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Encaustic paint is a mixture of beeswax, resin (Damar or Pine) and colorful pigments heated and mixed together to create a molten paint. Heat must be used to fuse the paint into the pores of a substrate (generally wood). Once cooled, the wax often takes on a glassy look due to the resin. Encaustic means to be burned in. The process dates back to the 5th century B.C.E. when the medium was used by Greek painters in Egypt.
So much trial and error, and lots of videos, books, and internet groups. I'm a self-taught artist, never having had any formal training. I've learned to surround myself with other creatives who have become my mentors and friends. I'm very intentional when it comes to learning and exploring through my creativity. For anyone wanting to try out any kind of art and feeling less than 'creative', I can only say this, I think you have to be willing to let the smallest inkling of a thought or idea flow from you in the manner that feels right at that moment. Encaustic feels right for me, from the peacefulness that the aroma of beeswax melting evokes to the whoosh of the torch I feel soul-deep when it fires up. I feel as though I'm plugged in to just the right Universal frequency. "In the zone," if you will.
So glad you asked! I paint with fire. No, really. I do! It's so awesome! Encaustic is all about "burning in" - or fusing - the paint to the substrate (which is the material I'm painting on). Each layer of pigmented wax is heated to fuse it to the last, creating layers that draw the viewer inside the art. Between those layers, you'll often find a variety of other mediums such as inks, graphite, oil pigments, papers, and other small, sometimes unusual, items.
I really let the paint guide my imagination. Sometimes nature or an emotion may start me down a path to create, but it's the flow of the wax that keeps things humming along. Creating is an outlet for me. I enjoy losing myself, while also finding myself, in the process of it all. Very meditative. I recommend creating to anyone who needs to unwind a bit. It really doesn't matter if you're "good at it" so long as you're enjoying the process of it all!
Yes! Please contact me directly about purchasing my art. Let me know which piece you're interested in. I'm happy to give you a quote via email and will include information about shipping. Please include your shipping address so I can ensure the quote is accurate. Those in or near the Eastern Upper Peninsula and willing to pick up their purchase in-person will not be charged shipping.
Please note, some pieces have already sold and I may not have had the chance to update my site with that information. Due to the nature of this style of art, each piece is unique. While I may be able to come close to creating something similar it will not be exact, nor will it be immediate. Paintings can take several weeks to finish.
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