas most beloved cowboy and Western painters from yesteryear. He comes from my mothers side the Montana relatives. Russell greatly admired the American Indians, especially those of the Northern Plains. He spent the summer of 1888 visiting often with the Blood Indians in Alberta, Canada. This experience affected him for the rest of his life, and can be seen in the many detailed works he created of Plains Indians. As my latest acquisition showed he may have loved the Plains Indians a little too much. It most certainly explains the Indian in the woodpile we always laughed about as a family. My 1/8th Blackfoot Indian blood is explained in graphic detail. In Russells lifetime he painted more than 4,000 paintings. Charlie's works were popular because of their narrative subject matter, unique style, and dynamic action. In addition, he had the ability to accurately depict specific times or events in western history. Russell died on October 24, 1926 at his home in Great Falls, Montana

These two paintings are in a beautiful antique ornate frame with a suprise inside. The first one shows a cowboy waiting for the Indian maiden, unlock the frame and hidden under the painting is another painting. Oh my heavens look! they are getting busy on the blanket with the horses and the dog getting excited also. What a rare find! This comes with certificates of authenticity. An artist friend of mine found it at a yard sale and sold it to me for only fifty bucks.

na na na na na na naaa (Twilight Zone Theme)

2010-04-13T11:52:00.000-07:00

The Twilight Zone

12" x 12" x 2"

Encaustic Wax

Judy Vars

"You're traveling through another dimension a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land who's boundaries are that of the imagination. That's the signpost up ahead next stop the Twilight Zone"

This is is my creation for the next First Friday in Anchorage where I will be a part of a group show for the Alaska Chapter of International Encaustic Artists (A.K.I.E.A.).
Friday May 7th @ Virtu Gallery, 400 West 4th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska

Broken Wings

2010-04-11T18:08:00.001-07:00

Broken Angels
For
Bobby Nichols
1976-2010

You came to life a little angel with the scent of heaven still on your head and stardust upon your sweet body. You still rememberied where you came from and what your mission is on Earth is.

Alas, the material world is tough with all its twists and turns, we get dirty, our wings get broken, people betray our faith, circumstance steals our hope. The good, the bad and the ugly all rolled into one ball, everyday life gives us more challenges that think we can handle. Still we love this existence and do not want to go or see our loved ones go.

Yes, it’s hard to remember and keep faith alive, but still life is dear to us, so everyday we do our best to offer a little peace and love - shining our little light into the darkest corners of our existence.

So with your wings broken and your garments dirty it’s off to the repair shop for you.
It’s time for an overhaul, to get your wings repaired, clothes replaced with new, and your spirit washed clean and your memories restored, then all your questions will be answered and things will become apparent.

What really hurts you know is the empty space you leave in our world.
We will remember the kind and loving boy with stardust upon his countenance and true love in his heart.

Bobby we will miss you for along time (HOPEFULLY).

Love
Aunt Judy

2010-03-27T21:22:00.000-07:00

ART FOR SALE

Encaustics, Oils, Assemblages

Judy Vars

Firefly Gallery

419 L. Street

Anchorage, Alaska

First Friday - April 2, 2010

Fourth annual Encaustic Painting Conference at Montserrat College of Art

2010-03-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

Jasper Johns: Detail of Target with Four Faces, photographed in the exhibition, "Focus: Jasper Johns," at the Museum of Modern Art, New York City, 2008-2009
This is my first Encaustic conference and I am excited to be attending. Encaustic Wax enjoys an almost cult like following so I will be meeting the other wax followers in Boston! Since I have not traveled to the Northeast it's even more exciting. Beverly Mass is right next to Salem, Mass. you know where the witches live, old houses, ships and fishermen. I plan to see The House of the Seven Gables, a cemetery, museums, galleries, ships, mast heads - everything.

Besides presentations and lectures for three days I will also attend some more intensive post workshops; Miles Conrad an exhibiting artist and a gallery owner, he well understands what artists need to do to get their work into the world, information he shared in his talk, "Critical Feedback," to 10 artists who are serious about moving their work forward to the next level. THATS ME!
Another passion of mine is portrait painting in encaustic: Homage to Fayum with Francisco Benitez of Montreal is my other post workshop .

The conference is literally 84% full as of today but there is still time to attend if you hurry.
Last year I snoozed and didn't get in this year I'm getting all psyched up to go network, learn, play, yay!
Last night I got the best deal on airfare 501.00 RT Anchorage to Boston do I know how to get a good deal or what. I know I will suffer when flying coach, waiting for connections etc. but today I feel happy. Here's the link: http://montserratencausticconference.blogspot.com/2009/11/were-up-and-running.html

Romando's Story

2010-03-10T14:09:00.000-08:00

The further adventures of Judy, Peter and Marty aka Pippa who knows the greatest people in Costa Rica. We took a boat ride across the gulf to a jungle paradise known as Dolphin Quest this is 600 acres of virgin rain forest only assesible by boat. On this tropical estate are horses, toucans, cranes, hummingbirds, butterflies, tapirs, iguanas, tempasquitlleys, howler monkeys, fruit trees and the ocean to provide food. This is Romando's place he has been there for about 24 years a true Renaissance man, he is the real deal! His oldest son was born in the ocean on a birthing raft built epically for Amy his former wifee, this whole birth was documented by a film company. When Raymar came out be was underwater for a full 14 minutes until the umbilical cord stopped and then he swam to the surface and into his mothers arms. Thats amazing! Because Ramondo has a personal connecction with the dolphins they visit him regularly and people who visit often get to swim with them also.
The cabina we slept in was nice with a bug net on the beds the noise of the jungle is so loud at night and early in the morning it's hard to sleep. Raymondo is a great cook we ate like kings afterword there was interesting conversations about life in the jungle, great stories.

My only problem is that I am too sweet and the bugs in Costa Rica had a feast of my flesh.

The Story of Cordovado Paradise (photos to follow)

2010-03-08T07:05:00.000-08:00

Go to the end of the road by collectivo a cattle truck for humans last stop Carate a way station for refreshments and a short rest then proceed west on foot along the coast of the pacific for approximately 45 minutes to an hour. Next to the entrance of the Corcovado National Reserve one of the most ecologically diverse places on the planet is a fresh water lagoon which marks the boundaries of my friend Ricks piece of paradise. He said this is the only place on the pacific coast from Alaska to Chile where the rain forest meets the ocean.

When he found this property there lived a very old woman names Mahatma and another younger man named Alvero, their exact relationship is obscure but he was wild eyed and scared the local people because seemed crazed. Mahatma had run away from her abusive husband to this piece of land and lived there for the past 37 years. Local people called her a witch and told stories about her and her powers. She lived simply sometimes selling lemonade to the hikers passing on the beach. Otherwise she had little need for money just the provisions that money could buy, beans, rice, socks. Rick and Cynthis provided these things when they came by.

The land was owned by a sketchy German named Rudger Schultz described as a big man with huge hands and when he touched you it felt icky. From all apperances he was one of those guys into young boys and quite possibly a machosist. Romando their very old friend they met at a Rainbow gathering found this for Rick and his wife. They are old hippies from the bay area and like many had done very well in business. Rudger and Rick struck a price for this place 10 years ago (ridiculously cheep) and the process began. There are some very complicated things take place for Americans to own in Costa Rica.
Upon first sight of this place it was littered with glass and 37 wild starving dogs running the place.They were all shot and placed in a mass grave except for Peggy.

Later on Mahatama got sick and was taken to the hospital where it's noisey and indifferent and where old women die neglected and alone. The only person th hospital could find to call was Rutger the perverted German, he surprisingly came. Mahatma had one request, that she be returned to her home to die. He refused her dying wish. Mahatma placed a curse on him and at the same moment she died and as he was leaving he had a massive coronary and died on the spot. Alvero was lost without his mistress and wandered off into the hills to find gold.

Rick and Cynthia delt with Rutgers daughter who hated her father and just wanted to get his affairs out of the way. This place is one the most beautiful spots on the planet when I met Rick he had been there all alone going on 30 days. The wild life simple comes to his porch, every kind on animal on the OSA it's magical he shared the most amazing stories of monkeys, pumas, birds and frightening lightening storms. He eats mango's, pineapples, starfruit, lemons etc. all produced on the land. Oh to just sit quietly and let life come to your porch. I had a taste of paradise on earth for three days thanks to this generous old hippy.
Today we are going to Romandos to swim with the dolphins going to a butterfly farm and an orchid farm.
Austa luego
baby

Art In Puerto Imenez

2010-03-01T13:35:00.001-08:00

Did I mention that my artwork has gone international. I showed my painting of Anita Polanca to Jose C. Fallas proprietor of the "Artes De OSA Gallery" in Puerto Jimenex, Costa Rica and he comissioned me to do several paintings of my impressions of Costa Rica. So if you're there ask to see Jude Vargas (that's my Costa Rica pen name)

This happened a week ago and I'm healing nicely more stories later

2010-02-23T15:05:00.000-08:00

We are safe and secure in our little motel Cabinas Marcelinas in Puerto Jimenez it feels very comfortable and welcoming all the town folk seem to remember us and are happy to see us.
But I got a story to tell. On the way back from the Arenal Volcano we went to a hotel in San Jose a nice Clarion by the airport. We were going to dinner and the hotel had a ramp down to the lower level it was the same color as the floor and there were no railings. I was looking at the artwork and slipped and sprained my ankle, It hurt so bad I cried like a baby. The bell man ran over and got me some ice and then the manager came and said we should call an ambulance and take me to the hospital there the ambulance arrived and there was much cross talk all in Spanish over me finally they took me to the state hospital Mexico. This hospital wasthe huge old scary edifice I had seen on my way out of San Jose three days prior. I said OMG look at that building "how would you like to have to be in there" Me and Peter were the only Gringos there and a little tico girl helped translate taking passports and information. It was a waking nightmare really when I went into the trauma room with no shoes there were all sorts of infirmery old women in pain, some waiting on gurneys, a girl with a head wound, a man with a face wound, a woman heaving into a plastic bag and we with my ankle swolen up line a tennis ball. They took XRays on a 1960 machine the place was lets just say not sanitary and everything was very old OMG, the residents just sat around bullshiting and looking busy. I waited five hours after everyone else had been treated and I was finally getting indignant then they told me they lost my XRays and needed to shoot more. My husband complained loudly and they only said sorry and seemed slightly amused. Finally the orthopedic surgeon said no fractures, keep ice on it,take ibprophen stay off it and wrap it. Nothing was provided not even ice.
I wonder if they had a motive to teach the Gringo a lesson? Yes I learned my lesson on many levels: do not temp the fates and say things like OMG I'll never or desparige any other culture or their architecture.

Good news the Clarion paid for the hotel, ambulance ride, emergency room, taxi, and stay on the way back on the 13th, we went back the the hotel at 3:00am and I slept very soundly on demoral.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

2010-02-17T19:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went to the hanging bridges and walked for miles in the rain forest canopy, OMG I am so afraid of heights it was espicially thrilling, later we swam under a waterfall 500 steep steps down and 1500 steps up,also looked at Arinal volcano and saw just clouds, in the evening we went to a hot springs resort and played in the hot mineral pools. We went down a very fast scarry water slide. Today It's been raining for about 24 hours straight everything is damp and the temperature is cool. Even though the Linda Vista is very remote I have the luxury of my little PC on my bed in my room with movies, music and books programed onto it just for rainey days like this one. Tomorrow it's back to San Jose for a night then we are flying to Puerto Imenez.

This is my view for the last few days it's just like the Garden of Eden except the snakes really do bite and the food is not free.

44 Ways To Give a Blow Job or How to Please All the People All the Time

2010-02-11T22:21:00.003-08:00

Sure I am a little pissed! I've got the right to be, it's just not easy trying to people please instead of learning to trust my instincts. It is time to set myself free. Thank God I have a holiday starting February 14th Costa Rica baby.
Ahhhhhhhh rain in a rain forest, hot molten volcanoes, cloud forests, chocolate, fruit and my beloved.

My hilarious, eccentric, writer friend Evonne (name changed at request of my friend) and I had a fun conversation about silly people and our own reactions to situations, she told me her idea for a short story;
"44 ways to give a blow job" so I used it in my blog title. There is a double entendre there an intellegent person (you) will not fail to see the hidden meaning. So if anyone wants to comment on blow job techniques, people pleasing, setting yourself free, or holidays, I'm collecting data for her short story. Set yourself free say whatever you please there is no censor on this blog and you can remain anonymous.
I love you!***where is my fluffer.

Encaustic Wax Art (my article for Make-A-Scene)

2010-02-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

If you haven’t heard of encaustic wax art you are not alone. It was Greek to me once. The art form has been around since Marc Anthony and Cleopatra had their fateful love affair. Encaustic means to burn in pigments made from pure organic beeswax, mixed with damar resin and fixed with heat. The exact formula was lost until a modern chemist reinvented it in the 1940’s. The earliest surviving examples are the Fayum mummy portraits, head and shoulder portraits painted onto wood panels for the mummy casing - an early Greek version of the funeral makeup artist.
Currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art there are more than 70 on display until May 2010. This funerary is a fascinating blend of Roman and Egyptian culture and is a rare glimpse into the faces and eyes of an ancient civilization.

Encaustic wax art fell into obscurity by the seventh century and was forgotten with the invention of more practical methods such as oil and tempura. Electricity and pre-made pigments have made encaustic more available to everyone. Now in the 21st century encaustic is back in a big way. This summer there are several major exhibitions on the East Coast and at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts in Oregon, in June, encaustic art is the cornerstone exhibit. My work is on display at Bagels Alaska, 6177 E Palmer Wasilla Hwy, The Alaska Gallery, 105 Arctic Ave, Palmer, and The Firefly Gallery, 419 L Street, Anchorage.

The qualities of the artwork that can be achieved with encaustics are unique. The beeswax is pure and organic, perfect for artists concerned with the Green Revolution. The methods are more like alchemy and magic than painting. It can be layered with translucent pigments to mysteriously reveal what lies partially hidden. The depth and luminosity that can be achieved is remarkable. Modern artists have taken the wax to amazing places. It also appeals to artists who want to carve, sculpt or collage.

As encaustic goes more main-stream, collectors and galleries are becoming more interested in the medium. Encaustic art is losing some of its novelty - which is good. Collectors will not shy away from this medium as more people hear about it and understand its unique qualities which include durability and permanence.

My mission is to spread the “cult of the wax”. So, fired up with enthusiasm and new techniques, I am planning a 2 day workshop in the late summer. I have taught encaustic wax techniques to artist organizations and art teacher groups. Also at Art on Fire and the Alaska State Fair. I teach children through the Alaska State Council of the Arts. I have taken several intensive workshops locally and in June I will be attending the 4th annual convention of encaustic artists in Massachusetts. Please keep on the lookout for more information in this Make a Scene paper.

Only you, the artist, knows it is not the paint that makes the painting but the artist who creates. Imagination and will are all that is required.

All Things Waxy - Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, welcomes the Obamas

2010-02-06T13:59:00.000-08:00

Michelle Obama is showing her pearls and pearly whites

Who do you have to be anyway to get your image cast in wax? http://www.madametussauds.com/NewYork/ check it out! I went to a wax museum a long long time ago in good ole London. Here is my encounter with Alfred Hitchcock. Wax figures are more than just a little bit wierd, that's why I love them!