101.6 x 76.2 x 4.1 cm
Encaustic is an ancient form of painting, first used by the Greeks around 1 AD to coat the hulls of ships. Once it was discovered pigment could be added to the encaustic, the medium was used to create portraits. Encaustic is a mixture of beeswax, resin and pigment. Heat is used to melt the mixture, and the artist works in layers. Each layer is fused into the previous layer with heat. (Encaustic comes from the Greek word “enkaustikos” which means “to burn.”)
The tick of a clock, the beat of your heart, the passing of days…Life has a rhythm, a continuous beat. The brushstrokes in these paintings are a mirror of that rhythm. Sometimes, it beats faster, or slower, but it is ever present. The vertical and horizontal strokes of the color- loaded brush remind us of the comfort that can be found in the pulse of life – not just the beat of a heart, but also the repetition of daily tasks. Over and over, we do many of the same things every day. Our routines can bring us comfort and even beauty, when they knit together to form the fabric of existence. The play of opaque and translucent color is one of the things that makes encaustic the perfect medium for this series of paintings. We all seek control or order, but imperfections must be embraced. Life is full of unexpected things. The colors are inspired by the rich cultures of New Mexico – from the turquoise and beaded jewelry of the native tribes, the beautiful woven rugs of the Navajo, to the colorful costumes of the Mexican Folk dancers.
Encaustic is an ancient form of painting, first used by the Greeks around 1 AD to coat the hulls of ships. Once it was discovered pigment could be added to the encaustic, the medium was used to create portraits. Encaustic is a mixture of beeswax, resin and pigment. Heat is used to melt the mixture, and the artist works in layers. Each layer is fused into the previous layer with heat. (Encaustic comes from the Greek word “enkaustikos” which means “to burn.”) The melting temperature of the paint is 150 degrees, so an encaustic painting should not be hung in a window that receives direct sunlight, or left in a hot car in the summer months. If the surface of the painting becomes cloudy, it can be buffed with a soft cloth or a nylon to bring back the lustrous sheen. Extreme cold can also cause the painting to crack, so it is best to avoid extreme temperatures. It is, however, a long-lasting form of painting, as evidenced by the Fayoum portraits, which were created between the 1st and the 3rd centuries AD and still survive to this day.
