Encaustic Arts Magazine Spring 2014 | Page 13

Mixed Media

I work with wax and natural materials mostly related to my Navajo culture. I incorporate sand, beads, horse hair, found objects and recycled materials that are used in ceremonies and other traditional events. I’ve also been fortunate to travel to many places throughout the world and have seen how other artists create. It has been an awakening experience to see how different cultures are woven into each other, making one human race. The tools and natural pigments that artists use to make their art from other parts of the world are something I like to include in my work. For example, the copper batiks which are used for stamping from fabrics to make patterns from Asian countries and the chakpur tool which is used in sand painting from Tibet are two such techniques. Watching the monks working on a sandpainting with the chakpur was one of many amazing events I was fortunate enough to view on my travels.

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