Toward the end of 2012, I had a few really large acrylic paintings going……..one for a commission. So due to the holidays, I finished them up.
Still in the back of my mind were those two 30 x 40 x 2 inch wood panels over in the corner waiting for me to come and work on them. I had been considering oil with cold wax medium or encaustic. One day I just decided I would prep for encaustic since I had an idea for something I wanted to do with them. Not a real ordinary thing for me…ideas ahead of painting even one brushstroke. I do now and then though and have had to give in to the idea that sometimes ideas just don’t live up to your expectations. I find that just letting the painting go where it wants is good, whether or not I really have a firm idea or not.
What you say is the idea? Those gesture ‘drawings I did back some time ago as just fun exercises on some large paper I had……..they are 30 x 44 inches………I used black and white paint and a little pencil, ink, and even some pastel……..One night I thought they might be just the thing to try out on the wood panels with encaustic. It would definitely be a challenge as encaustic paint just does not move like acrylic and liquid mediums generally speaking.
SO… right after the kids were gone from the holidays and I had rested up a little and got some errands and appointments over…………into the studio.
I now have two 30 x 40 panels with sumi and india ink brush drawings on them………..added pencil and any other thing I thought would be compatible under encaustic………….they were first coated with encaustic gesso (Holy Grail) from EvansEncaustics. There are other companies out there but Hylla made the first and I love using it.
I also have a layer of clear medium over the surface of both of these pieces and fused in………..ready for the next layer in the next session.
Below are just the photos of the beginning drawings……..
What EXHILARATING images! I can’t wait to see where they take you next. “Clear medium over the surface”–which medium, please? I’m trying to teach myself.
Wow these are looking stunning!!! I love the energy in them…very nice start here…I cannot wait to see it unfold!
Cathy… as you know… it has been my goal to be able to paint with encaustic more like I do with other paint… to have the gesture. It is a challenge……….but I’m sticking with it since it is such a wonderful quality of surface that enhances what I want in my work.
WOW, what exciting grounds, Cheryl!! To me, they could be finished too. But I know you like color and I can’t wait to see where they go now. ENJOY the process!! You gave me an idea too, something very important I had momentarily forgotten. Thanks!!!
Patty… forgot to add part of my idea is to do black white grays…. and maybe some arbitrary touch of color……..SO, we will see how it goes.
These are so exciting and have so much energy. I can’t wait to see the pieces when they are completed.
Family stuff kept me from getting wax melted…. Soon though as I am SO ready to work on these paintings…