Painting with Wax: Cambodian Inspiration

 Cambodia, not a traveller's normal destination. But our choice to go there was a life altering experience.  The people, the history, the wars, the culture, the struggles, the kindness of the people, the brown eyed children and the vast Angor Vat.

It has been three years since visiting Cambodia, but the influence lingers on.  Recently I started exploring encaustic paint....working with wax and oil. I couldn't quite figure out the images I was creating until I was reviewing my photos to "organize them."  And there it was:  my mind and imagination had subconsciously culled up the vast portholes, arches, caves, vistas, root encrusted relics....
             
 The following pieces are now framed in floating black and gold wood frames and debuting at the RiverView Gallery.  Unfortunately a photo can't show the depth of working in many layers of translucent wax and rich oil colors, but it is a luscious way to paint.  

A close up shot of the texture.

                   Going Deep Within            12x12 framed

                         Awareness               10x10 framed

           Epiphany    12x12 framed

            A Burst of Brilliance   11x14 framed

                   Meditation        11x14 framed

These last two paintings are an exploration of "painting" with wax and oil paint with various brushes and fingers to create a more realistic, less abstract piece.  It was an interesting approach with this medium.

To keep the "glow" on a piece of encaustic, one can periodically lightly rub with a  soft piece of flannel like cloth.  There is no need for anything else other than not hanging over a heater or in direct sunlight.  

RiverView Gallery  410-939-6401 or contact me if you are interested in one of these paintings.

I am working on new pieces which I will be excited to share at a later date. It was a stretch to work in an entirely new medium. A good stretch at that!!! Ah the possibilities.