Encaustic? It’s a hundred degrees out!

 

It’s so hot and humid outside that I did my workout indoors this morning. So, why WHY WHY am a I working with hot beeswax? Why not? The studio is air conditioned and I have been anticipating having a chunk of time to make photoencaustics.

I made these two photographs of beaded garden statues during my recent trip to New Orleans. I thought it might be fun to make them faux antique-looking with a green-gold oil pigment and beeswax.

When I need a break from this project, I have a couple of acrylic landscapes in progress. One is more realistic, the other is … well, I don’t know what it is yet. It might be a disaster, but I’ll forge ahead, trusting the process and my ability to control my temper.

And, just to make sure I come full circle with these temperature extremes, I have a monochrome cold wax triptych under way. The pieces remind me of growing up in the Pennsylvania anthracite region.

From hot to cold  and back again. Why not? It’s July. I have the day off and I like to have my hands and my head in a variety of projects. This way, if I get stuck on something, I can turn to another project in progress. It’s a self-insurance policy because it means I am less likely to hack up, paint over or burn the piece with which I am frustrated.

Bring on the heat. I can take it.

As for versatility, it helps that I just can’t decide what to be when I grow up