Encaustic Wax and Mixed Media Artist
About Encaustic Wax Painting:
I was trained as a traditional oil painter,but now I paint with a blowtorch. Encaustic wax (hot wax painting) involves using a heated wax medium in which colored pigments have been added. Each layer of wax is fused to the previous using a blowtorch. Everything about encaustic captivates me: the earthy smell of the beeswax, the rich color and the variety of ways it can be used. The wax can be poured or used in a painterly manner. It can be stamped or carved, and scraping away layers reveals previous color, texture and marks.
I have experimented with embedding paper, coffee grounds, plaster, string and elements from nature into my work. Working through the stages of different cooling temperatures of the wax builds interesting surface treatment. The contrast of rich opaque waxes and luminous transparent color is something that I continue to explore.
I was trained as a traditional oil painter,but now I paint with a blowtorch. Encaustic wax (hot wax painting) involves using a heated wax medium in which colored pigments have been added. Each layer of wax is fused to the previous using a blowtorch. Everything about encaustic captivates me: the earthy smell of the beeswax, the rich color and the variety of ways it can be used. The wax can be poured or used in a painterly manner. It can be stamped or carved, and scraping away layers reveals previous color, texture and marks.
I have experimented with embedding paper, coffee grounds, plaster, string and elements from nature into my work. Working through the stages of different cooling temperatures of the wax builds interesting surface treatment. The contrast of rich opaque waxes and luminous transparent color is something that I continue to explore.