Encaustic Painting

Encaustic Painting is a very old art form; the history can be traced back to the Greco Roman mummy portraits in Egypt. The word “encaustic” (which comes from Greek and means "to burn in") describes the process wherein molten wax mixed with damar resin is fused with heat after application. When pigmented, wax can be used as paint or as adhesive, or both. It also can be used alone for transparency. The medium is applied with brushes or other tools. Heat is used throughout the process, from melting the beeswax to fusing the different layers of wax. I love working with wax, because it is such a rich material. Wax is wonderful to work with and is very versatile. Often, things I have planned fall apart and other things arise - the possibilities are endless. I love the use of vibrant colors. Sometimes found objects, such as pieces of hardware from my husband’s garage, find their way into my imagery. The combination of metal and wax—warm and cold—intrigues me. I also like weaving collage materials, often my photography or prints, into the story. As I build layers upon layers a conversation happens, and I try to find the perfect combination.