Examples of Encaustic Paintings
*Warning* – I had English/grammar class right after art. I was always dizzy from the fumes so I didn’t absorb much and now I have terrible grammar. (You don’t have to excuse the terrible excuse above, but please ignore any grammatical errors)
I get asked these two questions almost daily. I am going to use this blog to explain the history of encaustic painting and my discovery of it.
I am pulling this “textbook” definition off of the R & F website:
“Encaustic is a paint composed of beeswax, damar resin and pigments. The term “Encaustic” is often used to describe both the paint itself, and the method for using it. Encaustic paint is applied molten to an absorbent surface, and then fused, (or re-melted), to create a variety of effects. Unlike other paints, encaustic is never wet or dry – it goes from a liquid to solid state and back again in seconds, which means additional layers can be added immediately, without disrupting your composition. Once the surface has cooled, the paint has reached a permanent finish, but the painting can be revised and reworked with heat at any time – minutes or years later.”
Now for the quickest art history lesson on record:
Encaustic painting is an ancient technique that originated with Greek painters in or around 5th century B.C.
How I discovered encaustic painting:
I started attending art school when I was 5 years old. The 18 years to follow were full of art education. Encaustic painting was never a technique that was taught or even mentioned in the classroom. My curiousity lead me to this medium after reading about it in a book about Jasper Johns.
I have always been attracted to bold colors, deep layers, and the idea of unpredictability. For example, I used to make my own medicine mixtures as a child with the idea that I was going to find the ultimate cure for any disease. (I know this sounds dangerous. It probably was. My parents did not have it easy with me.) My “Gesso” was always calamine lotion. From there I would layer on other things from my medicine drawer.
I regress. My point is that encaustic is a medium full of unpredictability that holds no boundaries. I often describe it as a dream. The way your subconscious takes the wheel while you watch how things unfold.
Encaustic painting can be challenging but it offers rewards that are impossible to receive from any other medium.
I have seen artists encapsulate metal and instant coffee grinds in their encaustic paintings. I have seen other artists paint 50+ layers and then burn through them with a blowtorch. The possibilities are endless and if you want to stimulate your creativity, just google “encaustic painting” and learn a little bit about what you can do with this versitile medium.
I am an encaustic painter because I love the challenge of controlling the paint. You must work from your instinct because you are painting with wax which hardens within seconds.
Without giving too much away, I start by creating a long color story. I use that color story within countless layers of encaustic paint applied to a wooden surface. Once the layers are all fused together, I approach the painting as if it was a sculpture, carving out elements, exposing it’s depth. Other mediums such as Oil Sticks, Sumi Ink, and gold leaf seem to make frequent appearences in my work.
My subjects are never what they seem. I tend to choose pop culture icons in order to capture the eyes of the public. These recognizable images are just pieces in a puzzle that are put together forcing you to look for the deeper meaning in the work. The truth lies within the painting’s physical depth.
Encaustics will take your creativity to a new place. You can do things that you probably didn’t think were at all possible.
