Encaustic Art

One of my "newest" art forms is working with Encaustic medium. In plain English it is melting beeswax and oil paint and applying it to a receptive surface.

I have been working with glossy paper as well as "playing dominoes". I purchase the cream colored regular game dominoes and then "carefully" drill holes in them to make necklaces or apply "pads" if I want the piece to be worn horizonally as holes cannot be drilled the long way of the dominoe successfully.

I was really surprised when our 12 year old Grandson showed an honest interest in the pieces I had done and wanted to try. As a result we were done in my studio for about 4 hours tonight playing and working together on some pieces. He was just amazed at how the medium "worked". The interest doesn't appear to be short lived as he began talking about getting some so he can continue when he goes back to Pennsylvania this coming Saturday...and by the sounds of things we will be back down here tomorrow night doing some more pieces. Tomorrow I will show him how to drill the holes in the dominoes using my DH's drill press.

So I hope you enjoy looking at the photos of what we did. My favorite dominoe is the Orange and Black one (Great for Halloween). Do you see the face in this dominoe? The photo of the purple one done on the glossy paper looks like Ocean Waves and is also a favorite. The art is kinda abstract and futuristic but it leaves a lot to the viewer which to me is one of the big plus's for this medium. My idea of art is leaving "room" for the viewer to become involved in/with the piece which is why my least favorite art is realism still life....there is nothing for the viewer to become involved in. Nothing is left to imagine....it is just "all there"....

When using this medium you have very little control of what "happens"....that is the fun. It is

definately addicting, and so relaxing. You have "no standards" to live up to.