Thursday, June 26, 2014

Navy Pier

Navy Pier
30" x 30" 
encaustic collage on cradled panel


I continue to be inspired to paint places I have been since moving back to Chicago. These new paintings are turning into a series, and the key elements are landmark locations and architecture in Chicago, working large, using wax as the primary medium. I have printed a group of my favorite photos, this is the 2nd of 5 photos to be collaged, and the first of what will be a transition into new techniques and materials.

Rather than transferring the black and white photo (what I have always done in the past), I collaged it into wax medium directly on a cradled birch panel. After fusing layers of wax underneath and on top of the photo, I decided to add dry pigments (recently purchased at the encaustic conference), using copper, graphite, and silver. Safety is a priority, I put on rubber gloves and rubbed the powdered pigments directly into the encaustic medium fused onto the photo. I also added oil sticks (white, blue) rubbed into the sky, and then dipped a strip of mulberry paper into wax, collaged it to add sculptural qualities to the prominent building on the left, Lake Point Tower. I also collaged paper on the far right along the wooden wall structure in the foreground.

I have been running so many ideas through my mind ever since the conference, I have new supplies and tools, and want to continue to experiment and discover new ways of sharing my creative energy with the world.

8 comments:

  1. This is gorgeous! I can only imagine how it looks in person. I'm sure it's stunning.
    So glad you continued to be inspired. I suspect you find inspiration anywhere- it's inside you.
    Well done!

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    1. Sitting here looking at the actual painting and then looking at my photo, I have to say size does not translate, and this really is better to view in person! Thanks for the support, Pamo.

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  2. Of course I love all your Chicago pieces! Even though I was gone from the state for 18 years, it is still home. I'm rather a distance outside the city now, about an hours ride southwest, I still love the city itself. Having been in a few cities around the world, I still think Chicago is one of the most beautiful, aided by that gorgeous Lake Michigan.

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    1. It really has become about painting the city and reconnecting with my roots and childhood. The architecture is truly inspirational, too.

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  3. Pretty interesting Robin, it looks stunning! I really want to try it out one day...

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    1. I met an old neighborhood friend last night who may help me to create a video of the process, padmaja, I remember you asked if I had a video a while back and now it may actually happen sooner rather than later!

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  4. It's hard to keep up with you--this is an exciting piece.

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    1. Treating mixed media paintings more collage like is exciting to me, Hallie. I have learned about very light, transparent papers that can be dipped in wax and molded, and it shifts my painting direction a bit, not sure what's going to happen next but you know I'll be sharing here!

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