Encaustic Painting

I have recently become enamored with Encaustic painting. I love it's other worldly look and feel, and it's ability to seemingly "transport" you at will to another dimension. There are many wonderful artists currently exploring this medium. But first what is Encaustic art? Encaustic paint is the mixture of pigment and beeswax, other materials are sometimes used, like linseed oil, Damar varnish, Oil paint and even turpentine. This mixture is then applied with with non synthetic brushes, and heated metal tools. Read more here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encaustic_painting.

This is not a new practice, as it has a long history dating back to mummy painting in Egypt 100-300 AD. These were realistic paintings attached usually to wood panels adorning the mummies in Roman Egypt. (see replica Egyptian Roman Lady by Ben Morales-Correa below) Today you see it used in a lot of altered book art, and mixed media, as it is very conducive and useful in embedding materials used in collage. Here are some of my favorites...

ANNE VIS
MYSTIC BEESWAX

Anne has a whole gallery on ImageKind http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?mid=f8b475f9-4e1c-4a3d-9685-5ff6b170ac28devoted to beeswax painting. Her colors and style are truly other worldly, and softly alluring. She says that she learned this technique from a clairvoyant medium. I am sure that is true, but I personally believe the power of her art, comes from the soul and vision of Anne, a very willing and talented artist.


BEN MORALES-CORREA
EGYPTIAN ROMAN LADY



Ben Morales-Correa studied Egyptology at the collage level and has declared it his passion to create the replicas of this ancient art form. Using innovative techniques, he demostrates a powerful glimpse into this culture and art form. His galleries can be found on ImageKind http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?mid=6de66f25-41e9-4f58-915c-45e65983cc5a

SALT OF THE EARTH
BLUE SEA ART



Blue Sea Art's "Salt of the Earth" brings us back down to earth,with the beauty and tapestry of a life spent in the labor of love. All encased and enshrined in one of earths finest resources...Bees Wax. You can find Blue Sea Art on Imagekind http://www.imagekind.com/Showartwork.aspx?IMID=1738ac1d-f393-43be-bd4f-a8fcd99ab336

I encourage you to come explore with me, the beauty and elegance of the art form. A maybe just may try one of your own! Either way enjoy and then mind your own bees wax!


Feeling inspired? Expert Village has a wonderful series of encaustic painting videos here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VBo7nGnFb4

Feeling really inspired? You can buy a starter kit here:http://www.dickblick.com/products/r-and-f-encaustic-paint-studio-startup-set/