Confused-Transfers

 In the past when you wanted to make a copy of an image or text most of us would go to Staples, the library or the office where you worked. You could make multiples, change the size, maybe even reverse it. B & W and color. Nowadays when you ask a student to bring copies to class many questions arise since now we all have more options to make copies-like ink jet printers.

So lets clear up the confusion. We use copies to transfer images into the encaustic surface (this also applies to acrylic painting but the technique is different). But the copy needs to be made by a toner/laser printer or copier. This is a different technology than an ink jet printer with the main issue being that the ink is not waterproof. When we do transfers water is used in the process so you can see why the ink jet copy will not work.

Ink jet copies are fine for collage where they are layered beneath medium and no water is used.

And remember when doing a transfer with text that the copy needs to be reversed-also called a mirror image-to read correctly once transferred.

Transfer is a fantastic technique with so many creative applications. More to come...

Sometimes its a Positive to be Negative

 Here the word negative refers to the process in painting where instead of adding more paint to the surface you remove=subtract. When working with encaustic paint this can be an important part of the process that many artists neglect to use. One can remove many layers at a time (don't like what you did, wrong color, want to start over) by warming the surface and using a variety of blades and scrapers. But we also have a fine degree of control over this process just by having a cooler surface temperature. The surface being harder, very thin layers of paint can be removed.

The original border of this painting was scraped off, tape was applied to protect the inner layer and a new border was painted. It still needs to be lightly scraped to even out the surface and let more of the base color show through. 

Like any other technique this one also takes practice. You might be surprised with what you unearth!

One Way or Another

 I'm often asked how to tell when a painting is finished. Several answers come to mind including intuition, boredom and/or when you can't think of a way to improve the work. When you think that you are done it often helps to  not look at the painting for a period of time- giving yourself "fresh eyes"- that will enable you to see if more needs to be done.

    But perhaps more importantly- how do you begin a new painting? Here again there is no one best answer. Hopefully inspiration strikes. If one is working on a series one painting will lead to the next. Some artists will consult their own sketchbooks or begin sketching an idea. Doing a small study or just applying a colored base layer to your surface can help. My preferred method is to work on several paintings at a time. That way, I can put the painting that might be done aside while I continue working on the other one.

    One way or another the most important part of this is just to start painting.

Encaustic class-student work

 Thanks to some of my students-Elise, Bonnie and Deb for entering their encaustic paintings in the Silvermine Arts Center Student Show. Next class starts on July 7 from 1-4 for 8 weeks, come join us.

Nature

 Since I paint with encaustics, garden and am concerned about our favorite pollinators-honey bees-it was interesting to learn about the creations of artist Ava Roth who, since 2017, has included bees in her process. She uses organic materials to create a collage that is framed in wood, wax is added  and then placed in the hive (quick version). She leaves it in the hive for 3 days to 3 weeks during which the bees build comb around the collage becoming part of the finished piece. Wild! Ava, like many of us, also hopes that her work raises awareness to the dangers that bees and pollinators in general are facing. 

Texture and Encaustic

see this amazing encaustic work by martin kline at heather gaudio fine art in new canaan, ct