Trapped Painting

Trapped - Floating, rising, these efforts to break free hit unseen forces. And stagnate. Working on winter scenes, particularly those with water, really speaks to me as I work in encaustics. The techniques I use and the characteristics of the molten wax are very suited to this type of scenery. I love to combine the glass-like surface I can achieve with the hot wax, and contrast it with raised surfaces and texture. This is an encaustic painting of Abraham Lake, also known as Lake Abraham. It is an artificial lake and Alberta's largest reservoir. Located in the "Kootenay Plains area of the Canadian Rockies' front range", on the North Saskatchewan River in western Alberta, Canada, it displays an intriguing show of frozen bubbles as methane gas from vegetation rises to the surface and freezes under the ice. Framed by the beautiful Rocky Mountains, the scene is a striking show of the beauty found in winter. Reference photo taken by Darwin Wigget. WHAT IS ENCAUSTIC PAINTING? Encaustic painting is an ancient technique of hot wax painting dating back over 3500 years. “Encaustic” has its root in the Greek word “enkaustikos”, meaning “to heat” or “burn in”. The materials used are completely natural but considerably expensive. THE ENCAUSTIC PROCESS A medium made of a mixture of beeswax and damar resin crystals, sourced from the sap found in trees from Indonesia and Malaysia, is heated to a molten state. Pure pigments as well as oil-based paints are added to the hot wax to make a range of colours. Each layer of medium is quickly and thinly laid down, building the art piece layer by layer and fusing in between with a heat gun, blow torch or iron. Special training, equipment and consideration must be given to ensure the safety of the artist and protect against toxic fumes while heating and working with this medium. THE ENCAUSTIC DIFFERENCE These paintings are extremely archival and offer up visual treats not found with other mediums. A marriage of painting and sculpture, one is able to enjoy the visual treats we have with both. There is a richness in texture and colour, the luminosity of layers, the natural materials used – all that create an allure to many for this ancient and wonderful media. CARING FOR YOUR ART PIECE As with any fine art, care should be given to encaustic paintings. Your art piece should not melt under normal household conditions. The wax/resin mixture will not melt unless exposed to temperatures over 150°F. However, leaving a painting in a hot car, or hanging a painting on a wall with direct desert-like sun is not advisable. Encaustic paintings are also sensitive to freezing cold temperatures. Some encaustic colours tend to “bloom” or become cloudy over time, this is also common when moving it from one environment to another. If your painting becomes cloudy or matte, simply lightly rub the surface with a soft cloth or nylon stocking. Paper towel and tissue is not advised as it will scratch the surface and may leave paper residue. Over time the surface retains its gloss as the wax medium continues to cure and harden for up to 1-3 years.

Painting:Encaustic on Wood

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:20 W x 26 H x 2.5 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.