#burrowing dog

I spent several hours today on a new encaustic.  I prepared the board yesterday with the first layers of wax medium, finishing with blues.  Today I started cutting into the wax and creating my leaves, beginning with the ones that are farthest from me.  

Using a dental tool, I cut the leaf shapes away, fill with pigmented wax, then scrape the excess away with a straightedge blade.  I work until the surface needs to be protected by a layer of wax medium then scrape it back to a very thin, smooth surface.  Then I begin again.  

This is where I left it today....branches, more leaves, and eventually berries will come, pretty much in that order. 

Little Cornell was adopted by a wonderful family so I went to the shelter yesterday and asked this beautiful lady if she'd like to hang out with me for a while.  Her name is Dana and she's a perfect companion.  After three weeks in a dog cell, she was THRILLED to get in the car and blow that joint!  And I learned today that when Dana sleeps.....