Category Archives: art

Road Trip in Rain Finds Garden on Main

I took a road trip today to visit Main Street Arts, 20 W. Main Street, Clifton Springs, New York 14432.  My painting, Mustang Dance, will be in the next group show, Horse Power!, which opens Saturday, June 6, 2026 with a reception from 3:00 – 6:00 PM..

The current display, The Garden Within, will be up until May 27, 2026.

The abstract work in this collection was created by former Arts-in-Education colleagues Sara Michalak and Jari Poulin.  For more information about them click here.

This is a beautiful art gallery!  I’m in love with this place.  It is worth a visit – rain or shine!  My trip was 100% rainy, lol, but so worth it.

I will be back on June 6th for the Horse Power! opening.  Join me if you can.  It will be nothing but horses-horses-horses-horses…..

Karen Tashkovski, MUSTANG DANCE, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 48”

The Heraldic Shields

Karen Tashkovski, MARTYR, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, PLUS ONE, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, LOYALIST, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”

Here are the twenty-four encaustic & collage  paintings that I literally just finished.

I am very excited to announce that these paintings, along with the encaustic & collage target  paintings, Arcadia 1 and Arcadia 2, will be in an exhibition at the Canastota Public Library (102  Center St., Canastota, New York 13032) during the month of June 2026!!!

Karen Tashkovski, CLUB ROYALE, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”

Photographs never do my work any sort of justice – they are very colorful and layered with texture.  You really need to experience them in person.

Karen Tashkovski, SABLE, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”

They will be for sale during the show.

Karen Tashkovski, LOCAL AMBITION, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, AZURE TREASURE, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, SOVEREIGNTY, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, HERALDRY, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, RICHES, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, IN LOVE, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, INNOCENCE, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, SANGUINE, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, INNER RESOLVE, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, SENSITIVITY, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, AFTERGLOW, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, WORTHY, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, GREAT WISDOM, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, CONSTANCY, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, PROTECTION, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, GENTLE WARRIOR, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, THE BOUNTY, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, PURELY, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, SINCERITY, 2026, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”

Ann’s World View

Ann Clarke is one of four artists selected by the CNY Arts Initiative to exhibit artwork in that gallery I call the crawl space (it is actually the Member’s Art Council gallery tucked into the corner of nowheresville) in the Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison Street, Syracuse, New York 13202.

The work here is all new and is a study in the contemplation of family, life, mortality and the camaraderie of the sewing circle – techniques and skills passed down through the generations preserving and respecting this predominantly female handiwork while creating a modern tapestry, which she refers to as “Under the Canopy”, implying both the idea of a landscape as subject matter, as well as the broader landscape of shared experiences in community and education.

The work is fresh and new, and yet, masterful and mature.  To take a medium like rug making and turn it into an emotional infusion of love and all the heartbreak that unfolds from that to the extent that the art breathes, well, it is exquisitely sublime.

The only thing that would have made this show better is if Ann had created a rug that was actually displayed on the cold cement floor, allowing the community to walk upon it in order to participate in the group spirit of said canopy.  I mean, it would get dirty, but that is kind of the point, that life presents unexpected challenges and hardships – that art is both a pursuit in solitude and an opportunity to connect with people, reminding us that we are not alone – not ever, really.  <3

The exhibit runs through June 7, 2026.

Hours:

Mon./Tues: Closed
Wed. 11:00am – 5:00pm 
Thurs. 11:00am – 8:00pm
Fri. 11:00am – 5:00pm
Sat. 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sun. 10:00am – 5:00pm

Heraldry

On Friday night, I went to the spring art reception at the Everson Museum of Art (401 Harrison Street, Syracuse, New York 13202).  While in the Robineau Gallery, I had a fully developed vision of an art exhibition of my own in that space.  It was this strong realization that all of my various encaustic and collage series are creating a kingdom.

There are the houses, the landscape of trees and flowers, the fans, the crowns…and so I went home with the clear idea for my next series:  heraldic shields.

You can see the progression here.  I’ve been working on them all weekend and I am almost finished.  I feel like they have always existed and I just pulled them out of the ether, the way I will manifest that dream art show.

I feel incredibly content.  I will finish them in the next few days.  There are twenty-four encaustic & collage paintings – 6″ x 8″ that will be mounted on 8″ x 10″ cradled hardboard and framed.

Then I will title them and photograph them.

And possibly make more.  🙂

 

Horses Refreshed

Karen Tashkovski, ARIES, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”
Karen Tashkovski, COMING & GOING, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”

Seven of the twelve encaustic & collage paintings in this series of horses are left.  I created them in 2012 and had previously mounted them on 18″ x 18″ chalkboard.  Now the 12″ x 12″ masonite boards are mounted onto 12″ x 12″ cradled hardboards.

Karen Tashkovski, SIENNA ON FIRE, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”
Karen Tashkovski, CHAMPION, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”

I also added collage items to some of them.

Karen Tashkovski, RED HORSE, 2011, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”
Karen Tashkovski, THE RACE, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”
Karen Tashkovski, SILVERY STRETCH, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”

The Cow Has New Clothes

Karen Tashkovski IDOL, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”
Karen Tashkovski, SACRED ONE, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”

This collection of cows was part of the ensemble of about one hundred paintings I created during the six-week period in 2012 when I took the best Syracuse University course of my life – Encaustics with Davana Robedee.

They are 12″ x 12″ encaustic & collage paintings on 1/8″ masonite board that are now mounted onto cradled hardboards.  Previously I had them mounted onto 18″ x 18″ chalkboards.  This made the presentations much larger.

Karen Tashkovski, LIBRA, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”
Karen Tashkovski, HEAD OVER HEELS, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”

They look so much better now.  Fresh and new.  I also added collage materials to some of them.  I did the same thing to the encaustic horse paintings – I will share those tomorrow.

I had originally created several cow stencils to be used in connection to a farm animal project I presented to first graders many years ago, so I had several stencils.  Davana encouraged me to play with the animal shapes to allow for a more dynamic flow and this lead to the upside-down and backwards stuff.  I know that some of them are rather unsettling.

Finding an audience for non-traditional constructions can be a challenge if I allow it to be, so I won’t let it be.   I really love how weird they are.

Karen Tashkovski, TAILS, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”
Karen Tashkovski, STRAWBERRY FIELD, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”
Karen Tashkovski, THE TAURUS, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”
Karen Tashkovski, CHOCOLATE MILK, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”
Karen Tashkovski, DAWN OF AQUARIUS, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”
Karen Tashkovski, TETE-A-TETE, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 12”

The Bungalows

Karen Tashkovski, BUNGALOW, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, GREEN HOUSE, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, PABLO, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”

I am delighted to reintroduce The Bungalows!  Created last year, these paintings went through a series of transformations.  At first, I had mounted them on collaged chalkboards.  They felt too busy.  I decided to switch out the chalkboards in favor of these 8″ x 10″ hardboards then framed them in the same frames I used for the Fan-Girl series of paintings.

But that still didn’t feel right.  Yesterday I reframed them and I am now very satisfied with this version.  I love them!

Many of the collage materials attached to these paintings were items I found while metal detecting the yard of my one-hundred-twenty-six-year-old home.  So, this series is very personal to me because it is about me and all the other people who have lived in and loved my home.  The paintings represent the little houses that sort of encompass my neighborhood even though they are all technically mine.  My corner of the world.  I know there are people out there who love the Arts & Crafts movement, who find joy in the craftsman style and can relate to this cherished history.

I recently acquired another venue for a future art exhibition and will inform you of the details as soon as tomorrow.  There is a possibility that these paintings will get another show soon, but I am still pondering what to do, as I will be having multiple shows happening at once, which is crazy.  So much is happening!

Karen Tashkovski, MAN CAVE, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, CRAFTSMAN, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, KNOCK-KNOCK, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, JINGLE, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, JASPER, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, HUNTED, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, BRIGHTEN, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, SALT CITY, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, PRINCESS, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, AVON LADY, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, GARDEN PARTY, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, JAMES STREET, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, FORGET ME NOT, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, COTTAGE, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, GOOD LUCK, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, FUSE, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, SYRACUSE, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, THE FARM, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, DREAM SQUASHERS, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, WELCOME, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”
Karen Tashkovski, GEORGIE, 2024, encaustic & collage, 8” x 10”

The Situation

I’m in the middle of an update.  Waiting for supplies to be delivered is always frustrating because (daddy, I want it now!) I want to complete these tasks right now.  Immediately!

I wasn’t satisfied with the presentation of my bungalow series of paintings.  I decided to switch out the frames.  This created the domino effect of needing to purchase new hardboards for a yet undetermined series that will go into the “old frames”.

I received four of the new frames so far and at first I heard – what are you DOING????? from that contradictory voice inside my head that spews negativity (no doubt).  But upon execution of this task, I am very pleased with the decision.  The bungalows look incredible in their new digs!

In addition, I purchased frames for the horseshoe paintings.  The 9″ x 12″ horseshoe paintings are now framed and residing on the floor of my living room.  The 11″ x 14″ frames will arrive sometime next week or so.  Needless to say, the artwork will be pricier now than when customers purchased them during their residency at Syracuse Yoga.

I also removed the backing chalkboards from the remaining horse and cow paintings.  I created them in 2012 – they are among my first encaustic paintings.  I’m waiting for 12″ x 12″ cradled hardboards to arrive (sometime today?).  Then I will add the hardware to the back and mount the paintings.  Not sure if I will tweak them as well.  I don’t think they really need changes, but it seems that my ever evolving artistic standards may overrule that temporary plan.

I sold several of the horse paintings – I remember most of those sales.  However, I do not know why I only have ten cow paintings.  I did gift one to a student once because he was a dairy farmer.  So, what the heck happened to the other one????  Who bought the purple cow?

The changes to these paintings were inspired by storage – clanking those boards around had damage potential.  They were impossible to store properly and impossible to transport safely.  It was only that – I still love the way I mounted them prior to this change.  I am very grateful to those who purchased them in their original capacity.

Revisiting paintings is like rereading an old journal.  It is a visual record of progress.  Of the (over used word) journey, dare I say it.

If I end up having a huge retrospective one day, I think that these encaustic paintings will reveal a sort of fantasy realm, as though I am reliving another life with another voice.  A message from the other voice (in this case a love language of positivity), which is how I described a series of oil & collage paintings I made in the late ’90s.  It will be a full circle moment and for that brief time, everything about this situation will make sense.

Tash Loves Trees

I am very pleased to announce that I have just returned from installing my art exhibition (and sale) at the East Syracuse Free Library (4990 James Street, East Syracuse, New York 13057).

My series of two dozen encaustic trees are here, as well as two dozen heart paintings.  All are encaustic and collage.  Stands are not included in the price of the work.

This show will be on display during May and June 2026.

Current hours of operation:

Monday – Thursday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Fridays 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturdays 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Arcadia 2 (encaustic targets 2025)

Karen Tashkovski, SPINNING, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, JOY, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, ENCHANTMENT, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard

Welcome to the new and improved versions of these paintings.  I created them last year with the intention that they would be sold with a mission style table easel.  I’m going to keep the easels to assist with future library art shows and/or to display my work if I ever have another opportunity for an indoor art sale like the one I participated in at that Jamesville, New York whiskey bar.

Karen Tashkovski, PROMISE, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, UTOPIA, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard

They look so much better in these fabulous frames.  I am in love with them!  They are encaustic & collage targets, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8″ x 10″ chalkboard.

Karen Tashkovski, RELEASE, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard

I reworked some of them.  I added gold enamel.  I changed out collage materials.  I used my fingers to smudge in metallic cold waxes.

I thought they were done before, but once they were in the frames, I felt like they could be elevated via these tweaks.

Karen Tashkovski, THE BEST MOMENT, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard

The dream is to sell them as a group.  Someone could install them on a wall as one giant piece or maybe they could place them on a long hallway wall in a business office.

Karen Tashkovski, ENTRANCE, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard

I think this is the vision I have for all of my artwork.  I create series of paintings with the intention that they be introduced to the world together as a unit, as a presentation much like a fashion show reveals a seasonal collection of clothing.  I love this idea, that an idea expands to however many paintings brings it to fruition.

It’s always at least a dozen paintings of the same dimensions.  In this case, there are two dozen.

Karen Tashkovski, BLISSFULLY, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, EVERYTHING, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, LOTUS LAND, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, WONDERLAND, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, JEWELS, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, DREAMLAND, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, FLORIDA, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, VISUALIZATION, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, EUPHORIA, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, HOLLYWOOD, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, FIRST OF ALL, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, MEXICO, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, SHANGRI-LA, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, WARMTH, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on. 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, TRAILS, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard
Karen Tashkovski, ILLUMINATION, 2025, encaustic & collage, 5″ x 7″ hardboard mounted on 8” x 10” chalkboard