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.

Exploring Art

Looking at the art of some of my favorite artists is an enjoyable way to take a break from creating.
 Since I have been very busy working in wax getting ready for a demonstration I will be doing, I need to see work other than my own. The demo is at Twigs and Leaves Gallery, in North Carolina, and when the work is framed I will post some of it. .

  Donna Watson's paintings are elegant in their simplicity, always a challenge to accomplish using just the right amount of puzzle pieces to complete a work. She does it so well. I have such a fondness for nests and really like where she has placed this one. Please visit her website to see more of her work. It seems she also enjoys gardening, another good way to take a break from your artwork, as she has posted lovely photos of her  Zen garden on her blog.

Histories

24 x 24 

Spring + Light

Another artist that does understated beautifully is Rebecca Crowell. The textural quality of these paintings is what draws me to them. Visit her site http://www.rebeccacrowell.com for more like these. 

lanlanzarote l

lantimanfayal 1

My Workspace and things I like to create with!

Welcome!

My reading area

Fun Stuff

Inspiration

Colorful Fabrics

More Fun Stuff

Sewing Corner

And more fun stuff

my easel

Mediums

Some Acrylics

I didn't show my wax area as I've shared it before in this blog and can be viewed in that earlier post. I love my studio and would rather be here as anywhere else. Although my flower gardens are strong competition at this time of year.  

And my books ( just a small sampling) I can't resist an art book or any book for that matter. Right now I am reading,
Dreams of Joy, by Lisa See, a wonderful account of China when Mao took over and it became communist, Ape House, by Sara Gruen, and Art and Fear , by Bayles and Orland (which I re-read often and I recommend this to every artist)

Larger Than Life

I am back from my travels, and ready to get back to the business of making art. I did enjoy looking and photographing a variety of beautiful and inspiring things. Since I had my camera with me everywhere I went, I took many photos and loved looking through the viewfinder at partial images. These serve as inspiration and challenge my compositional skills. I have heard these images referred to as  "found art" and for a lack of a more creative term, here are my offerings.

Photographer, Cara Barer

Look at these amazing book sculptures by photographer, Cara Barer. Unfortunately the photos are not very clear and these deserve a closer look. Please go to her website  http://www.carabarer.com/ Select the last category, Sculpture, to see how lovely these are on her site.
After reading her story I learned her inspiration came from a public phone book. These book pages are stiffened and shaped with melted beeswax, so again, another unique way to use encaustic. Without speaking to her I don't know her process, but I can see the use of beeswax in many of her sculptures.  I was so impressed with the soft forms and flowing nature of these book pages.

Monoprinting with Wax

Roadswork
 Encaustic Monotypes, Laminated Photographic Transparencies, Hardware, on Cradled Panels • 16 pieces each 8”x8”x1.5

Sherrie Posternak has combined many interesting processes to create this quilt-like work. The background for these small tiles is a collection of encaustic monoprints. Colored wax pigments are applied directly to the heated palette and paper is gently placed on top of this. When the paper is lifted the result is a single print known as a monoprint. She has added to the surface with photo transparencies.

In-Line for the B Line
 Encaustic, Printed Silk, Phototransfer, Pigment Stick on Cradled Panel • 10.5"x13.5"x2"

The insects are image transfers. They can be applied directly to the wax surface or printed on fabric and collaged on. I love all the subtle detail in this piece and the muted quality of the background compared with the boldness of the insects. This work is also by Sherrie Posternak. To view her website use this link:

http://www.sherrieposternak.com

A Unique Approach to Encaustic Painting

Laura Moriarty

 These examples of artist Laura Moriarty's work show her approach to painting with beeswax.

This example of Laura's work is an encaustic monoprint on paper. The blending of the deep colors and softness of her edges is quite a contrast to her heavily carved pieces below.

Detail of Painting Below

Accretionary Wedge

 In the painting above she paints many layers and then carves back into the wax creating a multi-dimensional surface. 

To view more of her work visit her website  http://www.lauramoriarty.com/