fayum portrait

based on the fayum portraits.

encaustic is bee's wax and pigment.
You can add hardeners
(damar resin or carnauba wax).
what makes it "encaustic" is a final heating, to fuse the layers of wax.
for this painting, I used a very minimal palette -
white, black, ochre, burnt sienna, and prussian blue.


encaustic on panel
click to see large

detail
encaustic on panel
click to see large

encaustic paintings

I haven't been able to do "a painting a day" this summer,
I'm busy with commissions.

However, I've been hankering to try encaustic painting....
It probably doesn't make the most sense to choose the
hottest summer on record to stand over a hot plate of molten beeswax,
but when the urge strikes...
The beeswax smells wonderful, right now, I am making collages,
gathering up the courage to paint with wax...
these are my first paintings.
summer special,
30 paintings in 30 days,



click to see large



"now every passion sinks to rest"
bees wax, ephemera on panel
6 x 8 x 3/4


"plant the grain"
bees wax, ephemera on panel
6 x 8 x 3/4



"not me"
diptych
bees wax, ephemera on panel
8 x 8.5 x 3/4
$140 +shipping



"tierra"
bees wax, ephemera on panel
6 x 8 x 3/4
not for sale


"beneath water, beneath ice"
bees wax, ephemera on panel
6 x 8 x 3/4
not for sale