When I returned from that first trip to see my Aunt , I started taking art classes at the local colleges . This is when I started to explore a deeper connection to what I was finding through the camera lens . I took evening and weekend drawing and painting classes for a number of years , building my skills , beginning to find my voice in my art and developing my network of artist collaborators . My wife and I attend many of the local art shows and events in the area . At one of those events I met Linda Robertson , a talented local encaustic artist who also teaches the medium . My wife surprised me with a certificate to take one of Linda ’ s intro to encaustic classes . That was in 2006 and I literally have not looked back since I walked away from that day long class and immediately went and bought all the supplies I needed to get myself started in encaustic .
Stratum 76 , encaustic on wood panel , 10 x 16 inches , 2014