art 'n soul

Encaustic Art ~ Painting with Beeswax

Kelly Lenihan — Mon, 24 May 2010 22:40:28 +0000

Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax, damar resin and pure colored pigments, creating a jewel-like effect with translucent glazes that add an aged patina. Applied to a surface such as prepared wood or canvas, the result is a rich, vibrant, textural work of art which can be endlessly manipulated.

Encaustic [...]

Eggstraordinary Easter Eggs

Kelly Lenihan — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:26:57 +0000

Why do we give Easter eggs? Originally Easter eggs were painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring and were given as gifts. The egg has been acknowledged as a symbol of continuing life and rebirth for centuries in spring celebrations. Try some of the following egg decorating techniques, and then give the [...]

Bringing Spring Indoors for Winter Color

Kelly Lenihan — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:52:19 +0000

Winter days are the waiting days, a time to settle down and burrow in. The afternoons slip quickly into darkness; quiet evenings are spent beside the fire snuggled under a comfy blanket with a good book. When winter hibernation brings on cabin fever, you can easily brighten up the place by bringing spring indoors. Take [...]

Love is energy … pass it forward

Kelly Lenihan — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:23:00 +0000

Nourishing the Imagination

Kelly Lenihan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:01:07 +0000

and Creativity of Young People

I am a huge proponent of art programs being made available, both within our school systems and within our communities. Programs that nourish the imagination and creativity of young people while cultivating thinking skills are integral to every child’s development. Over the years, I have derived immense pleasure from working with [...]

Blini with Buckwheat

Kelly Lenihan — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:06:19 +0000

A zakuska is a “little bite” in Russian language and a celebrated element to Russian traditional foods. Best likened to an appetizer or an hors d’oeuvre, a zakuska precedes a meal and might be accompanied by champagne or vodka. For a delicious bite-sized treat this holiday season, serve Blinis with Buckwheat, recipe courtesy of Seattle [...]

Holiday Magic with Gingerbread

Kelly Lenihan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:46:48 +0000

Every autumn, nature puts on a brilliant show of color adorned in glorious shades of yellow and gold, orange and red, the perfect segue into the holiday season, my favorite time of year! Who doesn’t love to decorate their house and bake fragrant treats to share? And what smells more like Christmas than gingerbread men [...]

Creating Nature Boards

Kelly Lenihan — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:14:06 +0000

Have you ever pressed flowers from your yard and hung the framed results on your wall so that you could enjoy your garden blooms past their season? I love growing flowers and I’m always thinking of ways to preserve their beauty. In this project, we’re taking the simple art of pressed flowers a step further [...]

The Best Things in Life Are Nearest

Kelly Lenihan — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:59:14 +0000

Recently I was in the kitchen preparing a meal with my son. We were talking and laughing and having a good time, which isn’t always easy with a teenager. Enjoying a respite from a busy day and spending quality time with my son reminded me to appreciate what is right in front of me, what [...]

Sowing the Seeds of Creativity

Kelly Lenihan — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:37:50 +0000

One of the things that makes this time of year so special is what occurring in nature. If you look closely at what is happening to all of the flowers, shrubs and trees in your garden in late summer/early fall, many of them should be sporting seed pods. Better yet, take a walk through a [...]