"Painting in the medium of encaustic is energizing:
the heated wax is malleable
and the colors meld together in unexpected ways."
I grew up in a home where art and creativity were highly revered, and throughout my life I have gravitated toward the fine arts. I am a writer and a pianist, as well as a visual artist and I often sense the overlap of these areas as I work.
My recent work is encaustic: fusing pigmented beeswax. Painting in this medium is energizing: the heated wax is malleable and colors meld together in unexpected, delightful ways. I work intuitively, allowing each step to unfold as the work speaks to me.
As I work, I journal the thoughts that pop into my head, ideas that otherwise would lie dormant or I run to the piano to play, reconnecting emotionally to refocus my painting work. Generally, I lay down the wax in layers, alternating warm and cool colors, both transparent and opaque which results in a shimmering translucence. Often, I use the wax sculpturally: I carve intaglio images or create bas-relief using clay or silk to establish form before encasing it in wax and pigment or gold leaf.
The inherent qualities of the wax alone (aroma, versatility, organic elements) make it a wonderfully fascinating material with which to create. I use authentic beeswax from natural beehives where young bees are raised and honey is stored. The wax is a natural byproduct of the honey gathering process. It is no coincidence that my subject matter often celebrates nature and the wonders of our Earth; I honor the interdependence of man and nature and celebrate its forms and colors in my abstractions.
As a Master Gardener, spending hours outside in my butterfly garden under massive, ancient live oaks not only provides an endless source of inspiration for my work but the rhythms of nature bring transformation and renewal which offer a feeling of hope.
The creative life, for me, is the key to a balanced life: it is challenging, contemplative work, full of problem solving and moments that range from heartache to pure joy. There is a mystical quality to this life because it allows me to be in tune with some source of benevolent energy much greater than myself from which I get inspiration, encouragement, and hope.
My current objective in painting is to use the ancient art form of encaustic to produce work that has a fresh, contemporary perspective and palette. May it bring the hope and joy I experience while painting it!