Encaustic art, involves using hot wax (heated beeswax with resin) and coloured wax (heated) pigments or paints along with various elements, including photographic images or other materials, such as birch bark or flower petals or lace embedded. The liquid wax can be applied to wooden boards or other prepared surfaces. Use of stencils can also enhance the pieces.
I first heard about encaustic painting from my sister, Rebecca, who is an artist and has experimented with many mediums. More recently, I came across a local artist and studio who hosts various encaustic workshops, bringing in artists for weekend retreats – Heather Laidlaw of “Big Dramatic Questions”. I wasn’t able to attend her workshop but she spent time with me to tutor me in this art form and later, we had another workshop with a group of friends. I was inspired. I have since taken over my dining room and turned it into my encaustic studio, especially during this pandemic while we are all isolated and not able to have dinner parties anyway!
The first piece that I did at Heather’s studio used a black and white image that I’d taken of swans in the Collingwood Harbour.
For me, it’s been a new outlet to make use of my countless photographs as well as to incorporate many of the natural elements in the trails and woods behind my home. Although I’ve never considered myself to be an artist in the fine art sense, it is quite engrossing and I am happy with some of the pieces I have created. Others are experiments. The nice thing about this medium is that, if something is not working, you can just turn on your hot air gun and melt it off. 🙂
I will post some more recent works soon.