encaustic process page

Fall Workshops, new Work

2011-08-25T11:59:00.000-07:00

my fall workshops at silvermine school of art-www.silvermineart.org

intro to encaustic painting-10/1 and 11/13, 10:00-3:00

encaustic transfers with photographs-10/15, 10:00-3:00

6 week class starting 10/5, 7:00-10:00 pm

encaustic weekend-12/3 & 4, 10:00-3:00

hope to see you there

new painting-corona-36" x 36" encaustic on panel and view as a triptych

Not Just for Kids

2011-01-20T10:46:00.000-08:00

i thought it was worth a try-the Crayola Crayon Maker. designed for children to re-melt their left over crayon pieces into new crayons with custom colors- why not try it with encaustic paints and make encaustic crayons. following directions but using scraps of encaustic paint the Crayon Maker did melt the encaustics, then they are poured into 4 small crayon molds-let cool and there you go. i have yet to try adding any powdered pigments to the mix but that is next. there is probably a better method but the Crayon Maker only uses a 60 watt candelabra bulb for heat so it shouldn't use much electricity. if you wonder why i might want encaustic crayons just think encaustic monotypes. and remember, if you too try this at home, don't forget about ventilation.

Up coming workshops 2011

2011-01-07T10:49:00.000-08:00

happy new year everyone. 2011 is the year of the rabbit-a quiet year when gentle persuasion is better than harsh force so i'll just say it would be great to see you at a workshop where everyone can work at their own pace with no pressure to create the masterpiece. although i have found that during my many years of teaching that even artists new to a medium often want to do just that. so relax, but not too much since in the year of the rabbit we can become too complacent while putting off what we need to do.

these are my workshops at silvermine arts center in new canaan, ct (www.silverminearts.org)through april-i also am available for private workshops in my studio. wishing you all the best, keep waxing, nash

introduction to encaustic painting-2/5 and 4/23

encaustic with collage-3/19

encaustic for photographers-4/2 (the image above combines photography with encaustic paint)

weekend workshop-2/12 and 13

6 week class starts 2/16

Visceral Structures

2010-10-29T06:32:00.000-07:00

an encaustic and mixed-media artist Elizabeth Back's solo exhibition "Visceral Structures" is on view at the Silvermine Arts Center in New Canaan, CT. Back creates paintings, sculpture and installations that relate to nature and the body on varying scales. several paintings are round like huge petrie dishes that have some type of life form growing in them; others are very textural and also have a feeling of reproduction in progress. we get a close up view of things usually unseen. don't miss it but hurry-only up through 11/5.

10 Years Old

2010-07-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

on my web site is a series called the genome project. they are 12" x 12" encaustic paintings on panel that use the letters of the genome-ATCG-and other imagery to reflect upon what makes us us -human.

this week the decoding (or mapping) of the complete human genome is celebrating its 10th anniversary. it is our DNA instruction book where only 1/2% difference in the code creates our uniqueness.

you might say "so what"? but very likely, within the next 3-4 years your map/book will be read for less than $1000.00 and within the next 10 years it will be a part of our medical records.

hopefully advances in predictions, prevention and cures will also grow at an even faster pace. it was also announced this week that a group of scientists think they have found the genes for longevity. how does being 100 years old sound? still creating art?

for further info check out Spencer Wells at the National Geographic Genome site.

Transfer Notes from 4th Annual Encaustic Conference

2010-06-18T06:51:00.000-07:00

Here are some notes and observations on doing transfers based on my experience and seeing what other artists do. I use a lot of images and text that I transfer and want to do it as perfectly and quickly as I can-you may have found other ways but so far this is what I feel works best. Doing a transfer can seem like magic but by paying attention to a couple of details it is a straight forward process.

What is the difference between lazer and ink jet copies? Laser (toner) printers heat a powdery toner that is applied to the paper. An ink jet sprays ink dots and uses either heat (Canon, HP) or electricity (Epson) to set the ink.

What to transfer-

Photocopy, laser copy, toner copy in B & W or color, newspaper copy. Ink jets don’t work well but are not impossible.* but why bother? They are often not waterproof.Remember to “mirror” text so it will be right reading.

Graphite, color pencils, charcoal, pastel (not oil), carbon or Saral paper,metallic transfer tapes.

Color from magazine pages.

Lazertran ink jet paper-more of a combination of techniques as the image is actually collaged in.

How to: the basic technique

Note:there is no need to use any kind of solvent

Fused, smooth surface-the smoother the surface the more perfect the transfer will be. I like some or all medium on the surface that the transfer will be on-medium is more tacky. Medium will also prevent pigmented encaustic paint from seeping into the image when you fuse. This is especially true when using charcoal.

Warm the surface-between 80-110 degrees. The transfer is harder to do if the surface is too cool and you will just push into the wax if the surface is too warm. Feel it and/or use a digital thermometer.

Place the transfer face down. Rub with a metal tool-a burnisher works best. You need the hardness of the metal tool-it works much better that wood, bone, etc. This usually takes around a minute.

Spray with water and rub over the paper. It may need several applications of water. Let the water do the work! Then rub off the paper pulp-fingers, old towels, sanding blocks, kitchen scrubbies-all these work.

Even though it looks clean add a little more water and rub with you fingers to get that very fine layer of paper off. It is easiest to edit the image at this time , removing any parts of the transfer you don't want to keep.If it is a keeper, lightly fuse. Of course if you fuse too much you will move the image, sometimes you might do that on purpose for the effect.

Alternatives-

Cut the image out completely, put face down and cover with wax paper, then burnish.

Leave some of the paper pulp on or around the image which can add softness, some dimension.

To transfer a graphite, pencil or pastel drawing -no water.

Most artists don’t use heat for this but I prefer the surface to be just slightly warm.

The transfer will work best if the drawing is done on a non- absorbent paper.

Place face down on surface, burnish, lift up edge to check transfer, slowly pull off the paper.

Often you can do another softer transfer from the same image-a shadow.

lightly fuse.

*Ink jet printed on parchment paper will transfer easily.

Color magazine images-with water

Not all magazine pages will transfer-you need those that are printed on a clay based paper. Use same basic technique although when doing a large page I like to use a flat metal tool to get more coverage. If you hear or see air bubbles your paper is not attached to the surface and will not transfer.

Experiment, push the boundaries, take risks-that’s what art is all about.

Two Inspirations

2010-06-14T14:23:00.000-07:00

i'm just back from the 4th Annual Encaustic Conference held at Montserrat College in Beverly, MA, just north of Boston. This was my third conference as a presenter and participant and each year this conference gets better and better-congratulations to Joanne and the college staff. over 240 artists from the US, Canada and S. America, speakers and even vendors created an informative, exciting and inspiring atmosphere. those of you who were on the fence this year about going-sign up next year. asap i will be posting the notes from my demo on transfers and will also add my notes from my previous demo-warp, weft and wax.

a sad note-German artist extraordinaire Sigmar Polke died last thursday at the age of 69 from cancer. if you don't know his work you should-he is considered one of the most influential artists of the last 40 years and worked with all types of media probably even encaustic-an artist alchemist, an inspiration.

Rubber soles

2010-05-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

now that it finally feels like summer put your rubber soled shoes on and take a hike to the met's roof garden and enjoy big bamboo. and since you have the required shoes you can walk up into this installation created by the Starn Twins, usually known for their photography. will be reporting next from the 4th Encaustic Conference, see you there.

Will it Melt?

2010-05-10T17:07:00.000-07:00

a red Rothko, an Andy self- portrait & and a Johns flag are all estimated to be selling in the multi-million dollar range in current auctions. Johns's flag (1960-1966-i work like this too), estimate 10-15 million is described as "...a particularly vibrant image, painted in Mr. Johns signature encaustic, an ancient technique in which pigment in suspended in wax, giving each brush stroke a distinct materiality." does your work display a distinct materiality? and how are your sales doing? the economy seems to be approving-at least around here-but all these problems in europe, in the gulf, i just don't know. many people will watch the auctions to grade the art market. and does it help the rest of us encaustic painters when a Johns encaustic painting goes for record prices? somehow i don't think anyone at Christie's is going to ask "will it melt".

Take a Seat, Don't Speak

2010-04-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

art exhibits don't often get much press or TV coverage but you've probably heard about this one. look but don't touch. OMG! you have to walk between two people who are naked! but you really don't-there is another doorway but that's how the media hype works. and they loved to report on the 30 year MOMA member who lost his membership after not keeping his hands to himself. there is the hype then there is the art. what one sees first is a woman in black, sitting still at a table in MOMA's huge atrium surrounded by movie lights. she is looking at the person across from her not moving or speaking. and that person could be you if you have the patience to stand in line and agree to be videotaped. "The Artist is Present", Marina Abramovic's retrospective through May 31 is thought provoking, difficult and perhaps too much all at once. but have a look, take a seat-be present. it makes you think.

coming up-the Starn Twins bamboo construction on the MET's roof. guided tours will be possible but don't wear your heels!

4707

2010-02-15T07:48:00.000-08:00

love. power. valentine's day & lunar new year (4707) both on the same day-2/14/10. happy new year but watch out-year of the tiger. the whitney biennial opens next week. maybe a good way to start the new year. i say maybe after reading roberta smith's article in the ny times on sunday. it is subtitled "this season new york's museums rarely transcend the sea of sameness".

i am exhibiting along with 14 other artists from across the country in fahrenheit 180 at the ann street gallery in newburgh, ny. this encaustic exhibition is open from 2/27-3/28. of note is laura moriarty's work that pushes the possibilities of this medium. for more info go to www.annstreetgallery.org

so happy, healthy new year to all and many days fueled by the creative process.

2010 Opportunities

2009-11-19T11:09:00.000-08:00

two very different opportunities for 2010 have just been posted:

for the encaustic curious or user the 4th annual encaustic conference will be held in beverly, ma, just north of boston on june 11-13. talks, demos, vendors, panel discussions, etc. for all levels. i am pleased to be giving a demo on transfers. for info:

www.montserratencausticconference.blogspot.com

for the creative expression of feelings for those who fight cancer, are cancer survivors or care givers the 2010 lilly oncology on canvas competition is online at their website. of course, everyone who participates is a winner but the formal awards-in various categories-are monies donated to the cancer charity of the winners choice. after previewing in nyc, the exhibition tours the u.s. to raise awareness and hope.

"art should be like that mirror which reveals to us our own face" borges

and our own fate

Subjects: British

2009-10-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

i am always on the lookout for shows that feature artists from other countries. the Neuberger Museum of Art, part of SUNY, in Purchase, NY (right across the Ct border) has a good one titled British Subjects:Identity and Self-Fashioning 1967-2009. the show focuses upon several themes: how Britain has been changing as a country; different ways of expressing the self; and the eternal question "Who am I?". these themes are further broken down into categories such as family pictures, self-portraits by another and staged selves. many different media and techniques are used and there is informative text to go with the work. the show ends on december 13.

while there take a look at the new acquisitions show in the back room. some names i didn't recognize but many are familiar and there is one of the Starn twins photo/encaustic works along with one of their distressed/taped photos. usually i find most of their work pretty engaging but not that particular one-see what you think.

Process Page Picks

2009-09-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

where do they come from, how are they realized? ideas. as a visual artist i am always curious how artists in other fields get ideas, create. there are two , current although very different documentaries now on DVD that show the creative process. It Might Get Loud puts The Edge, Jack White and Jimmy Page together in the same studio where they reflect, share ideas and jam. different generations, different outcomes but wonderful to listen to and experience their shared passion.

music is accessible to all, haute couture is not but in Valentino-The Last Emperor we get to view a passion for creating fashion for 45 years. how many dresses, gowns is that? from sketch to runway, stitching by hand to hair do's, private jets and yachts, ending with Valentino's 45 year retrospective, an event complete with fireworks. the future of haute couture may be limited and most probably don't care but this documentary gives us a glimpse at a very rarefied world and if you have ever tried sewing...sequins anyone.

"An idea is salvation by imagination" Frank Lloyd Wright

Exhibition photos

2009-09-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

my show is up! (not the lighting yet). nerves, would it come together, all that stuff. thank you roger. there are six three foot square paintings and 24 twelve inch square paintings. here are a few shots. please take a look if in the area, the show is up through oct. 1.

Side-tracked

2009-08-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

my desire to keep up with this blog got side-tracked by my computer being in the hottest room of the house and more importantly by all the painting i needed to do for my solo show. i thought i was so very organized and prepared but as time zoomed by i got side-tracked. side-tracked by a very different series of work combining encaustic with photography. many artists i have talked with recognize this phenomenon. the timing is terrible but the outcome can be great. you have your planned show to complete but your head is filled with this new stuff you want to investigate but there is not enough time to switch the whole thing over. so i did 5 paintings with the new combination and am now back to finishing my show. i still have a large painting to do, photos to take, titles-i better get to it-the show hangs next week.

Convergence

Encaustic and mixed media paintings by Nash Hyon

Sept. 5-Oct.1, 2009

Reception-Sunday Sept. 13 from 4-6:00pm

Silvermine Guild Arts Center

New Canaan, CT

www.silvermineart.org

upcoming workshops listed on the silvermine web site

Tennis Anyone?

2009-06-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

i don't play tennis because i have carpal tunnel and my hands can't take it but i like to follow the major competitions. watching the men's final of the French Open i was thinking how dedicated and hard working the top players must be. most started very young, play long hours and work hard on strength training during the off season. but there is something more-even the players with the best technique and strength don't always reach the top-so what is it-raw talent, reflexes, nerves?

as and artist, if (plus i didn't start young) i spend more time working on my painting would that make me a better painter or just better with technique? if i am better with technique does that allow my mind to freely go to that place where the creative process resides? how does one become more creative? maybe there will be answers for these types of questions in the future. maybe some of you have some opinions.

P.S. the Third Encaustic Conference is this weekend. congrats to all who made it possible-especially Joanne-and i hope to see you all next year.

Vote Earth

2009-03-23T14:25:00.000-07:00

i hope everyone will "VOTE EARTH" on march 28 and turn off all your lights from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. this painting just happens to be called "seachange"- something that will happen if we don't address global warming now.

Up & Coming

2009-02-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

several items of interest you might want to take a look at. the first is Laura Moriarty's painting (?) process video at the R & F website or you tube and a different type of artist is portrayed in Man on Wire, an Oscar award winner for best documentary on Phillipe Petit the tightrope walker who walked across a steel cable between the World Trade Towers not just once but for 45 minutes! his story is quite amazing. there is another interesting story about the African artist El Anatsui in the New York Times who creates beautiful hanging paintings out of bottle caps. you might have seen one of his pieces at MAD.

i will be having a weekend encaustic workshop at Silvermine Guild Arts Center on March 13 & 14 for those who have basic encaustic skills. details on the Silvermine website. There will be more workshops offered this summer and i am also available for private workshops in my studio.

Do you know Spenser Wells?

2008-12-29T10:46:00.000-08:00

i should probably just call this blog "the process page" as those who read it know it is not just about encaustics. what is process anyway- "a system of operations in the production of something". ok. my process in the production of a painting is: an idea, do research, collect materials, glue paper on to a panel, stencil letters, paint a layer of medium, begin to add imagery and layers-on and on. Spenser Wells follows the first three steps of my process but to collect his materials-samples of DNA-he travels around the world from australia to outer mongolia and beyond. maybe you saw his documentary or read his book titled The Journey of Man. he wants to trace our journey out of africa, to create a map that represents the range of human diversity, to learn where we came from and how we are all related. you too can be apart of this process by going to www.nationalgeographic.com/genographic that gives you all the information to get your own kit and have your DNA tested. i am waiting for my results as i write this and plan to have my results added to the 100,000 samples they are trying to map.

a new year is almost here. what an amazing time we live in. whatever your process keep creating. happy new year!

More art/Less smoke

2008-11-25T12:55:00.000-08:00

you probably don't know this but november is national lung cancer awareness month. most people don't & that's a problem. i happen to know a little about this as my husband died from lung cancer. so do on average 400 people a day in the U.S. women are twice as likely to die from lung cancer as from breast cancer. smoking is a primary cause but the number of people diagnosed with lung cancer who have never smoked is also on the rise. if you smoke-please try to quit. or if someone you care about smokes, encourage & help them to stop. it is the single best thing that you can do for your health- so you'll have more time to create more art.

MAD

2008-11-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

i was recently in nyc to receive an award from Lilly Oncology on Canvas. i was honored to be chosen and the prize money went to the charity of my choice. to see all the artwork and narratives by cancer caregivers, supporters and survivors was very moving. the exhibition will tour the u.s for the next two years and there will be a book available. thank you Lilly.

while in nyc i visited MAD-the Museum of Arts and Design in Columbus Circle. Mad is the recreation of the former American Craft Museum that was across from MOMA. the museum has a fantastic exhibition on display (besides the perm. collection) called Second Lives. it includes 3-D work by contemporary artists using a wide range of materials not commonly associated with art-plastic spoons, combs, old records, paper bags, etc. that have been made into the most unique creations. try to see it-worth the $15.00 admission. before i concentrated on painting i was a craft artist. over time the term craft seems to have acquired a somewhat negative connotation- the directors of MAD did not use it because of this, craft being "handi-craft", a hobby, cute stuff. i'm not sure how this happened. any thoughts?

Painting Pain

2008-09-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

The studio is almost done and i have been doing a lot of painting (not the kind i prefer to do) so that at least for a short time everything is white on white but it is killing my hands. those of you with carpal tunnel know the feeling. my workshops will be starting on oct. 4-the listing is on the silvermine guild web site. information is also now available for the third annual encaustic conference to be held the first week of june in beverly ma and there are benefits to signing up early. and keep an eye out for the prospectus for the R&F juried show which will be exhibited in 2009 at the castle gallery in new rochelle, ny.

Light

2008-08-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

i am learning so much about all the different aspects of light but for sure, the light in my studio is now so much better. many of my artist friends are telling me that my work should now be getting bigger and better-at least the better is always a goal. the crew who has been working here is just great and has made the process much more sane. somehow there are still so many more decisions to be made than one would think possible.

Making Progress

2008-08-18T07:18:00.000-07:00

things are moving along. i even taught a private workshop in my garage studio! thank you kari for being adventurous, interesting, fun and creative.

Progress report

2008-08-06T06:04:00.000-07:00

well here's what my studio now looks like. what a mess. and here's my new working space in my garage. it is taking me a while to get adjusted but i am very fortunate to have a studio of my own and one at home. artists like to see other studios-if you have any shots send them along.

Summer Projects

2008-07-31T10:18:00.000-07:00

Besides the usual fun summer activities i am cleaning out my studio so renovation can start this monday. what a project! how do we artists accumulate so many tools, materials, and maybes? i've had some maybes for ten years. you know- maybe i will use this for...... the project is estimated to take a month but hopefully it won't be that long. meanwhile i am going to work in my garage on some large paintings and when possible use the sun to fuse them. and throw out some of those maybes.

my other project has just been completed-my website is finally up! special thanks to miggs, roger, jennifer, tertuliano and gail. if you'd like to see more of my work and a look at my "before" studio just go to my site-www.nashhyon.com

Do you know Chihuly?

2008-06-21T06:23:00.000-07:00

in college my main interest was in jewelry design but i also had the opportunity to try glass blowing. talk about process. i was just thinking about this as i viewed the Dale Chilhuly four dvd set which if you haven't seen-you should-especially the one filmed in Venice. why should an encaustic painter be interested in Chilhuly? he's a master artist (kind of the mario batali of glass) that has gone beyond the difficulties of the process and his own physical limitations to pure creation. in Venice he works with two very different master glass blowers to create the most amazing work. the process of blowing glass is one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult to master in part because of the heat, the weight of the glass and the speed needed while working. there are similarities between glass and wax-they both become liquid with heat, solid when cool, the way they capture light, how translucent, how transformative. Chihuly has a lot to say about the creative process that applies to all artists. he often tells his students "...you are making something no one has ever seen before". what are you making?

Second National Encaustic Painting Conference

2008-06-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

despite the weather attempting to melt us & our wax, the conference held this past weekend in Beverly, MA was experienced & enjoyed by over 200 participants. bravo, Joanne. & if you missed this one, next years is already planned for the same weekend in june. my advice-sign up early to make sure you get the talks/demos that you're most interested in. this year we also had Linda Womack do a signing of her just published "embracing encaustic" book which i will write about as soon as i get time to read it (we need more books on this historic medium that is being used more & more by contemporary artists). many of the demos were taped & i will pass along that info when available. i hope that those who attended my demo-warp, weft & wax are inspired to try some of the techniques i showed & as always, comments, questions or additions are welcome.

Art History

2008-05-27T05:40:00.000-07:00

process and materials. that's what much of what encaustic painting is about. Robert Rauschenberg certainly used materials-metal leaf, dirt, newspapers, fabrics, tires, all kinds of found objects, what some people would call junk. i imagine him in the '50's, Jasper Johns working downstairs, walking around his block in NYC and creating one of his "combines" from whatever he happened to find. Most art historians credit these combines for his place in art history. but in the 1960's when other artists started using the same materials Rauschenberg moved on creatively and began his series of silk screens, at first on canvas and combined with paint. did he and Andy Warhol talk about the process they were both using albeit with different results? Rauschenberg once said that his goal was "to make a surface which invited a constant change of focus and an examination of detail." certainly he achieved that. his was one of the largest retrospectives by a living artist ever exhibited at the Guggenheim in 1997. i am so glad i was able to experience it and have the exhibition catalogue signed by the artist. now might be a good time to take another look at his work.

Robert Rauschenberg passed away on the 13th of May. he was 82. he will be missed.

Tools

2008-04-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

The right tools enable you to make the process of painting more subservient to your creativety and content. many encaustic tools have been adopted/adapted from other fields and i am always on the lookout for new tools. many encaustic painters use heat guns but there are those that swear by torches. a variety of palettes are also now available. sinopia who now owns kremer has two tools listed for the encaustic painter- a small iron and a metal, heated brush. i have just started working with these and so far, for my process, like the iron. not exactly a tool but necessary is the surface thermometer. the high tech version of this- the laser thermometer- is fun to use and really works well (thank you bb & pr). correct plus or minus 2 degrees. instantly. it won't enhance your creativety but will tell you how hot your painting is.

ps-upcoming workshops at silvermine guild arts center-

may 10, may 31 and june 21

catch up/process/changing times

2008-03-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

it's great that many of the paintings in the jasper johns show now at the Met are not behind glass. it allows the viewers to really see his encaustic techniques. i am wondering what, if anything, will be the influence of this serene show? a majority of the work is encaustic-will more people learn about this medium, will more artists explore it, will we see more interiors done in gray?

also currently at the Guggenheim is "i want to believe" by the chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang. see this show. talk about a process using heat. Cai uses gunpowder and fuses on large sheets of paper to create his large drawings. destruction, transformation, matter, energy, politics, history and science are all expressed in this work of various media. he is also one of the creative people planning the open and closing ceremonies of the coming summer olympics. can't wait to see what that will look and sound like.

a polaroid just isn't fast enough any more...the polaroid company-which really isn't the company since the company went bankrupt and another company bought them for their name-has announced that they will stop making polaroid film next year. many artists use their film but don't know about this. the film should be saved. each photo is unique, a quality as far as i am concerned and if you don't know about polaroid transfers onto water color paper it is a great process that can also be taken further with hand coloring or by using encaustic on top. for further information just google save polaroid film.

Heated Palettes

2008-02-28T06:52:00.000-08:00

nowadays there are a variety of palettes to chose from for the encaustic painter. still many artists just starting to work with this medium would like other, less expensive options. one choice is to make your own palette-i often talk about this in my workshops as this is how i started and many of my students seem interested in also starting this way. in its most basic form-

purchase an electric hot plate (hardware stores or the large chains with kitchen depts.).

find a metal shop in your area and ask them to cut you a square of anodized aluminum sheet 1/4" thick ( i started with 12" square, kind of small and it wasn't even anodized which prevents a black film from forming on the heated metal surface). also have them drill a 1/4" hole in each corner.

get a 1"diameter wood dowel. measure the height of the hot plate and add 1/4"-this is the measurement to use to cut the dowel for the legs.

use screws from the top to attach the legs.

set over the hotplate and you are ready to start.

it is also handy to have a small level to check your palette-if it is not level the wax will run over the side and burn on the hotplate.

one more thing-you should use a surface thermometer to monitor the temp. of the palette-very important for safety and health reasons.

i used this palette for about five years and did many large paintings during that time although now i do use the r&f palette. every artist has different needs and i would suggest looking into the other palettes that are now available.

coming events

2008-02-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

so many artists working with other media are investigating encaustics to add to their process and work. i will be having a one day workshop on encaustics with photography on 3/15 at silvermine guild arts center. if you have not seen the two combined take a look at the recent work of the Starn twins.

microcosms, a show of my encaustic work and that of friend and fellow artist Roger Mudre who works primarily with acrylics (but he does have an encaustic set-up so one of these days...) will be at the Kershner Gallery in fairfield from 3/30-5/18. the opening will be on saturday, april 5 from 5-7. I will also be doing an encaustic "show and tell" sometime during april. my work in this show will be an expansion of my "elements" series-this time focusing on h2o.

another talk will be at the second encaustic conference in beverly, ma on june 7. more about that to come with images. the talk is titled "warp, weft and wax".

and finally i was selected to have a solo show next september at silvermine arts center. tentative title-"mapping the genome".

ps: at times encaustics seem to have a mind of their own. in regards to that i like this quote by Tanguy "i found that if i planned a picture beforehand, it never surprised me and surprises are my pleasure in painting". so let yourself be surprised.

bits & pieces-collage

2008-01-25T14:22:00.000-08:00

collage comes from the french coller, to stick. a better description would be "glueing together bits and pieces of unrelated images including previously used commercial materials to create something unprecedented". it has a long history although Braque and Picasso and usually given credit for its "invention". between the two, Picasso used a wider range of materials-everything from sand, wallpaper, printed papers to dimensional objects. since the 1920's many artists have explored collage from Hannah Hoch, Kurt Schwitters to Rauschenberg and beyond. a collage artist whose work you might not be aware of is Fred Otnes. his book (of the same name) is available through amazon. his work may be considered somewhat traditional in subject matter but he has a wonderful sense of materials, imagery, composition, color and surface. so why bring up collage? encaustic is great for collage. the wax becomes the glue but with no waiting for drying and it is completely reversible. plus, by building up layers you can create depth and many types of surfaces. once again you might also want to refer back to the master-Jasper Johns-and revisit his interpretations of collage using encaustic.

Art and Science

2008-01-14T08:03:00.000-08:00

if you are an artist interested in science (or vice versa) check out the magazine SEED (also online). Their 12/07 issue front cover asks "the future of science is art?". in this article the author, Jonah Lehrer, whose recent book is titled Proust was a Neuroscientist, quotes string theorist Brian Greene about the arts having the ability to "give a vigorous shake to our sense of what's real" thus jarring the scientific imagination into imagining new things. i also like Lehrer's suggestion that all theoretical physics departments should have an artist-in -residence. there are numerous, thought provoking ideas expressed here that will hopefully increase the dialogue in this subject. read it and see what you think.

misinformation

2008-01-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

from talking with many artists about encaustics there is still a lot of misinformation on this medium. with more access through workshops, books ("the art of encaustic painting" by joanne matera is a great start with more books coming out this year) hopefully that will change. i teach intro and other specific encaustic workshops at silvermine guild arts center in ct. we just had an open house and there were many questions along the lines of "will my finished painting melt"?

many artists love the look of encaustic but have no idea of the process. that is why i like the intro class-it gives you a good idea if the process is something that you want to invest more time (and money) into. more on process later...

time to start

2008-01-04T10:23:00.000-08:00

welcome to the encaustics process page. i have admired the many blogs created by artists and thought it's about time for me to do one too. please send any comments and/or questions. for those of you who are new to this fascinating medium i recommend the R&F website and attending the Second National Encaustic Conference to be held June 6-8 in Beverly, MA. the first was informative and fun (i did a demo and will also be doing one this year) and gives you access to people involved with encaustics from all over america. also of interest will be the Jasper Johns show "Gray" coming soon to NYC. Johns has said, when asked if he used encaustic for its materiality and quick "drying"-"I enjoyed those qualities. But it may have helped that when I began to work with it, no other artists that I knew were using it. The events that happened with it seemed discoveries." Today there are many artists using encaustic-hope you are one and making discoveries too.