Working in Wax

Looking at art has become an obsession with me lately and these encaustic pieces have caught my eye so I will share:

Semiotics
16" x 16"
Jann Gougeon

I find the composition in this work beautiful and the way she has juxtaposed the symbols a perfect contrast to the grid like background.

8" x 16"
Mary Philpot

For artists that love to draw, the beeswax medium works so well for detail. A sharp stylus, needle, nail or awl is used to incise the surface. Oil sticks or oil paint is then rubbed into the scratched surface. The result is amazing fine line work.

Not That Fragile
6" x 6"
Mary Black

Encaustic with collage always works for me. So much to look at and contemplate.

Dunkel
Mark Perlman

Another colorful approach to painting with beeswax. A very nice geometric design.

February's Work

This is acrylic on crescent board with lots of texture. I did a grid composition so I could experiment with texture in the different boxes. I used Golden Crackle Paste, Light Modeling Paste, Gesso and Matte Gel.
They each give a very unique surface, and take the paint so differently. I especially love the way the crackle came out when the paint was thinned before applying. The designs are hand carved stamps I made, and the text is from old book pages collaged on the surface.

Also acrylic with a textured surface of Matte Gel and Gesso. This is definitely in process and I may cover the whole painting with an opaque mask.

This one is acrylic with collage and ink on canvas. I added some marks and line drawings with pencil.

This one is on Crescent Illustration Board that I covered with collage, stamping, and lots of drawing.  I used stencils for the numbers. Then I negative painted around the shapes to create the composition. I am
happy with this one and it is finished.

New Encaustic Work

The demonstration Friday night was a huge success and here you'll find some of my work that is featured this month at The Twigs and Leaves Gallery in Waynesville, North Carolina.

Bridging the Gap
7" x 9"
Encausti and Oil on panel

Captured
7" x 9"
Encaustic on panel

A Singing Bird
6" x 8"
Encaustic Collage on panel

Plumage
6" x 6"
Encaustic on cradled panel

Dragonfly Summer
8' x 8"
Encaustic on cradled panel

Urban Landscape
26" x 26"
Encaustic and oil on panel

Olive Trees
8" x 8"
Encaustic on cradled panel

Still Life
6" x 8"
Encaustic and oil pastel on panel

'

Art after Dark, ENCAUSTIC DEMONSTRATION

In the Heart of Historic Waynesville  98 N Main Street, Waynesville NC 28786 (828) 456-1940 Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00-5:30 Sunday 1:00-4:00 (May - October)   www.facebook.com/twigsandleavesgallery    Art After Dark ~ August 5th Featuring Lynn Bland Lynn Bland, mixed media designer from Gatlinburg, TN (and Florida State University graduate), will be the featured artist at Art After Dark 6:00-9:00 PM on Friday, August 5th.     Lynn will be demonstrating encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, which involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added.        Metal tools and special brushes can be used to shape the paint before it cools.  Lynn uses other materials that she encases or collages into the surface, or layers using the encaustic medium to adhere to the surface.  The result is a creative and beautifully unique piece of art. Stroll the gallery and view 140+ artists, while enjoying piano music, complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres.

Getting A Little Fresh Air

My portable studio

Painting outdoors is great, as the lighting is fantastic and I don't have to worry about breathing any wax fumes.
There is an abundance of fresh, spring air for me to breathe.

My Inspiring View

Paper is a great porous surface to paint on when using wax. I am working on small 6x8 pieces of masonite with watercolor paper glued to the surface. The glue I use is white PVA and works very well, although care should be taken not to get any glue on the paper, since it is a plastic based adhesive. I press these under heavy books and wait 24 hours before painting.

I like to break up the surface of the white paper before I begin with the first layer of wax. I have used a shiva oil paint stick to draw lines. A sharpie marker, india ink or oil pastels also work well for drawing. It is important to remember not to use any acrylic paints or inks.

Under painting

On this one I have used watercolors to break up the surface with an under painting of color blocks. 

Imagery can be added after the wax has been applied as in the work above. The insect is a transfer I made with a toner copy. A thin layer of clear medium is brushed on the transfer.

I added these lines with a sharpie on top of the wax. A layer of clear encaustic medium is brushed over the surface, this will keep the marker from rubbing off. I love the way it always smears a little and softens the look of the line.

Back to Wax

In Process

oil sticks for drawing

Many brilliant colors to choose from. These are small blocks  of concentrated pigments suspended in encaustic medium.

The wax is heated to 250 degrees and becomes liquid. The thermometer sits directly on the heated palette so I can monitor it during painting.

The Paint

Warm and Ready




 

The Laboratory

I heard this week from the Brooklyn Art Library that my "sketchbook" was received and it now on tour to it's first destination, Austin, Texas. The exhibition will begin March 12th at the Austin Museum of Art.

Art journaling has been an important part of my creative process. It is one of the activities that I feel is important for my growth as an artist, and more importantly as a person. Being able to write my thoughts and create in the safety of a journal meant for my eyes only is such a freeing experience. But at times a page does become art, ( serendipity, if you will ) and I tear it out, mat it, and frame it for all to see. By now I have quite a collection of them and thought I'd share a few photos.

Back to the Sketchbook!

I have been busy working on my book, and it's a good thing as the deadline is fast approaching. January seemed like such a long way off but with the holidays in between it isn't. Because the pages in this book are not as paint friendly as the ones in my regular journals, it has taken me time to adjust my style of art journaling. I now glue or sew heavier paper or cardstock to the page and then begin.

My Little Corner

A glimpse into what's been happening on the inside:

more pages......

and more pages.....

Close detail of colored pencil drawing