Encaustics: April 2009

Encaustic, 16 X 16

Degas is such an inspiration for me and with my encaustics I was looking for something to detail. What would be better than Degas ballerinas? Here is my interpretation with layers of wax to ripple their beautiful yellow skirts.

Painting Encaustics

I have been fascinated with encaustics for many years but just never pursued it. I finally gave into the want to and when I bought my first encaustic supplies, I couldn't believe the thrill that melting wax could give you. I totally was in love with everything about it. Well that was back in 2007 and I have done alot of playing with the wax but to use the heat gun or torch and watch the wax swirl together and bloom into beautiful shapes and colors is still just as exciting as it was back then. I just love making art with this fabulous medium.

They have developed so many new products and wax colors for the encaustic artist. The metallics are really beautiful when swirling around and the waxes will separate and heat differently into layers. I especially like the soft gold metallic wax. You can be very detailed too, it just depends on how much patience you have. I am always experimenting and trying new tools and colors. I make my own medium and pigmented wax now. I was able to get pigments from a man who had painted Greek icons. The colors are just so rich and beautiful.

I will continue to post new work that I create. One of my first goals was to try to emulate a pastel painting into encaustics. If you look at the glass balls, there is also a pastel that I did first, trying to see how realistic I could get. The really neat thing though about encaustics, even if it leans towards being realistic it still has that abstract edge to it. The depth of the layered wax is amazing and I wish I could photograph it better.

Encaustics

Degas Ballerinas

Painting Encaustics

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