As I moved into an unwanted phase of my life after a marriage of 27 years and the demanding thrill of creatively raising three children , I found myself wanting a new focus . On a trip to Santa Fe I was awe-struck while standing in front of a painting by Shawna Moore . I knew encaustic from days of Art History classes but in the antiquities sense only . I felt my old primal need to learn a new skill . I immediately scheduled a workshop with her . Shawna ’ s calm approach to teaching and her resolute support without judgment resonated with me . What I found that I loved the most about encaustic was my ability to “ weave ” by layering the wax . It felt like textiles because images or scrims of color could layer on top of each other like veils of sheer silk . I loved the idea that I could encrypt poetry ( I keep Pablo Neruda at hand ) and maps and hidden meanings and threads and leaves and all those expressive things that I was used to incorporating into my work-into wax . The luminosity is what other artists rave about and it is so true . I would be remiss not to mention that the old hippie in me who was already on a rampage to save the bees connected to the organic nature of wax .
Acid Rose , encaustic and mixed media on panel , 14 x 14 inches , 2012
Acid Rose , encaustic , mixed media on panel , 14 x 14 inches , 2012
This torn wreckage of a garden design by a man I loved is partly a reference to him but also part of my determination to bring the destruction of our planet to light . Here is acid rain and its effects on our flora and fauna .