A New House Encaustic

Well the move is finally upon us. The contractor, a very dear friend of ours, has been staining concrete floors, removing wallpaper, painting wall and trim and more for the past month. He is still not quite finished, but the time is upon us that we must get to the Valley and get settled before the school year starts. Strangely enough, our kids in Arizona resume school the first week in August. It’s crazy to me to send them back in 113 degree weather.

Since we are keeping our lovely mountain home that we’ve had for the past 9 years, I’m starting fresh when it comes to filling and decorating the “new” old house. I’m doing it on the cheap, which is cool because I’ve been dreaming about all the artsy, funky things I plan to do. Not sure how I’m going to find the time to paint furniture and re-purpose all the objects on my list, but that’s an entirely different blog. I decided the look I’m going for this time around is Flea Market+Industrial+Artsy Chic. We’ll see how well I pull it off, and I plan to share my decorating re-dos on my blog.

The muse danced into my brain the weekend we returned from vacation. Earlier in the month, I had hubby cut some house shapes for me from panels I picked up for pennies at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Use Store we have in town. I have a hallway between the living room and kitchen that I need to display some art. I pulled out my encaustic supplies, my patterned paper scrap stash and brunt umber paint. I’ve had this triptych running around in my head for the past month and just wanted to see it come to fruition.

The three houses are simple mark making with pops of blue and pink color. Despite the fact I kept them flat, there is a lot of yummy texture on the panels with the wax. When the wax was soft right after I painted it on the boards, I took the back of my paintbrush and scratched into it, carving as deep down as I could so I could rub burnt umber deeply into the crevices.

All that’s left to do now is to apply the hangers to the back and display them on my freshly painted hallway walls. The house shape is another one of my Talismans, as it always represents the love of my family. I know I sound like a broken record, but, honestly it’s what is most important to my life and I’m grateful for them every single day. Even the days when they’re driving me crazy, which has been more than normal because it’s summer break. (grin)

I hope you enjoy looking a these little houses. Here’s wishing you a truly Artful day!