Encaustics

The Encaustic is a Greek word meaning “to heat or burn in” (enkaustikos). bees wax and dammar resin are melted to create the transparent encaustic medium, in which color pigment is suspended. Working on a wood panel, the colors are fused or burned in, layer upon transparent layer. The palette itself is a hot plate with containers holding the melted wax medium. The medium is applied by pouring and using a heated metal spatula, or applied with a brush. The layers are fused using an old clothes iron, propane torch, heat gun or even direct sunlight

Recent Encaustics

EncaIn August of 2024 i began a new series of paintings.  Here, i pushed my relationship to painting further than before by painting and then erasing, obliterating, disrupting or destroying what i had done to remake the panel, repeating this process until i was uncertain of everything in front of me. Eventually i began each morning in the studio by spending hours in quiet conversation with the work in progress, on the easel in front of me. I am hoping to fill my doubts and lack of understanding of what I’m doing, with something meaningful. Ultimately, all I’ve learned is what a vacuous, uncaring and inept individual I am. I’ve begun to embrace  these qualities as a way to explore them in my works.