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Encaustic Workshops, February of 2012 Thinking that others would like to learn about the art of encaustic, I developed a Beginner's Encaustic Workshop at my studio in Boquete, Panama. I wasn't sure just how much interest there would be, and so I limited enrollment to 4 students per workshop and I scheduled four 1-day workshops. Imagine my surprise when almost every spot got filled! I've held two of the four workshops and people seem to be genuinely pleased with both the content, how it's presented, what they've learned and the value received. I'm genuinely pleased with their results. Check out these photos of their paintings and people at work:
And check out these results....
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I'm Like a Kid on Christmas Eve!You know that feeling you had as a kid on Christmas Eve? When all of life's wondrous gifts were still possibilities? When the puppy you'd been praying for could STILL be on Santa's agenda? When that guitar you'd begged and begged for just might be hidden in the house somewhere? That's how I fee right now. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. Because starting tomorrow, I will be able to roll up my sleeves and get into making encaustic art BIG TIME!! I haven't been able to truly begin experimentation because: A) the encaustic set of medium and paints I originally had were only a starter set and B) I've been researching the best way to get the best grade wax imported into Panama. But now that all comes together: My 10 pounds of wax and 2 lbs of damar resin (for hardening) have arrived at Airbox Express in downtown Boquete. I found a set of pots for melting large amounts of wax at a patio sale at The Zapadora in Potrerillos today. My neighbors gave me a hot plate they're no longer using. I've bought 5 tubes of oil paint I will use as pigments after I dry some of it out. And, through the generous loaning of a miter saw by my friend Kelly Collier and the access to a free wood pile by Michelle Brewer of Bajareque Wood in Volcancito, I have been making my own substrate wood panels for next-to-nothing in cost. Tomorrow I plan to lay out oil paint to dry, I plan on melting 6 to 7 parts wax with 1 part resin to create my medium. Normally I would use an 8 to 1 ratio, but encaustic expert Joanne Mattera suggested I use a little bit more resin because of the additional oils from my oil paints I'm using as pigments. Normally one would use dry pigments to mix with the wax medium, but I'm starting with oil paints as they are more accessible here in Panama. I don't have any photos to show you, but I would like to begin referencing some of my favorites in this industry. I love love love the work of Gilda Snowden. She is a Detroit artist my age and loves to upload videos. I've watched almost every one and this recent one has really captivated me. I plan on painting in the pouring style she shows in this studio tour. Enjoy, and I'll post pictures of work in progress tomorrow! I had troubles embedding her video, so just click on this link to watch it. Condo Decorating I have another blog, as you know. And occasionally I publish something on that blog that really and truly is relevant here, from a creative point of view. So, if you want to see how I got from this monstrosity:  To this, AND to find out how much it costs, then look at my most recent post on www.thirdworldwife.com  |
