Category: Encaustic

May 11

Preacher Man

Preacher Man 11x14 encaustic painting on 2" cradled claybord $250

Preacher Man
11×14 encaustic painting on 2″ cradled claybord

While sitting in church looking to the front at the man speaking, I closed my eyes. My brain produced a vivid display behind my lids, a negative of same view. I quickly recorded a rough sketch in my handy dandy notebook, noting the colors and form. This encaustic painting, Preacher Man, is the telling of that moment. When I began the painting, I did not mean for the figure to represent the man behind my eyelids, but rather just capture the negative form created from that moment, but as the process of layering and painting played out, I found the man telling a story of a field ripe for harvest.

Well, I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It’s harvest time! John 4:35 -The Message

comment? Posted in Art, Encaustic, God's Word
Apr 21

Flow

I love how Preacher Man detail 2 encaustic painting Preacher Man detail 3 seemingly captures the movement of the dance Preacher Man detail 1 midstroke.

comment? Posted in Art, Encaustic, Hidden Art, Prayer, Worship
Aug 30

The Gathering 2012

In a month, the Gathering is upon us. The Gathering is an awesome event happening in St. Joseph, MO that involves vendors, workshops, demos, a guest speaker along with a delicious lunch.

I’ll be offering a couple classes that day:

Luminous Layers of Beeswax  (from 9-noon)

Curious how beeswax is used as a medium? This class will explore the basics of painting with encaustic medium, a mix of beeswax and damar resin. We will explore creating depth, inscribing lines, embedding visual imagery, infusing color and adding collage elements to the beeswax paintings. You will have time to create several paintings using the various techniques taught in class.

Techniques learned:

  • fusing layers
  • basic collage
  • adding texture
  • creating depth
  • using carving tools
  • embedding photos
  • photo transfers
  • adding interest with oil paints/bars & pan pastels

Supplies provided:

  • encaustic medium
  • paint brushes
  • birch panels
  • various photographic elements
  • oil paints/bars
  • pan pastels
  • carving tools

You provide:

  • personal collage materials, don’t bring more than could fit into a quart ziplock bag (optional)
  • a few high contrast photos of various sizes printed on regular copy paper from a “toner” copier like that at Kinko’s or office supply stores, black and white works best, no inkjet copies please (optional)
  • apron or paint shirt

 

Visual Gratitude Journal  (from 1-4pm)

Visual journaling can be a fresh way to tell stories, remember events, and intuitively express emotions. This class will explore ways of expressing appreciation and gratitude through visual journaling in your very own handmade journal. In this class, you will construct a journal using vintage book covers and a variety of papers. To fill the journal, you will be led through an experimentation process to create pages with visual elements expressing gratitude and joy. I will be walking you through some pages, yet also allowing you freedom to play. Be prepared to break through unnecessary expectations on self and to learn to silence the inner critic.

 

by Stephanie Thiel

Techniques learned:

  • creating backgrounds
  • intuitive painting
  • collage
  • creating a theme
  • developing creative imagery
  • adding words

You provide:

  • personal collage materials (optional)
  • personal photos printed on copy paper (optional)
  • favorite paint brushes, acrylic paints, etc., if you would prefer to use your own (optional)
  • apron or paint shirt
  • gratitude

by Michelle Geller

Supplies provided:

  • acrylic paint
  • oil pastels
  • collage fodder
  • markers
  • water soluble crayons
  • gel medium
  • gesso
  • paint brushes
  • varnish
  • ink
  • paper
  • book covers

Plus there are several other classes to choose from. To check it out or register for a class, go to The Gathering. And while you’re at it, check out their facebook page.

comment? Posted in Art, Art Journal, Classes, Encaustic
Aug 13

Beeswax Infused Soldered Pendant & Earrings

Date: Sat, August 18, 2012
Time: 1-5pm
Place: Hidden Art Studio, Midtown Kansas City, MO


*Example: your piecess will be unique.

The class will begin with experimentation in infusing beeswax with papers. Then you will solder a square pendant to practice/learn technique using the experimental papers. After a bit of practice, the papers will be encased in hand-cut glass to make a set of earrings. Some soldering experience will make this class easier, but is not required. All supplies for the class, including ball chain for the pendant, will be provided, but please feel free to bring some of your own papers for experimentation.

Techniques learned:

  • basic soldering
  • adding jump rings
  • infusing paper with beeswax
  • optional: applying patina
  • optional: adding small beads or charms

Class size: 8 students max.
Fee: $50

Policies:

  • Prepayment required.
  • 24 hour cancellation notice required for refund. Please try to allow 48 hours for cancellation so that I may notify others on the waiting list.
  • Must be at least 14 years old.

 

comment? Posted in Art, Classes, Encaustic, soldered
Jul 22

EncaustiCamp 2012

EncaustiCamp was an amazing repeat of last year’s event. This year I added a few extra days to my trip to soak in the beauty of  Oregon. One of my first stops was at Stumptown to liven my flight weary brain.  I was introduced to Stumptown coffee in Port Townsend, WA at the Undertown and am now a verified fan.


The the small bit of Oregon’s coastline that I traveled was stunning.  I was every so thankful that I remembered my socks and my jacket, because it was just as chilly as it was beautiful. Such a violent switch from Kansas City’s 110 degree heat I left behind. I made it only as south as Newport to climb the 114 steps of the oldest lighthouse on the Oregon coast before I had to head back towards Portland.

I made it back to Portland in time to help Jess Greene set up for a Jumpstart Creativity event. At this one, I had the fortune of meeting Linda Womack who demoed encaustic monotype. Everyone loved playing with that. And I was so happy to see my friend, Lulu, and her husband there. Refreshment in the presence of friends.

The next morning the EncaustiCamp crew gathered at VooDoo Doughnuts for a hearty breakfast of sugar and coffee. Of course I had to try the bacon, maple donut, and it was as tasty as I had dreamed.

We then were off to Scrap and Muse.

Becky & Betti have more room in their luggage for the flight home. They hit the jackpot.

I really had to restrain myself with the shopping as my suitcase weight load was already at its maximum.

That afternoon, a group of us had the pleasure of meeting Karl Kaiser at the Attic Gallery.

He kindly shared about his paintings, his techniques, and answered all of our questions thoroughly and patiently. After admiring his paintings online, I was thrilled to be able to view up close.

I really find great pleasure in meeting other artists who are open to sharing without fear of jeopardizing their niche.

That evening we gathered at the campus of the Western Mennonite School where our camp officially began. What a peaceful environment for learning artistic technique. The organizer, Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch, has a knack for making everyone there feel like family.

My first class the next day was Wax & Paper taught by Michelle Belto.

Our extremely knowledgeable instructor, Michelle Belto.

My neighbor and I made paper together about 15 years ago during the time period I first began to explore my own creativity. In learning the correct way to make paper, I found that my neighbor and I were not too far off.

In class, I really enjoyed following a process from beginning to end in which the whole piece, substrate and all, were made by me. Oh yea, and I have this thing for paper.

So paper was incorporated into my second day as Bridgette Guerzon-Mills taught us how to paint and construct an encaustic journal.

Bridgette sharing her wealth of techniques for encaustic painting

She provided handmade papers from Guatemala for our journals. I’ve always loved journals, but have never learned to bind my own.

Learning the binding stitch in which I believe I reached a book binder’s high.

Learning a simple binding stitch has revolutionized the way I will be approaching journals from here forward.

Back cover of my journal: self portrait

Front cover of my journal: also a self portrait

Our group bonded even more the next day as we toured museums, galleries, wineries and a dairy in the Salem area. Oregon is just so beautiful.

My last day of class, Sue Stover shared her vast knowledge of batik and how to incorporate into encaustic painting. I fell in love the the tjanting tool and found such freedom and flow with making marks using the tool on the various papers (yes, more paper) provided for us.

Time no longer existed as we played and experimented.

Bye Oregon *waving soulfully

I flew home a week ago. Still haven’t quite gotten back into the swing of things. Perhaps it’s the heat. Perhaps I’m just missing my encaustic family.

7 comments Posted in Art, Classes, Encaustic, EncaustiCamp, Relationships
Jul 15

This one’s for Clarence

So today I arrived home from an amazing week at EncaustiCamp. I was ferried to my car in the economy lot by Clarence, a true Kansas Citian, friendly as friendly could be. After sharing my website with Clarence, I realized that I don’t as of yet have a gallery page of my paintings. Now I have a goal to git ‘er done. The most difficult part of posting encaustic paintings is capturing the luminosity of the beeswax and the sculptural elements of the beeswax infused origami.

In the mean time, here’s a taste of my encaustic (beeswax & damar resin) paintings just for you, Clarence.

tree

i carry your heart

15-Love

Yes, the style is a bit folk-arty. I haven’t quite decided what genre or class my style fits. All my paintings are story based though, so let’s call them story art. There, new category created.

And soon to come, all of my paintings in gallery style.

4 comments Posted in Art, Encaustic, Origami
Jun 17

Return to Joy

return to joy 1
return to joy 2
return to joy 3
6×6 each encaustic collage on Encausticbord
Available in my Etsy shop.

Ever have one of those days? Argh! This tryptich was inspired by a morning of frustration. I had a very busy week meticulously planned and had a wrench thrown in my morning. My immediate response was exasperation and annoyance. I was feeling negative emotion from the circumstances. Given some time to process through the situation, I was able to see the other person’s point of view, and then return to my relational self. When I made it to my studio, I was able to take that emotional ride and build the story above to express the 3 distinct phases of my emotional journey.

Beyond my emotions, this tryptich also tells a story of the presence of God. When I was upset, I was no longer able to sense God with me, but as I returned to joy, I understood that He was there the whole time. As I looked back, I could see that my relational shut down had caused me to turn my back on Him. I really did not want to be compassionate, but wanted to be angry at the situation. Acknowledging the presence of God really makes it difficult to be angry. In turning towards Him, I found joy and relationship again.

2 comments Posted in Art, Encaustic, God's leading, Hidden Art, Relationships, Transformation
Jun 15

Record of the Times

Record of the times
12×12 encaustic collage with beeswax infused origami
SOLD

This painting completed in May is a reflection of turbulence and change. You’ll be happy to know the little boat has made it to calmer seas now.

So why the turbulence? What changed? Simply, our church home. We attended a large church that served excellent Bible teaching. I am so grateful for what I learned, and I really do love the people there. So why did we leave if it was so great? For our family to fit within the authority structure of that church, we felt that we could not really be who we were created to be. Our family did not fit their mold. And since we have stopped trying, wow, so much baggage has been released, so much Christian angst is gone that I didn’t even realize was there. I now realize that I was becoming embarrassed to call myself a Christian, that I was not allowing myself to learn from other amazing teachers unless they were embraced by that church and not “dangerous” in some way, that I no longer desired to give money outside of tithing, that I lost my heart to serve because I’m not administrative or athletic, and that I really believed that all the other churches were not as good. Wow, the arrogance level kinda hit an all time high there.

Through this season of change our family has experienced, we are finding such rest and peace and new found joy that we would not have experienced without the turbulence and uprooting. What we are finding is that we had become very complacent and did not even realize it until our surroundings changed. The heart that I’ve always had, the one that is so compassionate for the down trodden, the one that swells continually with great emotion and care, is being rediscovered. I find myself looking in the mirror and saying, “Oh, there you are.” Sometimes turbulence is a very good thing.

 

 

 

3 comments Posted in Art, Creation, Encaustic, God's leading, Hidden Art, Liberty, Origami, Transformation
Jun 02

the reveal

i carry your heart

i carry your heart with me
16×12 encaustic collage on birch

The First Friday show went wonderfully. A steady flow of traffic came throughout the night. I was truly blessed by the many visits from friends, and was thrilled to have sold some paintings as well. Over the next week, I’ll be revealing the paintings of which you’ve only caught glimpses, and sharing some of their stories.

The painting above is a reflection on my relationship with my own love, Scott Jolley. Full of symbolism that we both find recurring in our writing and art, the painting mirrors the common bonds that bind our hearts together. This is a love letter of sorts, speaking a universal language of symbols and connection, adorned with the perfect words of e.e.cummings.

On another note, tomorrow is the launch of the Joy Journal Project. This free art journaling class will focus on the art of appreciation and joy. I will have a new assignment each month, introducing different mixed media techniques and supplies. A really nice feature of this project is the ability to jump in and out as life permits. Also, you have the option of joining online or in person.  There is still time to join.  Just go to the Joy Journal Project page on this website and enter the info needed to subscribe.

Note: if you believe you have joined, but have received no email with details, please contact me to be sure you are on the registry.

And another note: if you are attending in person and haven’t opened up the latest email, the location is not at Hidden Art Studio. Hurray that we have too many attending to fit here, so please note the address in your email.

 

2 comments Posted in Art, Encaustic, God's leading, Hidden Art, Relationships
May 30

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart 046
[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]
by e.e.cummings

i carry your heart 045
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i carry your heart 044
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
i carry your heart 043
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart 042
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

 

4 comments Posted in Art, Encaustic, God's leading, Hidden Art, Relationships
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