More Encaustic Monotypes

Being able to paint with wax on paper feels so familiar, I know it's because of my watercolor past. I used black oil pastel for linear definition, and I am looking forward to developing this technique further.

"Freshly Cut"

22" x 30" on Arches 88 lb. paper

"Dreaming"

16" x 22" on Rives lightweight paper

"Red Tide"

12" x 16" on Kozo paper

Autumn Landscape

What can I say... it's the time of year when the leaves are changing and all I want to do is paint a palette of burnt orange, alizarin crimson, sap green and yellow ochre. This is my favorite color palette and I decided to work on paper using encaustic monotype techniques.

"Autumn Landscape"

16" x 22"

encaustic monotype on Rives lightweight paper

I continuously notice the leaves falling, their shapes and colors. The oak leaf below, grouped with the other leaf impressions, painted last week, makes for an interesting series. I plan on showing this work as part of my solo show next February at the North Shore Art league. I will probably have time to add more by then, too.

"Oak"

10" x 10"

encaustic on panel

Autumn Inspiration

The colors of fall are everywhere! I walk around the Nature Museum and North Pond daily, gathering leaves and pressing them. I have wanted to try several new encaustic techniques, creating interesting textures and patterns in wax and the leaf imprints seemed like a good combination.

"Ash"

mixed media

 10" x 10" on wood panel

"Maple"

mixed media

10" x 10" on wood panel

"Birch"

mixed media

10" x 10" on wood panel

After painting layers of colored wax on panel, I burnished the leaf, creating imprints. Next, I added another layer of wax before lifting the leaf off of the surface. I then added shellac as a final layer, and torched the shellac before it dried completely. The result is a sporadic lace pattern of shellac combined with encaustic. This technique is just one more of the many different ways the encaustic medium can be used. The possibilities are endless.

Encaustic Monotypes and Upcoming Shows

"Dragonfly"

16" x 22" on Rives heavyweight paper

"Whirlwind"

16" x 22" on Vellum 

"Ornamental Grass"

19" x 26" on Rives heavyweight paper

Using the encaustic medium on paper brings me back to a familiar creative place, very much like working with watercolor on paper. For me, there is a similar use of color, airy application of paint, and the ability to create fine details with brushwork. I have been embracing the many varieties of paper, each has it's own unique qualities. As I continue to build a larger body of encaustic monotypes, I can see my love of landscape and nature re-emerging.

Other news - I received notification that one of my large cityscapes, "S-Curve",  was accepted into the 57th Mid States Competition at the Evansville Museum of Art, History and Science. 57 pieces were accepted from the 400 submitted. More information is available on the museum website - http://www.emuseum.org

"S-Curve"

30' x 40" mixed media on panel

And my painting "Ripples" is currently on display in Miami at the International Encaustic Artists Opened Juried Show in the Audrey Love Gallery, show information available here - http://www.international-encaustic-artists.org/Devil-In-a-Straight-Line

"Ripples"

22" x 16" on Rives lightweight paper

Holiday shows are next on my agenda, followed by a solo show at the North Shore Art League next February. One of the important things I have learned since relocating in the Midwest is to keep chugging along, and that there are always new exhibition opportunities if you are willing to do the work.