minding beeswax
It’s one of those things a person always intends to do - even longs to - but life kind of takes over… But, last night, I had a some time. Kids were in bed, TV was off (hooray!), and even though I didn’t get any design work done during the day because of running various errands, etc. , I decided to make some art.
This is my first encaustic painting. Encaustic is a wax-based paint. The paint I’m using is beeswax mixed with a tree resin and pigment. I saw the supplies in an art catalog a few years ago and had no idea what it was - so, I got a book and read. Intriguing. So, I acquired a small kit and minimal supplies (still cost way too much! why are art supplies so expensive?). It sat for a long time, with me only trying it one time. But, last night, I just decided to go for it and do a painting. Such fun! LOVE the medium. I think it is exactly what I’ve been needing.
I titled the painting “winter birth”. It’s small at 8″x8″, encaustic on wood panel. For me, it symbolizes what I hope to be the beginning of a beautiful journey as a painter.
The paint must be melted before it can be applied (mesmerizing!). I still want to go to a workshop to learn more, but what I love so far is: NO washing of brushes (except I need to buy some more), virtually NO drying time (starts to solidify as soon as it leaves the heat), easy to build and remove texture, and very versatile. Challenges: hard to blend because it dries so fast, requires special handling - and probably some more I haven’t come across yet.
Not bad for a first try. And, I think I’m hooked! Oh dear, another one.
Creativity Question: What have you tried creatively that you loved right away? Learned to love? Just plain disliked?
January 30th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Amy!! I love it!!! I wasn’t sure what to expect after hearing your description tonight, but I really love it! I look at it and think of a forest during winter time and during a snow storm. Wow. I really do love it. Good job. I can’t wait to see it in person.
As for your creativity question posted, I have really loved paper crafts. I don’t have a lot of time to endulge into it, but I love to buy beautiful paper full of color and coordination and then create something - whether it’s scrapbooking, a craft, decoupaging, or just collecting paper. I’m weird, I know. But I will buy paper and then not use it because I think it is too beautiful.
Happy painting. Glad you found something that you like!
February 4th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Amy–I love it too!!!!! It is so awesome! I am really glad that you took the dive and did it! You have such a talent and it needs to be shared and developed! I love it!
February 7th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Hi Amy. This is my first time commenting on your blog. I absolutely love your painting. It makes me want to get in my car right now and keep driving until I see some snow. I am impressed by your art. You have always been an amazing artist. You are so creative. I also love that you saw something you liked and went out and learned how to do it yourself.
To answer your creative question, 2 things that I have loved instantly are Pencil Drawing and Photograpy. Especially photograpy. I carry my camera with me always. I feel like I look at the world through a lense. I’m always thinking, “that would make a great picture.” The one thing I’ve tried that I didn’t like so much was oil painting. For me, it takes to long. I’m too impatient. I would start something but never finish because I get bored or busy and end up moving on to something else.
February 11th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Wow, that is absolutely beautiful. What a neat way to paint…no mess. I am glad you are making time to indulge yourself with something you are so passionate about!
February 14th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Amy–sorry I haven’t checked out your blog in a couple weeks… Love the paintings. I’ve used Encaustics before–I made many, many color charts with them. : ) The art store I used to work for owns an Encaustic company called Enkaustikos (so I can highly recommend them if you’re looking for more Encaustic supplies/paints… Rochester Art Supply, http://www.fineartstore.com…great little family-owned business, so great for other art supplies as well–you can tell them you know me.)
I could answer your questions the same as Kim above… I love photography & pencil drawing…and I detest oil painting. I’m too impatient for oil painting and I can’t stand all the clean-up involved.
I had an awful experience too with a class project at BYU–the assignment had to be done in oils, and I’d never ever used them before and unknowingly & typically left the project to the last minute to finish, which you know you can’t do with oils… My project was horrendous…one big, ugly, muddy mess and I had to put it up on the board for critique along with everyone else’s masterpieces and I cried. I was SO embarassed. Memories of that day still haunt me…ugh.
February 19th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Amy! your art is wonderful. so inspiring. I remember you telling me you were starting a website. I am so impressed I had NO idea the range of your skills. You need to contact a gallery, seriously. I love that wax medium, never heard of it, it looks like fun. So glad i can now see your art any time I want, (which will be quite often)