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...

Creating Texture-Encaustic

Encaustic paint is great for creating texture -that was one of the reasons I was first drawn to it. As it is a solid paint that becomes liquid by heating, temperature is the key. At cooler temperatures the paint will have a paste like consistency. By layering this thicker paint, a technique called accretion*, various textures can be created. Working subtractively on a painting with a warm surface can also create textures that would be recessed instead of raised. Adding collage elements or casting shapes with impasto medium are other choices for adding texture. Several detail images from my paintings illustrate different textures. In one the actual honey comb was incorporated into the painting's surface.

*check out Martin Kline's early work for examples of this technique